It could have been a century ago: I descended from the subterranean locomotive to make a rendezvous with a Frenchman at a café to gain access to my base of operations.
7/11: Sadako
Flowing from a deep well of tedium, this J-Horror Ringu “re-boot” made me nostalgic for a film I haven’t actually seen. (Shame, shame.) Over the course of one-hundred long minutes, I was challenged to feel sympathy for young hospital psychologist, Mayu (Elaiza Ikeda), find her insufferable brother, Kazuma (Hiroya Shimizu), endearing, and be remotely crept out by the “mysterious girl” (Himeka Himejima). It failed on all counts. The director of the original franchise, Hideo Nakata, was at the helm and managed to drain whatever life was present in the original to present an over-lit, under-developed story which only managed to elicit an enthusiastic response from the audience on two occasions. The first was from a direct nod to the video of “girl-with-hair-emerging-from-well”; the second was a raucous laugh at the discovery of a victim that reminded me of nothing else so much as Martin Prince’s contorted corpse reveal in The Simpson’s “Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace”.
7/12: Little Monsters
Director Abe Forsythe accomplishes what I had thought impossible: wringing another blood droplet from parched Zombie Movie cloth. (Bad metaphor: forgive me, it’s early.) Little Monsters opens with an hilarious montage of a couple constantly bickering while the credits run, setting things up nicely for dead-beat, former musician Dave (Alexander England) to hit rock bottom and crash at his sister’s place. While there, he connects with his nephew, and ultimately meets the nephew’s kindergarten teacher, Miss Clementine (Lupita Nyong’o, playing her as a cross between a schoolmarm and a manic pixie dream girl). What follows is a field-trip to a local zoo, which happens to be situated right next to an American military research facility. (Forsythe knows well that he’s re-treading the zombie thing; when troops are called in there’s the exchange, “Zombies? Again?” –Yeah. “Fast ones, or slow ones?” –Slow ones. “Thank God it’s the slow ones.”)
The Passing (1984): Converging science fiction tale about a couple of elderly WWII veterans and a young death row inmate which is described as “increasingly surreal.” Probably the least anticipated of the four movies Vinegar Syndrome is releasing this week (which includes two titles listed below along with the low budget 1993 vampire flick Night Owl). The DVD/Blu-ray combo pack includes four 1970s shorts from director John Huckert. Buy The Passing.
Putney Swope (1969): Read our review. This Robert Downey, Sr. (a Prince) absurdist satire about a militant black man becomes head of a Madison Avenue advertising agency receives its first-ever Blu-ray release from Vinegar Syndrome. They even got Downey to record a commentary track, among the many extra features. A DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. Buy Putney Swope.
Taking Tiger Mountain (1983): Radical feminists brainwash a World War III draft-dodger (Bill Paxton, in his film debut) and send him on a mission to assassinate the Welsh Minister of Prostitution. An experimental film adapted from a William S. Burroughs story that was left unfinished in 1974 and completed by a different director in 1983, now in a DVD/Blu-ray combo from Vinegar Syndrome. It’s also in our reader suggested review queue. Buy Taking Tiger Mountain.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: After pushing up the review of Midsommar to yesterday, we have a minimal slate on tap next week. A review of the punk-feminist grindhouse experiment Dead Hooker in a Trunk is certain, and we should be able to fit in another mystery title. Giles Edwards is busy packing his bags for the Fantasia Festival 2019 (which actually begins this Thursday, although he’ll likely need some time to settle in and actually see something before sending out dispatches). Stay tuned to the homepage for developments (or follow us on Facebook or Twitter). 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.
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):
Verotika (2019): A horror anthology sponsored by metalhead Glenn Danzig, inspired by his line of adult horror comics; the title is a portmanteau of “violent” and “erotica.” A couple of horror outlets have hailed it as “insane,” while more mainstream critics are calling it unintentionally funny. Previewing in Los Angeles this week and hoping for a wider release around Halloween. Glenn Danzig official site.
NETFLIX:
Anima (2019): If Danzig’s effort is getting mostly jeers, fellow musician Thom Yorke’s latest short film is earning near-universal cheers. It helps that it’s directed by multi-Oscar nominee (and director of the Canonically Weird Inherent Vice) Paul Thomas Anderson. It’s only fifteen minutes long and is being described as “dreamlike.” Anima on Netflix.
FILM FESTIVALS – Karlov Vary International Film Festival (Karlov Vary, Czech Republic, June 28- July 6):
Though in it’s 54th year, Karlovy Vary is overshadowed by other, bigger summer European film festivals. Despite being held in out-of-the-way Karlov Vary, the festival manages to snag some major releases (the new Spider-Man even has its regional debut there this year). It also features a fine slate of restorations and repertory pics, often of Czech classics. We’ve noted a couple of films screening here before: Peter Strickland’s fashion horror In Fabric and the Danish fairy tale horror Koko-di Koko-da. Here is some new (and old) stuff of potential interest we spotted in the program:
The Cremator – World premiere of the new “digital restoration” of the Canonically Weird Czech New Wave classic about a strange Tibetan Book of the Dead-obsessed cremator who eventually becomes a Nazi collaborator. Screening 6/29-6/30, 7/3.
Die Kinder Der Toten – Elfriede Jelinek’s respected Austrian literary horror novel is given an over-the-top Super 8 silent movie treatment by a couple of New Yorkers. 6/28, 6/30, 7/2, or 7/4.
The Flames of Royal Love – A seldom-screened Jan Nemec film from 1990 chronicling the love affair of a prince and a commoner, described by programmers as a “peculiar cinematic hallucination.” Catch it on 6/30 or 7/2.
Happy End (2015) – A short animated movie presented in reverse chronological order, this seems inspired by obscure Czech New Wave film of the same title. 7/5 or, 7/3, 6/29 screening.
In the Arms of Morpheus – This Dutch documentary uses surreal imagery to explore the condition of chronic insomniacs. 7/3, 7/4, or 7/6.
The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea – A “dreamlike” thriller about a resentful female cop banished to a middle-of-nowhere Greek town, starring Greek Weird Wave icon Aggeliki Papoulia. 6/28, 7/1, 7/3, & 7/5.
Monos – Enigmatic Colombian film about a purposeless group of soldiers camped in a fog-shrouded jungle. On 6/29, 7/2, 7/4, or 7/6.
Satantango – Bela Tarr‘s slow-paced, epic opus about hucksters bleeding a poor Hungarian village. Set aside eight hours to see it on 6/28 or 7/6.
Birdy (1984): A Vietnam vet tries to help a shell-shocked comrade who believes he’s a bird. An early turn for and Nicolas Cage and Alan Parker‘s immediate post-Pink Floyd the Wall (1982) film. Previously on DVD; now on Blu-ray (and VOD). Buy Birdy.
“Divorced Dad” (2018): A newly divorced dad hosts a 1980s-era public access self-help show that inevitably devolves into chaos. Originally conceived of by the odd Canadian comedy ensemble Astron-6 as a webseries, banned from YouTube (for an ISIS joke), and now assembled on DVD and Blu-ray by Kino Lorber, with unseen episodes and shorts to round out the package. Buy “Divorced Dad”.
Transit (2018): As the Fascists crack down in France, a man assumes the identity of a dead man whose papers he’s stolen and attempts to flee the country. Director Christian Petzold took a novel set in WWII and adapted it to present times, an anachronistic experiment with an effect described as “dreamlike.” On Blu-ray and VOD (no DVD release). Buy Transit.
Perfect (2018): A troubled young man is sent to a clinic where he is given various implants to remove his imperfections. We haven’t tried Breaker yet, but his release is not (yet) available in any other format that we can find. Requires an app download and the code “perfect.” No warranties from us. Watch Perfect free on Breaker.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next week Giles Edwards clears out his files as he preps for his third annual trip north to the Fantasia festival in July. So, expect to see his takes on Terry Gilliam‘s curse-breaking project, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, and on the mildly strange 1975 Dutch softcore thriller My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie. 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.
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):
Madame Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club (2017): An aging temptress brings one final date to her feminist cannibal club, but starts to fall for her prey. A rare Israeli horror-comedy that SyFy Wire’s Kirsty Puchko calls “deliciously deranged.” Madame Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club official site.
NETFLIX (debuts 6/21):
“Neon Genesis Evangelion”: The original 26 episodes of Japan’s mind-shredding TV broadcast anime featuring giant robots, the apocalypse, crippling teenage angst, and psychedelic mind trips, on American televisions for the first time. Also included are the feature films Evangelion: Death True2 (a reworked version of Death and Rebirth) and the Canonically Weird Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997). If you’ve never seen this fascinating, frustrating series, now’s your chance! It’s not what you expect. On Twitter, fans are already complaining about every word change in the new dub. “Neon Genesis Evangelion” on Netflix.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
The Beach Bum (2019): Harmony Korine‘s first feature film since 2012’s Spring Breakers stars Matthew McConaughey as a hippy beach bum sentenced by a judge to finish his novel. Looks fairly conventional by Korine standards. On DVD, Blu-ray, or VOD. Buy The Beach Bum.
Thirst [Bakjwi] (2009): Read our capsule review. Chan-wook Park‘s take on Western vampires, Japanese-style, is interesting and lovely, if not exceptionally weird. Now on Blu-ray for the first time. Buy Thirst.
“Universal Horror Collection: Vol.1”: FourUniversal horrors where both Karloff and Lugosi appear: The Raven (1935), The Invisible Ray (1936), and Black Friday (1940), all topped off by the Canonically Weird The Black Cat (1934). Shout! Factory licensed these titles from Universal for Blu-ray release and included lots of bonus features, including two new commentary tracks for Black Cat alone. On Blu-ray, priced for dedicated collectors. Buy “Universal Horror Collection: Vol. 1”
Los Angeles, CA, 6/23 – Fargo (1996) with A Serious Man (2009) (double feature), with author Adam Nayman and actor Fred Melamed in attendance. At the Aero Theatre.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: If you hadn’t noticed, our first three Apocryphally Weird titles are set, thanks to you. In ascending number of votes, they are Singapore Sling (1990), Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974), and The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001). Look for full write-ups of those three to appear in the next indefinite time period. Next week, Simon Hyslop will suggest another possible addition to that supplemental weird movie list with the philosophical 1977 animated film The Mouse and His Child. Gregory J. Smalley will then reflect on Serenity (2019), which flopped in theaters but made it into our reader-suggested review queue. 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.
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):
Mangoshake (2018): No-budget absurdist spoof of coming-of-age films, featuring a group of “teens” who open a stand selling mango shakes, and a jealous rival who hawks chow mein. Talk about “limited release:” this is only playing at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn, for two more nights: June 14 (tonight!) and 17. We’ll have a rare Sunday afternoon review of this one. Mangoshake at Spectacle Theater.
IN DEVELOPMENT:
“The Deadly Ten”: Halloweed Night & Necropolis: Legion: As we mentioned previously, Full Moon Studios has a unique promotional gimmick for their next ten films: they’ll be live-streaming behind-the-scenes footage as the movies are being produced. The first title, the stoner horror/comedy Halloweed Night, has already begun filming (although it appears the live-stream promotion won’t begin until after midnight tonight at 12:30 AM; some archived content is available). When Halloweed is in the can, next up is Necropolis: Legion, described as “a surreal, Eurotrash-tinted companion film to the classic 1986 Band-produced Empire Pictures exploitation film.” That sounds potentially up our alley. If your curious, sign up for the streams at Deadly Ten.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie (1975): A crazy sounding Dutch sex-horror about bisexual nude models who may also be vampires. The script boasts five writers, including producer/Eurosex pioneer Pim de la Parra and Harry Kümel (Malpertuis); Cult Epics’ Blu-ray/DVD combo pack includes three sexy period shorts. Look for a review in the near future. Buy My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie.
NEPOTISM CORNER: There’s a reason Alfred Eaker has been late covering his summer blockbusters (and other movies) this year: he’s been at hard at work putting the finishing touches on his upcoming novel, “Brother Cobweb.” It’s the hallucinatory story of a young man raised in a restrictive Pentacostal denomination, haunted by the metaphorical title character. It now has an approximate release date: Easter season, 2020. The novel will be followed by a limited release book of Alfred’s art and a graphic novel adaptation/spnoff, “The Brother Cobeweb Chronicles.” More info as we get closer to release date. Alfred made the official announcement on his Facebook page, with previews of the artwork (by Alfred and Todd Coe).
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: As mentioned above, next week we’ll start with a rare Sunday review of Mangoshake (for the sake of any Brooklyners who might be interested in catching its final screening at Spectacle Theater). We’ll follow that up with some small screen coverage, as Shane Wilson brings you a review of Netflix’s “Russian Doll” and Gregory J. Smalley does the same for Hulu’s new “Catch-22” miniseries adaptation. And of course, we’ll announce the first three titles in our new list of Apocrypha movies (there’s still time for you to vote for your picks until Wednesday). 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.
Celebrating the cinematically surreal, bizarre, cult, oddball, fantastique, strange, psychedelic, and the just plain WEIRD!
Flowing from a deep well of tedium, this J-Horror Ringu “re-boot” made me nostalgic for a film I haven’t actually seen. (Shame, shame.) Over the course of one-hundred long minutes, I was challenged to feel sympathy for young hospital psychologist, Mayu (Elaiza Ikeda), find her insufferable brother, Kazuma (Hiroya Shimizu), endearing, and be remotely crept out by the “mysterious girl” (Himeka Himejima). It failed on all counts. The director of the original franchise, Hideo Nakata, was at the helm and managed to drain whatever life was present in the original to present an over-lit, under-developed story which only managed to elicit an enthusiastic response from the audience on two occasions. The first was from a direct nod to the video of “girl-with-hair-emerging-from-well”; the second was a raucous laugh at the discovery of a victim that reminded me of nothing else so much as Martin Prince’s contorted corpse reveal in The Simpson’s “Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace”.
Director Abe Forsythe accomplishes what I had thought impossible: wringing another blood droplet from parched Zombie Movie cloth. (Bad metaphor: forgive me, it’s early.) Little Monsters opens with an hilarious montage of a couple constantly bickering while the credits run, setting things up nicely for dead-beat, former musician Dave (Alexander England) to hit rock bottom and crash at his sister’s place. While there, he connects with his nephew, and ultimately meets the nephew’s kindergarten teacher, Miss Clementine (Lupita Nyong’o, playing her as a cross between a schoolmarm and a manic pixie dream girl). What follows is a field-trip to a local zoo, which happens to be situated right next to an American military research facility. (Forsythe knows well that he’s re-treading the zombie thing; when troops are called in there’s the exchange, “Zombies? Again?” –Yeah. “Fast ones, or slow ones?” –Slow ones. “Thank God it’s the slow ones.”)
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