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 on the official site links.
SCREENINGS – (Cinefamily, Los Angeles, May 30-31, June 1):
“Welcome, Space Brothers: The Films of the Unarius Academy of Science”: A retrospective of the public-access quality propaganda films of Unarius, a 1970s and 1980s UFO cult educational foundation that was largely run by that late Ruth Norman, who was sort of a square, non-musical, honky version of Sun Ra. Friday night features an “Intro to Unarius,” with a Q&A with current cult institute members and a screening of the short film, “A Trip to the Underground Cities of Mars” (1977). Saturday’s slate includes workshops, more public access shorts, and the feature-length pro-alien screed The Arrival (1978). There will be more screenings and guided visualizations on Sunday. True believers and skeptics bent on mockery will rub elbows at this strange gathering. Los Angelites can get the full schedule of events here: “Welcome, Space Brothers…”
SCREENINGS – (Cinefamily, Los Angeles, June 2-3):
The Saragossa Manuscript (1965): Read our review! Cinefamily continues to make the argument for relocating to L.A. almost irresistible with this rare screening of Wojciech Has‘ account of the phantasmagorical journeys of the Unknown Soldier through time and space. Part of the Martin Scorsese-sponsored “Masterpieces of Polish Cinema” series. More information, showtimes and a newly-cut trailer here.
NEW ON DVD:
Blue Movie (1978): A woman is rescued from a rape by a sadomasochistic photographer. Forgotten Italian weird sleaze in the Salo-chic mode. Buy Blue Movie
Buttwhistle (2014): A young man rescues a girl from a suicide attempt, then wishes he hadn’t when she gets too attached to him (and gives him the nickname “buttwhistle”). A talking bar of soap supplies some surrealism. Buy Buttwhistle
Journey to the West (2013): A fantasy/comedy/adventure adaptation of a Chinese mythology classic featuring Buddhist demons and the Monkey King. Stephen Chow’s first directorial effort in five years should please his fans. Buy Journey to the West
Sleepaway Camp (1983): A troubled teenage orphan goes to a summer camp where her peers start turning up dead. This teen horror with a surprise ending has one of the largest cult followings in slasher movie history, and is also in our reader-suggested review queue. Shout! Factory is selling their deluxe restored version in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Buy Sleepaway Camp [BluRay/DVD Combo] [Blu-ray]
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
Eden and After (1970): This mix of Alice in Wonderland by way of the Marquis de Sade, with a heaping helping of LSD on the side, involves a young girl on a hallucinatory sadomasochistic journey. This title was on our “not-yet-on-DVD-in-America” list, and can technically remain there; for whatever reason, Redemption video is only releasing this title on Blu-ray. Buy Eden and After [Blu-ray]
Journey to the West (2013): See description in DVD above. Buy Journey to the West [Blu-ray]
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004): Bill Murray stars as Zissou, a Jacques Cousteau-style adventurer who sets off with a ragtag crew to hunt down a possibly mythical shark he believes to be responsible for his partner’s death. Criterion upgrades this Wes Anderson black comedy, which currently sits in our reader-suggested review queue, to Blu-ray. Buy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou [Criterion Collection Blu-ray]
The Man Who Lies (1968): A fugitive insinuates himself into a Czech village, claiming to be the companion of a local war hero who has disappeared. Like Eden and After above, this is another Alain Robbe-Grillet title Redemption is releasing only on Blu-ray. Buy The Man Who Lies [Blu-ray]
Sleepaway Camp (1983): See description in DVD above. Buy Sleepaway Camp [BluRay/DVD Combo] [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.