The Omega Man (1971) and Zardoz (1974)

The Omega Man (1971) and Zardoz (1974)

Author: Film Trace December 17, 2023 Duration: 59:01

In the sixth episode of our Future Wars cycle, we discuss the last man on earth romp The Omega Man (1971) as well as the bonkers fever dream that is Zardoz (1974).

Special Guest: Sean Patrick from the great Everyone’s a Critic podcast

The 1970s were a trip. The Omega Man is a zany, over-the-top apocalypse movie that is helmed by maybe the worst possible choice for the role, Charlton Heston. Zardoz is a legendary cult film that makes even less sense now than it did on release. Films about the future mirror their present, and it was crystal clear that the human race was in La La Land in the 1970s. But what could be read as unserious in these movies is more a reflection of our present. We feel locked into a future of degrading democracy, climate, and personal prospects. The absurdity of these films reflects a different time, a time before Reagan, AIDs, and a slowly suffocating planet. Perhaps there is something in the openness and creativity of a film like Zardoz. That maybe, we aren't stuck in an express lane to Cyberpunk 2077, time will tell.


Ever find yourself falling down an internet rabbit hole after the credits roll, clicking from a film’s trivia page to the director’s biography and then to some obscure piece of production history? That’s the exact feeling Film Trace aims to capture and expand upon in audio form. This isn't just another review show. Instead, each episode is a deep, meticulously researched excavation of a single movie’s entire journey. We start with the initial spark of an idea-the script found in a drawer, the chance meeting that got it greenlit-and follow every twist and turn through casting, chaotic production, and post-production. The story continues to the film’s release, its critical and cultural reception, and what legacy it holds now. Think of it as a comprehensive, narrative-driven biography of a film, built on primary sources and genuine curiosity. The hosts at Film Trace use their collective nerd superpowers to do all that obsessive digging for you, weaving together context, history, and behind-the-scenes details into a compelling story about how art gets made. You’ll come away from each installment of this podcast not just with an opinion on a movie, but with a real understanding of its place in the wider world of TV and film. It’s for anyone who believes the story off-screen is just as fascinating as the one projected on it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Film Trace
Podcast Episodes
The Maltese Falcon (1941\1931) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:51
In the season finale of our Visionary Remakes season, we investigate two versions of The Maltese Falcon, the original from 1931 and the more famous 1941 version.The Maltese Falcon has almost become shorthand for both Hum…
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and Yojimbo (1961) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:59
In episode seven of our Visionary Remakes season, we traverse two classic westerns. First, Kurosawa's Yojimbo (1961) and its nearly immediate Italian reaction, Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars (1964).The western has a…
King Kong (1976\1933) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:14
In episode six of our Visionary Remakes season, we explore two versions of the King Kong myth, the original from 1933 and the 1970s remake. We toss in a dash of Peter Jackson's 2005 version as well.Special Guest: Riley -…
The Fly (1986\1958) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:41
In episode five of our Visionary Remakes season, we dissect the original The Fly from 1958 as well as David Cronenberg's bombastic remake from 1986.Special Guest: Daniel Malone - Host of the great You Talkin' to Me? podc…
Cape Fear (1991\1962) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:28
In episode four of our Visionary Remakes season, we cross-examine two versions of Cape Fear, the original starring a creepy and enigmatic Robert Mitchum, and the 1991 remake from Martin Scorsese starring a crazed and man…
Dawn of the Dead (2004\1978) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
In episode three of our Visionary Remakes season, we bite into Dawn of the Dead, the original by George Romero from 1978 and the kinetic remake by Zack Snyder from 2004.Special Guest: Karl Delossantos, founder and film c…
True Grit (2010\1969) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:23
In episode two of our Visionary Remakes season, we survey the recent Coen brothers remake of True Grit (2010) and compare it to the original film, a John Wayne vehicle from 1969.Special Guest: Brian Eggert is the owner a…
Nosferatu (2024\1922) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:13
A new season of Film Trace is here! This season we will try something a bit different. We are focusing on Visionary Remakes. In each episode, we will watch a remake made in the selected decade and then go back and compar…
A House Divided: 2024 Films We Love, Films We Hate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:50
A House Divided: 2024 Films We Love, Films We HateIn this special episode, Dan and Chris delve into the films that split them down the middle—where one of us loved a movie, and the other couldn't stand it. It's our versi…
While the City Sleeps (1956) and M (1931) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:34
In the season finale of our Manhunt series, we trace the trajectory of Fritz Lang's exceptional beginnings with M (1931) to his wilting end in While the City Sleeps (1956).Fritz Lang had already created two masterpieces,…