A 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 on the official site links.

Weird movie releases tend to be feast or famine—this week is pure feast.  Bloat yourself on midnight movies, new releases, and cult re-releases this weekend.

IN THEATERS (WIDE RELEASE):

Source Code:  A man wakes up inside the body of another, and realizes that he must use memories from his previous life to stave off a terrorist attack.  Probably not weird, but notable because it’s from Duncan Jones, who showed promise with his (non-weird) sci-fi debut Moon, and because the story is drawing comparisons to Christopher Nolan‘s Memento and Inception. It also stars Donnie Darko himself, Jake Gyllenhaal.  Source Code official site.

IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):

The Four Times (Le Quattro Volte) (2010):  The four stage journey of a shepherd’s soul through the afterlife, told according to one of geeky Greek cult leader Pythagoras’ lesser-known theorems.  We’ve been wondering if this art curiosity would ever surface since we first heard about it at last year’s TIFF; the wheel’s of weirdness turn slowly.  Of course, it’s only playing at the specialty venue Film Forum in Manhattan, with future stateside dates doubtful, but that’s better than nothing.  The Four Times at the Film Forum.

Rubber (2010): The French film about the serial-killer tire with telekinetic powers finally makes it to these shores, where it’s dividing critics down the middle as to whether it’s a clever absurdist goof or a tedious one-joke insult to the audience.  Whichever, it’s currently sitting in our review queue, so here’s hoping it arrives at a theater near us soon.  Rubber official site.

Super (2010): Another regular-guy-becomes-masked-vigilante black comedy; critics are comparing it to an edgier, more absurd Kick Ass.  From Tromeo and Juliet co-writer/co-director James Gunn, so it’s sure to be offensive, at least.  With TV’s Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler and Kevin Bacon.  It’s being reviewed all over, but it’s only playing in Vail, Colorado??  Super official site (not up to date). 

NEW ON DVD:

Black Swan (2010):  Read our capsule review.  A major event in recent weirdness; Black Swan was our 3rd weirdest movie of 2010, and Natalie Portman won a Weirdcademy Award for her role as a goody-two shoes ballerina who learns all about the dark side when she grows feathers.  Buy Black Swan.

Dead Awake (2010): Under-the-radar psychological thriller about a man who fakes his own funeral, then meets a strange crack addict and an ex-lover and finds All Is Not As It Seems.  With Nick Stahl, Rose McGowan and Amy Smart. Buy Dead Awake.

Evangelion 2.22: You Can [Not] Advance (2009): Part 2 of the Evangelion reboot (see our review of Part 1 here) features more giant robots, emo teen angst, apocalyptic occultism, and anime absurdity. If it follows the same path as the series’ two previous incarnations, then the third entry will be the weird one. Buy Evangelion: 2.22 You Can [Not] Advance.

Inferno (1980):  Dario Argento’s sequel to Suspiria, with the Mother of Tears now in the spotlight, is considered far weirder than the first entry in the series, but is not nearly as beloved.   This Blue Underground Special Edition release features only cast and crew interviews as extras, but more importantly it’s a brand new transfer of the movie, and should provide the best sound and picture quality Inferno has yet seen on home video. Buy Inferno (Special Edition).

Poor Pretty Eddie (1975):  About a jazz singer whose car breaks down in a redneck town inhabited by bizarro characters like a fat, drunk ex-stripper (Shelley Winters!) and a homicidal Elvis impersonator.  The promotional materials play this up as a “surreal” lost “cult classic”; we’re skeptical, but willing to give it a try.  Also known as Heartbreak Motel.  The DVD and Blu-ray aren’t sold separately at this time. Buy Poor Pretty Eddie Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack.

Smash Cut (2009): A horror director knocks off acquaintances to fill his movie with realistic gore effects. Probably just exploitation comedy trash, but it is made by the director of the pretty dang weird Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter with the blessing of gore godfather Herschell Gordon Lewis, and it features porn star Sasha Grey, who’s been involved in some interesting projects (starring in Steven Sorderberg’s well-received The Girlfriend Experience and “presenting” the weird looking faux-grindhouse spy thriller Modus Operandi). Another DVD/Blu-ray combo. Buy Smash Cut [Blu-ray].

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

Black Swan (2010): See entry in DVD above. Buy Black Swan [Blu-ray].

Dogtooth (2009): Read the Certified Weird entry!Bizarre Greek black comedy about kids raised on an estate and kept completely apart from the world with their own unique language; truly disturbing, but more because of its ideas and matter-of-fact execution than its violence and perversity. Buy Dogtooth [Blu-ray].

Inferno (1980): See entry in DVD above. Buy Inferno [Blu-ray].

Poor Pretty Eddie (1975): See description in DVD above. The DVD and Blu-ray versions are sold together. Buy Poor Pretty Eddie Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack.

Smash Cut (2009): See entry in DVD above. Buy Smash Cut [Blu-ray].

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.