The Temporal Terror of The Philadelphia Xperiment

As a long-time fan of the classic CBC “Nightfall” series, I have always had a deep appreciation for audio drama that isn’t afraid to push boundaries. When I connected with John Ballentine, the creator of Campfire Radio Theater, I knew I had found a kindred spirit in the world of sonic horror.

After sending over a promo reel of my dark ambient work, I was thrilled to contribute original music to this episode. “The Philadelphia Xperiment” is a heavy, psychological descent into madness that required a score capable of balancing 1950s institutional sterility with cosmic horror.

A Mind-Bending Journey to 1943

The story is framed within the cold, echoing halls of a mental hospital in 1951. We follow “Patient X,” an enigmatic World War II veteran facing a transorbital lobotomy. But the true horror lies in his repressed memories of October 28, 1943, aboard the USS Eldridge.

The script describes the sky turning into a “green shroud” and a “thundering drum-like resonance” throbbing in the stomach. Capturing that sensation, the feeling of being “yanked from one temporal plane to another,” was the primary goal for the audio landscape. The sound design had to mirror the description of men “ignited into flame” and “flesh merged with metal”.

Listener Response

The reception to this episode has been solid, with many listeners pointing out the cinematic quality of the production.

One listener noted, “This story was really interesting and kept me captivated,” while another commented on the depth of the world-building, saying, “I honestly wish it could’ve been its own series.”

The combination of the writing and the audio production seemed to strike a chord, with reviews highlighting that “the music and soundscaping in this episode is really good.”

Credits

• Written, Directed, and Produced by: John Ballentine
• Music by: Kevin Hartnell, Kevin MacLeod, Richard Lainhart, and ERH

Cast:

• David Ault
• Jack Kincaid
• Joe Stofko
• M. Sieiro Garcia
• John Ballentine
• Blaine Hicklin
• Glenn Hascall

Running time: 32:58

Listen to the unreleased track “A Face Under the Ice” from the score.