1997 — same year as Contact — it features a similar device that uses the moving circles and stable core (in which Jodie Foster is situated) to create a sort of wormhole to the Vega aliens. Of course it looks smooth and futuristic rather than a medieval torture device
Interestingly enough, the drive resembles certain biblical descriptions of angels.
Also warhammer 40k warp hell drive
i like how the core moves
@weldonwin