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.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

Verotika (2019): A horror anthology sponsored by metalhead Glenn Danzig, inspired by his line of adult horror comics; the title is a portmanteau of “violent” and “erotica.” A couple of horror outlets  have hailed it as “insane,” while more mainstream critics are calling it unintentionally funny. Previewing in Los Angeles this week and hoping for a wider release around Halloween. Glenn Danzig official site.

NETFLIX:

Anima (2019): If Danzig’s effort is getting mostly jeers, fellow musician Thom Yorke’s latest short film is earning near-universal cheers. It helps that it’s directed by multi-Oscar nominee (and director of the Canonically Weird Inherent Vice) Paul Thomas Anderson. It’s only fifteen minutes long and is being described as “dreamlike.” Anima on Netflix.

FILM FESTIVALS – Karlov Vary International Film Festival (Karlov Vary, Czech Republic, June 28- July 6):

Though in it’s 54th year, Karlovy Vary is overshadowed by other, bigger summer European film festivals. Despite being held in out-of-the-way Karlov Vary, the festival manages to snag some major releases (the new Spider-Man even has its regional debut there this year). It also features a fine slate of restorations and repertory pics, often of Czech classics. We’ve noted a couple of films screening here before: Peter Strickland’s fashion horror In Fabric and the Danish fairy tale horror Koko-di Koko-da. Here is some new (and old) stuff of potential interest we spotted in the program:

• The Cremator – World premiere of the new “digital restoration” of the Canonically Weird Czech New Wave classic about a strange Tibetan Book of the Dead-obsessed cremator who eventually becomes a Nazi collaborator.  Screening 6/29-6/30, 7/3.
• Die Kinder Der Toten –  Elfriede Jelinek’s respected Austrian literary horror novel is given an over-the-top Super 8 silent movie treatment by a couple of New Yorkers. 6/28, 6/30, 7/2, or 7/4.
• The Flames of Royal Love – A seldom-screened Jan Nemec film from 1990 chronicling the love affair of a prince and a commoner, described by programmers as a “peculiar cinematic hallucination.” Catch it on 6/30 or 7/2.
• Happy End (2015) – A short animated movie presented in reverse chronological order, this seems inspired by obscure Czech New Wave film of the same title. 7/5 or, 7/3, 6/29 screening.
• In the Arms of Morpheus – This Dutch documentary uses surreal imagery to explore the condition of chronic insomniacs. 7/3, 7/4, or 7/6.
  
• The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea – A “dreamlike” thriller about a resentful female cop banished to a middle-of-nowhere Greek town, starring Greek Weird Wave icon Aggeliki Papoulia. 6/28, 7/1, 7/3, & 7/5.
• Monos – Enigmatic Colombian film about a purposeless group of soldiers camped in a fog-shrouded jungle. On 6/29, 7/2, 7/4, or 7/6.
• Satantango – Bela Tarr‘s slow-paced, epic opus about hucksters bleeding a poor Hungarian village. Set aside eight hours to see it on 6/28 or 7/6.

Karlov Vary Film Festival official home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Birdy (1984): A Vietnam vet tries to help a shell-shocked comrade who believes he’s a bird. An early turn for and Nicolas Cage and Alan Parker‘s immediate post-Pink Floyd the Wall (1982) film. Previously on DVD; now on Blu-ray (and VOD). Buy Birdy.

“Divorced Dad” (2018): A newly divorced dad hosts a 1980s-era public access self-help show that inevitably devolves into chaos. Originally conceived of by the odd Canadian comedy ensemble Astron-6 as a webseries, banned from YouTube (for an ISIS joke), and now assembled on DVD and Blu-ray by Kino Lorber, with unseen episodes and shorts to round out the package. Buy “Divorced Dad”.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001): Read the Canonically Weird review! The Criterion Collection releases this wigged-out gender-bending musical on Blu-ray (or 2 DVDs) with a suite of extras both new and repurposed. Buy Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Lost Highway (1997): Read the Canonically Weird review! Those holding out for a Criterion edition of David Lynch‘s utterly surreal mid-period film will have to make do with this Kino Lorber Blu-ray instead, which comes with no special features and has been slammed by Lynch himself because it wasn’t restored from his original negatives (although independent reviewers have praised the quality). Buy Lost Highway.

Transit (2018): As the Fascists crack down in France, a man assumes the identity of a dead man whose papers he’s stolen and attempts to flee the country. Director Christian Petzold took a novel set in WWII and adapted it to present times, an anachronistic experiment with an effect described as “dreamlike.” On Blu-ray and VOD (no DVD release). Buy Transit.

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.

• Chicago, IL, 6/30 – Metropolis (1927), with new live score by David DiDonato. At the Music Box Theatre.
• Columbus, OH, 6/28-7/1, 7/3-7/4 – Natural Born Killers (1994). At Gateway Film Center.
• Dallas, TX, 7/2 – Last Year at Marienbad [L’Année Dernière à Marienbad] (1961). At the Texas Theatre.
• Denver, CO, 7/4 – Blue Velvet (1986). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/28 – Daisies [Sedmikrásky] (1966), with Fruit of Paradise (1970) (double feature). At the Egyptian Theatre.
• Nashville, TN, 7/1 – Head (1968). At the Belcourt.
• New York City, NY, 6/28 & 6/29 (midnights) – Eraserhead (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/28 & 6/29 (midnights) – Mulholland Drive (2001). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 7/3 & 7/4 – Audition [Ôdishon] (1999). At the Metrograph.
• Oakland, CA, 6/28-7/3 – Mandy (2018). At the New Parkway Theater.
• Toronto, Ont., Canada, 6/28 – The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension (1984). At the Royal.
• Toronto, Ont. Canada, 6/29 – Daisies [Sedmikrásky] (1966). At the Royal.
• Tuscon, AZ, 6/28 & 6/29 – Mandy (2018). At the Loft Cinema.
• Yonkers, NY, 7/3 – 8 1/2 (1963). At the Alamo Drafthouse.

FREE MOVIES ON BREAKER:

Perfect (2018): A troubled young man is sent to a clinic where he is given various implants to remove his imperfections. We haven’t tried Breaker yet, but his release is not (yet) available in any other format that we can find. Requires an app download and the code “perfect.” No warranties from us. Watch Perfect free on Breaker.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next week Giles Edwards clears out his files as he preps for his third annual trip north to the Fantasia festival in July. So, expect to see his takes on Terry Gilliam‘s curse-breaking project, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, and on the mildly strange 1975 Dutch softcore thriller My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie. Onward and weirdward!

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.

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.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

Madame Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club (2017): An aging temptress brings one final date to her feminist cannibal club, but starts to fall for her prey. A rare Israeli horror-comedy that SyFy Wire’s Kirsty Puchko calls “deliciously deranged.” Madame Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club official site.

NETFLIX (debuts 6/21):

“Neon Genesis Evangelion”: The original 26 episodes of Japan’s mind-shredding TV broadcast anime featuring giant robots, the apocalypse, crippling teenage angst, and psychedelic mind trips, on American televisions for the first time. Also included are the feature films Evangelion: Death True2 (a reworked version of Death and Rebirth) and the Canonically Weird Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997). If you’ve never seen this fascinating, frustrating series, now’s your chance! It’s not what you expect. On Twitter, fans are already complaining about every word change in the new dub. “Neon Genesis Evangelion” on Netflix.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

The Beach Bum (2019): Harmony Korine‘s first feature film since 2012’s Spring Breakers stars Matthew McConaughey as a hippy beach bum sentenced by a judge to finish his novel. Looks fairly conventional by Korine standards. On DVD, Blu-ray, or VOD. Buy The Beach Bum.

Thirst [Bakjwi] (2009): Read our capsule review. Chan-wook Park‘s take on Western vampires, Japanese-style, is interesting and lovely, if not exceptionally weird. Now on Blu-ray for the first time. Buy Thirst.

Under the Silver Lake (2018): Read Giles Edwards’ List Candidate review! An L.A.-based conspiracy theory neo-noir reminiscent of Inherent Vice; one funny, and encouraging, negative Amazon reviewer complained, “I usually like weird, but not THIS weird.” The usual options: DVD/Blu-ray/VOD. Buy Under the Silver Lake.

“Universal Horror Collection: Vol.1”:  Four Universal horrors where both Karloff and Lugosi appear: The Raven (1935), The Invisible Ray (1936), and Black Friday (1940), all topped off by the Canonically Weird The Black Cat (1934). Shout! Factory licensed these titles from Universal for Blu-ray release and included lots of bonus features, including two new commentary tracks for Black Cat alone. On Blu-ray, priced for dedicated collectors. Buy “Universal Horror Collection: Vol. 1”

“Wakaliwood Supa Action Volume 1: Who Killed Captain Alex? + Bad Black“: Read Giles Edwards’ festival mini-review of Bad Black. Two microbudget action/comedies from Uganda’s homegrown hero, Nabwana I.G.G., who makes campy epics in the slums of Wakaliga for peanuts. Something different on Blu-ray from American Genre Film Archives. Buy “Wakaliwood Supa Action Volume 1: Who Killed Captain Alex? + Bad Black”

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, 6/22 (midnight) – Liquid Sky (1982). At Coolidge Corner Theatre.
• Dallas, TX, 6/21 – The Love Witch (2016). At the Texas Theatre.
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/23 – Fargo (1996) with A Serious Man (2009) (double feature), with author Adam Nayman and actor Fred Melamed in attendance. At the Aero Theatre.
• New York City, NY, 6/21 & 6/22 (midnights) – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). At Nitehawk Cinema (Williamsburg).
• New York City, NY, 6/21 & 6/22 (midnights) – Eraserhead (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/24 – Dead Man (1995). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 6/24 – True Stories (1986). At the Quad.
• New York City, NY, 6/25 – Weekend (1967). At the Quad.
• Oakland, CA, 6/21-6/23 – Mandy (2018). At the New Parkway Theater.
• San Diego, CA, 6/22 (midnight) & 6/23 – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At Ken Cinema.
• Santa Ana, CA, 6/21 & 22 (midnights) – Pink Flamingos (1972). At Frida Cinema.
• Toronto, Ont., Canada, 6/22 – The Apple (1980). At the Royal.
• Toronto, Ont., Canada, 6/25 – The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953). At the Royal.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/22 – Akira (1988). At the Rio Theatre.

FREE MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990): Read the Certified Weird review! The film adaptation of Tom Stoppard’s play where two minor characters from “Hamlet” take center stage is now listed as “leaving soon,” so check out Rosencrantz and Guildenstern now before they really are dead (on Tubi). Watch Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead free on Tubi.tv.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: If you hadn’t noticed, our first three Apocryphally Weird titles are set, thanks to you. In ascending number of votes, they are Singapore Sling (1990), Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974), and The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001). Look for full write-ups of those three to appear in the next indefinite time period. Next week, Simon Hyslop will suggest another possible addition to that supplemental weird movie list with the philosophical 1977 animated film The Mouse and His Child. Gregory J. Smalley will then reflect on Serenity (2019), which flopped in theaters but made it into our reader-suggested review queue. Onward and weirdward!

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.

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.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

Mangoshake (2018): No-budget absurdist spoof of coming-of-age films, featuring a group of “teens” who open a stand selling mango shakes, and a jealous rival who hawks chow mein. Talk about “limited release:” this is only playing at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, for two more nights: June 14 (tonight!) and 17. We’ll have a rare Sunday afternoon review of this one. Mangoshake at Spectacle Theater.

IN DEVELOPMENT:

“The Deadly Ten”: Halloweed Night & Necropolis: Legion: As we mentioned previously, Full Moon Studios has a unique promotional gimmick for their next ten films: they’ll be live-streaming behind-the-scenes footage as the movies are being produced. The first title, the stoner horror/comedy Halloweed Night, has already begun filming (although it appears the live-stream promotion won’t begin until after midnight tonight at 12:30 AM; some archived content is available). When Halloweed is in the can, next up is Necropolis: Legion, described as “a surreal, Eurotrash-tinted companion film to the classic 1986 Band-produced Empire Pictures exploitation film.” That sounds potentially up our alley. If your curious, sign up for the streams at Deadly Ten.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie (1975): A crazy sounding Dutch sex-horror about bisexual nude models who may also be vampires. The script boasts five writers, including producer/Eurosex pioneer Pim de la Parra and Harry Kümel (Malpertuis); Cult Epics’ Blu-ray/DVD combo pack includes three sexy period shorts. Look for a review in the near future. Buy My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie.

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.

• Austin, TX, 6/19 – Rubin & Ed (1991). At the Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar).
• Boston, MA, 6/14 (midnight) – House [Hausu] (1977). At Coolidge Corner Theatre.
• Boston, MA, 6/15 (midnight) – A Field in England (2013). At Coolidge Corner Theatre.
• Dallas, TX, 6/20 – The Love Witch (2016). At the Texas Theatre.
• Kitchener, Ont. Canada – Alice [Neco Z Alenky] (1988). At the Apollo Cinema.
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/14 & 15 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the New Beverly Cinema.
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/20 – Phantom of the Paradise (1974) with Phantom of the Opera (1989) (double feature), Dwight H. Little in attendance. At the Aero Theatre.
• New York City, NY, 6/14 & 15 – Weekend (1967). At the Quad.
• New York City, NY, 6/14 & 15 (midnights) – Eraserhead (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/14 & 15 (midnights) – The Holy Mountain (1973). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/14 & 15 (midnights) – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/19 – True Stories (1986). At the Quad.
• Portland, OR, 6/17 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Hollywood Theatre.
• Toronto, Ont., Canada, 6/20 – The Apple (1980). At the Royal.
• Tuscon, AZ, 6/16 – Eraserhead (1977). At the Loft Cinema.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada – Mandy (2018). At the Rio Theatre.

NEPOTISM CORNER: There’s a reason Alfred Eaker has been late covering his summer blockbusters (and other movies) this year: he’s been at hard at work putting the finishing touches on his upcoming novel, “Brother Cobweb.” It’s the hallucinatory story of a young man raised in a restrictive Pentacostal denomination, haunted by the metaphorical title character. It now has an approximate release date: Easter season, 2020. The novel will be followed by a limited release book of Alfred’s art and a graphic novel adaptation/spnoff, “The Brother Cobeweb Chronicles.” More info as we get closer to release date. Alfred made the official announcement on his Facebook page, with previews of the artwork (by Alfred and Todd Coe).

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: As mentioned above, next week we’ll start with a rare Sunday review of Mangoshake (for the sake of any Brooklyners who might be interested in catching its final screening at Spectacle Theater). We’ll follow that up with some small screen coverage, as Shane Wilson brings you a review of Netflix’s “Russian Doll” and Gregory J. Smalley does the same for Hulu’s new “Catch-22” miniseries adaptation. And of course, we’ll announce the first three titles in our new list of Apocrypha movies (there’s still time for you to vote for your picks until Wednesday). Onward and weirdward!

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.

The List of 366 is complete. Let’s start another list of 366 alternates, a mix of runners-up and movies that debuted too late for consideration in the Canonical List of the 366 Best Weird Movies Ever Made.

We’re calling this supplemental list “Apocrypha,” and this is your first chance to help select the roster.

From the 30 candidates submitted by readers, you can vote for up to three. This poll will close at midnight EST, Wednesday, June 19. As always, you may vote once per day.

You can also try to influence others’ votes in the comments, if you like.

Let’s go for another 366!

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 –Holly Weird Film Festival (North Hollywood, CA, 6/9):

We had to mention this one mainly because of the festival name. Holly Weird describes itself as an underground film festival with a mission to “celebrate independent films of all genres that feature a distinct vision, a unique voice, or an avant-garde challenge to what is expected or accepted.” The inaugural slate is mostly short films we’re not familiar with, but it does include 2007’s “Doxology.” Also on the slate, as the only feature-length film, is Kelly Hughes‘ new documentary Hush…Hush, Nellie Oleson! about his attempts to fit former “Little House on the Prairie” actress Alison Arngrim into a low-budget experimental film. Los Angelino film fans with obscure tastes should check it out this weekend.

Holly Weird Film Festival Facebook page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Batman Returns (1992): Read the Certified Weird entry! Warner Brothers is re-releasing their entire Batman catalog this week, including the strangest entry, Tim Burton‘s carnivalesque take on a sequel, featuring psychotic clown henchmen and penguins strapped with missiles. The 4D Ultra HD disc is bundled with a standard Blu-ray. Buy Batman Returns.

Knife + Heart (2018): A producer of gay porn films becomes obsessed with recreating a series of murders in hopes of winning back her lesbian lover. This queer slasher/giallo pic from Yann Gonzalez sounds fairly unclassifiable; available on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD. Buy Knife + Heart.

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018): Toby, once an idealistic student filmmaker and now a director of commercials, revisits Spain to find the old shoemaker he cast as his lead in his “Don Quixote” student film now believes he is Quixote and Toby is Sancho Panza. A glorious mess from Terry Gilliam, plagued by legendary production disasters that made it take more than two decades in the making, now on DVD, Blu-ray or VOD for all to see! Buy The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

Rondo (2018): Read Giles Edwards’ review and enter the contest to win a Rondo DVD. A military reject discovers a secret fetishist society that enacts forbidden, sadistic fantasies. On DVD and VOD. Buy Rondo.

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, 6/8 (midnight) – Phantasm (1979). At Coolidge Corner Theatre.
• Columbus, OH, 6/7-6/12 – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). At Gateway Film Center.
• Columbus, OH, 6/8 & 6/9 – Antichrist (2009). At Gateway Film Center.
• Denver, CO, 6/12 – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• New York City, NY, 6/7-6/8 (midnights) – The Holy Mountain (1973). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/7-6/8 (midnights) – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/8 – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971), with Melvin Van Peebles in attendance and a new live score performed by Burnt Sugar the Archestra Chamber, free to attend with RSVP for 18+. Sponsored by Rooftop Films, at Fort Greene Park.
• New York City, NY, 6/8 – True Stories (1986). At the Quad Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 6/11-6/13 – Dead Man (1995). At the Metrograph.
• Tuscon, AZ, 6/7 & 6/8 – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973). At the Loft Cinema.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/13 – Suspiria (1977), with Suspiria (2018) (optional double feature). At the Rio Theatre.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next week at 366 Weird Movies, look for the second installment of Alfred Eaker‘s summer torture tour, as he takes on Disney’s regurgitated Aladdin; Giles Edwards goes underground for the upcoming drag queen doc Spider Mites of Jesus: The Dirtwoman Documentary; we cover a film from topless-Playmate-secret-agent-specialist Andy Sidaris for the first time as Pete Trbovich gets Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987); and we’ll put up our first poll for entries to make the list of apocryphal weird movies (you can still suggest nominees here until next Tuesday, and be entered into the drawing for a Rondo DVD at the same time). That’s a lot for a summer week, isn’t it? Onward and weirdward!

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.