We’re climbing back into the void for the third instalment of our Liminal Space season. After the chaotic vibes of last week, Sarah has led us into the hazy sun-drenched mystery of Peter Weir’s 1975 masterpiece, Picnic at Hanging Rock.

It’s a film that defines Australian cinema and remains one of the most haunting pop-culture touchstones of the 1970s, even if Dan is convinced the titular landmark is a self-powered, solar-propelled magic rock with a hidden toaster outlet for your crumpets.

We anchor ourselves into the cinema of Victorian repression, exploring how a group of schoolgirls from Appleyard College vanished on Valentine’s Day in 1900. Is the rock simply a geological wonder, or is it an ancient, cosmic horror entity capable of folding time and space?

We discuss the ethereal atmosphere created by Weir and the legendary “great wig drama” involving a formidable Rachel Roberts. From Jackie Weaver’s flat cap adventure to the mystery of the 1900 era thin bananas, we’re leaving no stone unturned.

What to expect from this episode:

• Sarah explains why this is the quintessential entry for our liminal space movies season.
• Dan reveals his theory about the rock being a self-powered solar panel for picnickers.
• A look at the tyrannical performance of Rachel Roberts and her refusal to look at her co-stars.
• We discuss the ethereal cinematography and framing.
• The mystery of the thin bananas and a tangent about why fruit was better in the good old days.
• Why an American distributor was so angry about the ending, he threw coffee at his TV.
• A breakdown of some of the deleted scenes from the theatrical cut and the motive behind Peter Weir’s directors cut.
• The secret clock-stopping powers of the book’s eccentric author.
• How a teenager almost made the movie before Patricia Lovell stepped in.
• Dan tries to reconcile if this is a Lovecraftian horror or just a very long afternoon without enough snacks.

This season has eight episodes, concluding July 6th

Would you like to see the full lineup for season 15? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.

If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards.

Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.

If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.

Or come find us on social media:

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Welcome back to the second stop on Sarah’s tour of liminal space movies, and this week we’re descending into the 1973 cult cinema classic, Messiah of Evil. It’s the film that sparked this entire season, and while it might have sat on a shelf for years, it’s currently having a bit of a second coming on the pod.

We’re breaking down the dreamlike logic of Point Dune (formerly new Bethlehem) and exploring why this film feels so much like David Lynch’s style, even though it was hitting screens before Eraserhead was a glimmer in Lynch’s eye. We discuss directors Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck ambitious artistic vision and how editor Scott Conrad (of Rocky fame) managed to piece together such an atmospheric experience from a production that literally ran out of money.

Beyond the hanging beds and important Mr Blobby tangents, we wade through the claret to get to the iconic supermarket scene to discuss the consumerist ghoul angle. Dan finds a rare moment of connection between the film’s hand-painted murals and his own Dad’s late-night black-tape art projects, while Sarah defends the Dick Smith neon-lurid blood recipe as peak 70s cinema aesthetic.

What to expect in this episode:

• A breakdown of why Walter Hill’s throat-slitting open features the loudest shoe foley in the history of cinema.
• Sarah explains why the weird movies energy of Messiah of Evil was the specific catalyst for this entire season of liminal space movies.
• Dan reveals why he’d rather be watching Noel’s House Party.
• Discussion around the true liminal space horror of derelict theme parks and Mr Blobby World.
• The obvious but necessary comparisons to David Lynch.
• We explore the logistical genius of the hanging bed and why it’s the ultimate space-saver unless you live in the Sistine Chapel.
• Sarah geeks out over the peak 70s era production design, including the Michael Greer white suit and those polyamorous drifter arrangements.
• We suggest which scenes would have been improved with swapping characters out for clones of Noel Edmunds in a Mr Blobby costume.

This season has eight episodes, concluding July 6th

Would you like to see the full lineup for season 15? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.

If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards.

Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.

If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.

Or come find us on social media:

Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

Don’t be a square, it’s time to get an acute perspective on our latest pick as we sail into a brand-new season! Dan is convinced we’re kicking off a “season of shapes” having already prepared notes for The Circle, Hex the Hexagon and the Secret Life of Rectangles but Sarah is here to steer the ship back towards her actual theme: Liminal Space Movies. And we’re launching with Christopher Smith’s Triangle (2009).

This mind-bending entry into the world of time loops takes us far beyond the Bermuda Triangle and into a dreamlike, transitionary world where the rules of reality are flexible. We delve into Melissa George’s performance as Jess, a mother whose spontaneous trip on a yacht becomes a punishing exploration of identity. Joining her is Michael Dorman, whose character might be a “nice guy”, we’re not quite sure, and a young Liam Hemsworth who is very confident about his Greek mythology pronunciations.

From the Overlook Boatel vibes of the ocean liner Aeolus to the meticulously crafted script that rewards repeat viewings, we’re trying to get to the hull of what makes this cult movie so special. Just don’t ask us to explain the mechanics of the time-loop just yet. Give us another ten thousand years!

What to expect from this episode:

• Sarah attempts to define liminal spaces while Dan wonders if his Tiktok feed of endless swimming pools is actually a cry for help.
• We discuss whether Christopher Smith reached his magnum opus early with this low-budget indie horror masterclass.
• A deep dive into Melissa George’s incredible ability to maintain emotional continuity.
• We break down the Sisyphus connections and why pushing a rock up a hill is basically just a 90s retail job.
• Sarah geeks out about the VFX and that incredible “through the mirror” camera trick.
• A look at how the UK’s National Lottery helped fund this $12 million time loop nightmare with a big foam finger.
• We explore the purgatory theory and why you should never, ever make a promise to a cab driver in a black suit.
• Our seemingly traditional mention of Chris Barrie.

This season has eight episodes, concluding July 6th

Would you like to see the full lineup for season 15? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.

If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards.

Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.

If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.

Or come find us on social media:

Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube