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 – Annecy International Animated Film Festival (Annecy, France, June 11-16):
Anncey is a big deal for world animation (including television animation), although it does tend to favor Western-style works. The big boys from the major Hollywood studios will be there again this year, with previews (usually not the complete films) of Incredibles 2, Hotel Transylvania 3, and Wreck-it Ralph 2. But there’s plenty of room for small, independent, and weird works here, too, as you can see from the highlights below:
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- Insect – Legendary Surrealist animator Jan Svankmajer‘s latest (and, he insists, last) film features the actors metamorphosing into insects. A very rare (and presumably packed) screening on June 13 only.
- Seder-Masochism – Nina Paley mixes her musical retelling of “Exodus” with Goddess mythology; we’ve featured a preview scene from this one on these pages. In development for alomost ten years and frankly, we were a little worried it might never be completed, so to see it show up now is a thrill. Catch it in competition June 11-15.
- The Wolf House [La Casa Lobo] – A woman escapes from a religious cult and finds herself in a nightmarish house. Screens in competition from Jun 11-15.
Annecy International Animated Film Festival home page.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
As the Gods Will (2014): Read our festival review with Miike Q&A. Aliens stage bizarre elimination contests to kill teenagers in this violent (but not ultraviolent) Takashi Miike sci-fi effort. In a DVD/Blu-ray/digital combo pack. Buy As the Gods Will
Greaser’s Palace (1972): Read the Certified Weird review! Robert Downey, Sr.‘s blasphemous, absurdist, satirical retelling of the story of Christ set in the wild west. A new release from Doppelganger Releasing (a new arm of Music Box films), there are no special features advertised, but it does mark the film’s debut on the popular Blu-ray format. Buy Greaser’s Palace
Satellite Girl and Milk Cow (2014): A satellite transforms into a cyborg and romances a brokenhearted man who has metamorphosed into a cow; the animation style resembles Hayao Miyazaki with a more surreal bent. On DVD, Blu-ray and VOD from GKIDS. Buy Satellite Girl and Milk Cow.
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, 6/9 – Videodrome (1983), with optional purchase of tickets for three local bands performing afterwards. At the Texas Theater.
- Los Angeles, CA, 6/13-6/14 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Aero.
- Louisville, KY, 6/9 (midnight) – Eraserhead (1977). At the Baxter.
- New York City, NY, 6/8-6/9 (midnights) – The Love Witch (2016). At Nitehawk Theater.
- New York City, NY, 6/8-6/9 (midnights) – Pink Flamingos (1972). At IFC Center.
- New York City, NY, 6/14 – Run Lola Run (1998), with a new live electronic score by Adrianna “Gooddroid” Moschides (film screened without sound). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
- Portland, OR, 6/9 – Hour of the Wolf [Vargtimmen] (1968). At NW Film Center.
- Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/8 – Suspiria (1977). At the Rio.
- Vancouver, BC, Canada, 6/12 – Vertigo (1958). At the Rio.
FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:
Beyond Re-Animator (2003): Read our review. Dr. Herbert West continues his experiments in re-animating the dead, now from inside a prison, with typically over-the-top black comedy results. Listed as “leaving soon.” Adults only. Watch Beyond Re-Animator 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.
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