Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) - S15 E117

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) - S15 E117

From Shoot The Hostage by Shoot The Hostage Podcast

June 1, 2026 · 1h 17m · Episode 164

About this episode

The episode explores the haunting mystery of Peter Weir’s 1975 film Picnic at Hanging Rock, discussing its themes and cinematography.

We’re climbing back into the void for the third instalment of our Liminal Space season. After the chaotic vibes of last week, Sarah has led us into the hazy sun-drenched mystery of Peter Weir’s 1975 masterpiece, Picnic at Hanging Rock. It’s a film that defines Australian cinema and remains one of the most haunting pop-culture touchstones of the 1970s, even if Dan is convinced the titular landmark is a self-powered, solar-propelled magic rock with a hidden toaster outlet for your crumpets. We anchor ourselves into the cinema of Victorian repression, exploring how a group of schoolgirls from Appleyard College vanished on Valentine’s Day in 1900. Is the rock simply a geological wonder, or is it an ancient, cosmic horror entity capable of folding time and space? We discuss the ethereal atmosphere created by Weir and the legendary “great wig drama” involving a formidable Rachel Roberts. From Jackie Weaver’s flat cap adventure to the mystery of the 1900 era thin bananas, we’re leaving no stone unturned. What to expect from this episode: Sarah explains why this is the quintessential entry for our liminal space movies season. Dan reveals his theory about the rock being a self-powered…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sarah, Dan

Topics covered

  • Australian cinema
  • mystery
  • liminal space
  • cinematography
  • historical analysis

Keywords

  • Picnic at Hanging Rock
  • Peter Weir
  • Australian cinema
  • mystery
  • Rachel Roberts
  • liminal space
  • 1900
  • Valentine’s Day
  • cinematography

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Appleyard College

Books & works: Picnic at Hanging Rock

Places: Victoria

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