Capricorn One (1997) +TALK: Conspiracy Theory Psychology

Minutes before the launch of their mission, the crew of Capricorn One (James Brolin, Sam Waterston and O. J. Simpson) are told to exit their capsule and are secretly taken to an abandoned desert hangar. For the sake of the nation’s morale and the future of NASA funding, they are coerced into taking part in an elaborate charade – but when the captive astronauts learn their capsule burned up on re-entry and the world believes them dead, they know their very existence now poses a threat to national security…

The film will be preceded by a talk from Professor Karen Douglas of the University of Kent who will talk about when and why people believe in conspiracy theories, and why conspiracy theories are important.