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 (LIMITED RELEASE):
The Banshee Chapter (2013) – Read our review. Although we recommended this horror/conspiracy thriller only to Art Bell types and viewers looking to add another portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson to their viewing collection, we will point out that, based on its current 91% positive Rotten Tomatoes rating, most critics seemed to like it a good deal better than we did. The Banshee Chapter Facebook page.
Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo (2012): The third (of a planned four) entry in the apocalyptic anime reboot about giant fighting robots and the whiny teens who pilot them. The scheduling for this one is strange—it’s playing in a lot of U.S. cities, but in most places for one night only—so if you’re interested, you’ll want to check the website to find the date it’s playing near you. Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo official site.
Return to Nuke ‘Em High, Volume 1 (2013): After thirty odd (very odd) years, we return to the mutated halls of Nuke ‘Em High: now with lesbians! For better or worse Troma is at it again, with this story of chick-on-chick and chick-on-mutant action that saw its US premiere—I kid you not—at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. In New York this week, with a Los Angeles run next week and scattered screenings in larger cities across this great nation. Return to Nuke ‘Em High official site.
The Truth About Emanuel (2013): A teenager finds that her next-door neighbor uncannily resembles pictures of her dead mother in what’s described as a “hyperstylized and often darkly humorous film that vacillates between surrealism and realism.” This played last year at Sundance under the better (and weirder) title Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes. The Truth About Emanuel official site.
IN DEVELOPMENT:
“Twin Peaks” Promo: David Lynch put out a casting call looking for a “busty brunette or redhead” to shoot a “‘Twin Peaks’ promo.” Or maybe not: “Twin Peaks” co-creator Mark Frost immediately called it “a strange and baseless rumor,” despite the fact that the (since pulled) ad was posted by the reputable Sande Alessi Casting Agency. Speculation is that the shoot was for an extra to be included on the upcoming “Twin Peaks” Blu-ray. In an unrelated matter, we’re looking for a “busty brunette or redhead” to do some “promos” for 366 Weird Movies—although we will accept a blonde in a pinch. Must bring own coffee and cherry pie. Read about the rumor at Welcome to Twin Peaks.
NEW ON DVD:
The Act of Killing (2012): Read our review. This documentary in which retired Indonesian gangsters re-enact the crimes of their youths in the style of Hollywood movies gets our vote for the best 2013 release in any genre. Buy The Act of Killing
For Ever Mozart (1996): An elliptical movie about various artists failing to tell the story they intend to, including a troupe who tries to mount a play in Sarajevo but find themselves massacred instead. The Cohen Group releases another of Jean-Luc Godard‘s “difficult” late movies. Buy For Ever Mozart
Hail Mary (1985): In a slightly (and we use that term advisedly) more accessible movie than For Ever Mozart, Jean-Luc Godard retells the story of the Virgin Mary in a contemporary setting. On its release this film was condemned by Catholics and banned in Brazil, with the controversy mainly over some non-sexual nude scenes (the content actually isn’t blasphemous—surprising, considering the source). Buy Hail Mary
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
The Act of Killing (2012): See description in DVD above. Buy The Act of Killing [Blu-ray]
For Ever Mozart (1996): See description in DVD above. Buy For Ever Mozart [Blu-ray]
Hail Mary (1985): See description in DVD above. Buy Hail Mary [Blu-ray]
Monty Python’s the Meaning of Life (1983): Read our review. Universal just put out a “30th Anniversary” Blu-ray of Meaning of Life last October, so it’s not really clear what the point of this “1980s: Best of the Decade” edition (which comes with a “collectible flap”) is. It is quite cheap (under $10 at the time of this writing) and presumably contains no extras, so maybe it’s aimed at people who are more fans of the 1980s than they are the Pythons. Buy Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life [Blu-ray]
The Wicker Man (1973): Read the Certified Weird entry! This is the first time that The Wicker Man has appeared in the Blu-ray format (in North America, at least), but it’s a tiniest bit disappointing (to diehard fans, at least) that this Lions Gate disc includes only the 94-minute “final cut” of the film, rather than the 100+ minute “extended cut” the Britons got in their Region B release. No word on extra features on this one. Buy The Wicker Man [Blu-ray]
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.