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.
IN THEATERS (WIDE RELEASE):
Jonah Hex (2010): Possibly the weirdest looking summer blockbuster (with the exception of Christoper Nolan’s Inception), this adaptation of a relatively obscure DC comics mixes the western and fantasy genres with action movie cliches. The fact that certain sequences in the trailer look to be inspired by Django (and even Jodorowsky) is a plus, lack of buzz and no advance screenings combine to make a big minus. With Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, and ubiquitous eye candy Megan Fox. A long shot for weirdness, but the summer doldrums are upon us. Jonah Hex official site.
NEW ON DVD:
Mary and Max (2009): This Australian claymation release about an unlikely online friendship between an eight-year old goth girl in Melbourne and a friendless middle-aged New Yorker with Asperger’s syndrome is currently languishing in our reader-suggested review queue. This DVD release helps its reviewability. Buy Mary and Max
Mystery Train (1989): This anthology of three short films set in Memphis is not particularly weird, though Elvis’ ghost does appear. This Criterion Collection release is notable for Jim Jarmusch completists, however. Buy Mystery Train (Criterion Collection)
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
Mary and Max (2009): See entry in DVD above. Buy Mary and Max [Blu-ray]
Mystery Train (1989): See entry in DVD above. Buy Mystery Train (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]
NEW ON ITUNES:
Burning Inside (2010): Read our capsule review. Priced at $4.99. We’re not going to be tracking everything that’s released on ITunes, at least not until this format gets a much larger market share, but it is interesting to note this new distribution avenue for independent films. Buy Burning Inside at Itunes.
FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON YOUTUBE:
Samurai Princess (2009): Another Japanese splatterpunk fantasy in the Meatball Machine vein. In a weird mythical fantasy forest fusing feudal elements with modern anachronisms, a rape victim is turned into a “mecha” and infused with the eleven souls of her fellow victims to seek revenge. A review of this one has been pending for quite a while (it’s also available on Netflix streaming, where I saw it); it’s not great, but fans of the genre will get the weird gore they’re looking for. Shocked to see this show up on YouTube. Watch Samurai Princess free on YouTube.
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.