Category Archives: Miscellanea

Miscellanea

WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 12/6/2019

Leave a comment

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):

Daniel Isn’t Real (2019): Read Giles Edwards’ review. We also have an audio interview with director Adam Egypt Mortimer about this psychological horror about a grown man and his evil imaginary friend. Daniel Isn’t Real official site.

In Fabric (2018): ‘s latest is a surreal horror about a haunted dress. We’ve been waiting for this one to debut in theaters for quite a while; the fact that it was picked up by A24 only stokes our enthusiasm. In Fabric official site.

Knives and Skin (2019): Read Giles Edwards’ festival note. A -ey tale about “emotional idiots” (Giles’ words) in the aftermath of a student’s disappearance. Knives and Skin official site.

The Wolf Hour (2019): An agoraphobic writer () suffers in her apartment while the Son of Sam terrorizes the city outside. Mixed reviews, but Jeannette Catsoulis did call it a “punishingly theatrical experiment that teeters on the verge of surreality.” The Wolf Hour official site.

IN DEVELOPMENT (pre-publication):

“Antkind”: Not a movie (at least, not yet) but a novel: ‘s fiction debut (yes, he’d never written a novel) will be published in May 2020 by Random House. It’s about a failed film critic (not based on anyone here, to our knowledge) who discovers a lost masterpiece that might make his career—the problem being, he’s the only living person who’s seen it and, except for a single surviving still, the print has been destroyed. Kaufman’s editor described it as a “mind-bending opus.” We’re sure it will be viewed as a masterpiece on whatever planet it was written. Visit Penguin/Random House for more info on “Antkind.”

IN DEVELOPMENT (pre-production):

Twilight Park (202?): We can’t really tell you too much about this upcoming project from stop-motion animator , except that the concept art looks fascinating and surreal. The footage below is to be incorporated into the finished production; that might get you excited. Twilight Park official Facebook page.

Little Band of Sailors from Eric Leiser on Vimeo.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

She (1984): Goofy post-Conan post-apocalyptic b-movie starring Sandahl Bergman as leader of a band of wasteland Amazons. Features a giant in a tutu and other vintage 80s nuttiness. A “special edition” DVD or Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. Buy She.

Slaughterhouse Five (1972): Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time… Adaptations of novels have seldom fared well either with critics or audiences, but this may be the exception. A typically packed Blu-ray from Arrow Video. Buy Slaughterhouse-Five.

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: In the unlikely case you missed the news, we just got the 366 Weird Movies 2019 Yearbook out onto the shelves. Proofing and formatting that tome—along with fitting in late 2019 releases at the last minute—has taken up most of our time and energy this month, which has left us with little in the tank. For that reason, we’re only promising one review for you next week: a report on Matthew Barney’s Redoubt, now touring select locations. We may slip something else in, of course, but no promises. We should be returning to a normal schedule of two or three reviews per week, but in the meantime we encourage you to buy a copy of that Yearbook to stave off any weird movie review withdrawal symptoms.

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 11/29/2019

3 Comments

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):

Away (2019): Dreamlike animated tale of a boy and his motorcycle trapped on a mysterious island and pursued by a monster. Amazingly, this was hand-drawn and scored by a single person, Latvian Gints Zilbalodis. Away official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

CoinCoin and the Extra Humans (2018): Read our review. Kino Lorber puts out ‘s equally absurd followup to Lil Quinquin on DVD or Blu-ray (no streaming option yet). Buy CoinCoin and the Extra-Humans.

Long Day’s Journey into Night (2018): No relation to the Eugene O’Neill play; this joint is the dreamlike tale of a man seeking a lost love, with a final hour that is actually one amazingly long and detailed tracking shot. On VOD now, with DVD and Blu-rays to follow in mid-December. Buy Long Day’s Journey into Night.

The Machine Girl: Jacked! Definitive Decade One (2008): A schoolgirl is outfitted with a Gatling gun arm to seek revenge on yakuza bullies in this typically excessive and absurd splatterpunk spectacle. Media Blasters puts out a 10th anniversary edition (two DVDs or one Blu-ray) jacked with almost two hours (!) of extra features. Buy The Machine Girl: Jacked! Definitive Decade One.

Nutcracker Fantasy (1979): Read Alfred Eaker’s review. Discotek upgrades their DVD of this bizarro Rankin-Bass-meets-Tchaikovsky-meets-Japan holiday special to Blu-ray. Buy Nutcracker Fantasy.

Tammy and the T-Rex (1994): A mad scientist implants Tammy’s dead boyfriend’s brain into a Tyrannosaurus rex. This new release restores the gore that was cut from the original to qualify it for a PG-13 rating. Comes in your choice of a DVD/Blu-ray or Blu-ray/HD combo. These limited editions must be purchased directly from Vinegar Syndrome (a regular commercial release should follow).

NEW ON NETFLIX:

I Lost My Body (2019): Animated French film about a disembodied hand. One of our most anticipated releases of the year drops exclusively on Netflix today. I Lost My Body 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:

“Dead Wait”: Hardworking shorts czar Cameron Jorgensen is also a bassist in the SLC band Visitors, and is now moonlighting further producing videos for other bands. Last week he dropped a couple of ‘Tubes for Gloe: the single “Dead Wait” (embedded below) and a 20-minute visual EP for “Vol. None” (which includes a warning for epileptics) for spinoff project Gloamie. Please give ’em both a “thumbs up” if you like Cam’s work.

And—we’ll have a bigger announcement later when the print edition is ready, but if you just can’t wait, the Kindle version of the 2019 Weird Movies Yearbook just came out today. More next week.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Between the holidays and formatting/proofing the 2019 Yearbook, we’ve been pretty busy, but next week we’ll still drop a couple of short reviews of recent releases: look for our takes on the modern queer giallo Knife + Heart and the animated biopic Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles. 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 11/22/2019

Leave a comment

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.

Gwendoline [AKA The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak] (1984): Read our review. An explorer’s daughter tracks her lost father to a remote Asian villahe where he’s being held by a lesbian bondage cult. This Severin Blu-ray release features the uncut original, with the American “Yik-Yak” cut included among the numerous special features. Also available (for a few dollars more) in a limited edition pressing with a reversible slipcover. Buy Gwendoline.

“Message from Space: Galactic Wars” (1978-1979): A band of rebels right wrongs and fight evil in the 15th Solar System in this Japanese space opera. This 27-episode TV series was a spinoff of the incoherent (buy campy) Message from Space feature film previously reviewed in these pages. All episodes apparently fit on a single SD Blu-ray disc. Buy “Message from Space: Galactic Wars”.

Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979): A fan tries to bring the Ramones to play a concert at her high school against the wishes of the stern principal in this -produced comedy with a cult reputation. This 40th anniversary release in steelbook format, with four separate commentary tracks among the extras, marks the flick’s debut on Blu-ray. This one also made it into the reader-suggested review queue. Buy Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.

Suspiria (1977): Read the Certified Weird review! Dario Argento‘s expressionist witchcraft classic is a feast for the eyes and ears, so it seems a natural for hi-def viewing. Synapse upgrades their restoration to a 4K Ultra HD disc, with the extras from last year’s special edition release housed on a separate Blu-ray. Buy Suspiria (4K Ultra edition).

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: In honor of H.R. 3884, Giles Edwards devotes next week’s reviews will be Star Leaf (the story of a PSTD-afflicted soldier seeking relief via extraterrestrial strain of marijuana) and Greener Grass. Inhale deeply.

Meanwhile, we’ve been working on a little something behind the scenes:

Kindle cover for 366 Weird Movies 2019 Yearbook

On schedule for a first-week of December release. Stuff the stocking of your favorite weirdo in 2019. (Shout out to cover designer Irene E. O’Leary: www.ioleary.com).

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 11/15/2019

Leave a comment

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):

I Lost My Body (2019): Animated French film about a disembodied hand; one of our most-anticipated releases of the year. This is getting a limited (Oscar qualifying) release before debuting on Netflix on November 29 (mark that date on your calendar). I Lost My Body on Netflix.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Bliss (2019): Read Giles Edwards’ festival capsule. A druggy, hallucinatory horror set in Los Angeles. On VOD, DVD or Blu-ray. Buy Bliss.

Buffet Froid (1979): Read the Apocrypha Candidate review. This overlooked surrealist gem about murder, murder, murder comes to Blu-ray for the first time. Kino Classics does right by the film with an archival interview with driector Bertrand Blier and a commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton. Buy Buffet Froid.

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles (2018): Animated biopic about the young making the “surrealistic documentary” Land Without Bread (Las Huerdes). Now available in a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack from Shout! Factory. Buy Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles.

House (1985): Not to be confused with Hausu (1977), this 80s horror involves a Vietnam vet/horror novelist investigating a real haunted house. It’s been in our reader-suggested review queue forever, and it’s now out on Blu-ray. Buy House.

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus: The Complete Series: Norwegian Edition International” (1969-1973): The entire original BBC run of the seminal surreal comedy series, completely remastered and with a few previously censored naughty bits restored, plus outtakes. Seven Blu-ray discs in elaborate fold-out packaging. No Norwegians were (seriously) harmed in the manufacturing process. Buy “Monty Python’s Flying Circus: The Complete Series: Norwegian Edition International”.

Return to Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Volume 2 (2017): Sequel two to the reboot of the Nuke ‘Em High series has more mutated teenagers, lesbians, and a duck rape. On Blu-ray (two Blu-rays? that’s what the packaging implies), with extras like the short film “Merry Christmas to My Wife’s Butt.” Buy Return to Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Volume 2.

Spirited Away (2001): Read the Certified Weird entry! Shout! Factory tries to outdo Disney with this “Collector’s Edition” release of ‘s animated classic that includes hours of special features, a 40-page booklet, and the soundtrack CD. Buy Spirited Away [Collector’s Edition].

The Stuff (1985): Read Pamela De Graff’s review. Arrow Video dishes up a special edition serving of Larry Cohen‘s B-flick about a mysterious, gooey new taste sensation, now in delicious Blu-ray flavor. Remastered, but not reformulated. Buy The Stuff.

Yesterday Was a Lie (2008): Read our review. We won’t lie, we never expected this overambitious low-budget surrealist noir mindbender to make it to the Blu-ray ranks… but here it is (it’s actually a BD-R, but still). Buy Yesterday Was a Lie.

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: As mentioned previously, we’re working hard behind the scenes to get this year’s print Yearbook out by Dec. 1. Therefore, you can expect to see only a couple of reviews next week, as we finalize that text. Look for coverage of Melanie Martinez’s strange pop musical, K-12—surrealism for teenyboppers—as well as our take on a decidedly more adult offering, ‘s latest sadomasochistic serial killer atrocity, The Forest of Love. More may turn up, but that’s all we’re committing to. Until then, 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 11/8/2019

2 Comments

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.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

“Pop Team Epic, Season 1”: An anime adaptation of a cult surrealist/absurdist manga starring two obscene 14-year old girls, who “do insane things and swear like sailors” (as the distributors explain).  Each episode is only about 12 minutes long, and non-Japanese auds may miss the cultural references (which only makes it weirder). On Blu-ray only from Funimation. Buy “Pop Team, Epic Season 1”.

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: We’re working hard on getting the 2019 Yearbook out on December 1 of this year (in time for Christmas, hint!). And we’re actually on schedule! With that in mind, next week (and the next couple of weeks) we’ll have a light slate of reviews, consisting of late-arriving and previously-overlooked 2019 releases. Next week you’ll get the scoop on the generational slasher satire Tone-Deaf and the absurdist microbudget comedy Birds Without Feathers. All this so we can stuff that 2019 Yearbook full of as many of the year’s releases as possible. Stay tuned, won’t you? 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 11/1/2019

9 Comments

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

Leave a comment

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.