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 – SWSX (Austin, TX, Mar. 9-17):
If you can’t get your indie film into Sundance, the massive SXSW festival in Austin, Texas is your next best bet. With the continued mainstreaming of Sundance, and the increasingly homogenized “indie” product spotlighted there, if your movie’s a bit on the weirder side, SWSX may even be a better fit. There are a few repeats from other festivals, such as Bruno Dumont‘s rock opera Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc and the alternate-reality telemarketing satire Sorry to Bother You, but here are some of this year’s weirder-looking “new to us” offerings:
- Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story – The true story behind the giant-headed performance artist responsible for the character depicted in Frank. Screens Mar 13, 14 & 17.
- The Field Guide to Evil – An anthology horror film, so who knows? But it features directors who’ve gone weird in the past like Peter Strickland, Agnieszka Smoczynska and Calvin Reeder. Screening near midnight on Mar 11, 12 & 16.
- Paradox– The Man in the Black Hat hides out with Jail Time and the Particle Kid in this western/musical/fantasy starring Neil Young and directed by—Daryl Hannah?? Screens Mar. 15 only.
- Perfect – Set in a “vaguely science fictional world,” a boy uses implants to seek perfection; executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and Flying Lotus. Mar 11, 13 & 15.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy (1968): Read the Certified Weird review! Jane Fonda tramps across a campy universe; this new Paramount release is not remastered or filled with extras, but does come in the popular steelbox format. In a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Buy Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy
Donnie Darko (2001): Read the Certified Weird review! With two editions in 2017 and one (so far) this year, it seems like we’re announcing a new Special/Limited/Definitive release of Donnie Darko every six months. Are we caught in some kind of time loop? On Blu-ray via Arrow Video. Buy Donnie Darko [Special Edition]
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.
- Bloomington, IN, 3/9 – The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971). At Indiana University Cinema.
- Dallas, TX, 3/16 – Hour of the Wolf [Vargtimmen] (1968). At the Texas Theater.
- Denver, CO, 3/10 – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
- Los Angeles, CA, 3/10 – The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension (1984) with Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) (double feature). At the Aero Theater.
- Nashville, TN, 3/13 – Brazil (1985). At the Belcourt Theater.
- New York City, NY, 3/10-11 – Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012). At Nitehawk Cinema.
- New York City, NY, 3/11 – Blue Velvet (1986). At the Metrograph.
- New York City, NY, 3/14 – Dementia (1955). At the Museum of Modern Art.
- New York City, NY, 3/14 – Death Laid an Egg [La morte ha fatto l’uovo] (1968). At the Museum of Modern Art.
- New York City, NY, 3/15 – The Woman in the Dunes (1964). At the Museum of Modern Art.
- Vancouver, BC, Canada, 3/9 – Perfect Blue (1997). At the Rio Theater.
- Yonkers, NY, 3/10 – Alice [Neco Z Alenky] (1988). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:
Dogville (2003): Read the Certified Weird entry! Lars von Trier‘s anti-American, perverted version of “Our Town,” on a minimalist set with no walls and sex slaves. Listed as “leaving soon.” Watch Dogville free on Tubi.TV.
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.