Cyberpunk Cinema

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1994 B-action cyber-trash-horror curiosity DEATH MACHINE – written & directed by Stephen Norrington; starring Brad Dourif, Ely Pouget, William Hootkins, John Sharian, Martin McDougall, and Richard Brake.

After a mad genius inventor of killer robots and cyborgs at Chaank Armaments Corp. kills...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1990 wasteland cyberpunk low-budget masterpiece HARDWARE – directed by Richard Stanley; written by Steve MacManus, Kevin O’Neill, and Richard Stanley; original score by Simon Boswell; starring Dylan McDermott, Stacey Travis, John Lynch, William Hootkins, and special appearances by Iggy Pop and Lemmy.<...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1975 proto-punk paranoid sci-fi thriller sports film ROLLERBALL – directed by Norman Jewison; written by William Harrison; starring James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck, and Ralph Richardson.

A corporate dictator tries to oust the star player of a brutal...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1986 B-movie teen horror cyberpunk film CHOPPING MALL – directed by Jim Wynorski; written by Jim Wynorski & Steve Mitchell; starring Kelli Maroney, Tony O’Dell, Russell Todd, Barbara Crampton, John Terlesky, and Dick Miller.

A group of young shopping mall employee...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1994 cyber-horror film BRAINSCAN – directed by John Flynn; written by Brian Owens & Andrew Kevin Walker; starring Edward Furlong, Frank Langella, and T. Ryder Smith.

A teenager is a part of an interactive video game where he kills innocent victims. Later...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.\

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1982 West German cult cyberpunk film KAMIKAZE 89 – directed by Wolf German; written by Wolf German and Robert Katz; based on the novel by Per Wahloo called Murder on the 31st Floor; soundtrack by Tangerine Dream founder Edgar Froese; starring Rainer Werner Fassbi...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1982 midnight-movie cult-classic gender-fluid cyberpunk-adjacent LIQUID SKY – directed by Slava Tsukerman; written by Slava Tsukerman, Nina V. Kerova, & Anne Carlisle; starring Anne Carlisle, Paula E. Sheppard, Susan Doukas, and Otto van Wernherr. 

A small, heroin-seeking UFO lands on a Manhatt...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1982 landmark esoteric cyberpunk rock musical BURST CITY – directed by Shogo Ishii; written by Jugatsu Toi. 

Punk rock gangs and music groups clash with one another and the brutal police force in a futuristic Tokyo setting. 

Burst City is...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1989 Japanese cyberpunk masterpiece  TETSUO: THE IRON MAN – written and directed by Shinya Tsukamoto; starring Tomoro Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, and Shinya Tsukamoto.

A businessman accidently kills The Metal Fetishist, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the man into a grote...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be updating all of my loyal cyberpunkers, brain-butchers, skin-jobs, and artificial persons out there in the pod-verse about my 3-month absence dealing with LIFE SHIT and my triumphant fucking return to Cyberpunk! Getting ready, the 2nd half of Season 2 is going to ROCK! 

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Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 2014 cyberpunk thriller EX MACHINA – written and directed by Alex Garland; starring Alicia Vikander, Domhall Gleeson, and Oscar Isaac.

A young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a high...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 2013 dystopian cyberpunk social commentary ELYSIUM – written and directed by Neill Blomkamp; starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, and William Fichtner. 

In the year 2154, the very wealthy live on a man-m...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be speaking to a very SPECIAL GUEST – Steve De Jarnatt, the director of Cherry 2000 (1987) and Miracle Mile (1988). Steve was gracious enough to come on the show to discuss his long career in Hollywood from the 1970s to the 2010s! We go DEEP into what S...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 2002 dystopian cyberpunk action thriller MINORITY REPORT – directed by Steven Spielberg; written by Scott Frank & Jon Cohen; based on the short-story by Philip K. Dick; starring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow, and Neal McDonough.

John works...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1998 visionary cyberpunk film DARK CITY – directed by Alex Proyas; written by Alex Proyas, Lem Dobbs, and David Goyer; starring Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, & William Hurt.

A man struggles with memories of his past, which include a wife h...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1999 cyberpunk landmark film The Matrix – written & directed by The Wachowskis; starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fisburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano.

When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1985 cyberpunk classic TV-Movie Max Headroom – directed by Annabel Jankel & Rocky Morton; written by Steve Roberts; starring Matt Frewer, Amanda Pays, Nickolas Grace, William Morgan Sheppard, Paul Spurrier, and Hilton McRae.

In the dystopic near future, a crusading TV report...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1984 cyberpunk time-traveling B-Movie delight Trancers – directed by Charles Band; written by Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo; starring Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, Art LaFleur, Michael Stefani, Biff Manard, and Richard Herd.

A gruff bounty hunter travels back in time to 198...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I had a conversation with Charles de Lauzirika, filmmaker, documentarian, and film archaeologist as we delve DEEP into the development hell that was ALIEN 3 (1992). Charles was responsible for all of the Behind-the-Scenes footage of the ALIEN QUADRILOGY boxed set and he was the perfect person to t...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1986 cyberpunk sci-fi action masterpiece, Aliens – written & directed by James Cameron; story by James Cameron, Walter Hill, & David Giler; starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, and Carrie Henn.

Decades after surviving the Nostro...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1979 protopunk science-fiction horror masterpiece, Alien – directed by Ridley Scott; written by Dan O’Bannon; story by Dan O’Bannon & Ronald Shusett; starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, and Yaphet Kotto.

After inve...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1995 cyberpunk psychological end-of-world thriller, 12 Monkeys – directed by Terry Gilliam; written by David Webb Peoples & Janet Peoples; inspired by the film “La Jetee” by Chris Marker; starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Jon Seda, David Morse, and Christopher Plummer.

In a f...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1998 cyberpunk thriller, Pi – written/directed by Darren Aronofsky; starring Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, and Ben Shenkman.

A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature.

I watched Pi on VHS...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the great lega-sequel 2010 cyberpunk movie, Tron Legacy  – directed by Joseph Kosinski, written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, and Michael Sheen.

The son of a virtual world designer goes looking for his...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the ground-breaking 1982 cyberpunk movie, Tron  – written and directed by Steven Lisberger, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan, and Barnard Hughes.

A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where h...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 2017 legasequel cyberpunk modern masterpiece, Blade Runner 2049  – co-written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, based on the characters from “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick, and directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Dave...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1982 hands-down #1 cyberpunk film of all-time, Blade Runner  – co-written by Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples, based on the novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick, and directed by Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edwa...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down a very special topic that’s near and dear to my heart – The Star Wars EXPANDED UNIVERSE of the 1990s freakin ruled, and I’m going to tell you why it’s better than anything the Disney Star Wars has given us since the...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode I will be presenting the CYPUNK AWARDS for the first half of 2024. What are the CYPUNK AWARDS? They are the Oscars of Cyberpunk Cinema! This is how it works – any film that I reviewed during EP1 to EP24 qualifies! I will be doing this twice per ye...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1976 protopunk thriller, Logan’s Run  – directed by Michael Anderson, starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Farah Fawcett, Peter Ustinov, and Roscoe Lee Browne.

A police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1971 dystopian protopunk film, THX 1138  – co-written by George Lucas and Walter Murch and directed by George Lucas, starring Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasance, Don Pedro Colley, and Maggie McOmie.

In the 25th century, a time when people have designations instead of name...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be concluding my two part behind-the-scenes making of my short film, PARTS & LABOR. I go over what it takes to create a film, from script to screen, from auditions to rehearsals, from principal photography to picture lock. You have just filmed your movie. Now...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be doing something very special – I am filming my next short film over the next two weekends, so I decided to do a little two part breakdown on what it takes to create a film - from script to screen, from auditions to rehear...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be doing something radically different, as I will deep dive into my favorite franchise of all-fucking-time – MAD MAX! I was all prepared to do a landmark cyberpunk film, and then I saw FURIOSA in IMAX this weekend and it derailed everything – in a good way...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be speaking to a very SPECIAL GUEST – Iain Softley, the director of Hackers! Iain was gracious enough to come on the show and discuss his 1995 cult-classic cyberpunk film. We get DEEP into the behind the scenes elements of making Hackers – from director's choices, to costu...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1992 cyberpunk action film, Nemesis  – written and directed by Albert Pyun, starring Olivier Gruner, Tim Thomerson, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brion James, and Vincent Klyn.

Alex, a burned out L.A. cyborg cop, is forced by commissioner Farnsworth to find his former...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1989 cyberpunk action film, Cyborg  – written and directed by Albert Pyun, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dayle Haddon, and Vincent Klyn.

A martial artist hunts a killer in a plague-infested urban dump of the future.

This is the ultimat...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I had a conversation with Michael Molcher, author of I Am the Law: How Judge Dredd Predicted Our Future. He is also the Brand Manager of 2000 A.D. This is a MEGA double-sized episode. Michael and I go deep, we go granular into Dredd lore, book...

Welcome to Cyberpunk Cinema – the Definitive Dive into the Dark Future of Science Fiction. I am your host, Anthony La Pira, and I will be taking you on a cinematic journey through the sprawling cityscapes, the crippling datastorms, and the cybernetic implants that encompass all things Cyberpunk.

In this week’s episode, I will be breaking-down the 1995 cyberpunk classic anime film, Ghost in the Shell  – directed by Mizuho Nishikubo & Mamoru Oshii, written by Kazunori Ito, based on the manga by Shirow Masamune.

A cyborg policewoman and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Pup...

Hello there, cyberpunkers and brain-butchers! Your boy is currently on a family vacation in Disney/Orlando with the kiddos, so I'm bringing you a little bonus episode to say thank you to the fans/listeners, to give you an update on the Q1 stats, and to also open up the original Cyberpunk 2020 tabletop RPG book and talk briefly about how players and gamemasters of role-playing games turn out to be great filmmakers and filmworkers! 

What were your favorite RPGs when you were growing up? It can be anything. Tabletop. Video Game. There are no rules! Let me k...