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 Am Not a Witch (2017): A Zambian girl is accused of witchcraft and sent to a witches camp. Critics praised its “light surrealism.” I Am Not a Witch official site.

FILM FESTIVALS – Toronto International Film Festival (Toronto, Canada, 9/6-9/16):

In the past few years, TIFF has risen from a scrappy underdog to an awards-season kingmaker.As their profile has risen, the number of smaller, scrappier, weirder films debuting here has fallen. Still, the slate is so massive there’s bound to be something strange showing up there. Some we’ve already heard of, like Gaspar Noé‘s LSD-in-the-punchbowl feature Climax. Here’s a few new ones we’ll be keeping an eye out for:

• “Accidence” – a ten-minute “Hitchcockian” mystery short from Guy Maddin and collaborators Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson. Screens as part of the “Short Cuts Programme 08” on Sep. 11, 12 & 16.
• Angel – Dreamlike movie from Koen Mortier about a vacationing Belgian cyclist falls in love with a Senegalese prostitute. Sep. 11, 13, or 15.
• “Blue” – A new dreamy short from Apichatpong Weerasethakul. In the “Wavelengths One: Earth, Wind & Fire” short program, tonight, Sep. 7 only.
• Diamantino – A Portuguese soccer star adopts an African lesbian immigrant, while his twin sisters are conducting secret genetic experiments, in this bonkers-sounding comedy. September 15 & 16, in the “Midnight Madness” category.
• Fausto – Non-narrative experiment described as an “avant-garde ghost story.” Screening Sep. 9, 11, 15.
• Freaks – A girl leaves her house while her father is asleep and discovers a strange and unsettling world, with the help of a sinister ice cream man (Bruce Dern). Sep. 8, 10, or 16.
• The Great Darkened Days – A Quebecois actor finds himself stranded in a cruel Fascist version of the USA. Sep 10, 12, 16.
• The Image Book – Jean-Luc Godard‘s latest visual essay. See it Sep. 13, 15 or 16.
• In Fabric – Peter Strickland‘s latest is a surreal horror about a haunted dress. Plays Sep 14-16 in the “Midnight Madness” category.
• Jessica Forever – A woman adopts violent misfit orphans in a dystopian world in this directorial début programmers describe as “at-times bizarre film that is utterly fearless in the risks it takes.” See it Sep. 12 (with a Q&A), 13 or 16.
• Jinpa – A Tibetan delivery driver meets a man bent on avenging his father’s death in a story that “blur[s] the boundaries between reality and dreams.” Screening Sep. 11, 13-14.
• Long Day’s Journey Into Night – Experimental sophomore drama from Gan Bi; if I’m reading this right, the second half of the film retells the first half—in a single take, in 3D. Find out Sep. 11, 13 or 15.

Toronto International Film Festival home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Deep Red [Profondo Rosso] (1975): Read our review of the film. Dario Argento‘s warm-up for Suspiria (1977) is an engaging giallo in its own right; newly restored by Arrow Video for Blu-ray with a wealth of extra features, both new and recycled from previous releases. Buy Deep Red.

Hereditary (2018): Read Ryan Aarset’s review. “Like a coffin descending into a fresh grave, Hereditary sinks into a subconscious nightmare that feels extremely real.” Now available on DVD, Blu-ray or VOD (or 4K). Buy Hereditary.

SYMPOSIUMS (Los Angeles, CA, 9/13):

“Live from Miskatonic: Don Coscarelli in Conversation”: A three-hour conversation with three-time Certified Weird director Don Coscarelli (who has a new memoir coming out in October), sponsored by the (no kidding) Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies. Hosted at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles. Live from Miskatonic: Don Coscarelli.

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.

Multiple cities: 9/10 – Perfect Blue (1997) (dubbed). Check the GKids site for locations near you.

• Austin, TX, 9/11 – Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977). At the Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar).
• Boston, MA, 9/7 (midnight) – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971). At the Coolidge Corner Theater.
• Chicago, IL, 9/7-9/8, 9/12 – Persona (1966). At the Gene Siskel Film Center.
• Columbus, OH, 9/12 – Der Samurai (2014). At Gateway Film Center.
• Dallas, TX, 9/7, 9/9 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Texas Theater.
• Dallas, TX, 9/13 – Perfect Blue (1997). At the Texas Theater.
• New York City, NY, 9/7-9/8 (midnights) – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 9/7-9/13 – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 9/7-9/13 – Perfect Blue (1997). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 9/7, 9/11-912 – Akira (1988). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 9/8 – Funeral Parade of Roses [Bara no sôretsu] (1969) with Dialogue with Che (1968) (double feature). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 9/8 – WR: Mysteries of the Organism (1971) with Last Summer Won’t Happen (1968) (double feature). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 9/8-9/9 – Belle de Jour (1967). At the Nitehawk Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 9/9 – Daisies [Sedmikrásky] (1966) with Kusama’s Self-Obliteration (1968). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 9/12 – Stalker (1979), with new live score by the Reel Orchestrette. At the Nitehawk Cinema.
• Portland, OR, 9/8 – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971). At the NW Film Center.
• San Francisco, CA, 9/7-9/8, 9/11 – Perfect Blue (1997). At the Roxie.

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):

Let the Corpses Tan (2017): Gold thieves engage in a shootout with cops in Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani‘s latest, this time a tribute to Italian poliziotteschi films. It doesn’t look as strange as their previous giallo-inspired work, but at least one mainstream reviewer found it “profoundly weird.” Look for a screening on Let the Corpses Tan‘s official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

All You Can Eat Buddha (2017): A mysterious man performs miracles at a tropical resort in this low-key film described as a “trippy and complex cinematic experience.” Looks like it will be skipping theatrical and physical media altogether and only be available on VOD. Buy or rent All You Can Eat Buddha.

Mind Game (2004): Killed by a yakuza, a nerd goes to a psychedelic afterlife. Thanks to readers, this one arrives pre-approved for the List of the 366 Weirdest Movies. Buy the DVD/Blu-ray combo pack or watch it on VOD while waiting for our review. Buy Mind Game.

“Mohsen Makhmalbaf: The Poetic Trilogy”: Gabbeh (1996) is a magical realist fable about a woman who materializes from a Persian rug; The Silence (1998) is about a blind boy who tunes instruments; and The Gardener is a “surreal documentary” about the Baha’i faith. Arrow Academy continues to put out extremely obscure movies with mildly weird-sounding synopses in expensive editions. Buy “Mohsen Makhmalbaf: The Poetic Trilogy”.

Straight To Hell (1987): Alex Cox reportedly wrote this spaghetti western/bank heist script in three days after a musical tour of Nicaragua he was promoting fell apart. Featuring a crazy cast of Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, Jim Jarmusch, Courtney Love, Grace Jones, the Pogues, and Dennis Hopper (!) Buy Straight to Hell.

The Tree of Life (2011): Read the Certified Weird entry! The Criterion Collection gets their mitts on Terrence Malick‘s surrealistic family drama, with an additional 50 minutes of footage (!) and new interviews. So much stuff, it requires two Blu-rays or three DVDs to fit it all on. Buy The Tree of Life.

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.

Multiple cities: 9/6 – Perfect Blue (1997) (subtitled). Check the GKids site for locations near you.

• Chicago, IL, 8/31 & 9/1 (midnights) – Mind Game (2004). At the Music Box Theater.
• Dallas, TX, 8/31-9/2, 9/6 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Texas Theater.
• Denver, CO, 8/31 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Denver, CO, 8/31-9/6 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/31 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At the Aero.
• Los Angeles, CA, 9/1 – Pink Floyd the Wall (1982). At the Aero.
• Nashville, TN, 9/3-9/6 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Belcourt.
• New York City, NY, 8/31 – 9/6 – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 9/1 & 9/3 – Possession (1981). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 9/1 (midnight) – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 9/1 (midnight) & 9/5 – Meet the Feebles (1989). At Spectacle Theater.
• Tuscon, AZ, 8/31-9/3 – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). At the Loft.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 9/2 – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973). At the Rio.

FREE MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976): Read the Certified Weird review! David Bowie stars as the titular character, an alien searching for water for his dying planet who gets distracted by Earthly pleasures. Watch The Man Who Fell to Earth free on Tubi.tv.

NEPOTISM CORNER:

“Women Make Movies, Vol. 1”: Alex Kittle wrote and illustrated this ‘zine about female filmmakers, from Lois Weber to Ava DuVernay. Hand-stitched and signed, for a mere $8 U.S. No weird filmmakers occupy this volume (unless the Wachowskis count), but Alex promises Maya Deren and Vera Chytilová will show up in Volume 2. Buy “Women Make Movies, Vol. 1“.

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):

The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl (2017): Our own Giles Edwards called it “stuffed to the gills with both narrative and visual humor. (And wonderment. And surrealism. And drinking).” GKids put this out in a Fathom Live screening last week (which we neglected to mention), but now it’s in a regular limited release. Find locations and showtimes at The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl official site.

The Wild Boys [Les garcons sauavges] (2017): Five boys (all played by girls) are exiled to an island due to crimes they commit while under the influence of a mystical being called TREVOR. A French reader nominated this for review last year, but, weird as it sounds, given its limited limited release schedule we’ll probably have to wait until it gets to home video to check it out. The Wild Boys page at Cineuropa.

FILM FESTIVALS – Venice International Film Festival (Venice, IT, 8/29-9/8):

The world’s oldest film festival, Venice is still one of the most prestigious movie events of the year, although it has been losing ground in late years as many producers who miss the chance to debut at Cannes choose to premiere at the better-attended Toronto Film Festival instead. Like Cannes, its tastes tend towards the vino e formaggio crowd, but they always scoop Toronto for some adventurous high-profile debuts, as seen in our list below:

• The Favourite – Giorgos Lanthimos turns his attention to a period piece set in England in the 18th century; we suspect he will find some way to weird up the hoary history. Screening 8/20-8/31.
• Last Year at Marienbad (1961)- A special screening of the Certified Weird classic about two people who may, or may not, have met lats year at Marienbad. See it 9/5 or 9/6.
• Suspiria – This witchy horror is the rare remake (of a Certified Weird classic, no less) that has us intrigued. Screens 9/1 and9/2.
  
• The Tree of Life (extended cut) – Terrence Malick‘s 3+ hour directr’s cut of his insanely ambitious (and Certified Weird) feature can  be seen on 9/6 or 9/7.
• Zan [Killing] – Shinya Tsukamoto turns his lens on a period piece, setting his latest in 19th century Japan and focusing on the adventures of a ronin and a peasant girl; if the treatment isn’t at least a little weird, it will be a huge departure for Tsukamoto. Screening 9/6-9/8.

Venice International Film Festival home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

The Tingler (1959): Read the Certified Weird entry! Cinema’s first acid freakout, plus a monster that lives in the human spine, plus Vincent Price, on Blu-ray for the first time! (Percepto not included). Buy The Tingler.

Wild at Heart (1990): Read the Certified Weird entry! Shout! Factory upgrades David Lynch‘s “weird on top” road trip to Blu-ray, with a new interview with original novelist Barry Gifford added to features recycled from older DVD releases. Buy Wild at Heart.

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. 8/24-8/25, 8/29 – Hour of the Wolf [Vargtimmen] (1968). At Gene Siskel Film Center.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/25 – Solaris [Solyaris] (1972). At the Aero.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/26 – Stalker (1979). At the Aero.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/30 – Belladonna of Sadness (1973). At the Aero.
• Louisville, KY, 8/24-8/25 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At Speed Art Museum.
• New York City, NY, 8/24 – Mind Game. At the Metrograph.
• New York City, 8/24-8/30 – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 8/24 – Belle de Jour (1967). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 8/39 – Akira (1988). At the Metrograph.
• Silver Spring, MD, 8/24-8/26 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At AFI Silver Theater.
• Silver Spring, MD, 8/24-8/30 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At AFI Silver Theater.
• Silver Spring, MD, 8/25 – The Black Cat (1934), with Re-Animator (double feature). At AFI Silver Theater.
• Tuscon, AZ, 8/24-8/25 – Donnie Darko (2001). (director’s cut). At the Loft.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada – Belle de Jour (1967). At the Rio.

FREE MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Cube Zero (2004): Read our review. You’ve seen the other two, now find out how the series ends in its B-moviest installment. Watch Cube Zero 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.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

“12 Monkeys, Season 4”: The expanded, TV version of the Certified Weird Terry Gilliam classic (Gilliam was not involved). Since we just inaugurated the film version onto the List of the 366 Best Weird Movies, we feel it’s only appropriate to  mention the home video début of the final season of the series, available on Blu-ray or as a VOD purchase. Buy “12 Monkeys, Season 4”.

Army of Darkness (1992): Read our review. Evil Dead III: Evil Goes Medieval (our suggested title, they should have used it) is now available in a new Blu from Shout! Factory, the same as the “Collector’s Edition” but with cool new artwork and in the popular steelbook format. Buy Army of Darkness.

Atmo HorroX (2016): Read our festival review. This self-described “experimental satire psychedelic horror” with no comprehensible dialogue earned our “weirdest!” badge, and is for seasoned weird-movie watchers only; it’s finally up for digital purchase (only). Buy Atmo HorroX.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2018): Read our review. This punk/alien/John Hughes mashup flopped at Cannes and made about $14 in theaters, but it’s not as terrible as some suggest, and may find a small audience among weirder teens and nostalgic ex-punks on home video. DVD, Blu-ray or streaming in Amazon Prime. Buy How to Talk to Girls at Parties.

Lifeforce (1985): Read our review. Another Shout! Factory steelbook, this time for the nutty Tobe Hooper nude space vampire epic that was a favorite of teenage boys everywhere during the VHS era. Buy Lifeforce.

Tideland (2005): Read the Certified Weird entry! This Arrow Video Blu-ray includes the same special features as Capri’s two disc DVD release but adds a few new interviews with the cast and some additional B-roll footage to the package. Buy Tideland.

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, 8/18 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At Indiana University Cinema.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/18 – Blue Velvet (1986), with River’s Edge (1986) (double feature). At the Egyptian Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/18 – Playtime (1967). At the Aero Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/23 – Nostalghia (1983). At the Aero Theater.
• New York City, NY, 8/17-8/18 (midnights) – Under the Skin (2013). At Nitehawk Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 8/17-8/23 – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
• Oakland, CA, 8/23 – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). At the New Parkway Theater.
• Portland, OR, 8/20 – Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010). At NW Film Center.
• San Francisco, CA, 8/23 – Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell (1968). At the Roxie.
• Silver Spring, MD, 8/17-8/19, 8/22 – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At AFI Silver Theater.
• Silver Spring, MD, 8/17-8/18, 8/21, 8/23 – Solaris [Solyaris] (1972). At AFI Silver Theater.
• Toronto, ON, Canada – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973). At the Royal.
• Tuscon, AZ, 8/19 – Django Kill… If You Live, Shoot! (1967). At the Loft.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada – Yellow Submarine (1968). At the Rio.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada – Stalker (1979). At the Rio.

FREE WEIRD MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:

Cube 2: Hypercube (2002): Read our review. Obviously inferior to the original, but if you liked the randomly-slaughtered small-cast paranoia dynamic there, get ready for more. Watch Cube 2: Hypercube 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):

Madeline’s Madeline (2018): Read G. Smalley’s positive review and Giles Edwards’ less positive mini-review. This experimental drama about a mentally unbalanced teenage girl in a theater troupe split our reviewers, but no one denies it’s a breakout work for director Josephine Decker and rising star Helena Howard. Opening this week in New York city, then on to Los Angeles and other major cities in the late summer. Madeline’s Madeline official site.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Lowlife (2017): Read Giles Edwards’ List Candidate review. Shout! Factory picked up this festival hit that’s a little like Pulp Fiction, but with luchadores; now on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD. Buy Lowlife.

Zama (2017): A Spanish official posted to a remote South American colony longs for reassignment in a “subtly surreal and bizarre” film festival programmers said “often feels like it was made to purposefully confound the viewer.” Strand Releasing makes it available on all the usual platforms, including Blu-ray. Buy Zama.

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, 8/16 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At Indiana University Cinema.
• Dallas, TX, 8/11 – Pi (1998), with local bands after (separate purchase required). At the Texas Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/11-8/12 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At the Nuart Theater.
• New York City, NY, 8/12-8/13 – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). At the Metrograph.
• Pittsburgh, PA, 8/10-8/16 – Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012). At Row House Cinema.
• Pittsburgh, PA, 8/10-8/16 – Donnie Darko (2001). At Row House Cinema.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 8/10 – Freaks (1932). At the Rio.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 8/11 –Yellow Submarine (1968). At the Rio.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973). At the Rio.

FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON YOUTUBE:

Cube (1997): Read the Certified Weird review! Existential horror; a pulpy Exterminating Angel in a cube. Watch Cube free on Tubi.tv.

NEPOTISM CORNER:

House of Shadows: Although it won’t be open until October, Alfred Eaker is already hard at work on the murals for the scare shack that bills itself as “Oregon’s Most Extreme Haunt.” Here’s a preview of his work, featuring a character some of you may recognize. Mark your calendars, Portlanders and other Oregonians! The House of Shadows website.

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.