B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Till Nowak’s The Centrifuge Brain Project into the ol’ VCR. 

Now, I’ll admit that I was late to The Centrifuge Brain Project. In fact, I hadn’t heard of it at all until it came up in a YouTube video that I naturally can’t find now. 

Released all the way back in 2011, The Centrifuge Brain Project was ahead of its time. And, I think its influence on horror ARGs like Liminal Land is clear. 

Video source: Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg

Presented as a documentary, Dr. Nick Laslowicz (Leslie Barany) walks us through a series of experiments camouflaged as amusement park rides. These physics-bending rides were designed to essentially test stamina and potentially expand the human mind. 

Dr. Laslowicz’s company, the Institute for Centrifugal Research, began building and creating rides in the late 70s, and they’re truly WILD. 

I rest my case 

I love this short for a few reasons. 

First and foremost, it seems like it was plucked right from PBS. They play everything so straight. Additionally, all of the visual components could be placed in content today, and we wouldn’t bat an eye, which is highly impressive, considering this short is almost 13-years-old. 

Secondly, I learned in my research that Leslie Barany apparently ad-libbed a lot of his lines and put his own direction and spin on scripted lines. As someone who’s a stickler for dialogue, I can’t rave enough about how natural everything sounds. 

Finally, in my opinion, I believe The Centrifuge Brain Project has served as the inspiration for many a horror ARG/analog horror series. I can think of so many projects that utilize the same tone and interview style. 

Video source: Till Nowak

I might’ve been late to the game on The Centrifuge Brain Project, but I’m so glad I found my way here. 

It’s so innovative, and knowing everything I know about horror ARGs and analog horror series just makes it all the more impressive. 

If you’re a fan of Liminal Land or the analog horror series we cover here on B Movies, definitely give this one a shot.