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):

Black Hollow Cage (2017): A girl who lives alone with her father and talks to her dog through a device called “mom” discovers a black cube in the woods. Last seen at Sitges film festival, now with a very limited U.S. release. Black Hollow Cage official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno (1964/2009): In 1964 French master Clouzot (The Wages of Fear, Les Diaboliques) began work on a big-budget experimental film that shut down three weeks into production. This 2009 documentary examines the movie that might have been, showing us the amazing expressionist footage that was shot along with storyboards, interviews and recreations to flesh out the storyline. It was released previously on DVD/Blu-ray by Flicker Alley, but here it is in a solo Blu from Arrow Academy. Buy Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno.

Pom Poko (1994): Read our review! GKids re-releases Studio Ghibli’s racoon-testicle classic (you read that right) in Blu-ray. Buy Pom Poko.

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.

• Bloomington, IN, 2/11 – Daisies [Sedmikrásky] (1966) with short Kusama’s Self-Obliteration (1967). At Indiana University Cinema.
• Bloomington, IN, 2/11 – Skidoo (1968) with short Looking for Mushrooms (1967). At Indiana University Cinema.
• Chicago, IL, 2/9-2/10 (midnights) – Suspiria (1977). At Music Box Theater.
• Chicago, IL, 2/9, 2/12, 2/14 – The Love Witch (2016). At Gene Siskel Film Center.
• Los Angeles, CA, 2/9 – Branded to Kill (1967) with Born Under Crossed Stars (1956) (double feature). At the Egyptian Theater.
• New York City, NY, 2/9 (midnight) – mother! (2017). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• Pittsburgh, PA, 2/9-2/15 – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). At Row House Cinema.
• San Francisco, CA, 2/9 – Akira (1988), with new live score performed by The Firmament (and no subtitles). At the Roxie.

FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON TUBITV:

Repo: The Genetic Opera (2008): Read Eric Young’s review. This gory, divisive goth musical has a small cult following; it’s free to join. Mature audiences; requires registration. Listed as “leaving soon” without a specific date. Watch Repo: the Genetic Opera free on Tubitv.

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:

Gothic (1986): Read the Certified Weird entry! Ken Russell‘s laudanum dream about the night Mary Shelley conceived “Frankenstein” has never had a respecable home video release—until now. On Blu-ray or VOD. Buy Gothic.

Jamón, Jamón (1992): A mother hires an aspiring underwear model to seduce her son’s fiance. Sexy, surreal, and one of the first films for future stars Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem. DVD and/or Blu-ray. Buy Jamón, Jamón.

Napping Princess (2017): In the near future a student discovers that the secret to freeing her arrested father may lie in her dreams of a science fantasy kingdom. Light, whimsical dream anime on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD. Buy Napping Princess.

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, 2/3 – El Topo (1970). At the Texas Theater.
• Dallas, TX, 2/3 – The Holy Mountain (1973). At the Texas Theater.
• Dallas, TX, 2/4 – The Dance of Reality (2013). At the Texas Theater.
• Grand Rapids, MI, 2/2-2/6 – The Love Witch (2016). At UICA.
• Los Angeles, CA, 2/3-2/8 – Stalker (1979). At the Nuart Theater.
• New York City, NY, 2/2 (midnight) – Videodrome (1983). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 2/2-2/3 (midnights) – Eraserhead (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 2/2-2/3 (midnights) –Zardoz (1974). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 2/2-2/3 (midnights) – Wild at Heart (1990). At Nighthawk Cinema.
• New York City, 2/8 – The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971). At the Museum of Modern Art.
• San Francisco, CA, 2/8 – Akira (1988), with a new live score provided by the Firmament. At the Roxie.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). At the Rio Theater

NEPOTISM CORNER:

INTERVIEWTF WITH G. SMALLEY (366 WEIRD MOVIES): A random website randomly interviewed 366 Weird Movies’ own G. Smalley on random topics. Read the madness here.

Ten Outstanding Weird Movies You’ve Probably Never Heard Of: You have almost certainly heard of all these, but for novices 366’s “Penguin” Pete Trbovich published a list of ten “lesser known” weird movies (all featured on this website) on Imgur. See his choices here.

YOU LINK US! YOU REALLY LINK US!:

The Apple (1980) < Catherine Mary Stewart: Catherine Mary Stewart’s official site considers us one of only three notable resources (along with the IMDB and the Projection Booth’s podcast) for info on The Apple. Proud to be of service!

Letterboxd Guide to 366 Weird Movies: Superfan Val Santos compiled this list of Certified Weird films on the popular social movie site, and went above and beyond by creating guides to our List Candidates, capsule reviews and even the suggestion queue. Wow!

FREE MOVIES ON TUBITV:

Millennium Actress (2001): Read the Certified Weird entry! As we mentioned in our review, Satoshi Kon‘s sophomore picture—a mixed-up anime biopic of a fictional Japanese actress—turns up from time to time streaming on free services. Right now, it’s upstart TubiTV’s turn. With minimal commercial interruptions. Watch Millennium Actress free on TubiTV.

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):

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. Mom and Dad at Momentum pictures.

Psychotic (2018): A “psychedelic slasher flick” set in Brooklyn. Premiering exclusively in NYC this week, debuting on VOD next week. Psychotic! home page.

FILM FESTIVALS – Sundance Film Festival (Park City, UT, Jan 18-28):

The 2018 movie season officially kicks off with Sundance, where a hundred hopeful independent movies, including a few off-the-wall ones, come to vie for a handful of distribution contracts. In recent years, Sundance added the “Next” and “Midnight” screening sections to add some weirdness to the otherwise tame lineup of dramas about privileged white people and their problems (alternating with imported dramas about underprivileged brown people and their problems).

Here’s what we’ll be tracking in the coming months:

• An Evening With Beverly Luff Lin – Greasy Jim Hosking tries to make a romantic comedy, without sacrificing his absurdist tendencies. Screening 1/20-1/21, 1/23, 1/26-27.
  
• Clara’s Ghost – A ghost prompts an actress to confront her dysfunctional family. 1/19-1/20, 1/24-1/25.
• Mandy – For his long-awaited sophomore fillm, Panos Cosmatos puts Nicolas Cage into a surreal supernatural revenge drama. Playing midnights 1/19 & 1/24, or see it during daylight hours 1/20-21 or 1/27.
• Sorry to Bother You – A telemarketer discovers he has a magical sales power that catapults him up the corporate ladder and into a “macabre universe.” Screens 1/20-1/22, 1/24, 1/25-26.
• We the Animals – The youngest brother of a trio of neglected kids retreats into an imaginary (animated?) world. See it 1/20, 1/22, or 1/24-27.

Sundance Film Festival home page.

FILM FESTIVALS – Slamdance (Park City, UT, Jan 19-25):

Slamdance is Sundance’s punkier, sometimes (usually) weirder little brother, a low-budget alternative to the mid-budget institution. Here’s what may be worth looking out for down the road:

• Charlie and Hannah’s Grand Night Out – Two girls find their boozy pub crawl turn surreal; the programmers use the word “trippy” to describe it, twice. Screening 1/20 & 1/25.
• Rock Steady Row – Absurd “frat Western” about a freshman who plays off deadly rival fraternal organizations. 1/19 & 1/22.

Slamdance home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Blade Runner 2049 (2017): Read Alfred Eaker’s review. A sequel that’s well worth your time. This is a “standard edition” release, suggesting a “special edition” may be planned down the road. On DVD, Blu-ray, 4K, and on-demand. Buy Blade Runner 2049.

The Relationtrip (2017): Two young adults go on a “friend trip” and experience an entire relationship in one weekend. Oh, and there’s a muppet. On VOD only, for now. Buy The Relationtrip.

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, 1/20 – The Dance of Reality (2013) and Endless Poetry (double feature). Sold out, standby only. At the Egyptian Theater
• Los Angeles, CA, 1/21 – Beauty and the Beast [La Belle et la Bete] (1946) and Donkey Skin [Peau D’Âne] (double feature). At the Egyptian Theater.
• New York City, NY, 1/19 – Inherent Vice (2014). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 1/19 – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973), with a live score by Tenth Intervention. Silent, no subtitles. At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 1/19, 1/24 – Rubin & Ed (1991). At Spectacle Theater.
• New York City, NY, 1/23 – La Grande Bouffe (1973). At Spectacle Theater.
• Seattle, WA, 1/19-1/25 – Vertigo (1958). At Ark Lodge Cinemas.
• Tuscon, AZ, 1/24 – Stalker (1979). At the Loft Cinema.

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 DEVELOPMENT (Post-production):

Slice (2018): Not much to go on besides the intriguing IMDB synopsis: “When a pizza delivery driver is murdered on the job, the city searches for someone to blame: ghosts? drug dealers? a disgraced werewolf?” Starring Chance the Rapper. The fact that pro-weird A24 (Enemy, The Lobster, Swiss Army Man, Under the Skin) picked it up for distribution is also promising. Here’s a short article at Popsugar.

Two Plains & a Fancy (2017): Described as “satirical, experimental ‘Spa Western,'” this low-budget indie was partially funded with $36,000 raised on Kickstarter. Three travelers in 1893 have surreal encounters (including one with “ghost whores”) while on a journey to find the perfect spa in the Old West. We like the maker’s attitude: “the way we make films is unpredictable, idiosyncratic, weird,” says co-director Lev Kalman in the Kickstarter pitch. Now listed as “completed,” but when or where it will appear is anyone’s guess right now. Two Plains and a Fancy Kickstarter page. Also see Filmmaker’s list of most anticipated movies of 2018.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

68 Kill (2017): Read Giles Edwards’ festival capsule. Giles described it as as “Troma does Wild at Heart,” while still recommending you pass on it; you can decide for yourself about this trashy black comedy. On DVD, Blu-ray or VOD. Buy 68 Kill.

Across the Universe (2007): Read our review. Julie Taymor‘s hallucinatory Beatles musical gets the 4K HD treatment, packaged together with a Blu-ray. Buy Across the Universe.

Emmanuelle and the Deadly Black Cobra [AKA Black Cobra Woman] (1976): A wealthy playboy hires a stripper to take care of his menagerie of snakes. This rarely seen sort-of entry in the “Black Emmanuelle” series may be worth taking a flier on because of the odd casting of Jack Palance as a serpent-obsessed tycoon named Judas. Code Red puts it on Blu-ray for the first time ever. Buy Emmanuelle and the Deadly Black Cobra.

The Witches [Le Streghe] (1967): An anthology film, with five directors (including Pier Paolo Pasolini, whose segment is reportedly the most surreal) producing stories featuring then-popular Silvana Mangano (who would star in Pasolini’s Teorema the following year). Clint Eastwood has a small role in this obscure oddity appearing on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Academy. Buy The Witches.

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.

• Bloomington, IN, 1/12 – Funeral Parade of Roses [Bara no sôretsu] (1969). At Indiana University Cinema.
• Columbus, OH, 1/12 – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At Gateway Film Center.
• Los Angeles, CA, 1/13 – El Topo (1970) & Fando y Lis (1968) (double feature). At the Egyptian Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 1/14 – The Holy Mountain (1973) & Santa Sangre (1989) (double feature). Alejandro Jodorowsky in attendance. Sold out, standby tickets only. At the Egyptian Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 1/18 – Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) & Night of the Hunter (1955) (double feature). At the Egyptian Theater.
• Nashville, TN, 1/13 (midnight) – Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). At the Belcourt Theater.
• New York City, NY, 1/12-1/18 – Vertigo (1958). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 1/12 & 1/16 – Spirited Away (2001). At IFC Center.
• New York City, 1/13 – WR: Mysteries of the Organism (1971). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 1/16 – La Grande Bouffe (1973). At Spectacle Theater.
• New York City, NY, 1/18 – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973), presented silent (with no subtitles) and a live score by Tenth Intervention. At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• Pittsburgh, PA, 1/12-1/16, 1/18 – Female Trouble (1974). At Row House Cinema.
• Pittsburgh,  PA, 1/12-1/15, 1/17-1/18 – Pink Flamingos (1972). At Row House Cinema.
• Tuscon, AZ, 1/17 – Solaris [Solyaris] (1972). At the Loft Cinema.

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.