Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…
Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.
IN THEATERS (WIDE RELEASE):
Silent Hill: Revelation: Belated sequel to the unexpectedly weird 2006 video game adaptation; the unhelpful plot synopsis describes a trip into a “strange and terrifying alternate reality.” It’s in 3D and there were no advance screenings for critics; we’ll keep an open mind, but neither of those facts inspire a lot of confidence. Silent Hill: Revelation official site.
NEW ON DVD:
Dropping Evil (2012): A nerd massacres his friends when he sees their true nature after they dose him with LSD as a prank; a corporation and Christian fundamentalists also fit in somehow. With Troma scream queen Tiffany Shepis and Fred “the Hammer” Williamson in a small role. Buy Dropping Evil
Shatter Dead (1994): Read our capsule review. From what we can tell, this SRS release is an exact duplicate of the out-of-print Sub Rosa release, including the three separate commentary tracks (!) on this low-budget zombie art movie. Buy Shatter Dead
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
The Penalty (1920): Read our review. This silent amputee crime melodrama is an interesting choice for a Kino Blu-ray release; it shows how deep the format’s catalog is starting to get. Buy The Penalty [Blu-ray]
NEW ON INSTANT VIDEO:
The Devil’s Carnival (2012): Repo! The Genetic Opera fans will want to check out this followup rock musical, which is a sort of variation on Dante’s Inferno with Hell as a circus. This 56 minute episode with original songs is the first of a planned series of yet undetermined length. Rent The Devil’s Carnival
FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON YOUTUBE:
The Horrors of Spider Island (1960): Read the Certified Weird entry. Just in time for Halloween! Horrors include an interminable dance audition sequence, bad dubbing, and buxom German women frolicking in homemade palm frond bikinis.
What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that I have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.