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):

Foxtrot (2017): An Israeli father grieves for his dead soldier son in a film structured as an absurdist triptych. The arthouse critics love it, and Sony Pictures Classics even picked it up. Foxtrot official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Basket Case (1982): Read our review. Arrow Video obtains the rights (appropriately, from Something Weird) to this midnight monster classic and releases one of their grindhouse special editions, highlighted by a new transfer and new commentary from director Frank Henenlotter and star Kevin Van Hentenryck, and including a commemorative booklet for the first pressing only. Blu-ray only. Buy Basket Case [Limited Edition].

NEW BOOKS:

“Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide to Cult Cinema”: A hardbound book celebrating Cult Epics catalog of releases, with ample stills and essays both new and old. The small specialty label has a surprisingly high ratio of Certified Weird picks on its roster: Death Bed: The Bed That Eats, Death Laid an Egg, I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse, Nuit Noire [Black Night], and Viva la Muerte. Buy “Cult Epics” Comprehensive Guide to Cult Cinema”.

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, 3/8 – Persona (1966). At the Texas Theater.
• New York City, 3/2-3/3 – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At IFC Center.
• New York City, 3/2-3/3 (midnights) – El Topo (1970). At IFC Center.
• New York City. 3/2-3/3 (midnights) – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.

FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON VIMEO:

Rejected (2000): Don Hertzfeldt‘s hilariously surreal (and somewhat gory) collection of stick-figure animated shorts supposedly commissioned, and then rejected (for obvious reasons), by the Family Learning Channel and other sponsors. Incredibly, this was nominated for an Academy Award. Ten minutes long: click on Watch Trailer to view the series in its entirety. Hertzfeld will also allow you purchase and download them, should you want to. Watch Rejected free on Vimeo.

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.

So Casey Affleck gets a Most Conventional Actor Oscar for mooning around New England looking like he got served a bad bowl of clam chowder, but when he does an entire movie with a sheet over his head with eyeholes cut out watching Rooney Mara eat a pie, he doesn’t even get a sniff from the Academy? Cast Jennifer Lawrence in any old romantic comedy as a quirky pixie who reinvigorates some dude’s shattered love life and they toss nominations at her sight unseen, but let her act in just one Biblical allegory where she gets her face stomped in by a bajillion rowdy houseguests, and suddenly she’s not good enough for a Most Conventional Actress award? So what retreads did the Academy of Arts and Sciences see fit to nominate for the Most Conventional Picture Oscar of 2017? This year’s movie about a white high school senior fretting about her future? This year’s Stephen Spielberg/Tom Hanks/Meryl Streep snoozer? This year’s historical reenactment society drama (two of them in 2017, and they chose the exact same subject)? This year’s gay romance movie? This year’s movie about a kidnapped Amazonian lizard man who has sex with a mute woman while on the run from Commie spies? (Actually, maybe they were awake for that one).

Yes, the Oscars are a joke, and everyone knows it. You, my friend, aren’t content with the same-old same-old, new wine in a familiar old glass. You want weird in your movies. The Weirdcademy Awards are for you, the moviegoer whose friends roll their eyes and sigh loudly when you suggest buying tickets to a Polish killer mermaid musical.

Although the editors of 366 Weird Movies select the nominees from the pool of available movies, the Awards themselves are a naked popularity contest and do not necessarily reflect either the artistic merit or intrinsic weirdness of the films involved. The Weirdcademy Awards are tongue-in-cheek and for fun only. Ballot-stuffing is a frequent occurrence. Please, no wagering.

The Weirdcademy Awards are given to the Weirdest Movie, Actor, Actress and Scene of the previous year, as voted by the members of the Weirdcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Weirdness.

Who makes up the Weirdcademy? Membership is open to all readers of 366 Weird Movies. The rules for joining the Weirdcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Weirdness are as follows. To officially join, locate an official online ballot (such as the one below) and hover your mouse pointer over the radial button representing the choice of movie you would like to see win any award in any category. Then, simply depress the left button of your mouse to make your selection. Selections made using the right mouse button will be disregarded, and you will be forced to reapply. If your application for membership is approved, a dot will appear next to your choice. You are not done yet, so continue reading. To be certified as a voting member of the Weirdcademy, at some point subsequent to making your selection, you must navigate your mouse button to the box marked “vote.” Now, again depress your left mouse button to confirm your membership as a voting member of the Weirdcademy.

(Vote as many times as you like, but only once per day, please. We’ll keep voting open until March 4 at 12:00 Noon EST, so we can announce our results before the Academy Awards and steal their thunder).

There is no requirement that you’ve have to actually see all the movies in any category before voting.

Be sure to also vote for Weirdest Short Film of the Year. To watch all five nominees and to cast your vote, please click here.

Without further delay, we unveil the nominees for the 2017 Weirdcademy Awards below:
Continue reading YOUR VOTE DETERMINES THE WINNERS OF THE 8TH ANNUAL WEIRDCADEMY AWARDS →

It’s time for the 2017 edition of the Weirdcademy Awards, the premier (only) awards contest focused on weird films, chosen by weird film fans. That means shorts as well as features. We’ve collected all five nominees for 2017′s Weirdest Short of the Year together in one place, for ease of voting. Just click “continued” for a mini film-festival of weirdness. Be sure to vote for your favorite! (You can cast a vote once every 24 hours). Polls close March 4 at 12:00 Noon EST. Cameron Jorgensen, 366 Weird Movies under-appreciated shorts Czar, discovered and selected these unusual films through his own research. This year’s lineup includes sinister panaceas, futuristic droughts, stop-motion rear nudity, lizard obsessions, and dogsitting nightmares. Click below to view all the nominees and vote.

Continue reading VOTE FOR THE WEIRDEST SHORT FILM OF 2017 →

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 (WIDE RELEASE):

Annihilation (2018): A group of scientists investigate a paranormal phenomenon called “the Shimmer.” This highly-anticipated feature from Alex (Ex Machina) Garland is hard sci-fi with a final act that at least one critic found “intensely weird.” Annihilation official Facebook page.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

November (2017): Read our List Candidate entry! The early forerunner for Weirdest Picture of 2018 gets its NYC debut, to be followed by screenings in major cities throughout the Spring. November official site.

We Are Not Cats (2018): An indie love story between trichophagiacs (people compelled to eat their own hair). Maybe more darkly quirky than weird, but it’s a queasy subject that hasn’t been explored before. We Are Not Cats official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Mom and Dad (2017): Pitch black comedy wherein mass hysteria causes parents to hunt their own children; what makes it notable, however, is cranky director Brian Taylor teaming up (again) with ever-hammy Nicolas Cage. Out on DVD, VOD and Blu-ray. Buy Mom and Dad.

The Night Walker (1964): Read Pamela De Graff’s review. William Castle‘s surreal B-horror was never released on DVD, but Shout! Factory ships it straight to Blu-ray. Buy The Night Walker.

Underground (1995): A black market arms dealer locks his partner in an underground compound so he won’t figure out that the war is over. Emir Kusturica‘s Palme D’or winning surreal satire hasn’t been easy to find recently, but Kino Lorber unleashes a lavish set which includes the expanded television version (six episodes, each about an hour long). It comes in either three DVD or one Blu-ray, two DVD flavors. Buy Underground.

NEW EXCLUSIVELY ON NETFLIX:

On Body and Soul [Teströl és lélekröl] (2017): Two slaughterhouse workers find that they share a common dream (literally—they each have the exact same dream night after night). We’re not fond of Netflix exclusive releases for smaller foreign films—treasures like Skins can get buried and lost—but it is better than the movie sitting on a distributor’s shelf forever.

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, 2/24-2/25 – Beauty and the Beast [La Belle et la Bete] (1946). At the Music Box Theater.
• New York City, NY, 2/23-2/24 (midnights) – Possession (1981). At  Nighthawk Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 2/23-2/24 – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At the IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 2/23-2/24 (midnights) – Suspiria (1977). At the IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 2/26 – Adaptation. (2002). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• Seattle, WA, 2/23-3/1 – Suspiria (1977). At Ark Lodge Cinemas.

FREE MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Akira (1988): Read the Certified Weird entry! If Neo-Tokyo’s all-time cult anime has somehow evaded you, here’s your chance. Watch out for the motorcycle clowns! Watch Akira 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):

Double Lover [L’Amant Double] (2017): A woman falls in love with her psychoanalyst and discovers he has a secret. Writer/director François Ozon has always threatened to go full weird; maybe this is the time he makes it? Double Lover U.S. distributor site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Drag Me to Hell (2009): Read our review. Shout! Factory celebrates Sam Raimi‘s brief return to horror with this elaborate two-Blu set that includes an unrated cut of the flick. Buy Drag Me to Hell [Collector’s Edition Blu-ray].

Night of the Living Dead (1968): Read Alfred Eaker’s mini-review. Not so weird, but we thought you’d like to know: the Criterion Collection got their hands on this film everyone has already seen, livening it up for Deadheads by exhuming a horde of special features, including never-before-seen workprints and dailies. On DVD and Blu-ray. Buy Night of the Living Dead [Criterion Collection].

Orchestra Rehearsal (1978): An orchestra rehearsal degenerates into squabbling and chaos. Rare Federico Fellini, a fake documentary made for Italian television featuring Nino Rota’s final score for the director, now on Blu-ray and video-on-demand courtesy of Arrow Academy. Buy Orchestra Rehearsal.

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, 2/16-2/17 (midnights) – Gummo (1997). At the Music Box Theater.
• Columbus, OH, 2/16-2/19, 2/21 – Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). At Gateway Film Center.
• Denver, CO, 2/20 – Alice [Neco Z Alenky] (1988). 21+, sponsored by Seedstock Brewery with a complimentary flight of beers. At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Los Angeles, CA, 2/16 – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). At the Aero Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 2/18 – Spirited Away (2001). At the Aero Theater.
• New York City, NY, 2/16-12/18 (midnights) – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 2/18 – The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• San Francisco, CA, 2/16 (sold out), 2/19-2/20 – Spirited Away (2001). At the Roxie.
• Yonkers, NY, 2/20 – Belladonna of Sadness (1973), with a post-screening discussion with authors Kristen J. Sollee and Katie Skelly. At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Yonkers, NY, 2/20 – The Lure [Córki Dancingu] (2015). At the Alamo Drafthouse.

FREE MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Stroszek (1977): Read Giles Edwards review. Stick with Werner Herzog‘s quirky drama (featuring many amateur actors) about a drunk street musician, his elderly landlord, and a prostitute who move from Berlin to Wisconsin looking for a better life—it builds to a pretty good dancing chicken. Watch Stroszek 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.