This week on Crouch Cinema Corner we dive into Steven Spielberg’s 2005 take on War of the Worlds and its long, strange history from H. G. Wells’ original novel to Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast and even the 1953 sci fi classic that scarred us as kids. We swap childhood trauma stories involving alien invasions, share our favorite Spielberg family dysfunction moments, and geek out over John Williams’ spine tingling score. From Tom Cruise’s surprisingly great performance to Spielberg’s masterclass in blending practical and digital effects, we explore why this dark blockbuster still packs a punch. Along the way there is plenty of brotherly mind reading, some basement scene nostalgia, and a shared realization that Spielberg simply does not let you breathe in this movie.