Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs and Blu-rays (and hot off the server VODs), and on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available at the official site links.

FILM FESTIVALS – Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, June 29-July7):

Though in it’s 53rd year, Karlovy Vary is overshadowed by other, bigger summer European film festivals, and isn’t one we usually pay attention to. With some strange revivals we can’t ignore alongside equally strange new films (including Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson‘s new Vertigo tribute, The Green Fog, Jan Svankmajer‘s Insects, Panos Cosmatos‘s much-buzzed-about sophomore effort Mandy, and Terry Gilliam‘s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote), that changes this year.

• Accumulator 1 (1994) – Rare Czech movie about characters in TV programs who drain energy from their real-life doubles. Restored and screening July 6.
• Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire (1987) – Surreal British rock opera about snooker players (there are no actual desperadoes or vampires). June 30 and July 4.
• Diamonds in the Night (1964)- Stream-of-consciousness Jan Nemec (A Report on the Party and Guests) film about two young Jewish refugees fleeing Nazis. Jun 30 and July 5.
• Pity – The story of a man addicted to sadness, notable because it was scripted by Giorgos Lanthimos‘ wiriting collaborator, Efthimis Filippou. June 29, July 1 and 4.
• Reflections in the Dust – The story of a schizophrenic clown and his blind daughter, told through alternating documentary interviews and a fictional post-apocalyptic story. Screening 6/20, 7/2, and 7/4.
  
• Volcano – An interpreter becomes lost in rural Ukraine and has a series of strange encounters. July 1-2, 4.
• Zama – A Spanish official posted to a remote South American colony longs for reassignment in a “subtly surreal and bizarre” film programmers say “often feels like it was made to purposefully confound the viewer.” June 29, July 2 or 6.

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival home page.

FILM FESTIVALS – New York Asian Film Festival (New York City, June 29-July 14):

The long-running NYAFF usually finds a number of high quality pan-Asian movies overlooked by other festivals. The weird ones are scarcer this season than previous fests (we hope this doesn’t represent a growing trend in Asian normality), but here are some titles of interest:

• Dukun (2006) – This “bizarre” blend of horror and courtroom drama is about a shaman on trial for allegedly killing a politician in an immortality ritual; shelved in its native Malaysia for its controversial nature and making its international premiere July 13.
• Premika – A karaoke-loving ghost forces victims to sing for their lives in this Thai horror comedy. Also screening July 13.
• Tears of the Black Tiger (2000) – This Thai take on a Spaghetti Western is set on psychedelic expressionist sets that are more stylized than Seijun Suzuki picture; weirdophiles will not find their time wasted on this “gloriously weird cult classic.” Catch the screening on July 5.

New York Asian Film Festival home page.

IN DEVELOPMENT (post-production):

Zan (2018): Tetsuo: The Iron Man‘s Shinya Tsukamoto turns his lens on a period piece, setting his latest in 19th century Japan and focusing on the adventures of a ronin and a peasant girl. The scanty description doesn’t sound weird, but if it isn’t at least a little twisted, it will be one of very few straightforward features Tsukamoto has made. Notice found at Variety.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

The Addiction (1995): Read Alice Stoehr’s review. Abel Ferrara‘s philosophical vampire movie has still never been released on DVD in the U.S., but thanks to Arrow Video it skips straight to Blu-ray (complete with Ferrara commentary and documentary featurettes). Buy The Addiction.

The Endless (2017): Read our review. This Justin Benson/Aaron Moorehead mindbender proudly quotes the Hollywood Reporter’s declaration that it’s a “rich banquet of mind-bending weirdness.” DVD, Blu-ray and VOD. Buy The Endless.

Female Trouble (1974): Read the Certified Weird entry! The middle entry of John Waters‘ taste-free “Trash Trilogy” is now in the Criterion Collection on DVD and Blu-ray, with all new interviews and supplements. It’s better than cha-cha heels on Christmas! Buy Female Trouble.

German Angst (2015): Read our review. Transgressive Teutonic trio of grisly horrors involving castration, fascist hooligans, and sexual depravity. Now on Blu-ray, for higher definition grue. This may be a giveaway item from us down the line. Buy German Angst.

Terminal (2018): Neo-noir set in a neon nowhere featuring assassins and an Alice-in-Wonderland themed strip club. This Margot Robbie vehicle managed to avoid a wide theatrical release and arrived on home video to complaints that it was “confusing” and “just weird.” Don’t know how we missed it? On DVD, Blu-ray and VOD. Buy Terminal.

CERTIFIED WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). We won’t list all the screenings of this audience-participation classic separately. You can use this page to find a screening near you.

• Boston, MA, 6/29-7/5 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At Coolidge Corner Theater.
• Dallas, TX, 6/29 – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971). At the Texas Theater.
• Denver, CO, 7/4 – Lost Highway (1997). At the Alamo Theater.
• Karlovy Varly, Czech Republic, 6/29, 7/3 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Part of the Karlovy Varly Film Festival (also see above).
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/29 – The Boxer’s Omen [Mo] (1983), with Black Magic 2 (1976) and Human Lanterns (1982) (triple feature!) At the Egyptian Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/29 (midnight) – Barbarella (1968). At the Nuart Theater.
• New York City, NY, 6/29-6/30 (midnights) – Adaptation. (2002). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/29-6/30 (midnights) – The Holy Mountain (1973). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/29-30, 7/2-7/3 – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, 7/2 – The Woman in the Dunes (1964). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 7/2 – Weekend (1967). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• Silver Spring, MD, 7/5 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), with a Q&A session with star Keir Dullea. At AFI Silver Theater.
• Tuscon, AZ, 6/29-6/30 – Female Trouble (1974). At the Loft.
• Tuscon, AZ, 6/29-7/5 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Loft.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/30 – Akira (1988). At the Rio.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 7/2 – Eraserhead (1977). At the Rio.
• Yonkers, NY, 7/1 – The Godmonster of Indian Flats (1973). At the Alamo Theater.

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.