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):

Damsel (2018): A cowboy (Robert Pattinson) journeys across the frontier, miniature horse in tow, to join his strong-willed bride-to-be (Mia Wasikowska). Dana Schwartz of “Entertainment Weekly” raves that this Western comedy is “bizarre… and weird in the best ways,” although we suspect that assessment is aimed at a less jaded audience than this one. Damsel official site.

FILM FESTIVALS – Cinepocalypse (Chicago, IL, 6/21-6/28):

This Chicago festival, which mixes genre pictures with offbeat indies, is in it’s second year, and could grow into something special. We noted a couple of fest stalwarts in a pair of black comedies first seen at Sundance and Tribeca respectively, Clara’s Ghost and 7 Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss by Passing Through the Gateway Chosen by the Holy Storsh. Among listings with titles like Cop Baby, this new-to-us movie stood out:

• The Secret Poppo – A paranoid eccentric hunts for the granddaughter he never knew in a comedy described as “THE PINK PANTHER crossed with an acid trip.” playing 6/28 only.
  

The fest closes on June 28 with  a screening of crowd fave Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Cinepocalypse official site.

IN DEVELOPMENT (upcoming):

“A Love Story” (2017): Instagram is promoting its new video platform (IGTV) with a surreal short horror film from Petra Collins, starring Selena Gomez. Uncanny half-face masks, eyeballs in mouths, and finger-headed monsters co-star. First Spring Breakers, now this: no wonder Justin Bieber dumped her (that’s a shot at JB, not Ms. Gomez). ET Online has stills and a short clip to freak you out.

BOOKS:

“Room to Dream”: The David Lynch biography/memoir we’ve been dreaming of. Kristine McKenna wrote the biographical sections, with Lynch himself dropping in to comment in a stream-of-consciousness style. A major event in weird movie literature. Buy “Room to Dream”.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Double Lover (2017): Read our review. A strange, erotic psychological thriller from François Ozon. DVD and Blu-ray. Buy Double Lover.

Night of the Lepus (1972): Read Alfred Eaker’s review. The infamous badfilm about giant killer rabbits gets a Blu-ray release with commentary (!) from Shout! Factory; make of that what you will. Buy Night of the Lepus.

Zen Dog (2016): A young virtual reality entrepreneur explores exotic herbs and lucid dreaming in an attempt to shake himself out of his rut, and hears the voice of Zen apostle Alan Watts. We’ll review this Buddhist parable/hippie-revivalist indie next week. On video-on-demand, or you can get a signed Blu-ray directly from the distributor.

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, 6/22-6/28 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); 6/23 screening introduced by Keir Dullea. At the Coolidge Corner Theater.
• Boston, MA, 6/25 – Wild at Heart (1990), preceded by an optional 45 minute seminar (separate registration required). At the Coolidge Corner Theater.
• Columbus, OH, 6/22-6/26 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At Gateway Film Center.
• Dallas, TX, 6/23 – Wild at Heart (1990), followed by live local bands. At the Texas Theater.
• Louisville, KY, 6/23 – Blue Velvet (1986). At Baxter Ave. Theater.
• New York City, NY, 6/22-6/24 – Adaptation. (2002). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/23-6/24 (midnights) – El Topo (1970). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/23-6/24 (midnights) – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• Portland, OR, 6/25 – Persona (1966). At the NW Film Center.
• San Francisco, CA, 6/24 – The Lair of the White Worm (1988). At the Roxie.
• Toronto, ON, Canada – Altered States (1980). At the Royal Cinema.
• Tuscon, AZ, 6/22-6/28 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Loft.

FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990): Read the Certified Weird entry! Two minor characters from “Hamlet” pass the time with intellectual games while awaiting their big moment. Currently listed as “leaving soon” (with no departure date given). Watch Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead free on Tubi.tv.

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.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

“Akio Jissoji: The Buddhist Trilogy”: Three rare films of the late Japanese New Wave: This Transient Life (1970) involves brother/sister incest, Mandara (1971) concerns a pro-rape cult, and Poem (1972) stars a young boy caught up in a plot to sell his ancestral home. Arrow Academy promises that these little-seen films are all stylized, experimental, erotic and spiritual. Blu-ray set only. Buy “Akio Jissoji: The Buddhist Trilogy”.

Curse of the Cat People (1944): Read Alfred Eaker’s review. A strange childhood fantasy film with little relation to its Cat People ancestor; a few people prefer it to the horrific original, though. Out on Blu-ray for the first time from Shout! Factory. Buy Curse of the Cat People.

Edward II (1991): Derek Jarman‘s experimental, queered-up version of Christopher Marlowe’s play. It’s in our reader-suggested queue, and now out on DVD, VOD and Blu-ray (for the first time) from Film Movement. Buy Edward II.

Inheritance (2017): A carpenter inherits a northern California villa from the biological father he never knew; the place is haunted by family secrets. Not to be confused with Hereditary; review (of both?) coming next week. VOD only. Buy or rent Inheritance.

King of Hearts (1966): In World War I, a private is mistaken for a bomb expert and sent to a French town deserted by the locals, but now occupied by the escaped inmates from a local mental asylum. This British anti-war cult favorite has long been hard to see in the U.S.; the Cohen Film Collection releases it on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD. Buy King of Hearts.

Vidar the Vampire (2017): A Norwegian farmer is vampirized by a bloodsucker claiming to be Jesus Christ. Debuts in the U.S. on various streaming and on-demand outlets; check the official site for details.

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, 6/15-6/17, 6/19-6/21 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Coolidge Corner Theater.
• Columbus, OH, 6/16-6/21 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At Gateway Film Center.
• Dallas, TX, 6/21 – The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension (1984). With live music after (tickets may be purchased separately or in combination). At the Texas Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/15-6/19 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Aero Theater.
• Nashville, TN, 6/18 – Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001). At the Belcourt Theater.
• New York City, NY, 6/15 (midnight) – Pink Flamingos (1972). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 6/15-6/16 (midnights) – Pink Flamingos (1972). At the Nitehawk Theater.
• New York City, NY, 6/15-6/16 (midnights) – El Topo (1970). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/20 – Night of the Hunter (1955). At the Museum of Modern Art.
• Portland, OR, 6/15 – Persona (1966). At NW Film Center.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/15 – 8 1/2 (1963). At the Rio.

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.

FILM FESTIVALS – Annecy International Animated Film Festival (Annecy, France, June 11-16):

Anncey is a big deal for world animation (including television animation), although it does tend to favor Western-style works. The big boys from the major Hollywood studios will be there again this year, with previews (usually not the complete films) of Incredibles 2, Hotel Transylvania 3, and Wreck-it Ralph 2. But there’s plenty of room for small, independent, and weird works here, too, as you can see from the highlights below:

• • Insect – Legendary Surrealist animator Jan Svankmajer‘s latest (and, he insists, last) film features the actors metamorphosing into insects. A very rare (and presumably packed) screening on June 13 only.
  • Seder-Masochism – Nina Paley mixes her musical retelling of “Exodus” with Goddess mythology; we’ve featured a preview scene from this one on these pages. In development for alomost ten years and frankly, we were a little worried it might never be completed, so to see it show up now is a thrill. Catch it in competition June 11-15.
  • The Wolf House [La Casa Lobo] – A woman escapes from a religious cult and finds herself in a nightmarish house.  Screens in competition from Jun 11-15.
    

Annecy International Animated Film Festival home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

As the Gods Will (2014): Read our festival review with Miike Q&A. Aliens stage bizarre elimination contests to kill teenagers in this violent (but not ultraviolent) Takashi Miike sci-fi effort. In a DVD/Blu-ray/digital combo pack. Buy As the Gods Will.

Greaser’s Palace (1972): Read the Certified Weird review! Robert Downey, Sr.‘s blasphemous, absurdist, satirical retelling of the story of Christ set in the wild west. A new release from Doppelganger Releasing (a new arm of Music Box films), there are no special features advertised, but it does mark the film’s debut on the popular Blu-ray format. Buy Greaser’s Palace.

Satellite Girl and Milk Cow (2014): A satellite transforms into a cyborg and romances a brokenhearted man who has metamorphosed into a cow; the animation style resembles Hayao Miyazaki with a more surreal bent. On DVD, Blu-ray and VOD from GKIDS. Buy Satellite Girl and Milk Cow.

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.

• Dallas, TX, 6/9 – Videodrome (1983), with optional purchase of tickets for three local bands performing afterwards. At the Texas Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 6/13-6/14 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Aero.
• Louisville, KY, 6/9 (midnight) – Eraserhead (1977). At the Baxter.
• New York City, NY, 6/8-6/9 (midnights) – The Love Witch (2016). At Nitehawk Theater.
• New York City, NY, 6/8-6/9 (midnights) – Pink Flamingos (1972). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 6/14 – Run Lola Run (1998), with a new live electronic score by Adrianna “Gooddroid” Moschides (film screened without sound). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• Portland, OR, 6/9 – Hour of the Wolf [Vargtimmen] (1968). At NW Film Center.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/8 – Suspiria (1977). At the Rio.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/12 – Vertigo (1958). At the Rio.

FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Beyond Re-Animator (2003): Read our review. Dr. Herbert West continues his experiments in re-animating the dead, now from inside a prison, with typically over-the-top black comedy results. Listed as “leaving soon.” Adults only. Watch Beyond Re-Animator free on Tubi.tv.

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):

Best F(r)iends Vol. 2 (2018):  Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero continue their post-Room adventures in this comic roadtrip movie; Sestero stars as a drifter and Wiseau is a mortician. Some say Vol. 2 is weirder than Vol. 1, and can be followed even if you missed the first episode. Screening June 1 and June 4 only, so you’ll need to check the Best F(r)iends home page to see if there’s a screening near you.

The Texture of Falling: Parallel stories of artists in love, with one set playing around with S&M. Bills itself as “unlike any film you’ve ever seen,” but early critics who chimed in didn’t see that as a plus. The Texture of Falling official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Annihilation (2018): Read our review. Femme-friendly sci-fi about a mysterious alien presence is pretty damn weird by Hollywood standards, and a good flick by anyone’s standards. Out on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD. Buy (or rent) Annihilation.

A Good Dream (2017): The sparse plot description explains its about a 20-something gal suffering from dreams/hallucinations of a creepy demon bunny. There’s not much info available on this straight-to-VOD horror/psychological thriller, but the trailer actually looks pretty creepy. Rent or buy A Good Dream.

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.

• Los Angeles, CA, 6/1 (midnight) – Spirited Away (2001). Subtitled. At the Nuart Theater.
• Nashville, TN, 6/2 (midnight) & 6/5 – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At the Belcourt.
• New York City, NY, 6/1 (midnight) – Dogtooth [Kynodontas] (2009). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 6/1-6/2 (midnight) – Donnie Darko (2001). At Nitehawk Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 6/1-6/2 (after midnight) – The Boxer’s Omen [Mo] (1983). At Nitehawk Cinema.
• New York City, 6/1-6/2 – Pink Flamingos (1972). At IFC Center.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At the Rio.

YOU LINK US! YOU REALLY LINK US!:

The weirdest movies we’ve ever seen: 366 gets a shout-out (naturally) in the Cinebuds podcast sponsored by Milwaukee’s noncommercial 88.9 radio. The episode is actually a great introduction to the genre, especially for newbies. One complaint: they credited (and linked) the compendium of the List hosted on Mubi, rather than the primary source (that would be us). Any publicity is good publicity, but let’s get the url correct next time, please!

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.