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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.
NEW RELEASES: ONLINE DEBUTS:
“The Animation Show of Shows”: The latest four installments of the long-running animation showcase are now available for rental on Vimeo. We’re sure there are plenty of weird ones buried in there; 2015’s “The World of Tomorrow” from the 17th Show, for one. You’ll have to uncover the rest of the gems yourself. “The Animation Show of Shows” on Vimeo.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
Alice in Wonderland (1933): Read Scott Sentinella’s review. Kino Lorber got the rights and issued Hollywood’s all-star (Cary Grant, Gray Cooper, and W.C. Fields as a grotesque Humpty Dumpty) Alice on Blu-ray for the first time. With a bonus commentary track from film historian Lee Gambin. Buy Alice in Wonderland
Danger: Diabolik (1968): Read Alice Stoehr’s review. Shout! Factory brings Mario Bava‘s “groovy ’60s cult classic” to Blu-ray or the first time, with a new audio commentary from Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson. Buy Danger: Diabolik
King of Thorn (2009): Read our review. This Blu-ray reissue of the incredibly confusing anime feature, which counts the legend of “Sleeping Beauty” among it’s many references, has all the same features as the 2009 release, except that it lacks a bonus DVD and now bears the legend “Essentials” on the cover. Buy King of Thorn
Mandy (2018): Read the Canonically Weird entry. There’s nothing new about this release of Panos Cosmatos‘ psychedelic revenge flick except for the collectible steelbook packaging, which houses both DVD and Blu-ray discs. Buy Mandy
Message from Space (1978): Read our review. Toho upgrades their nutty Star Wars ripoff to Blu-ray, so that today’s children can be disappointed in high definition. Buy Message from Space
SEMINARS (Via Zoom, 5/28 at 6 PM PT):
“Fellini 100”: Three professors will give a free Zoom lecture on the Maestro, Federico Fellini. It’s sponsored by the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles to celebrate the centennial of Fellini’s birth. Free, but you must register. Federico Fellini 100.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Saturday’s Netflix Party will be a left-field choice: Escape from the ‘Liberty’ Cinema, a Polish film about a censor and film characters who talk back to him, made at the end of the Communist Era. You guys have adventurous tastes!
In regular reviews, Pete Trbovich‘s musings on 80s cult (?) horror Spookies, announced last week, has been rescheduled for a rare Sunday slot. The rest of the week, Giles Edwards will push for Pier Paolo Pasolini‘s Pigpen [Porcile]; Gregory J. Smalley discovers a few things wrong with Assassin 33 A.D. (the 2020 Christian film about Islamic terrorists going back in time to assassinate Jesus Christ); and Simon Hyslop clues you in on the freaky phenomenon of “children’s grindhouse films.” It’s a busy week to keep you entertained indoors, away from all those nasty viruses. 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.