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Miscellanea

WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 11/15/2019

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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):

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

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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.

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

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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.