There seems to be a peculiar power to the science fiction film. More than almost any other genre, it is the perfect melding of form and story, as the magic of the movies dovetails with the interest of sci-fi in pushing the boundaries of the possible. Whether it’s peering into the future — with all of its perils and promise — or excavating humanity’s deepest fears and desires about the body, sci-fi films have always been incredibly thought-provoking.
The best of them take their inquiries to the next level, asking uncomfortable questions about the nature of life itself and humanity’s place in the vastness of the cosmos.
Thomas J. West III earned a PhD in film and film studies from Syracuse University in 2018. His writing on film and television has appeared in Screen Rant, Screenology, FanFare, Primetimer, Cinemania, as well as several clinical journals and edited collections . He co-hosts the Queens of the B podcast and writes a regular newsletter, Omnivorous, on Substack. He is also an active member of GALECA, the LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Society.
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