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):

Border (2018): A border agent uses her preternatural sense of smell to sniff out smugglers. This Swedish magical realist piece did earn one “wonderfully weird” quote among its overwhelmingly positive reviews. Border listing at Cineuropa.

Suspiria (2018): The long-anticipated remake of the witchy Certified Weird original, with Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton. Critics are calling it “crazy“; in L.A. and N.Y.C. this Halloween week, expanding nationwide next week. Suspiria official site.

FILM FESTIVALS – Ithaca Fantastik Fest (Ithaca, NY,  10/26-11/4):

For a film festival that’s held in the middle of nowhere—apologies to Cornell grads if that sounds like a slight—Ithaka Fantastik has assembled a fine slate of arty genre films. There are no significant debuting films; most of the lineup is second-runs from Fantasia or Fantastic Fest (with a few from Sundance and even Cannes sprinkled in). This year’s roster includes Cam; Samuel Benchetrit’s French black comedy about a man who thinks he’s turning into the titular Dog; a feature-length expansion of one of our previous Saturday Short picks, “Prospect“; the insane “geki-mation” of Violence Voyager; Aaron Schimberg‘s Freaks “update,” Chained for Life; Portugal’s surreal soccer-based satire Diamantino; the supernatural police procedural Luz; Joel Potrykus‘ filmed Pac-Man marathon Relaxer; the apocalyptic Starfish; Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss By Passing Through the Gateway Chosen By the Holy Storsh, presumptive front-runner for 2018’s “longest title in a cult comedy “award; New Zealand’s comic Mega Time Squad. Even if there’s nothing new or exclusive, it’s a late-season treat for locals, and serves as a kind of “best of” compilation of the year’s oddball festival offerings. And this year only, don’t miss a special Halloween screening of The Tingler, in PerceptoVision!

Ithaca Fantastik Fest home page.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Night of the Demons (1988): Read our review. This ridiculously absurd haunted house supernatural slasher makes perfect Halloween fare. Now out in a newly restored, limited edition steelbook Blu-ray with a new commentary track from the director and cast, with the previous two commentary tracks carried over along with a host of other extras—Citizen Kane didn’t get this kind of Blu-ray treatment. Buy Night of the Demons.

Sorry to Bother You (2018): Read our List Candidate review! Directed by rapper Boots Riley from way out of left field, Sorry is an absurdist racial satire set in the ultracapitalist world of telemarketing. Already out on VOD, it’s now on DVD and Blu-ray, with a commentary by Riley and other treats. Buy Sorry To Bother You.

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.

• Multiple locations, 10/28-10/30 – Spirited Away (2001). Check Fathom Events for specifics.
• Austin, TX, 10/31 – Pink Flamingos (1972). At the Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar).
• Columbus, OH, 10/28 – Evil Dead II (1987). At Gateway Film Center.
• Dallas, TX, 10/30 – Nosferatu (1922), with a new score by the Invisible Czars. At the Texas Theater.
• Dallas, TX, 10/31 – Suspiria (1977), preceded by a live ballet performance. At the Texas Theater.
• Denver, CO, 10/28 – The Phantom of the Opera (1925) with Vampyr (1932) (double feature) and a live score by Hands of Midnight. At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Denver, CO, 10/29 – Videodrome (1983). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Denver, CO, 10/30 – Donnie Darko (2001) (theatrical cut). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Denver, CO, 10/30 – House [Hausu] (1977). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Ithaca, NY, 10/31 – The Tingler (1959), with seats wired for “PerceptoVision.” Part of the Ithaca Fantastik Fest. At the Cherry Artspace.
• Los Angeles, CA, 10/26 – The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), with The Devil’s Rain (1975) (double feature). At the Aero Theater.
• Los Angeles, CA, 11/1 – Head (1968). At the Egyptian Theater.
• Louisville, KY, 10/26 – Female Trouble (1974). At the Speed Art Museum.
• Louisville, KY, 10/27 – Liquid Sky (1982). At the Speed Art Museum.
• New Braunfels, TX, 10/29 – Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• New York City, NY, 10/26 (midnight) – Marquis (1989). At Spectacle Theater.
• New York City, NY, 10/26-10/27 (midnights) – House [Hausu] (1977). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 10/26-11/1 – Suspiria (1977) (additional midnight screenings on Friday and Saturday). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 10/27 – The Boxer’s Omen [Mo] (1983). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 10/27 – Hour of the Wolf [Vargtimmen] (1968). At the Nitehawk Theater.
• New York City, NY, 10/27 – Suspiria (1977), with a giallo-themed costume party. At Videology Bar & Cinema.
• New York City, NY, 10/29 – The Trial (1962). At IFC Center.
• Oakland, CA, 10/28 – Nosferatu (1922). At the New Parkway Theater.
• Omaha, NB, 10/30 – Suspiria (1977). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Pittsburgh, PA, 10/26, 10/28-10/29 – Freaks (1932). At Row House Cinema.
• Pittsburgh, PA, 10/30 – Nosferatu (1922). At Row House Cinema.
• San Francisco, CA, 10/31 – Suspiria (1977). At the Roxie.
• Silver Spring, MD, 10/26-10/28, 10/31 – Suspiria (1977). At AFI Silver Theater.
• Silver Spring, MD, 10/27-10/28 – Nosferatu (1922). At AFI Silver Theater.
• Toronto, Ont., Canada, 10/27 – Phantasm (1979), with Don Coscarelli Q&A via Skype. At the Royal.
• Toronto, Ont., Canada, 10/31 – Possession (1981). At the Royal.
• Tuscon, AZ, 11/1 – Daisies [Sedmikrásky] (1966). At the Loft.

FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON YOUTUBE:

Carnival of Souls (1962): Read the Certified Weird entry! If you don’t consider this eerie exercise in monochrome anomie perfect Halloween viewing, then “I feel sorry for you… and your lack of soul.”

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.