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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):
Please Baby Please: A 1950s couple finds their ideal of straight sexuality challenged when they encounter a motorcycle gang. Described as a campy combination of Kenneth Anger and John Waters (but with musical numbers). Please Baby Please official site.
STREAMING DEBUTS (Vimeo):
Dementia (1955): Read the Canonically Weird entry! OK, so this is not a new release per se, but it’s an entirely new score by K. Edward Smith. We like George Anthiel’s original soundtrack, but we’re all in favor of bringing contemporary musical visions to silent films, and it’s less than a dollar to own this one already synced up. Buy Dementia (1955) (K. Edward Smith score).
STREAMING SERIES (Netflix):
“Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities”: The del Toro curated/produced horror anthology series arrives just in time for Halloween, 2022. Our readers may be interested in the two stories written by del Toto himself, and maybe even more enthused by offerings from Vincenzo Natali, Ana Lily Amirpour, and, most notably, Panos Cosmatos (who directs and co-scripts). Add to that an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation starring Crispin Glover, and you have what we consider must-stream TV. The final two 60-minute episodes in the eight installment series drop today. Watch “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” on Netflix.
IN DEVELOPMENT (in production):
Seed in the Sand (202?): Christiane Cegavske‘s long-gestating. hand-animated spiritual sequel to the Canonically Weird Blood Tea and Red String (2006) has progressed far enough that she can put together a teaser trailer. Still no hint when it will be completed, but this has to be a good sign. Seed in the Sand official homepage.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
Ape (2012): A struggling comedian makes a deal with (a man dressed as) the Devil and indulges his penchant for pyromania. Joel Potrykus‘ rarely seen (but much praised) first film gets a Blu-ray release from Factory 25. Buy Ape.
Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)/Brain of Blood (1971): Read our review of Dracula vs. Frankenstein. An Al Adamson/Zandor Vorkov double feature of crap, given the deluxe Blu-ray treatment from Severin. Buy Dracula vs. Frankenstein/Brain of Blood.
“House of Psychotic Women: Rarities Collection”: Kier-La Janisse curates this four film collection of oddities about hysterical women, highlighted by a deranged and horny Elizabeth Taylor wandering around Rome in 1974’s Indetikit. Also includes the 1986 Polish vampire comedy I Like Bats, the 1975 giallo Footprints (AKA Footprints on the Moon), and Jane Arden’s experimental art-house feature The Other Side of Underneath. Buy “House of Psychotic Women: Rarities Collection.”
“The Incredibly Strange Films of Ray Dennis Steckler”: Incredibly strange, in spots; incredibly dull, in long stretches. A survey of Stecklerania from 1962 to 2009, including Wild Guitar, The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies, The Thrill Killers, Rat Pfink A Boo Boo, The Lemon Grove Kids, Body Fever, Sinthia: The Devil’s Doll, Blood Shack, The Hollywood Strangler Meets the Skid Row Slasher, The Las Vegas Serial Killer, and One More Time. Buy “The Incredibly Strange Films Of Ray Dennis Steckler Collector’s Set”.
CANONICALLY WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:
This section will no longer be updated regularly. Instead, we direct you to our new “Repertory Cinemas Near You” page. We will continue to mention exceptional events in this space from time to time, however. Like the one below:
- Oct. 28-Nov. 3, Brooklyn, New York: Metamorphosis: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto at Brooklyn Academy of Music. This thorough retrospective includes The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo (1987), Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), Hiruko the Goblin (1991), Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992), Tokyo Fist (1995), Bullet Ballet (1998), Gemini (1999), A Snake of June (2002), Vital (2004), Haze (2005), Kotoko (2011), Fires on the Plain (2014), and Killing (2018), spread out over one solid metal week.
BOOKS:
“TCM Underground: 50 Must-See Films from the World of Classic Cult and Late-Night Cinema”: Extended coverage of films featured on the late-night cable series “TCM Underground.” Focuses on a lot of campy “bad” movies and general cult movies, but it also spotlights five films on our list: Häxan (1922), Funeral Parade of Roses [Bara no sôretsu] (1969), Belladonna of Sadness (1973), Hausu (1977), and Possession (1981). Buy “TCM Underground: 50 Must-See Films from the World of Classic Cult and Late-Night Cinema.”
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE:
Join us tomorrow night (October 28) at 10:15 PM ET for a Halloween screening of Vincent Price‘s 1959 horror The House on Haunted Hill (in glorious black and white). On Amazon Prime (subscription or purchase required). The link to join will drop here, on Facebook, and on Twitter around 10 PM.
In next week’s reviews, Shane Wilson celebrates Halloween with the scariest thing he can think of: The Giant Claw! Moving on, Giles Edwards tackles the mystical indie King Judith, while Gregory J. Smalley hopes to make it out to the cineplex to report on Please Baby Please (see above). And, we don’t expect to have any news to announce next week! 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.