WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 10/11/2019

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 – Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (Brooklyn, NY, Oct. 17-24):

Situated firmly in the Halloween corridor, Brooklyn Horror is an up and coming film festival going into its 4th year of operation. This year’s slate includes a number of films we either caught or at least noted previously, including 1BR, Daniel Isn’t Real, Koko-di Koko-da, the 58-minute expanded psychedelic music video Blood Machines, and the Polish hospitality fantasy Monument. The Fest will also have a seasonal screening of Halloween fave The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) on October 18th (we’ll remind you again next week.) Here are a couple of new features and featurettes we haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere:

  • Apocalypse After – 38-minutes of experimental hallucinatory imagery from , screening together with the aforementioned Blood Machines on Oct. 20.
  • The Yellow Night – A “trippy… hypnotic millennial nightmare” with Brazilian teens caught in some kind of space-time continuum disturbance thing. North American premier on Oct 20.

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Every Time I Die (2019): The soul of a troubled paramedic migrates into the bodies of his friends after he dies. At least one critic liked this low-budget psychological thriller with “a surreal feel” quite a lot. Blu-ray, DVD or VOD. Buy Every Time I Die.

Idiots and Angels (2008): Read the Certified Weird review! seems to have signed an exclusive deal with Apple TV, and all of his catalog, including this Canonically Weird cartoon about a despicable man who grows angel wings, will presumably be streamable and downloadable there for the foreseeable future. (All of his other features look to be there, as well). Idiots and Angels on Apple TV (Itunes).

The Killer of Dolls (1975): A sexually repressed killer puts on a mask and stalks women in this giallo-esque Spanish Eurotrash feature that the ad copy describes as “bizarre and totally unique…” Mondo Macabro releases this lost horror on Blu-ray and features a quote on the cover from a letterboxd review (that’s a first). Buy The Killer of Dolls.

Midosmmar (2019): Read our review. ‘s Swedish folk horror/nightmare breakup story divided critics and viewers, and our readers were no exception; if you missed it in theaters, now’s your chance to catch it and weigh in. The “Director’s Cut” version is not an option here (which suggests that Midsommar will be re-released again later). On DVD, Blu-ray, or VOD. Buy Midsommar.

NEW ON NETFLIX:

The Forest of Love (2019): movie about a conman who insinuates his way into a wealthy widow’s life, and the film crew that comes to believe he’s actually a serial killer. James Hadfield of The Japan Times describes it as “peak Sono: a garish, gore-drenched S&M exploitation epic that plays like a compilation of his greatest hits without ever really breaking new ground.” Debuting exclusively on Netflix on 10/11. Not sure if the dubbing will be optional or mandatory for American viewing. The Forest of Love on Netflix.

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.

NEPOTISM CORNER:

“Brother Cobweb”: Alfred Eaker‘s long-gestating semi-autobiographical novel about a boy growing up in a repressive puritanical household—and his imaginary enemy, the sinister Brother Cobweb—is finally complete. It’s set to be published in Spring 2020 (Easter season) but signed advance copies are being sold through House of Shadows, the Portland haunted house where Alfred performs the title character.  The copy describes it as “a coming of age saga with a misfit, paradoxical artist at its center… a surreal and provocative odyssey sure to strike a nerve as it exposes the abuses and hypocrisy of an all-too-familiar Midwestern evangelical church.” Illustrations by the talented Todd M. Coe. Buy an advance copy of “Brother Cobweb.”

Brother Cobweb cover

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Next week, Rafael Moreira has prepped a review of the crazy-cute Portuguese soccer satire Diamantino, will report on ‘s abandoned public-access parody webseries “Divorced Dad,” and we’ll probably throw in at least one more review for you. Behind the scenes, we’re already working on our 2019 Yearbook, with plans (not promises) to get it out by December this year, and steadily working on the 366 Weird Movies book-length compendium, as well. 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.

3 thoughts on “WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 10/11/2019”

  1. Wow, Alfred’s got a book going? Mutter mutter, I never get time to do a book. I’m always too busy being an Internet hack.

    I can identify with the experience of growing up in a religiously oppressive household though, and more of these stories need to come out!

    Congrats Alfred! (*burning with jealousy*) Let us know when it comes out, least we can do is tweet it.

    1. I suppose I could offer, as rejoinder, my laid-back upbringing in an incidentally Episcopalian household.

      “You know you’re an Episcopalian when you hear someone say, ‘May the Force be with you’, you respond, ‘And also with you.'”

    2. Thanks Pete and Giles.
      I apologize , I just saw this. I am insanely busy with haunt, book, and the graphic novel but will find time for a 366 Halloween review .
      Actually, I’ve been rather working on this book practically my whole life.
      The book is scheduled to be published April 12, 2020 although they are taking preorders for advance review copies for a few more days (we’re really not pushing it much though until next year)
      Best and thanks again,
      Alfred

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