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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.
IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):
Mad God (2021): Read the Apocryphally Weird entry! Phil Tippett‘s utterly surreal stop-motion descent into Hell opens in New York and Los Angeles this week, expanding across North America throughout the year. It debuts on Shudder next week, where it will likely find its largest audience, but due to the detailed spectacle involved, it’s best to see it on the largest screen you can. Mad God official site.
Wyrm (2019): A geeky young boy must kiss a girl to pass his required Sexuality 101 course and “pop his collar.” They’re going for a The Lobster meets Welcome to the Dollhouse as directed by Wes Anderson kind of thing. In select theaters, and concurrently available on VOD. Look for a review next week. Wyrm official Facebook page.
IN DEVELOPMENT (re-release):
Lost Highway (1997): Read the Canonically Weird entry! Like INLAND EMPIRE early this year, Lost Highway is getting a restoration and re-release, starting June 24. The new “trailer” below was shot and edited by David Lynch himself on his Iphone:
IN DEVELOPMENT (post-production):
“Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” (2022): An eight-episode anthology series curated by del Toro, intended to “challenge our traditional notions of horror.” Two stories are written by del Toto himself, as well as offerings from Vincenzo Natali, Ana Lily Amirpour, and, perhaps most notably, Panos Cosmatos (who both directs and co-scripts). Add to that an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation starring Crispin Glover, and you have what we would consider must-stream TV. No date announced, but we have our first teaser trailer.
IN DEVELOPMENT (rumored):
Untitled “Silent Hill” project (2023): In an interview with the French magazine Jeuxvideo, Christophe Gans announced that he has been working for several years on a new “Silent Hill” script. The continuity will be unrelated to the Canonically Weird original or its unsuccessful sequel. Almost nothing else is known about the project, but you can read comicbook.com’s summary of the French interview for a few more tidbits.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
Aliens, Clowns & Geeks (2019): An unemployed actor stumbles onto a war between aliens and clowns. Richard Elfman‘s stopgap comedy (made in order to try to generate interest and funding for Forbidden Zone 2) finally arrives on VOD, with DVD and Blu-ray to follow in a couple of weeks. Buy or rent Aliens, Clowns & Geeks.
Clifford (1994): 40-year-old Martin Short portrays obnoxious 10-year-old Clifford. It flopped on release, but a few defend it as avant-garde cult comedy, including director Graham Reznick (who named it one of his top ten weird movies). Ronin Flix releases it for the first time on Blu-ray. Buy Clifford.
Combat Shock (1984): A Vietnam veteran struggles to adjust to society in this gritty and surreal exploitation flick. This feature is in our reader-suggested queue and now out on Blu-ray from Troma. Buy Combat Shock.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022): Read Gregory J. Smalley’s Apocrypha Candidate review. Daniels‘ weird hit about a middle-aged Asian woman saving the multiverse is now available for digital purchase (not yet for rental). Blu-ray coming next week. Buy Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Forbidden Zone (1982): Read the Canonically Weird entry! This self-published “director’s cut” Blu-ray has a couple of small features not on previous editions Buy Forbidden Zone.
Human Lanterns (1982): Human Lanterns are people! This Shaw Brothers chopsocky trends towards the bizarre, and was a former Weird Watch party selection; now on a “collector’s edition” Blu-ray from 88 Films. Buy Human Lanterns.
Luminous Procuress (1971): An obscure Surrealist-queer film from Haight-Ashbury with a cast of vintage drag queens, Luminous Process was championed by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali on release, but has been all but forgotten since. You can read all about it in this article from The Guardian. Unfortunately, it is being released by the UK’s Second Run, so it’s pricey, but at least it’s region-free. Buy Luminous Procuress.
The Tales of Hoffman (1951): Based on Jacques Offenbach’s operetta, the poet Hoffman recalls stories of three different lovers. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s high art movie won accolades for its surreal production design; the Criterion Collection finally upgrades it to Blu-ray. Buy The Tales of Hoffman.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013): Read Gregory J. Smalley’s review. This Blu-ray+DVD set is a stripped-down/bargain version of the limited-edition steelbook Shout! Factory issued a few months ago. Buy The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
CANONICALLY WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:
This section will no longer be updated regularly. Instead, we direct you to our new “Repertory Cinemas Near You” page. We will continue to mention exceptional events in this space from time to time, however.
FREE WEIRD MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:
The Lair of the White Worm (1988): Read the Canonically Weird entry! Ken Russell‘s fever dream if a sexy vampiress, an unfortunate boy scout, catfighting stewardesses, and impaled nuns, all listed as “leaving soon” on Tubi. Watch The Lair of the White Worm free on Tubi.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE:
Netflix subscribers, be sure to join us tomorrow night (Saturday 11) at 10:15 ET for our first June Weird Watch Party, The Land of Cards [Tasher Desh] (2012). As always, the link to join will drop here, on Facebook, and on Twitter around 10 PM.
Next week we’re busy reviewing new-release indies, as Gregory J. Smalley digs into Wyrm (see above), while Shane Wilson visits Germany’s absurd Gelateria and Giles Edwards considers the post-apocalyptic-something-or-other Friend of the World. 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.