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):
Let the Corpses Tan (2017): Gold thieves engage in a shootout with cops in Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani‘s latest, this time a tribute to Italian poliziotteschi films. It doesn’t look as strange as their previous giallo-inspired work, but at least one mainstream reviewer found it “profoundly weird.” Look for a screening on Let the Corpses Tan‘s official site.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
All You Can Eat Buddha (2017): A mysterious man performs miracles at a tropical resort in this low-key film described as a “trippy and complex cinematic experience.” Looks like it will be skipping theatrical and physical media altogether and only be available on VOD. Buy or rent All You Can Eat Buddha
Mind Game (2004): Killed by a yakuza, a nerd goes to a psychedelic afterlife. Thanks to readers, this one arrives pre-approved for the List of the 366 Weirdest Movies. Buy the DVD/Blu-ray combo pack or watch it on VOD while waiting for our review. Buy Mind Game
“Mohsen Makhmalbaf: The Poetic Trilogy”: Gabbeh (1996) is a magical realist fable about a woman who materializes from a Persian rug; The Silence (1998) is about a blind boy who tunes instruments; and The Gardener is a “surreal documentary” about the Baha’i faith. Arrow Academy continues to put out extremely obscure movies with mildly weird-sounding synopses in expensive editions. Buy “Mohsen Makhmalbaf: The Poetic Trilogy”
Straight To Hell (1987): Alex Cox reportedly wrote this spaghetti western/bank heist script in three days after a musical tour of Nicaragua he was promoting fell apart. Featuring a crazy cast of Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, Jim Jarmusch, Courtney Love, Grace Jones, the Pogues, and Dennis Hopper (!) Buy Straight to Hell
The Tree of Life (2011): Read the Certified Weird entry! The Criterion Collection gets their mitts on Terrence Malick‘s surrealistic family drama, with an additional 50 minutes of footage (!) and new interviews. So much stuff, it requires two Blu-rays or three DVDs to fit it all on. Buy The Tree of Life
CERTIFIED WEIRD (AND OTHER) REPERTORY SCREENINGS:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). We won’t list all the screenings of this audience-participation classic separately. You can use this page to find a screening near you.
Multiple cities: 9/6 – Perfect Blue (1997) (subtitled). Check the GKids site for locations near you.
- Chicago, IL, 8/31 & 9/1 (midnights) – Mind Game (2004). At the Music Box Theater.
- Dallas, TX, 8/31-9/2, 9/6 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Texas Theater.
- Denver, CO, 8/31 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
- Denver, CO, 8/31-9/6 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
- Los Angeles, CA, 8/31 – Yellow Submarine (1968). At the Aero.
- Los Angeles, CA, 9/1 – Pink Floyd the Wall (1982). At the Aero.
- Nashville, TN, 9/3-9/6 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). At the Belcourt.
- New York City, NY, 8/31 – 9/6 – Suspiria (1977). At IFC Center.
- New York City, NY, 9/1 & 9/3 – Possession (1981). At the Metrograph.
- New York City, NY, 9/1 (midnight) – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). At Videology Bar & Cinema.
- New York City, NY, 9/1 (midnight) & 9/5 – Meet the Feebles (1989). At Spectacle Theater.
- Tuscon, AZ, 8/31-9/3 – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). At the Loft.
- Vancouver, BC, Canada, 9/2 – Fantastic Planet [La Planète Sauvage] (1973). At the Rio.
FREE MOVIES ON TUBI.TV:
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976): Read the Certified Weird review! David Bowie stars as the titular character, an alien searching for water for his dying planet who gets distracted by Earthly pleasures. Watch The Man Who Fell to Earth free on Tubi.tv.
NEPOTISM CORNER:
“Women Make Movies, Vol. 1”: Alex Kittle wrote and illustrated this ‘zine about female filmmakers, from Lois Weber to Ava DuVernay. Hand-stitched and signed, for a mere $8 U.S. No weird filmmakers occupy this volume (unless the Wachowskis count), but Alex promises Maya Deren and Vera Chytilová will show up in Volume 2. Buy “Women Make Movies, Vol. 1“.
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.