Scarecrow Academy presents the second part of our in-depth look at how some great directors tackled science fiction. The Art in Sci-Fi Part 2: Science Fiction and the Director continues with its fall semester, an eight-week online discussion series in which we’ll analyze directing methods in detail, and define what makes great style in this rich, complex genre.

Discussions are led by National Society of Film Critics member Robert Horton, author of the Seasoned Ticket column at the Scarecrow blog and Scarecrow’s “Historian-Programmer in Residence.” The Zoom sessions are free and open to all; there’s no homework, but we ask that you register online in advance. We’ll be meeting on Saturdays at 2 p.m. Pacific Time, beginning October 22, 2022.

The Art in Sci-Fi Part 2 schedule:

October 29

Seconds (John Frankenheimer, 1966). The director of The Manchurian Candidate brings his 1960s sensibility and powerful visual style to the dark tale of a man who trades his body for a younger model (Rock Hudson in his riskiest performance) and finds the result a tricky one.

Check streaming options HERE or rent it from us.

Register HERE.

November 5

Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982). One of the most influential sci-fi pictures of them all, this futuristic spectacle follows replicant hunter Harrison Ford through his noirish duties—but who, in the end, are we rooting for?

Check streaming options HERE or rent it from us.

Register HERE.

November 12

Miracle Mile (Steve De Jarnatt, 1988). L.A. musician Anthony Edwards answers a random phone call announcing that the nukes are about to drop. Is it real, and what do you do if you have 90 minutes left? De Jarnatt’s answers in this cult film are wacky and suspenseful.

Check streaming options HERE or rent it from us.

Register HERE.

November 19

Signs (M. Night Shyamalan, 2002). Two brothers (Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix) realize that crop circles on their farm are indications of a coming alien visitation, a situation that provides Shyamalan a chance to exercise his talent for purely cinematic chills—and he doesn’t even need a twist ending.

Check streaming options HERE or rent it from us.

Register HERE.

November 26

Ex Machina (Alex Garland, 2014). An alluring Artificial Intelligence robot (Alicia Vikander) is all too convincing in this sinister and wickedly funny film from the director of Annihilation and Men.

Check streaming options HERE or rent it from us.

Register HERE.

December 3

Little Joe (Jessica Hausner, 2019). A meticulously crafted story of scientists developing new plant species, the effect of which might be more alarming than expected. Emily Beecham won the Cannes Best Actress prize for this variation on Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Check streaming options HERE or rent it from us.

Register HERE.

December 10

Nope (Jordan Peele, 2022). The director of Get Out swings big with his UFO extravaganza, in which Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer watch the skies to get photographic evidence of the imminent invasion, with a dollop of Hollywood satire thrown in.

Check streaming options HERE or rent it from us.

Register HERE.