Magical Mystery Radio: Conspiracy & Paranormal Review

Blade Runner is more than a sci-fi classic — it’s a meditation on memory, identity, and empathy. We explore Philip K. Dick’s 2-3-74 mystical VALIS experience, the meaning of the Voight-Kampff test, and why the film still resonates today as a cinematic awakening.  Shownotes

From vodou to viral spores, zombies have always evolved with us. In this week’s episode of Film on the Fringe, we uncover the real roots of the undead—myth, science, and metaphor. 

Dr. Atom takes you behind the scenes of JURASSIC PARK—literally. After a personal story of working alongside the filmmakers, we explore the science of cloning dinosaurs, the truth behind amber-trapped DNA, and modern de-extinction efforts using CRISPR and AI. Then we dig into the 19th-century Bone Wars, Victorian dinosaur mania, and Arthur Conan Doyle’s THE LOST WORLD. Along the way, we follow a strange fossil trail into the world of young Earth creationism, Cambodian stegosaurus carvings, and fire-breathing beasts from the Book of Job. It’s science, history, and myth—all tangled up in one prehistoric narrative. Shownotes  

Gremlins on the wing, goblins in the woods, and strange little beings at your window. From WWII aviation lore to Spielberg’s unmade alien siege story, this episode traces the evolution of mischievous trickster creatures through folklore, pop culture, and real-life encounters—including the night something came calling in Kentucky. Featured Films: Shadow in the Cloud (2020) Gremlins (1984) Poltergeist (1982) E.T. (1982) The Twilight Zone (Nightmare at 20,000 Feet) Amazing Stories (“The Mission”)

Venture into the murky space between psychological manipulation and the supernatural. Today, we’re talking about The Quiet Ones (2014), a Hammer Films horror throwback inspired by one of the strangest real-world experiments ever attempted: the Philip Experiment. We’ll unpack how a group of researchers in 1970s Canada set out to create a ghost, explore Derren Brown’s Seance as a modern reinterpretation, and finally, discuss whether collective belief can actually influence physical reality. Shownotes Coming up: 4/3/2025 – GREMLINS / SHADOW IN THE CLOUD / Hopkinsville Goblins / Trickster Entities 4/10/2025 – JURASSIC PARK / THE LOST WORLD / Doyle & Houdini / Young Earth Creationism 4/17/2025 - THE LAST OF US / WHITE ZOMBIE / The Living Dead from Vodou to Viral Apocalypse

Let's explore The War of the Worlds — the iconic novel by H.G. Wells and the countless interpretations, adaptations, and conspiracy theories it inspired. We discuss: The 2005 Spielberg movie and the 1953 George Pal version The long-forgotten SEQUEL published only a year after the original The 1938 Orson Welles "panic broadcast"  Wernher von Braun’s alleged warning of a staged alien invasion Project Blue Beam  And finally, we ask: What would a real alien invasion look like? The War of the Worlds continues to fascinate because it reminds us of the fragility of our dominion over this Earth. It humbles us with a creeping dread that the universe may be – almost certainly is – teeming with ancient, unknowable threats. Shownotes Coming Up! 3/27/2025 – THE QUIET ONES / The Philip Experiment / SEANCE / Mind Over Reality 4/3/2025 – SHADOW IN THE CLOUD / GREMLINS / Hopkinsville Goblins / Trickster Entities 4/10/2025 – JURASSIC PARK / THE LOST WORLD / Doyle & Houdini / Young Earth Creationism

Let's dissect The Conjuring 2 and the real-life case that inspired it—the infamous Enfield Poltergeist. Was it a genuine supernatural event or an elaborate hoax that spiraled out of control? Join me as I explore how this case became one of the most documented hauntings in history. Ed and Lorraine Warren: Paranormal Pioneers or Masters of Mythmaking? Before discussing the Enfield case, I take a brief detour to talk about the legendary (and controversial) ghost-hunting duo, Ed and Lorraine Warren—from their involvement in the Amityville Horror to a bizarre court case where they allegedly “proved” a haunting in a Connecticut home. I share my personal connection to this incident, which was dubbed the Hebron Horror by sensationalist media. The Conjuring 2 (2016) – Fact, Fiction, and Some Very Creative Embellishments James Wan’s The Conjuring 2 delivers a chilling take on the Enfield case, but just how accurate is it? The film portrays the Warrens as the central investigators, battling a demonic nun and confronting

Enter the eerie world of artificial intelligence—from the sleek and unsettling Ex Machina to real-life AI developments that feel ripped straight from science fiction. We’ll explore the rapid evolution of AI, the ethical dilemmas that come with it, and some unsettling cases of chatbots behaving… strangely. Are we on the verge of creating a sentient machine? And if we were, how would we know? Show Notes

Let's take a deep dive into the wild world of werewolves, from the cult classic Ginger Snaps to real-life sightings of “dog men,” to the brand-new Wolf Man film by Leigh Whannell. We’ll explore the folklore behind our moon-dappled friends, look at how pop culture molded them into the creatures we recognize today, and figure out what exactly makes a man-wolf tick.  Show Notes

We discuss cancel culture, the masons, breakaway civilizations, secret moon colonies... and one fascinating, mythical "lost" film from the 80s that ties it all together!

Is an advanced race of tall, albino-like extraterrestrials from Arcturus living on the Nevada test range? Has our government struck a deal with the aliens to obtain advanced military technology? Take a deep dive with us as we chronicle this fascinating, seemingly implausible story from one man who claims it's all true!

We discuss several recent "documentaries" occupying the twilight zone between fantasy and reality. Are these films omens? Augurs of a dark future? Are we moving into a new dark age of superstition? Is the consensus reality of post-enlightenment reason vanishing in a post-modern haze of news and subjective reality? And why are the French f*cking with us? Oh, and John gets a visit from an owl.

We review the fascinating and disturbing documentary, HOLY HELL. The film chronicles the 22-year journey of former members who were trapped in the bizarre Buddhafield cult.   Through personal archive footage and interviews, the film chronicles the rise and fall, not only of the cult itself, but of its strangely charismatic leader, Michel Rostand (aka Andreas). This is one of those "cautionary tales" of how cult leaders use time-tested techniques to manipulate and coerce vulnerable and impressionable minds to do their bidding. Check it out.

In tonight's podcast, we discuss a fascinating documentary on Netflix called JIM & ANDY: The Great Beyond, which chronicles the behind-the-scene antics of Jim Carrey playing Andy Kaufman - and his alter-ego Tony Clifton - on the set of Man on the Moon. At first glance this might not seem very paranormal, but the questions this documentary raises about the notion of the self, the other, etc., are nothing short of profound. JIM & ANDY is the extraordinary story of the meeting of the minds, both literally and figuratively, of two comedic geniuses who have pushed the boundaries of their art. And in what can only be described as "the method gone metaphysical", Jim not only portrays Andy, but may in fact have become him (at least in his own mind) during the making of the film. And really, is there any difference? What's real? What's not? What is truth? What is fantasy? Who are we? All of these questions, and many more, are raised for you to ponder, but without any easy answers. We also talk about some curre

What if the bogeyman turns out to be real? That's the premise of 2009 documentary CROPSEY, written and directed by Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio.  The filmmakers explore the origins of the urban legend they heard about as children, only to discover that there may, in fact, be some truth behind the tale. And the truth, as they say, is… terrifying.

Stanley Kubrick's THE SHINING is: a) a confession of his participation in the hoaxed Apollo moon mission; b) a treatise on the genocide of the Native Americans; c) a meditation on the holocaust; d) all of the above; e) a frickin' horror movie. New favorite word: apophenia. 

TOYNBEE IDEA / IN KUBRICK'S 2001 / RESURRECT DEAD / ON PLANET JUPITER // For over 25 years, mysterious tiles have appeared on busy streets from New York to Brazil. These tiles hint at an outrageous plan to resurrect everyone who's ever lived - on the surface of the gas giant Jupiter. What does the message mean? Who placed these tiles? Secret society? Reclusive genius? And what does all of this have to do with playwright David Mamet? Take a break from the current election madness and join us for a discussion into this incredibly strange and fascinating story of obsession, street art, synchronicity, and the outer limits of the human imagination.     

STRANGER THINGS was inspired by the real-life Montauk Project (its working title was MONTAUK). According to legend, thousands of young boys were abducted from the streets of New York in the 1970s and 80s, and subjected to bizarre mind control experiments.  In this special interview, filmmaker Christopher Garetano discusses his own journey down the rabbit hole.

The 1950s saw a wave of individuals claiming special relationships with our space brothers and sisters. Sure, many (all?) of these "contactees" may have been off their rockers... but there's an undeniable internal consistency to these reports of extraterrestrial communion. Did these stories spring from a single source? Could they actually have been... TRUE? Adam and John discuss the classic contactee documentary FAREWELL GOOD BROTHERS (1992).

What was the real-life inspiration for THE EXORCIST? What really happened in AMITYVILLE? Was THE ENTITY a demon, spirit, or poltergeist? Who haunts the HOLLYWOOD SIGN? What silent stars STILL can't rest in peace? Adam and John chew on HOLLYWOOD GHOST STORIES (1986), a delicious slice of vintage 80s direct-to-video cheese.