Know a weird movie? Something strange that glued you to the screen with awe, amazement or reverence, while your more mundane minded friends left the room (or theater) in boredom, confusion or disgust? A movie whose omission from a list of the 366 weirdest movies of all time would offend you on a personal level? Something even I haven’t heard of or considered? There are potentially thousands of forgotten films, critically dismissed films, foreign or independent films that never got a proper release, or misplaced oddities hiding out there that may deserve a place at the table. One man can’t be expected to track them all down. Here is the place to mention those treasured curios that no one else seems to have even heard of. Nominate a movie in the suggestion box and I’ll move it up on my review queue, or at the very least, explain why I’m not going to review it.
NOTICE: The “Suggest of Weird Movie!” feature has become a victim of its own success. At the time of this update, we have about 250 reader suggestions (!) in queue. Since we can only do 1 or maybe 2 reviews a week, be aware there may be a huge delay—currently, possibly over a year!—between the time you make a suggestion and the point at which it’s actually reviewed. I considered shutting down the suggestion box as of 2011, but I decided to let you keep your suggestions coming (if nothing else, it tells us what types of movies readers are interested in seeing reviews of). Just be aware that when you make a suggestion, it may not receive the promptest of attention.
If you can’t wait for one of our staff to review your movie, why not review it yourself and submit it to us via the contact form? We can’t swear we’ll publish every submission we receive, but we want reader participation and we are fairly liberal.
To prevent spam, commenting require registration. We will not share your email with third parties. All serious suggestions will receive a response, as well as all most non-serious ones.
I see you don’t have “naked lunch”. That was the first the popped in my mind :-)
Thanks for the suggestion, Rui! I will stock up on Bug Powder and give Naked Lunch another look. The soundtrack by Ornette Coleman and Howard Shore is definitelty worth checking out, too.
I am screening the odd little indie film Elevator Movie next, and I have a few more capsules to do, but Cronenberg’s film goes right into queue behind those.
I suggest a review of “The Reflecting Skin.”
“Bani,” I am shocked to discover that The Reflecting Skin is not available on DVD! I usually rely on Netflix for review copies, but that’s not always possible. I will have to look for a VHS copy. But it’s a film I’ve been meaning to see for a long time, and I definitely want to give it a review! I’ll get on it soon (after Naked Lunch), but there might be a delay in the review appearing.
It’s actually quite similar in concept to Tideland, which I just reviewed.
Hi, a very interesting site. As a citizen of Ukraine I would like to suggest for reviewing a movie based on the Ukrainian folklore and a Nikolay Gogol’s text titled “Viy”. The movie’s original title is the same “Viy” (1967), but in the USA it was distributed as “Spirit of Evil”. Please do not mix it up with “Viy” lately produced in Russia.
I would suggest one more movie produced in the former USSR, actually in Kiev,Ukraine. Its Russian title “Черная курица или жители подземелья” (The Black Hen, or Living Underground)
Director: Viktor Gres
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128120
It’s a wonderful fairytale. But I’m afraid it is not available in the USA. One of most favourite film of my childhood.
Natalia
Natalia, I have put Viy (1967) into my review queue right behind Naked Lunch and The Reflecting Skin. Netflix indicates that there is a “very long wait” for this title. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.
I think Soviet-era films are a potential goldmine for film lovers here in the West. Russians (and Ukrainians) have a natural sense of fantasy and surrealism. There must be hundreds of titles that have never been translated into English and officially released here. I understand there may be rights issues, since the Soviet Union owned all those films. I’ll see what I can dig up on The Black Hen, or Living Underground.
I’ve recently seen a movie which slightly, by a very distant association reminded me Antonioni’s “Zabriskie Point”. The movie is “Wristcutters: A Love Story” (2006) with Tom Waits. Though being rather sad by its plot but it is ephemerally light. I think you may cover it here.
Natalia, thanks for pointing out Wristcutters. Somehow I never heard about this movie when it came out, although I love Tom Waits both as an actor and a singer. I’m putting it in queue right behind Naked Lunch (review coming this week), The Reflecting Skin, and Viy.
Hello. I’d like to suggest two of my favourite films. One is The Wicker Man, the 1973 version directed by Robin Hardy, not the horrible remake from 2006. Maybe it’s not weird enough, but it sure isn’t a conventional film either.
The other suggestion is David Lynch’s classic Eraserhead.
Cheers
Thanks for the suggestions, Filipe. I believe The Wicker Man (1973) would probably qualify as a great weird movie; the atmosphere and feel are totally unique. I haven’t seen it in ten or twenty years, but I still remember certain scenes as if I saw them yesterday. I’ll give it another look. And I’ve been waiting for someone to suggest Eraserhead. There was no need to review it on my own; I knew someone would request it sooner or later.
My review queue now looks like this: The Reflecting Skin (review should be ready on Monday), Viy (still waiting to receive a copy), Wristcutters: A Love Story, The Wicker Man, and Eraserhead.
Great! Looking forward to your reviews. You’re doing a terrific work with this site by the way. My friend Rui, who suggested Naked Lunch, pointed me here and I’ve been reading avidly since.
I suggest my own surreal short film (it was my first film actually, I’m still proud of it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyhXBdjNiKg
or my new Antifilm II
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/8369/hektalagonia13fin7d00.gif
I’d like to suggest the then West German movie “Das Wirtshaus I’m Spessart” (1960) (The Haunted Castle USA) based on the popular German fairy tale/legend. Director: Kurt Hoffmann.
The story is about the ghosts of the robbers from “Wirtshaus I’m Spessart”. In my youth it was very popular and it was nominated Grand Prix at Moscow International Film Festival and won Silver Prize (1959-1967).
Haewatein, sorry for taking so long to reply, but please keep making films! I think your work fits better with Alfred’s “Fringe Cinema” than the main site (although feel free to notify us again when you’ve completed a feature). I gave him your info, but he has a very big backlog of stuff to review, as do I.
Irene, I would love to give Das Spukschloß im Spessart [The Haunted Castle] (1960) a chance, but I can’t find a copy of it. It seems it has never been released on video in North America, and the only versions available are in German on Region 2 DVDs (which will not play in most North American DVD players). I keep a list of untranslated foreign movies that I hope will someday get a release, and I will put this one on it. In the meanwhile, feel free to make another suggestion.
Here are a couple weird ones. Lair of the white Snake. I was allowed to watch this movie at a very young age, and with that viewing I also watched my innocence slowly slip from my grasp. Barberella is a truly psychedelic experience of the third kind, and a classic that I have seen at least four times is Lost Highway…. Funny how secrets travel.
Enjoy, and thanks for the list
Nico
Thanks Nico, those are good ones, all worthy of being included on the list. I will place Lair of the White Worm in my review queue, right behind Eraserhead. (And look for a mention of director Ken Russell in the “artsploitation” article that will be posted later today). Check back later for Barbarella and Lost Highway (feel free to re-suggest them if I don’t get to them quick enough).
I suggest “Begotten” by E. Merhige. GOD disembowels himself. It’s very surreal.
Jeff, thanks for Begotten. Somehow when I compiled my initial list of titles to investigate, it got left off by accident. That’s why your suggestions are so helpful. I will place it in the review queue behind Eraserhead and Lair of the White Worm.
My new suggestion is Nostalghia (1983) by the late legendary Russian director and script writer Andrei Tarkovsky. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086022/
The movie I’m suggesting is definitely a cult one and should be available in the USA as it was made outside the Soviet Union. Oleg Yankovskiy, a legend of the Russian cinematography was acting in the movie. O. Yankovskiy has recently passed away (@0 May, 2009).
Excellent suggestion! It’s one I haven’t seen yet. I’ll add it in the queue behind Eraserhead (coming this week, I promise), Lair of the White Worm and Begotten.
Thank you. I’ll be waiting.
Stay
Melissa, I am sure you mean Stay (2005) with Ewan McGregor. (There are several movies named Stay, but this one looks like the right candidate). Thanks, I actually had not heard of this one and it looks perfectly suited for the list. It goes in queue behind Lair of the White Worm, Begotten and Nostalghia.
The quirky Asia Times columnist Spengler last year wrote on Luis Bunuel’s The Milky Way. I think you might like it. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is Bunuel’s best known movie, but I thought this one better.
Thanks, Andrew. As you might have guessed, I’ll be getting to almost all of Buñuel’s work sooner or later. The Milky Way (1969) looks to be as good a place as any to start with this difficult director. So, the rapidly growing review queue now looks like this: Lair of the White Worm (review in progress), Begotten, Nostalghia, Stay, and The Milky Way. And I’ll likely mix one or two of my own choices into that list, as well.
The queue is getting huge but I’ll risk suggesting another one. “C’est Arrivé Près de Chez Vous”. I’ve just checked IMDB and the english title is “Man Bites Dog”.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of the strangest movies I’ve seen in a long time. Tim Curry steals the title for the strangest role with a whole cast of crazy characters to back him up. Definitely a weird one!
Felipe: OK, I will add Man Bites Dog. I didn’t like it when it came out, but I’ll give it another chance. It definitely deserves evaluation on a site devoted to weird movies.
Evan: You’re right, I must consider The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s one I had overlooked.
So, the ever-growing queue looks like this: Lair of the White Worm (under construction), Begotten, Nostalghia, Stay, The Milky Way, Man Bites Dog, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. That should keep me busy for a while!
I’d like to recommend two movies.
The first is actually not available on DVD and the VHS copies are going for around $100 so you’ll have to find it for rent somewhere and if you happen to live near Madison, WI I know where you can get it. The title is A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings (Un senor muy viejo con unas alas enormes) and it is directed by Fernando Birr. I believe it is the only adaptation of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez story worth seeing.
The other is available on dvd and it’s title is Cure directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
Richard L.: Since you seem to be offering me a choice, I will review Cure and put A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings on the backburner until I make it to Madison, WI, or otherwise discover a source.
In other news, I’ll review Stay before Begotten or Nostalghia, because I didn’t realize the other two were both out of print. I think I can locate reasonably priced copies of both, though.
Great site. Not a single Japanese movie on your list yet? How about “Funky Forest”? That one’s right at the top of the weirdest ones I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen Jodorowsky’s films.
If you like actually good weird movies from Japan: “Princess Raccoon” and the animated film “Mind Game”.
Charles: good observation. It is kind of… weird… that there hasn’t been a Japanese movie featured here yet. It’s just luck of the draw, really; I think the Japanese may land as many as 20-30 movies on the list by the end.
By the way, we not only like good weird movies, we prefer them.
I’ll put Funky Forest into the queue. I am still searching for an affordable review copy of Begotten, but I did acquire a VHS copy of Nostalghia. So I will likely review Nostalghia first, followed (hopefully) by the elusive Begotten, with The Milky Way, Man Bites Dog, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Funky Forest to follow.
I’m happy to learn that at least a VHS copy of Nostalghia is available for reviewing it here.
Loved the Reflecting Skin.
If you love the strange I highly recommend:
Dr. Caligari (1998 version)
Heavenly Creatures
Freaks (1932)
Leolo
La Ardilla Roja (The Red Squirrel)
Baxter (1989 Beware of the dog who thinks)
Anything by John Waters
and anything by David Lynch of course… Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, Mulholland Drive, Elephant Man, Twin Peaks are my personal faves.
Speaking of Japanese movies…
Audition (1999 by Takashi Miike)
The Cook the Thief His Wife and Her Lover (1989)
ok I’ll stop now. xoxo
Cassandra, no need to stop now, I love the enthusiasm for these movies! I have plans to review most of the movies you mentioned here; most of them will make the list. (You do know we already reviewed Eraserhead, right?) The suggestions which were new to me were Dr. Caligari, La Ardilla Roja, and Baxter. So, just for you, I’ll add Dr. Caligari to my review list.
I obtained a rental copy of Begotten, review will be posted next week. After that it’s Nostlaghia, The Milky Way, Man Bites Dog, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Funky Forest and Dr. Caligari.
366, thanks so much! I Love this site. *Cheers* to your reviews.
Ok, one more… If you are interested in a strange Japanese musical, The Happiness of the Katakuris. Normally I’m unable to sit through a musical, but this one is special!
my suggestion NEKRomantik
I’ve avoided Nekromantik for years; it seems like one of those movies whose sole purpose is to disturb. But I agree that it deserves a look, at least. I will add it to the end of the review queue.
I would love it if you could review Synecdoche, New York. It is one of the strangest and most attractive films I have ever seen.
I suggest A Clockwork Orange
Zeldon: I mentioned Synecdoche back in the Weird Horizon column for 3/19/09, so it’s already “pre-approved.” It’s always interesting to see what Charlie Kaufman will come up with.
Richard: Yep, A Clockwork Orange is a classic in the field, I was expecting it to be mentioned soon!
Updated review queue: The Milky Way (hopefully I’m finished with this one tomorrow); Man Bites Dog; The Rocky Horror Picture Show; Cure; Funky Forest; Dr. Caligari; Nekromantic; Synecdoche, New York; and A Clockwork Orange. Whew!
Sorry, you’ve missed Stalker recommended by Alfred Eaker
July 3rd in his commentary of Nostalghia. :)
I think Alfred should have to go through normal channels and suggest Stalker on this official suggestion thread, just like anyone else. But I will add it to the end of the queue behind A Clockwork Orange nonetheless. I have to get to most, if not all, of Tarkovsky eventually anyway.
Here are the ones I would nominate:
“UHF” (1989) – Weird Al’s movie must be on the list.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005)
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971)
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (2005)
“Toys” (1992)
“Coneheads” (1993)
“Little Shop of Horrors” (1986)
“Lilo & Stitch” (2002)
Vooshvazool, of those you listed, I may get around to the original Willy Wonka (I’m not much of a fan of the remake), and I’ve heard promising things about Hitchhikers Guide. A few of those other movies could get capsule reviews.
However, I am interested in finally seeing UHF after having heard so much about it over the years, so that’s the one I’ll add to my review queue.
Updated review queue: Synecdoche, New York; Man Bites Dog; The Rocky Horror Picture Show; Cure; Funky Forest; Dr. Caligari; Nekromantic; A Clockwork Orange; Stalker; and UHF. I plan to publish reviews of both Synecdoche and Man Bites Dog next week.
Bad Boy Bubby I think is a weird movie, black++ comedy
Una, I’ve only heard of Bad Boy Bubby but from the IMDB description it looks promising and right up our alley. So I’ll add it.
Updated queue: Synecdoche, New York (this week); The Rocky Horror Picture Show; Cure; Funky Forest; Dr. Caligari; Nekromantic; A Clockwork Orange; Stalker; UHF; Bad Boy Bubby.
Hi. Don’t forget Delicatessen. :)
Filipe: I will add Delicatessen to the end of the list. Next week should see me do Cure, at least.
you may consider adding crooked rot to the “shorts” section. and i’m sure david firth’s full length animated film should be considered when it’s finished. it will probably take a few years, though.
http://www.fat-pie.com/crookedrot.htm
Cameron, you touch on an excellent point. Short films have been getting “short shrift” around here, and there are multiple reasons we should pay more attention to them. I would like to spotlight at least one short a week–it’s just been a time issue. If anyone out there with writing skills and/or filmmaking experience would like to apply for a position as “shorts editor,” give us a shout. In the meantime I will try to squeeze more shorts in, including “Crooked Rot.”
here’s another one to consider. there are a lot of good short films from future shorts, but most of them are more comedic than weird.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7HMz1WKkso&feature=related
also, i thought pi by darren aronofsky was a really stange film. it may not make the list, but it deserves a shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ1sZSCz47w
thank you.
sorry, i have one last comment. i found jodorowsky’s the holy mountain (1973) to be more strange than el topo. (el topo, to me seemed more violent and disturbing.) it’s just a matter of opinion, but i wasn’t sure whether or not you had seen them both.
by the way, i love this site. the time you take to review each film is greatly appreciated.
Cameron: I’ll add Pi to the review queue, it was one I planned to review eventually anyway.
Don’t worry about The Holy Mountain, it will definitely be reviewed in the future. I’ll let you hang until then about my opinion on Holy Mountain vs. El Topo.
Thanks for the appreciation–readers like you are greatly appreciated as well. You guys give this site a reason to exist.
The queue now looks like this: Cure (next week), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (fingers crossed, next week as well), Funky Forest, Dr. Caligari (I didn’t realize this was out of print–I need to find a copy), Nekromantic, A Clockwork Orange, Stalker, UHF, Bad Boy Bubby, Delicatessen, Pi.
I have a similar reason for loving bad movies as your description of enjoying their weird surprises. Although I term my reason slack-jawed awe. In any event, I’ll pile on a few movies too:
Cat Soup (anime short film, at some point it used to be on youtube broken up into three 10-minute pieces, if this is useful info to you)
Angel’s egg (anime film, fairly slow, but I like it. Even though I couldn’t explain it)
Cowards bend the knee (some more Guy Maddin. Though I suppose one could reach a point after a couple of his movies of becoming “inured” to his oddness. But I did like this more than Careful and The saddest music in the world)
The ninth configuration (a tiny bit like One flew over the cuckoo’s nest so maybe not that weird but, if maybe a century from now you’re having a lull in suggestions…)
In my skin (While I found this movie at times soothing, like a lava lamp, it does have bits which could make people sit up and notice. Besides, I’d be interested to read a review of it from where you seem to be approaching movies from.)
save the green planet (Korean movie, which bounces around a couple of genres and could be construed as weird, even though it might lose impact due to its running time. At the least, it has the second-best rendition of Somewhere over the rainbow in)
Nine lives of tomas katz (erm… stuff. Well I liked it.)
Godfrey:
Anyone that knows me knows I love “bad” movies as well. A good number of “so-bad-it’s-good/weird” movies should eventually make their way onto the list (joining The Horrors of Spider Island, among others).
I only add one suggestion at a time to the review queue (or else I’d be here forever). I’ll put Angel’s Egg (1985) at the end of the queue. I haven’t done any anime yet, so it will be a nice new genre to explore. Did you know there was a live action Japanese film with the same title from 2006? I can’t tell if they are based on the same source material or just accidentally share a title.
The others… some I’ve heard of and plan to get to, some I haven’t. Check back later and we’ll see if I get to them.
P.S. I have to wonder if your handle isn’t a combination of Godfrey Ho and Bruno Mattei…
I’d recommend the film Institute Benjamenta, a film by the Brothers Quay, who were responsible for many weird MTV shorts in the ’90s.
I’m not sure it’s a great film, because I’m not sure what it’s about, or if it moves past the filmmaker’s surrealism. (The film seems to contain at one point an indictment of organized religion, but it is almost as obtuse as Greaser’s Palace, another film you might want to check out.) However, it is the first film I though of when you mentioned in your Eraserhead review that very few films have followed its stylistic lead.
Some of the sequences in this odd black and white film are filled with powerful, eerie imagery. There is an astounding sequence where the character played by Alice Krige (a weird movie staple) stares in horror at her own face in a mirror. The high contrast of the black and white film causes her visage to disappear into on screen texture (like that “can you see the dalmatian” picture psychology classes love so much).
Might be out of print, but a worthy addition to your site.
Rob/Mofo,
Institute Benjamenta is definitely on my list to check out (I’ve never seen it, but I have seen the Quay brothers shorts–awesome!). As you correctly guessed, it’s out of print. I’ll add it to the end of my review queue and hope I can find a copy. Greaser’s Palace is also one I need to review; I didn’t like it that much the first time I saw it years ago, but my opinions often change with age.