Send us a text

This week on The Introverted Obelisk, we dive headfirst into the salty depths of atomic-age anxiety with It Came From Beneath the Sea—a cautionary tale about the dangers of nuclear testing, hubris, and underestimating how mad a giant radioactive octopus can get when you only give it six tentacles. Join us as we follow a square-jawed submarine commander, a trailblazing female scientist, and a dude who exists solely to wear a lab coat and point at things, as they attempt to stop a tentacled terror from turning San Francisco into a seafood platter.

We'll wade through the gloriously janky stop-motion effects of Ray Harryhausen, marvel at how the beast only has six limbs (thanks, budget cuts), and unpack the Cold War metaphors hidden beneath the rubbery surface. From underwater suspense to bridge-smashing destruction, this film delivers 1950s monster madness with the subtlety of a depth charge.

So grab your spear guns, avoid touching anything slimy, and remember: if a giant octopus knocks on your door, it probably doesn’t want to borrow a cup of sugar. Subscribe now and enjoy the podcast that surfaces weird cinema so you don’t have to get wet.

Support the show