Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…
Trailers of new release movies are generally available at the official site links.
IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):
Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017): Pacifist demon hunter Xuan Zang continues his journey to India begun in the original Journey to the West, facing new demons. This second installment of the Stephen Chow original international hit sees Tsui Hark taking over the directorial reins. Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back Facebook page (mostly in Chinese).
The Lure (2015): Read Alex Kittle’s screening note. Janus Films distributes this long-awaited release of the Polish mermaid horror musical, which means that a future Criterion Collection release is likely. The Lure at Janus FiIms.
SCREENINGS – (Manhattan, NY, IFC Center, Fri., Feb. 3-Sun, Feb. 5):
Brazil (1985): Read the Certified Weird entry. IFC Center continues to keep the midnight movie flame burning with Terry Gilliam‘s dystopian black comedy about a bureaucratic mix-up that has devastating consequences for a poor dreamer. Also playing all week: 2001: A Space Odyssey (as their Stanley Kubrick series comes to a close) and The Lure (see above). Brazil at IFC Center.
SCREENINGS – (Brooklyn, NY, Spectacle Theater, Fri., Feb. 3):
Daughters of Darkness (1971): Harry Kümel‘s weird, arty foray into lesbian vampire territory has Countess Bathory toying with a honeymooning couple at a nearly deserted inn. Part of a tribute to Delphine Seyrig. Daughters of Darkness at Spectacle.
NEW ON DVD:
At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul (1964): Read our capsule review. The first of José Mojica Marins unique movies starring the repulsive “Coffin Joe” is his best… but not his weirdest.Includes a new scene (shot in 2002!) and an old Marins short. Buy At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul
“The Coffin Joe Trilogy”: Set includes At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul (1964), This Night I Will Possess Your Corpse (1967), and Embodiment of Evil (2008), plus all the special features found on the individual discs. From Synapse Films. Buy “The Coffin Joe Trilogy”
This Night I Will Possess Your Corpse (1967): Marins’ second Coffin Joe feature is notable for its vision of a Hell as a Technicolor perdition full of beautiful nude women. Buy This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
The Lair of the White Worm (1988): Read the Certified Weird entry! Vestron Video releases Ken Russell‘s nutty Gothic horror in a nice “Collector’s Series” edition, with two commentary tracks (one from the late Russell, rescued from a previous release) and other goodies. Buy The Lair of the White Worm [Blu-ray].
Parents (1989): A boy living in 1950s suburban America suspects his parents are cannibals. This black comedy has been sitting in our reader-suggested review queue for a while now; it may be time to get around to it. Buy Parents [Blu-ray]
PODCASTS:
“Robot Monster Lives!”: Phil Hall’s “Online Movie Show” podcast brings us the behind-the-scenes true story of the Certified Weird Robot Monster and its diving-helmeted, gorilla-suited Ro-Man. Anders Runestad, author “I Cannot, Yet I Must” is the guest expert. Episode drops on February 6. “The Online Movie Show” at Soundcloud.
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.