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Miscellanea

WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 11/1/2019

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366 Weird Movies may earn commissions from purchases made through product links.

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):

Cubby: A misfit adult babysitter dreams up the gay superhero “Leather Man” after eating a psychedelic cupcake. One reviewer called it “endearingly weird.” Cubby official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Bloody New Year (1987): Five English teenagers stumble onto an abandoned hotel that’s decorated for New Year’s Eve in the middle of summer; weird happenings follow. Vinegar Syndrome’s ad copy describes it as “a distinctly original hybrid of slasher, supernatural horror, and near surrealism…” The restored Blu-ray/DVD combo comes with a commentary track from director Norman J. Warren. Buy Bloody New Year.

“Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975”:  The Criterion Collection celebrates their 1000th spine number in an unexpected way: it’s a 15-film “Godzilla” box set. These are not all that weird, with the possible exception of Godzilla vs. Hedorah [AKA Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster], but lots of fans will be keenly interested. Buy “Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975”.

Lust in the Dust (1985): Read our review. The campy Western spoof from the ever-offbeat gets a Vinegar Syndrome restoration. A DVD/Blu-ray combo release. Buy Lust in the Dust.

Manifest Destiny Down: Spacetime (2019): A stoner-dude physics genius and a hot chick in a Catholic schoolgirl getup are the only survivors of the apocalypse.  It describes itself as an “absurdist satire” and comes on DVD, Blu-ray or VOD. Buy Manifest Destiny Down: Spacetime.

“Scorpio Films: The Dutch Sex Wave Collection”: We’ve reviewed three of the four films included in this set separately: Blue Movie, Obsessions, and My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie. It also comes with Frank & Eva. These films are only slightly weird, at best, but this entire 70s Eurosex genre is quaint and nostalgic for many. On Blu-ray, or save money with a DVD set. Buy “Scorpio Films: The Dutch Sex Wave Collection”.

Two Evil Eyes (1990): and each take on a short adaptation of an story. Argento’s take on “The Black Cat” is reportedly the weirder of the two, although opinions diverge on which is the better overall. Blue Underground releases a Blu-ray with an extra bonus disc of features, and throws in the soundtrack CD by Pino Donaggio to boot. Buy Two Evil Eyes.

The Wizard of Oz (1939): Read our review. Warner Brothers is constantly revisiting Oz, but this is the first release in 4K (as far as we know). This edition is a 4K ultra disc plus a Blu-ray plus a digital copy; no word on extra features but Warners has loads of ’em in its vaults. Buy The Wizard of Oz.

CERTIFIED WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). We’ll only list irregularly scheduled one-time screenings of this audience-participation classic below. You can use this page to find a regular weekly screening near you.

FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Blue Velvet (1986): Read the Canonically Weird entry! Celebrate ‘s honorary Oscar with a free screening of the dark suburban thriller the Academy snubbed in 1986. Watch Blue Velvet free on Tubi.tv.

YOU LINK US! YOU REALLY LINK US!:

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston considers us an authority on Hausu. They know fine art, we know weird.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next week, look for reviews of the Spanish pseudo-giallo The Killer of Dolls and the Italian magical realist drama A Sicilian Ghost Story. We’ll try to get something else out there—but if we slack off this week, it could be because we’re working hard behind the scenes on the 2019 print version of the Yearbook, which we plan to get out this year in December (rather than our usual schedule of sometime in May in the following year). So wish us luck, and 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.

Miscellanea

WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 10/25/2019

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366 Weird Movies may earn commissions from purchases made through product links.

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):

Redoubt (2018): Matthew Barney (The Cremaster Cycle) has a new motion picture art event out: a silent retelling of the myth of Diana the huntress (now a riflewoman) set in Idaho. This has been quietly playing at a few art museums alongside Barney’s conceptually-linked sculptures; it’s now getting a limited release at New York’s Film Forum this week, with a tiny smattering other theatrical dates scheduled through January 2020. If Barney’s previous films are any indication, he will decline to release this on any form of home video or streaming service, so if you’re interested you made need to plan a road trip to one of the few venues it will grace. Redoubt official site.

DVR ALERT:

TCM’s Halloween programming climaxes this upcoming week with screenings of the canonical titles Nosferatu (1922) overnight on Oct. 25; Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell (1968) in the wee hours of Oct. 28; and Freaks (1932) on Halloween morning. Complete schedule here.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

She’s Just a Shadow (2019): Read our review. Wild and ultra-sleazy, if not technically “good,” tribute to the stylish yakuza cinema of and ; on DVD, Blu-ray, or VOD. Buy She’s Just a Shadow.

Tone-Deaf (2019): Millennials vs. boomers horror satire with a young woman renting a room from a psychopathic landlord. Despite critical citations to its “twisted weirdness” and “spooky and surreal stuff,” somehow this one flew under our radar; the 4.8 IMBD rating might have something to do with that. On DVD/Blu-ray/VOD. Buy Tone-Deaf.

Woman Chasing the Butterfly of Death (1975): South Korean oddity (from a time when horror was rare in that country) involving a suicidal student, a Nietzsche-obsessed bookseller, and a 1,000 year-old corpse whose biological clock is ticking. International gonzo weirdness out on Blu-ray (only) courtesy of Mondo Macabro. Buy Woman Chasing the Butterfly of Death.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS (Oct. 27-28, 30):

Spirited Away (2001): Read the Canonically Weird entry! GKIDS “Studio Ghibli Fest” continues with what is arguably the most popular film, a Japanese variation on “Alice in Wonderland” about a young girl in the world of the spirits. Screening dubbed on the 27th and 30th, subtitled on the 28th. Use this Fathom events page to find a Spirited Away screening near you.

CERTIFIED WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). We’ll only list irregularly scheduled one-time screenings of this audience-participation classic below. You can use this page to find a regular weekly screening near you.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next  week we’ll focus on that weirdest of holidays, Halloween, with a slate of horror-themed reviews. Simon Hyslop will bring you our official word on the new Jacob’s Ladder remake. Giles Edwards will focus on one classic (?) and one new classic (?) with reviews of ‘s Sleepy Hollow (1999) and ‘ popular theatrical release The Lighthouse. And there may even be more treats in store… no promises, though. Onward and weirdward!

What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that we have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.

Miscellanea

WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 10/18/2019

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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):

Greener Grass (2019): An absurdist suburban satire expanded from an award-winning short. We’ve been waiting on a theatrical release for this one since we noted it at Sundance; reviews are universally positive so far (so we know Rex Reed hasn’t seen it). In select theaters on the coasts, and more widely available on-demand; we should review this one soon. Greener Grass official site.

IN DEVELOPMENT (pre-production):

“Consumed”: Jordan Ruimy reports that is planning to emerge from semi-retirement to pen and direct a mini-series for Netflix based on his 2014 novel “Consumed.” Cronenberg’s late film work hasn’t been his weirdest, but the novel synopsis sounds promising, with cannibalism. rare STDs, and a global conspiracy all playing a part. Read the report at World of Reel.

IN DEVELOPMENT (post-production):

Lection (est. 2020): A small-town post-apocalyptic political thriller set in a world where elections are decided by gladiatorial combat. Made for $25,000, they are seeking an extra $5,000 (at this writing more like $3,500) for post-production costs. How can we resist plugging a project that ends its pitch with “Help us show you our weird little movie”? Lection at Indiegogo.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Genius Party (2007)/Genius Party Beyond (2008): The original is an anime anthology of seven short films, some weirder than others, with the most notable participant; the shorter sequel adds five more films. Shout! Factory fit both collections on a single Blu-ray disc. Buy Genius Party/Genius Party Beyond.

Häxan (1922) : Read the Certified Weird entry! The Criterion Collection celebrates Halloween with a Blu-ray upgrade of the  silent witchcraft narrative/documentary blend; the -narrated Witchcraft Through the Ages cut is included, of course. Buy Häxan.

Killer Nun (1979): A convent sister (played by nun-other than Anita Ekberg) descends into degeneracy and murder. This giallo-nunsploitation madness, which also features cult fave , has been sitting in our reader-suggested review queue for some time.  Arrow Video releases a Special Edition Blu-ray with the usual metric ton of special features. Buy Killer Nun.

The Lingering (2018): This weird Hong Kong horror film is in two parts: in the first a mother and son wait for the father to return home on New Year’s Eve, while the second concerns a man caring for parents with dementia. In one of the only available English-language reviews Jeffery Kaufman says that the second part is “very odd, and the final few minutes are actually admittedly quite touching in their own weird way, but the rest of this film is frankly a mess.” On DVD, Blu-ray or DVD. Buy The Lingering.

Sensual Psychedelia (2019): The copy explains that the movie is about three women on their way to a rave who encounter a UFO that leads to psychedelic sex orgies. The box cover suggests that the director (who also produced a short called “The Breast Around: Electric Boobaloo”) is interested in filming a very specific type of woman (think , then add a couple of cup sizes). Don’t say we didn’t warn you. On DVD, Blu-ray, or VOD. Buy Sensual Psychedelia.

“Twin Peaks: The Television Collection”: A collection of all of the televised episodes of “,” from the ABC series to Showtime’s “The Return.” None of the special features seem to be unique to this set. If you didn’t buy the TV seasons separately, and already owned (or for some reason didn’t want) Fire Walk with Me from “The Entire Mystery” set, or if you wanted the entire television run on DVD rather than Blu-ray (you have the option of either format here), then perhaps this release makes sense. It’s good to have a lot of different “Peaks” purchase options, at least. Buy “Twin Peaks: The Television Collection”.

CERTIFIED WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). We’ll only list irregularly scheduled one-time screenings of this audience-participation classic below. You can use this page to find a regular weekly screening near you.

YOU LINK US! YOU REALLY LINK US!: The University of Stirling’s student newspaper suggests five “odd” movies to its readers (including three canonically weird ones) and lists us as a source of further “snack-bites.” Read their article, “Five odd movies for those ‘too-average’ days,” to find out what weirdness Scottish university students are getting into these days.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Due to personal late-week commitments, this column is being composed well ahead of the deadline (instead of at the last possible minute, as it usually is). Therefore, we’re not entirely sure what we’ll be publishing next week, but we can tell you that Giles Edwards gets into the Halloween spirit with a review of ‘s zombie opus, The Dead Don’t Die. There will be more, probably, but that’s the only thing we can confirm at this early date. For more info, check in next week! 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.

Miscellanea

WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 10/11/2019

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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 – Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (Brooklyn, NY, Oct. 17-24):

Situated firmly in the Halloween corridor, Brooklyn Horror is an up and coming film festival going into its 4th year of operation. This year’s slate includes a number of films we either caught or at least noted previously, including 1BR, Daniel Isn’t Real, Koko-di Koko-da, the 58-minute expanded psychedelic music video Blood Machines, and the Polish hospitality fantasy Monument. The Fest will also have a seasonal screening of Halloween fave The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) on October 18th (we’ll remind you again next week.) Here are a couple of new features and featurettes we haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere:

  • Apocalypse After – 38-minutes of experimental hallucinatory imagery from , screening together with the aforementioned Blood Machines on Oct. 20.
  • The Yellow Night – A “trippy… hypnotic millennial nightmare” with Brazilian teens caught in some kind of space-time continuum disturbance thing. North American premier on Oct 20.

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Every Time I Die (2019): The soul of a troubled paramedic migrates into the bodies of his friends after he dies. At least one critic liked this low-budget psychological thriller with “a surreal feel” quite a lot. Blu-ray, DVD or VOD. Buy Every Time I Die.

Idiots and Angels (2008): Read the Certified Weird review! seems to have signed an exclusive deal with Apple TV, and all of his catalog, including this Canonically Weird cartoon about a despicable man who grows angel wings, will presumably be streamable and downloadable there for the foreseeable future. (All of his other features look to be there, as well). Idiots and Angels on Apple TV (Itunes).

The Killer of Dolls (1975): A sexually repressed killer puts on a mask and stalks women in this giallo-esque Spanish Eurotrash feature that the ad copy describes as “bizarre and totally unique…” Mondo Macabro releases this lost horror on Blu-ray and features a quote on the cover from a letterboxd review (that’s a first). Buy The Killer of Dolls.

Midosmmar (2019): Read our review. ‘s Swedish folk horror/nightmare breakup story divided critics and viewers, and our readers were no exception; if you missed it in theaters, now’s your chance to catch it and weigh in. The “Director’s Cut” version is not an option here (which suggests that Midsommar will be re-released again later). On DVD, Blu-ray, or VOD. Buy Midsommar.

NEW ON NETFLIX:

The Forest of Love (2019): movie about a conman who insinuates his way into a wealthy widow’s life, and the film crew that comes to believe he’s actually a serial killer. James Hadfield of The Japan Times describes it as “peak Sono: a garish, gore-drenched S&M exploitation epic that plays like a compilation of his greatest hits without ever really breaking new ground.” Debuting exclusively on Netflix on 10/11. Not sure if the dubbing will be optional or mandatory for American viewing. The Forest of Love on Netflix.

CERTIFIED WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). We’ll only list irregularly scheduled one-time screenings of this audience-participation classic below. You can use this page to find a regular weekly screening near you.

NEPOTISM CORNER:

“Brother Cobweb”: Alfred Eaker‘s long-gestating semi-autobiographical novel about a boy growing up in a repressive puritanical household—and his imaginary enemy, the sinister Brother Cobweb—is finally complete. It’s set to be published in Spring 2020 (Easter season) but signed advance copies are being sold through House of Shadows, the Portland haunted house where Alfred performs the title character.  The copy describes it as “a coming of age saga with a misfit, paradoxical artist at its center… a surreal and provocative odyssey sure to strike a nerve as it exposes the abuses and hypocrisy of an all-too-familiar Midwestern evangelical church.” Illustrations by the talented Todd M. Coe. Buy an advance copy of “Brother Cobweb.”

Brother Cobweb cover

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next week, Rafael Moreira has prepped a review of the crazy-cute Portuguese soccer satire Diamantino, will report on ‘s abandoned public-access parody webseries “Divorced Dad,” and we’ll probably throw in at least one more review for you. Behind the scenes, we’re already working on our 2019 Yearbook, with plans (not promises) to get it out by December this year, and steadily working on the 366 Weird Movies book-length compendium, as well. 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.

Miscellanea

WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 10/4/2019

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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 (completed):

Sister Tempest (2020): strikes again with another crowdfunded surrealist epic. This one is a psychological thriller-type tale taking place in a dreamspace equally inspired by and Zardoz. We can 100% guarantee this will be weird; the trailer will convince you, too. Sister Tempest official Facebook page.

“Twin Peaks, Season 4”: It’s happening again… maybe. Probably. Seemingly sparked by a Sep. 27 tweet from the Hollywood Horror Museum. More obscure hints followed from cast members, and, perhaps more importantly, no one has stepped in to squash the rumors. We first heard rumblings from We Got This Covered, but Indiewire has the deepest coverage (although we’re not ready to sign on to Zach Scharf’s conclusion that “The Return“‘s ending was perfect and left the series nowhere to go).

DVR ALERT:

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) continues their Halloween slate; this week, we’re highlighting their 10/10 showing of the Expressionistic / creepfest The Black Cat (1934). More Canonically Weird movies will play later in October. Here’s the full month’s schedule courtesy of comicbook.com.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Birds Without Feathers (2018): Experimental feature mixing stories of six odd people—an Instagram celebrity, a performance artist, a Russian fan, and so on—in a technologically alienated world. On blu-ray (no DVD) or VOD. Buy Birds Without Feathers.

“The House of Hitchcock”: Collectible set of fifteen classics on Blu-ray, featuring Vertigo (1958), The Birds (1963), and more. All this material has been previously released (including the 15 hours of supplements), but this limited edition comes in snazzy new spooky-house-themed packaging with lots of inserts (postcard-sized posters of each flick, blueprints for the Bates motel, and more). Buy “The House of Hitchcock Collection”.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006): Read the Canonically Weird entry! This release of ‘s Spanish Civil War-set fairy tale appears to be a simple 4K upgrade of the existing material.  On Ultra 4K disc with a standard Blu-ray bonus disc (and a digital copy). Buy Pan’s Labyrinth.

Star Leaf (2015): A veteran searches for a grove of extraterrestrial marijuana (!) to cure his PSTD, but finds himself in trouble when he refuses to follow the directions for safe use. Released on DVD way back in 2015, it’s now re-relased on a “Special Edition” Blu-ray, DVD and VOD (or free on Amazon Prime). IMDB also lists a TV Seires (web series?) called “Star Leaf: Rise of the Archon” in 2019, but with no information beyond the title. Buy Star Leaf.

CERTIFIED WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). We’ll only list special one-time screenings of this audience-participation classic separately. You can use this page to find a regular weekly screening near you.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next week we’re back into that neglected reader-suggested review queue for our long-awaited take on the quintessentially Japanese madness of Electric Dragon 80000V (2001). We’ll complement that one with a pair of reviews of lower-budgeted fare, as Simon Hyslop goes backwards to review the first film of the Bloodsucker‘s duology, Bloodsucker’s Handbook (2012), and Giles Edwards braves the surreal pretentiousness of Odissea Della Morte (2019), which despite the title is made by Canadians and set in Canada (with vacation footage from Italy). 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.