Ep. 08-26: The Terminal Man (1974)

THE TERMINAL MAN (1974)—a brilliant yet troubled computer scientist becomes the subject of an experimental procedure to control his violent seizures. When the surgery implants electrodes in his brain, the results spiral out of control, unleashing unpredictable and deadly behavior. Based on Michael Crichton’s novel, the film explores the dangers of technological intervention in human nature, raising unsettling questions about free will, control, and the unforeseen consequences of tampering with the mind.

This week, Johnny Has the Keys ventures into the uneasy intersection of technology and psychology with The Terminal Man. Join us as we discuss the film’s exploration of human fragility, its unsettling atmosphere, and the moral questions posed by tampering with the brain. We’ll examine the performances, direction, and the eerie resonance of a story that feels increasingly relevant in an age of ever-advancing neuroscience.

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Ep. 07-27: The Andromeda Strain (1971)

THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (1971)—A satellite crash-lands near a small town, unleashing a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism that rapidly kills almost everyone in its path. A team of elite scientists is assembled at a high-tech underground lab to study and contain the organism, dubbed “Andromeda.” As they race against time to prevent a global catastrophe, they unravel the organism’s complex biology and face harrowing challenges, including a catastrophic lab malfunction. Can they stop Andromeda before it’s too late?

Welcome to the extraordinary pairing of two Hollywood treasures, Michael Crichton and Robert Wise. Join us for this truly sci-fi redux as we revisit the brilliance of The Andromeda Strain (1971). We’ll talk about its direction, writing, cast, and the usual key elements that make it a gripping tale of biological terror. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys descends into the sterile depths of a place teeming with secrets and a ticking clock that could seal humanity’s fate.

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Ep. 06-11: Westworld (1973)

Westworld is a futuristic theme park where paying guests can pretend to be gunslingers in an artificial Wild West populated by androids. After paying a sizable entrance fee, Blane (James Brolin) and Martin (Richard Benjamin) are determined to unwind by hitting the saloons, and brothels, and shooting their guns. But when the system goes haywire and Blane is killed in a duel with a robotic gunslinger (Yul Brynner), Martin’s escapist fantasy suddenly takes on a grim reality.

Westworld (1973) may not be scary by today’s standards, but to a young, impressionable child of 1973–take it from me–Yul Brynner was absolutely terrifying. Join us for some rip-roaring nostalgic fun as we dive into our second Michael Crichton offering of the year, discussing the recurring motif in his work as well as its seminal influence today. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys travels to yet another amusement park, one where things also run amuck on a smaller but no less dangerous scale.

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Ep. 06-01 Jurassic Park (1993)

Paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) along with mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park’s mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various predators break free and go on the hunt.

We’re starting the season with a massive blockbuster from David’s favorite Mr. Spielberg himself. Jurassic Park (1993) is a landmark film for multiple reasons, but mostly it’s known as the project where CGI had finally reached the capability of lifelike special effects, thus producing dinosaurs that scared the crap out of literally millions of moviegoers. Join us as we discuss the history of the film, as well as all the major components that came together to make it one of America’s all-time classic films. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys takes you to the most unique amusement park ever, where extinct creatures roam the earth again. It’s all safe. We promise. What could go wrong?

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