Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

Her: Spike Jonze returns with a romantic comedy about a writer who falls in love with an artificial intelligence. Likely to be only glancingly weird, at best, but Jonze (Being John Malkovich) is always worth a look. Her official site.

Wrong Cops: Quentin Dupieux‘s third feature is a comedy about cops-gone-wrong entitled, oddly enough, Wrong Cops. It has been expanded to a full-length feature from a 43-minute short that played at Sundance in January, and the cast includes Eric Wareheim, Marilyn Manson, and former “Twin Peaks” spouses Grace Zabriske and Ray Wise. Wrong Cops official site.

SCREENINGS – (Cinefamily, Los Angeles, CA, Dec. 23):

Nutcracker Fantasy (1979): A Rankin/Bass styled stop-motion Japanese adaptation of the Nutcracker, with a two-headed Rat King and no mention of Christmas whatsoever. Never released on DVD, this is another incredible obscurity dug up by the deranged archivists at Cinefamily.

NEW ON DVD:

Toad Road (2013): Drugged-out losers decide to drop acid and head down the abandoned country road that local legend claims leads straight to the gates of Hell. Partly improvised, it’s gained multiple comparisons to the work of Harmony Korine. Buy Toad Road.

The Witch Who Came from the Sea (1976): A woman who survived abuse as a child grows up to kill (and, er, dismember) the men she sleeps with. Although this had an exploitative promotional campaign and was one of the movies that managed to get itself banned in Britain as a “video nasty,” it’s by all accounts a serious attempt at a downbeat psychosexual drama (with hallucination sequences, flashbacks and Freudian symbolism). Buy The Witch Who Came from the Sea.

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 on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN DEVELOPMENT:

All My Heart’s Desires, A Feminine Film Concerning Phantoms and Beasts (est. 2014): Savage Witches‘ Clara Pais and Daniel Fawcett have announced their next project. All they’re saying is that the “story is based on dreams and draws heavily upon mythology and folk tales and could be described as a mystical melodrama,” and that it’s being shot in Portugal. They’re also recruiting cast and crew, so if you’re in the Porto area and have acting or filmmaking experience drop them a line. All My Heart’s Desires announcement.

NEW ON DVD:

7E (2013): A man takes a job as caretaker for a traumatized woman convalescing an apartment with the same number as the one in Rosemary’s Baby; weird stuff happens. The only review we found of this one was from a user on IMDB who said “it’s as if they asked the crazy fellow who talks to himself on the park bench to write a story, then they made a film.” Buy 7E.

Berberian Sound Studio (2012): A neurotic British sound engineer used to working on quiet nature documentaries goes mad when he takes an assignment designing the audio for a 1970s Italian horror film. It seems like we’ve been waiting forever for this reader-suggested festival hit to release on DVD in the U.S. Buy Berberian Sound Studio.

“Bleach, DVD Set 19, Episodes 268-279”: This long-running cult anime series involves a teenage boy who can see ghosts and a complicated mythology about the afterlife. We might have passed on mentioning this one, but it gets extra points from us because the show, which finished in 2012, runs for exactly 366 episodes. Buy “Bleach, Set 19”.

“Cult Movie Marathon, Vol. 2” (Savage Island, Chatterbox, The Naked Cage & Angels from Hell): This set boasts two women-in-prison movies and one biker flick, but the real curiosity here is 1977’s Chatterbox, a softcore porn comedy about a woman with a talking vagina. Chatterbox is a remake of a French hardcore sex film from 1975 called Pussy Talk, which itself claimed to be an adaptation of Denis Diderot’s 1748 political satire “The Indiscreet Jewels.” Buy “Cult Movie Marathon, Vol. 2”.

“Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project”: See description in DVD below.

The Rooftop (2013): It looks like just your average ultra-stylized Taiwanese kung-fu romantic comedy musical, but the Los Angeles Times‘ Robert Adele warns “its tonal eccentricities [are] sure to wear out even the most dedicated connoisseur of silly cinema.” He’s never encountered dedication to eccentricity like we have here. Buy The Rooftop.

You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet (2012): At a viewing of a video will of an experimental theater director, the assembled actors spontaneously begin re-enacting an old play. Made when he was ninety years old, director Alain (Last Year at Marienbad) Resnais isn’t slowing down, or losing his will to try new things. Buy You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

Grey Gardens (1975): Cult documentary about two eccentric female relations of Jackie Onassis who became recluses and lost touch with the outside world (and with reality) at the decaying titular estate. This Criterion Collection Blu-ray upgrade also includes The Beales of Grey Gardens, a followup feature made out of footage left over from the first film. Buy Grey Gardens [Criterion Collection Blu-ray].

“Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project”: A six film collection (Touki Bouki, Redes, A River Called Titas, Dry Summer, Trances, The Housemaid) with no obvious connection between them except that they are made outside of the U.S. or Western Europe and Martin Scorsese thinks they are underseen. The title we’re interested in is Touki Bouki, a 1973 Senegalese road movie described as “Africa’s first avant garde film,” but we don’t really see why we should have to buy five random movies we don’t care about to see it. This is a Blu-ray/DVD dual format release. Buy “Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project” [DVD/Blu-ray].

Post Tenebras Lux (2012): From Mexico comes this kaleidoscopic, non-linear portrait of a family in crisis that looks a bit like a Mexican Tree of Life. Shoot, we’ve been meaning to review this since the DVD came out back in August. Buy Post Tenebras Lux [Blu-ray].

The Rooftop (2013): See description in DVD below. Buy The Rooftop [Blu-ray].

RECONSTRUCTION:

The Dark Crystal (1982): Read our review of the original cut of Dark Crystal. This one doesn’t fit into any of our usual categories. It’s an unauthorized fan-made reconstruction of Jim Henson‘s original cut of The Dark Crystal, with deleted scenes spliced in from DVD extras and from a black and white work print someone discovered on an old VHS tape. The original cut had no narration or voiceover monologues and tested poorly with audiences; according to one commentator this version was “darker, weirder, and trippier” than what eventually made it on screen. The studio sent this cut back to the editing bay to add narration and commentary to clear things up for easily bewildered suburban audiences who were looking for a Muppets-style adventure instead of an experimental puppet fantasy. Thanks to L. Rob Hubbard for the find. Mental Floss has the story, video and an interview with Christopher Orgeron, the fan responsible for the reconstruction.

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 on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

Crave: A disillusioned crime scene photographer retreats into a world of vigilante revenge fantasies. The ad copy speaks of an “inner world of dark fantasies” and “dangerous visions,” but the early reviews speak of “empty movie-shout-out posturing” and “a misleading, long-winded chore.” Ouch. Crave official site.

NEW ON DVD:

“Magical Play: Complete Collection” (2001): A girl with a fish-cloak competes with a girl in a cat-bikini and others to become a Magical Girl. This series, originally webcast, is a parody of a “magical girl” anime subgenre you probably didn’t know existed. We mention it because the back boxcover promises that “it’s going to get REALLY weird…,” and the trailer suggests that it might. Buy “Magical Play”: Complete Collection.

“Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” (1976): This ahead-of-its-time Seventies soap opera spoof put beleaguered Fernwood, Ohio housewife Mary Hartman (Louise Lasser) through encounters with religious cults, UFOs and waxy yellow buildup before being canceled after thirty-one episodes. Martin Mull’s talk-show parody spinoff series “Fernwood 2-Nite” lasted slightly longer, but is equally unknown to today’s youth. Buy “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”: The Complete Series.

“Tales of Terror”: Mill Creek is outdoing itself with its latest set: they’re up from 50 movies per box to an amazing 200 el cheapo movies in one set. The usual public domain goodies (and baddies) are to be found here, including the Certified Weird entries The Beast of Yucca Flats, Carnival of Souls, Horrors of Spider Island, Maniac (1934), and Nosferatu. Prints are, of course, the worst available, but you’re paying for quantity, not quality, with these sets. Buy “Tales of Terror”.

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.

It’s been over a year since our last review writing contest, and we’re itching for some new blood. To encourage you guys to chip in (and possibly earn a spot as a junior contributor—we get a lot of low-budget screeners we could use help sorting through), we’re offering a Ghastly Pack^TM, consisting of a DVD copy of The Ghastly Love of Johnny X with the cover signed by director Paul Bunnell, two promotional postcards, and a video production diary (a separate DVD-R disc of  behind-the-scenes material that is not commercially available). This is a great pack for anyone interested in low-budget movie making. All you have to do to earn this ghastly (and wonderful) prize is to submit the best movie review, following the rules set out below:

1. Write a review of a movie that you think should be on the List of the 366 Best Weird Movies, but that we haven’t added yet.  Including the following sections: DIRECTOR, FEATURING (listing the most important actors), PLOT (a one sentence synopsis), WHY IT DESERVES TO MAKE THE LIST (a one sentence to one paragraph description of why you think the movie is weird), COMMENTS (one to two paragraphs describing the movie in more detail). If you have a suggestion for a still to represent the movie and/or a quote from a critic on the film, you can include those, but they are not required.
2. Alternatively, a well-thought out “second opinion” on a movie that we have already considered, but that you think we got wrong (either by putting it on the List when it shouldn’t have made it, or rejecting a film that should have made it), will be acceptable.
3. Submit your work on our contact form. By submitting your entry on this form, you agree to allow 366weirdmovies.com to publish your work, either whole or in edited form, on this website. Your work may be selected for publication even if you are not chosen as the winner.
4. The contest is open to anyone whose work has not previously been published on 366weirdmovies.com.
5. You may not write a review promoting a film which you were involved in the production of, or in which you have a financial interest.
6. This site strives to remain “PG” rated; try not to use profanity in your review.
7. The contest will remain open for one month, until Jan 2, 2014, at which time the editor will select the best entry. The winner will be chosen on the basis of writing style, insight, and appropriateness of the movie chosen.  The deadline may be extended, depending on the number of entries received.
8. In order to be eligible to receive the prize, you must supply a valid email address and a valid mailing address. International addresses are acceptable. If the winning entrant does not supply a valid mailing address, or declines the prize, the DVD will be given to a randomly selected entry with a mailing address in the United States. If no entries are from the United States, then the deadline to complete the contest will be extended.

TIPS: Avoid merely summarizing the plot in your comments. Avoid giving away “spoilers” in your descriptions that might ruin the enjoyment of the film. Obscure titles are fine—in fact, they may be worth bonus points—but try to pick a film that is available on DVD, or is at least likely to be released. If you write on a film no one will be able to view or locate, the movie may be judged as inappropriate. Try to keep your review to under 1000 words total—more is not always better when it comes to movie recommendations.

One final tip: don’t be scared away by thinking you have to write something profoundly insightful. Simply consider it as a chance to describe and recommend a film to that narrow audience of people who are interested in the same kind of weird movies as you are.

Chances of winning depend on the number of entries received.

Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…

Trailers of new release movies are generally available on the official site links.

IN THEATERS (WIDE RELEASE):

Oldboy (2013): A man is imprisoned in a hotel room for twenty years without explanation, then just as inexplicably set free to seek revenge on his captor. Early notices on this seemingly-doomed Spike Lee remake of the shocking Korean original have been every bit as tepid as we expected. In particular, a woman named Grace did not like it. Oldboy official site.

FILM FESTIVALS –  Cine-Rebis Porto Underground Film Festival (Porto, Portugal, Nov. 29-Dec. ):

Most of the movies playing at the Porto version of this festival of two cities are identical to the ones we reported on in the London version of the event, including Kelly Hughes’ zombies n’ drag queens mashup La Cage Aux Zombies, Brontis Jodorowsky in Tau, the Alejandro Jodorowsky-inspired Ritual: A Psychomagic Story, and the modern Expressionist horror The Demon’s Rook. Notable changes: no Escape from Tomorrow (Portugal is obviously not considered one of the happiest places on Earth), but to compensate there is a rare screening of Bruce Bickford’s surreal claymation short “Prometheus’ Garden.” Cine-Rebis Porto Underground Film Festival program (in Portuguese).

NEW ON DVD:

Animals (2012): A maladjusted gay teenager falls in love for the first time, but what will become of his only friend, a talking teddy bear named Deerhoof? The description makes it sound like Ted done as a psychological coming-out drama. Buy Animals.

The Horror Show (1989): See description in Blu-ray below.

“Mystery Science Theater 3000: 25th Anniversary Edition”: The four main episodes included in this edition of the cult movie-mocking series are the Hammer-produced space opera Moon Zero Two, the epic fantasy The Day the Earth Froze (a confusingly dubbed and edited international cut of a serious Russian/Finnish fantasy film),  the Universal horror snoozer The Leech Woman, and Gorgo (which is something like the British Godzilla). The bonus disc is a double-feature of two historically important series episodes: Mitchell, original host Joel Hodgson’s final bow, and The Brain That Wouldn’t Die, which introduced new frontman Mike Nelson. Buy “Mystery Science Theater 3000: 25th Anniversary Edition”.

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

The Horror Show (1989): A killer continues to bedevil a detective and his family even after being executed in the electric chair. This absurd ripoff of Nightmare on Elm Street was titled House 3 overseas, even though it had nothing to do with the House series. Available in a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack only. Buy The Horror Show [Blu-ray/DVD Combo].

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.