Episode 391: THE RED SPECTACLES (1987) with Matt Clark

THE RED SPECTACLES is one entry in a long-running multimedia dystopian sci-fi series by the guy who made GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995). It’s one of the wildest, most tone-swingy things we’ve ever seen at the Trylon. It almost feels impossible to fully encircle, one of those flicks that takes hairpin turns just when you think you’ve got a handle on it.

Amidst the confusion, our friend and film writer Matt Clark picks up on some elements that can be traced to Japanese crime films. That’s as good an entry point as any into THE RED SPECTACLES, but we’re doing our usual thing and poking around the edges of this weird movie to see how close we can get to its elusive center!

Find Matt…

At Kino Ventura , his blog about movies

Making Apache Revolver , his zine about crime films

On Bluesky at kinoventura

On Letterboxd at kino_ventura

On Trylove episodes about SHOGUN ASSASSIN (1980), THE LAVENDER HILL MOB (1951), NIGHT MOVES (1975), THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE (1973), THE ROCKETEER (1991), MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (1978)

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