The 2002 Film That Predicted Deepfakes, Virtual Celebrities and AI Actors | Simone (2002)

The Dystopian Future That Became Our Deepfake Reality | The Running Man (1987)

This episode on Tech Film Noir, we watched The Running Man (1987), the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi action classic that imagined a future where reality television, media manipulation, corporate power, and public spectacle collide. Nearly four decades later, its vision of entertainment-driven society feels less like science fiction and more like an uncomfortable reflection of the modern world. Join Lianne Potter, Simon Painter, and Jeff Watkins as they explore how The Running Man predicted many of today's biggest debates, from algorithm-driven entertainment and manufactured public opinion to surveillance, misinformation, and the commercialisation of violence. Inspired by Stephen King's novel, the film asks what happens when truth becomes secondary to ratings and audiences stop questioning the stories they're being sold. Expect gladiatorial game shows, propaganda masquerading as entertainment, AI-worthy media manipulation, corporate dystopias, delightfully excessive one-liners, and a discussion about why one of the greatest 1980s action films may also be one of its most surprisingly prescient.. When movies guess the future, we check their work.

The 2002 Film That Predicted Deepfakes, Virtual Celebrities and AI Actors | Simone (2002)

This week on Tech Film Noir, we examine the Al Pacino comedy, Simone (2022), that accidentally saw the future. While the film itself is a chaotic mess of farce, misunderstandings, and increasingly questionable computer science, its central warning feels more relevant than ever: what happens when fake people become more valuable than real ones? Join Lianne Potter, Simon Painter, and Jeff Watkins as they dissect the Al Pacino movie that accidentally predicted the future. From AI-generated celebrities and digital likeness rights to deepfakes and synthetic media, S1M0NE turns out to be far more relevant than anyone expected…even if the film itself spends most of its runtime desperately trying to avoid its own best ideas. Expect virtual divas, Hollywood panic, questionable computer science, cyber security by floppy disk ejection, and a masterclass in how to waste a brilliant premise. When movies guess the future, we check their work.

Before Alexa, There Was Edgar | Electric Dreams (1984)

This week on Tech Film Noir, we plug ourselves into the strange, synth-soaked world of Electric Dreams — the gloriously weird 1984 cult sci-fi movie where a socially awkward architect, a spilled bottle of champagne on his brand new PC, and an overenthusiastic home computer accidentally create one of cinema’s earliest AI love triangles. What starts as a light PG comedy quickly mutates into something far stranger: part rom-com, part techno-thriller, part MTV fever dream. We unpack why the film was massively mismarketed, why Edgar the computer has more chemistry than the actual romance, and why its depiction of AI learning feels surprisingly relevant in the age of generative AI and smart homes. Expect retro tech nostalgia, Commodore 64s, Casio calculator watches, suspiciously British “San Francisco” locations, exploding smart appliances, and plenty of discussion about the iconic Together in Electric Dreams soundtrack from Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder. As the song says, “we’ll always be together, however far it seems” - which becomes slightly more sinister once your house develops emotional attachment issues. Listen now if you love cult sci-fi, retro tech, AI chaos, and weird 80s cinema. When movies guess the future, we check their work. Ps. Big up the Tech Time Traveller [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GggnMtrLCfs] for their great video on the tech in this film

Tech Noir, Killer Cyborgs, and Biohazard Trousers | The Terminator (1984)

In the premiere episode of Tech Film Noir, hosts Lianne Potter, Jeff Watkins, and Simon Painter travel back to 1984 to dissect James Cameron’s career-defining masterpiece, The Terminator. We’re putting Arnold’s cyborg under the microscope - literally. From the 6502 assembly language hidden in the Terminator’s HUD to the ‘Right to Repair’ scene that would make a modern technician weep, we explore why this low-budget slasher-turned-sci-fi remains the gold standard for AI storytelling. We also tackle the tough questions: Why does time travel require nudity (and will it encourage us to be ‘beach ready’ in the future)? And can we please acknowledge that Kyle Reese saved humanity while wearing deeply questionable, possibly biohazard-level trousers? Whether you're here for the technical deep dive into Agentic AI or the high-octane roast of Terminator: Genisys, this episode has enough 80s nostalgia to power a Walkman for a decade. Stick around to the end for our completely serious (not serious) food and drink pairings. When movies guess the future, we check their work.

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From cult classics to cinematic icons, each episode breaks down the tech behind the stories, whether it’s eerily accurate, wildly speculative, or completely absurd. We dig into everything from popping kernels to processing power, unpacking how films imagine, distort, and occasionally predict the future. Is the tech visionary or laughable? Did the film get it right or miss the mark entirely? If you love film, technology, and asking “what were they thinking?”, this is the podcast for you. When movies guess the future, we check their work.