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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.
FILM FESTIVALS – Unnamed Footage Fest (Online, Mar 26-27):
Sorry for the late notice on this one–it starts in a few hours (and could technically be over by the time you read this.) At any rate, this festival will be realized as a 24-hour livestream event. Tickets cost $10 and will be donated to non-profit and independent cinemas hit hard by the pandemic (a worthy cause, in our estimation). The festival’s theme is found-footage movies, or as they put it, “weird and exclusive in-world camera features.” It’s not necessarily a subgenre noted for high weirdness, but this year there are some entries that might be of interest: Space Clown, Graham Skipper‘s experimental comedy (which he has not disowned); a “new cut” of Murder Death Koreatown; and Final Entries: The Video Diary of Madi O, which programmers describe as a “deeply bizarre video diary” that “should be a cult classic.”
More information and complete schedule at the Unnamed Footage Festival home page.
IN DEVELOPMENT (crowdfunding):
“Manos: The Debbie Chronicles” (202?): A 60-minute pilot for an episodic Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966) sequel, following the now-grown-up Debbie (still played by original actress Jackey Neyman Jones) as she deals with the aftermath of her experiences in the ‘Manos’ cult. The end result will likely be campy, though the director says they’re aiming for a 75/25% ratio of serious to comic. The good news is it’s modest $6,250 budgetary goal has already been met; you can still contribute to their stretch goal, a video game called “Manos: Debbie’s Dungeon Delve!” Read more (and/or contribute) at the “Manos: The Debbie Chronicles” Seed & Spark page.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
The Father (2020): Read our review. Oscar’s only even mildly weird contestant is a winner, putting you inside Anthony Hopkins‘ deteriorating mind. Still in theaters, but already on VOD (though at a premium price, so watch with a group). Rent The Father.
Raw (2016): A vegetarian develops an uncontrollable craving for raw meat. Shout! Factory makes this growing cult movie available on Blu-ray for the first time in North America, with a director’s commentary track, interviews, and more. Buy Raw.
CANONICALLY WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:
After some improvement in March, we’re back to no weird movie screenings across the entire country this week. We’re not in panic mode yet, but it is possible that the repertory movie industry may suffer long-haul symptoms from changes in moviegoers’ habits wrought by the pandemic. Some formerly reliable theaters which have reopened already are now showing new release films only. We’ll wait to see what happens after the Academy Awards nominees have eixted the scene. Keep the faith.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: There’s still a whole month left to vote in the 12th annual Weirdcademy Awards, and you can vote once a day for either shorts or features. Favorites are emerging, but with so much time left, it’s technically anyone’s game.
In next week’s reviews, Giles Edwards orders up Ham on Rye; Gregory J. Smalley examines whether a nightmare indie’s dreams of joining the Apocrypha will Come True; and Jason Ubermolch foolishly wonders whether we should consider Teach a Man to Fish (1980). 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.