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 DEVELOPMENT (Post-production):
Slice (2018): Not much to go on besides the intriguing IMDB synopsis: “When a pizza delivery driver is murdered on the job, the city searches for someone to blame: ghosts? drug dealers? a disgraced werewolf?” Starring Chance the Rapper. The fact that pro-weird A24 (Enemy, The Lobster, Swiss Army Man, Under the Skin) picked it up for distribution is also promising. Here’s a short article at Popsugar.
Two Plains & a Fancy (2017): Described as “satirical, experimental ‘Spa Western,'” this low-budget indie was partially funded with $36,000 raised on Kickstarter. Three travelers in 1893 have surreal encounters (including one with “ghost whores”) while on a journey to find the perfect spa in the Old West. We like the maker’s attitude: “the way we make films is unpredictable, idiosyncratic, weird,” says co-director Lev Kalman in the Kickstarter pitch. Now listed as “completed,” but when or where it will appear is anyone’s guess right now. Two Plains and a Fancy Kickstarter page. Also see Filmmaker’s list of most anticipated movies of 2018.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
68 Kill (2017): Read Giles Edwards’ festival capsule. Giles described it as as “Troma does Wild at Heart,” while still recommending you pass on it; you can decide for yourself about this trashy black comedy. On DVD, Blu-ray or VOD. Buy 68 Kill
Across the Universe (2007): Read our review. Julie Taymor‘s hallucinatory Beatles musical gets the 4K HD treatment, packaged together with a Blu-ray. Buy Across the Universe
Emmanuelle and the Deadly Black Cobra [AKA Black Cobra Woman] (1976): A wealthy playboy hires a stripper to take care of his menagerie of snakes. This rarely seen sort-of entry in the “Black Emmanuelle” series may be worth taking a flier on because of the odd casting of Jack Palance as a serpent-obsessed tycoon named Judas. Code Red puts it on Blu-ray for the first time ever. Buy Emmanuelle and the Deadly Black Cobra
The Witches [Le Streghe] (1967): An anthology film, with five directors (including Pier Paolo Pasolini, whose segment is reportedly the most surreal) producing stories featuring then-popular Silvana Mangano (who would star in Pasolini’s Teorema the following year). Clint Eastwood has a small role in this obscure oddity appearing on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Academy. Buy The Witches
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, 1/12 – Funeral Parade of Roses [Bara no sôretsu] (1969). At Indiana University Cinema.
- Columbus, OH, 1/12 – A Clockwork Orange (1971). At Gateway Film Center.
- Los Angeles, CA, 1/13 – El Topo (1970) & Fando y Lis (1968) (double feature). At the Egyptian Theater.
- Los Angeles, CA, 1/14 – The Holy Mountain (1973) & Santa Sangre (1989) (double feature). Alejandro Jodorowsky in attendance. Sold out, standby tickets only. At the Egyptian Theater.
- Los Angeles, CA, 1/18 – Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) & Night of the Hunter (1955) (double feature). At the Egyptian Theater.
- Nashville, TN, 1/13 (midnight) – Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). At the Belcourt Theater.
- New York City, NY, 1/12-1/18 – Vertigo (1958). At IFC Center.
- New York City, NY, 1/12 & 1/16 – Spirited Away (2001). At IFC Center.
- New York City, 1/13 – WR: Mysteries of the Organism (1971). At the Metrograph.
- New York City, NY, 1/16 – La Grande Bouffe (1973). At Spectacle Theater.
- New York City, NY, 1/18 – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973), presented silent (with no subtitles) and a live score by Tenth Intervention. At Videology Bar & Cinema.
- Pittsburgh, PA, 1/12-1/16, 1/18 – Female Trouble (1974). At Row House Cinema.
- Pittsburgh, PA, 1/12-1/15, 1/17-1/18 – Pink Flamingos (1972). At Row House Cinema.
- Tuscon, AZ, 1/17 – Solaris [Solyaris] (1972). At the Loft Cinema.
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.