As Giles mentions, he and El Rob Hubbard will host next week’s Pod 366 as Gregory J. Smalley is still on vacation overseas. In written reviews, Shane Wilson will cover reader-suggestion Memoirs of a Survivor (1981) and Giles Edwards clues you in on Ryan Kruger‘s 2023 remake of Street Trash. Meanwhile Greg tries to run things using beach wi-fi (meaning posting and promotions may be sporadic). Onward and weirdward!
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Quick links/Discussed in this episode:
Adult Swim Yule Log (2022): Read the Apocryphally Weird entry! Casper Kelly‘s original gonzo Christmas horror flick, now out of limited release and available to everyone in a standard Blu-ray edition; you’ll miss out on the special lenticular slipcase but score all the other extra features (commentaries, FX descriptions, actual Yule log, etc). Buy Adult Swim Yule Log.
EPISODE SPOILER! The 366 Weird Movies’ staff consensus top 10 Weird Movies of 2024.
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We’re off Pod 366 for the holidays, but here’s a 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.
IN THEATERS (WIDE RELEASE):
Nosferatu (2024): Robert Eggers’ much-anticipated take on the familiar tale of Count Dracula Orlok. A remake of a Canonically Weird movie by a director who has made an Apocryphally Weird movie, but there is no reason to suspect that this is much odder than the average period horror film; that doesn’t mean we’re not interested in seeing it. Nosferatu official site.
IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):
Better Man (2024): A musical biopic of British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, where the subject is portrayed by a CGI chimp. It’s just begging to be programmed in a double feature with Pharrell Williams’ Lego-biopic Piece by Piece. Better Man official site.
IN DEVELOPMENT:
The Possessed (pre-production; est. 2026+): Ena Sendijarevic‘s next project is a love triangle set during the medieval witch hunts, set to shoot in Spain in early 2026. The director says the story “explores the European witch hunts and their enduring impact through a surrealist and contemporary lens.” Let’s hope she chooses to emphasize the surrealist side of the lens. More at Variety.
NEPOTISM CORNER:
Alex Kittle has written an essay (and drawn a portrait!) of Jeffrey Combs for an amazing upcoming 4k release of the gonzo horror comedy Re-Animator from the relatively new boutique label Ignite Films. The set lands in April 2025 but is available for pre-order now.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE:
Pod 366 returns next week, as our staff reveals our picks for weirdest movies (and best weird movies, which is a different thing entirely) of 2024. And we’ll be busy in print as well, as Gregory J. Smalley unveils his picks for best mainstream movies of 2024; El Rob Hubbard fleshes out our Oldrich Lipský coverage with a look at the detective spoof Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet (1978); a late-to-the-game Shane Wilson bids Goodbye, 20th Century! (1998); and Giles Edwards considers what it means to be Irish Catholic (2024) to A Great Male Artist. Onward and weirdward!
What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that we have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.
Heads or Tails? (2025): The filmmakers behind Tale of King Crab (which we have yet to see) have signed John C. Reilly to play Buffalo Bill Cody in a film based on a real-life horse taming competition between Italian and American cowboys. We are taking Variety at their word when they describe it as a “surreal Western” without further elaboration. It will show up at festivals next year. Read more at Variety.
“Nyaight of the Living Cat”: Takashi Miike will “executive direct” this anime series about a virus that turns people into cats. Miike’s big pull quote: “This laugh-out-loud, panic-inducing anime was born to bring happiness to everyone on Earth. I hope you enjoy it.” Coming in 2025 via Crunchyroll. We first heard of it from Fangoria.
Piece by Piece (2024): Read Gregory J. Smalley’s review. A musical biodoc of Pharrell Williams, but done complete in Lego-vision and featuring some surprisingly trippy animation. The DVD and/or Blu-ray includes a new exclusive interview with Williams and director Morgan Neville (not specified whether it’s in Lego or live-action format). Buy Piece by Piece.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE:
No Pod 366 next week, as the crew takes federally-mandated time off to celebrate the holidays. (It will be a late Saturnalia for Greg, but he hopes Saturn forgives.) But we’ll have plenty of written content, as El Rob Hubbard supplies a Happy End (1967); Shane Wilson brings you some Christmas Toys (1992); and Giles Edwards investigates 1973’s Alabama’s Ghost (from the enigmatic Fredric Hobbs). Onward and weirdward!
Abruptio (2023): Read Giles Edwards’ Apocrypha Candidate review. An all-puppet tale of a man forced into heinous deeds due to the threat of a bomb implanted in his neck. The Blu-ray includes cast interviews and two commentary tracks, one with the director and producer and one with the puppeteer. We’re planning on interviewing director Evan Marlowe on next week’s Pod 366. Buy or rent Abruptio.
Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin’ Out (2024): Just like they did in 2022, Adult Swim and Casper Kelly drop a Yule Log without advance warning. In this one, apparently, survivor Zoe attempts to move past her Christmas trauma, but the evil log is still out there causing mischief. It’s available for free at Adult Swim’s website until Jan. 8.
The Beast (2023): Read Gregory J. Smalley’s review. Not related to The Beast, this is Bertrand Bonello‘s time-tripping (loose) adaptation of a Henry James story, but with doomed lovers reincarnated in belle epoque France, turn of the millennium Los Angeles, and a blandly dystopian future. This Janus Contemporaries Blu-ray release includes an interview with the director as its only special feature. Buy The Beast.
Bradlee (est. Feb. 2025): A “surreal and nightmarish journey through the mind of a serial killer” (the logline could use some fleshing out) needs post-production funds. Director Zak Ferguson describes his previous work as “mad-cap, seizure-inducing, hallucinatory, nightmarish, experimental short films,” and the sample stills suggest he ain’t kidding. Executive-produced by Fang directorRichard Burgin. The campaign ends on Dec. 15 and, as we write this, has surpassed its modest $1000 goal (but I’m sure they’d appreciate more, and put it to good use). Bradlee at Indiegogo.
Daft Punk & Leiji Matsumoto’s Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003): This is the story of an alien band who are abducted and forced to perform for Earthlings; a visual album (but with a narrative) done anime-style. This cinematic rerelease is supposed to be in theaters one night only (and that would be yesterday night), but we found screenings listed on the official site through Dec. 15 (and there could be more in your locality). At any rate, this event likely presages a VOD/physical media release to come. Check for dates and theaters at Daft Punk & Leiji Matsumoto’s Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem official site.
The Escapees (1981): Two girls escape from a mental institution and drift across the French countryside. This is a minor film from Jean Rollin, with no vampires and less nudity than usual (what’s left in a Rollin film when you take out the vampires and nudity?) At any rate, Indicator continues their rollout of Rollin’s catalog on jam-packed 4K UHD editions (identical Blu-ray sold separately). Buy The Escapees.
It’s Not Me (2024): An experimental autobiography/essay film from Leos Carax, remixing his own oeuvre (and other media) in a style reminiscent of late Godard. It’s under 50 minutes long, is in some theaters, and simultaneously on VOD (at premium prices). It’s Not Me official site.
Requiem for a Vampire (1973): Read Gregory J. Smalley’s List Candidate review. One of Jean Rollin’s crazier movies, which starts out as an arty surrealist picture about lesbian clowns and eventually turns into a sadomasochistic vampire orgy with a vagina bat. Indicator’s 4K (UHD or Blu-ray) release has the usual wealth of features, including the original French cut of the film and alternate sequences. Buy Requiem for a Vampire.
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979): Read Shane Wilson’s review. The teenage rebellion cult comedy joins the 4K UHD ranks this week (Blu-ray included); haven’t checked every feature, but it’s at least substantially identical to Shout’s 2019 40th anniversary release. Buy Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE:
Next week’s Pod 366 guest will be Abruptio auteur Evan Marlowe (see above). In written content, Shane Wilson finds a hidden gem in the reader-suggested queue in Xan Price’s nonsensical Nitwit; Giles Edwards unravels the 2024 psychological thriller The Unraveling; and Gregory J. Smalley zones out in front of Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin’ Out (see above). Onward and weirdward!
Celebrating the cinematically surreal, bizarre, cult, oddball, fantastique, strange, psychedelic, and the just plain WEIRD!
