WEIRD HORIZON FOR THE WEEK OF 6/12/2015

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.

Nothing new and weird in theaters this week, but anytime we see two Certified Weird classics released on Blu-ray, it’s a banner week in bizarreness in our book.

SCREENINGS – (Cinefamily, Los Angeles, CA,  June 12-13, 15-16):

Angst (1983): Intense, stylish serial killer film from Poland, made by experimental filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczynski. Rybczynski will be in attendance tonight (Friday June 12) at the 7PM PST showing. Screening with a selection of his experimental films, music videos and animated 80s MTV bumpers (separate ticket purchase may be required). Zbigniew Rybczynski at Cinefamily.

NEW ON DVD:

Der Samurai (2014): A small German town believes it’s being menaced by a wolf, but one policeman discovers the killer is actually a samurai in lipstick and a dress. The film appears to be surreal mix of violence and explicit homoeroticism, and so has naturally found a home with Artsploitation Films. Buy Der Samurai.

Der Todesknig [The Death King] (1990): Seven stories about death and suicide. It’s in our reader-suggested review queue, but after suffering through this director’s Nekromantik, we can’t say we’re too enthused about the prospect. Still, everyone deserves a second chance in life… er, death… Buy Der Todesking [The Death King].

The Pillow Book (1996): Read the Certified Weird entry! This remastered version of the visually stunning film inspired by Sei Shōnagon’s memoirs of life as a literary noblewoman in Edo-era Japan includes a new commentary by Buy The Pillow Book.

Society (1989): See film description in Blu-ray. This product is a “box set” from Arrow Films containing the DVD, Blu-ray, pamphlet and a short comic book sequel to the movie. Buy Society [Blu-ray + DVD].

Spider Baby (1967): See description in Blu-ray below. A DVD/Blu-ray combo set. Buy Spider Baby [Blu-ray + DVD].

NEW ON BLU-RAY:

Der Samurai (2014): See description in DVD above. Buy Der Samurai [Blu-ray].

Der Todesking [The Death King] (1990): See description in DVD above. This is advertized as a limited edition of 3000 copies (and was out-of-stock at Amazon at this writing). Buy Der Todesking [The Death King] [Blu-ray].

The Pillow Book (1996): See description in DVD above. More Greenaway on Blu-ray, please (a proper Prospero’s Books, anyone?) Buy The Pillow Book [Blu-ray].

Society (1989): Read the reader recommendation. We’ve been waiting ages for this re-release of Brian Yuzna‘s surreal/satirical shocker. Buy Society [Blu-ray + DVD].

Spider Baby (1967): Read the Certified Weird entry! Another elaborate Arrow Films release, with numerous new extras including The Host, ‘s 30-minute student film that was also ‘s first starring role.  Buy Spider Baby [Blu-ray + DVD].

FREE MOVIES ON THE INTERNET ARCHIVE:

A Page of Madness (1926): This hallucinatory tale of madness, about a janitor at a mental asylum where his wife is a patient, is perhaps the oldest surviving example of a Japanese film influenced by European Surrealism. Director Teinosuke Kinugasa went on to make the classic samurai tragedy The Gate of Hell in 1953. Thanks to Laura Thébaud Gibbs for the suggestion. Learn more about A Page of Madness at Open Culture.

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.

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