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):

Every Time I Die (2019): The soul of a troubled paramedic migrates into the bodies of his friends after he dies. At least one critic liked this low-budget psychological thriller with “a surreal feel” quite a lot. Also available on ITunes. Every Time I Die official site.

Rapid Eye Movement (2019): A radio DJ tries to break the world record for consecutive days awake, both to raise money for charity and because a serial killer promises to put him to sleep permanently if he fails. Not sure where it will play, but it’s simultaneously released on-demand. Rapid Eye Movement official Facebook page.

SPECIAL EVENTS (8/13 and 8/19):

Millennium Actress (2001): Read the Certified Weird entry! Fathom Events parade of classic anime re-releases continues with Satoshi Kon‘s hallucinatory biopic of a fictional Japanese actress’ three-decade career, told in a blend of flashbacks and fantasies in which her interviewers join. Newly restored and with a new English language dub, and with reflections by producers Taro Maki and Masao Maruyama to be broadcast after the film concludes. Check the Fathom Events site for a screening near you.

IN DEVELOPMENT (announced):

“The Man Who Fell to Earth” (TV Series): CBS All Access has green-lit a new series based on Walter Tevis’ 1963 novel (which Nicolas Roeg made into a very weird 1976 movie starring David Bowie that you may have heard of). Casting hasn’t yet begun, but veteran producer Alex Kurtzman (“Star Trek: Discovery”) is set to direct. There’s plenty of room for skepticism that this will be as offbeat as the original; in fact, there’s reason to suspect that they’ll be going for a more mainstream aesthetic: “Nicolas Roeg was a legend, and the last thing I would want to do is mimic his work in any way,” said Kurtzman. More details (with industry insider type stuff) at Deadline.

NEW ON HOME VIDEO:

Don’t Look Now (1973): Read the Canonically Weird review! It seems like the Venice-based grief horror classic just got a Criterion release, but now Studiocanal puts out the ultimate “Collector’s Edition” of the film with a new 4K restoration, Ultra HD and standard Blu-ray discs, a separate disc of extra features (some new), the soundtrack CD, collectible postcards, posters and booklets. All regions. Buy Don’t Look Now (Collector’s Edition).

Fragment of an Empire (1929): A Russian soldier loses his memory in a WWI battle and returns to his home in St. Petersburg. This rare, newly restored/rediscovered Soviet avant-garde silent sounds like it could be the model for Guy Maddin‘s Canonically Weird Archangel. In a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack from Flicker Alley. Buy Fragment of an Empire.

The Reflecting Skin (1990): Read the Canonically Weird review! This strange little rural movie about a kid who thinks his neighbor is a vampire (among other oddities like a death car and a petrified baby angel) arrives on Blu-ray in North America for the first time, courtesy of Film Movement. Also on DVD and VOD (for the first time, we believe). Buy The Reflecting Skin.

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.

• Boston, MA, 8/9 – Solaris [Solyaris] (1972). At the Museum of Fine Arts.
• Boston, MA, 8/10 – Barbarella (1968), with Dune (1984) and Flash Gordon (1980) (triple feature). At the Brattle.
• Boston, MA, 8/12 – Blue Velvet (1986). At the Brattle.
• Boston, MA, 8/15 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) (free screening). At the Museum of Fine Arts.
• Columbus, OH, 8/14 – Night of the Hunter (1955). At Gateway Film Center.
• Los Angeles, CA, 8/9 (midnight) – Eraserhead (1977). At the Aero.
• Louisville, KY, 8/9-8/10 – Last Year at Marienbad [L’Année Dernière à Marienbad] (1961). At the Speed Museum.
• New York City, NY, 8/9 – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) (free screening). At Governor’s Island.
• New York City, NY, 8/9-8/10 (midnights) – Kung Fu Hustle (2004). At IFC Center.
• New York City, NY, 8/9-8/15 – The Cremator [Spalovac Mrtvol] (1969). At the Metrograph.
• New York City, NY, 8/13 – Dogville (2003). At Lincoln Center.
• New York City, NY, 8/15 – Holy Motors (2012). At the Metrograph.
• San Francisco, CA, 8/12-8/13 – Brazil (1985). At the Alamo Drafthouse.
• Silver Spring, MD, 8/10 (midnight), 8/12 – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971). At AFI Silver.
• Tuscon, AZ, 8/9 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), with Q&A with actor Gary Lockwood. At JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada, 8/9 – Fight Club (1999). At the Rio.

WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: Now that Giles Edwards has finished his Fantasia Festival 2019 coverage, we can return to “normal” around here… which, of course, means weird. So next week you can expect a review of Harmony Korine‘s latest, the Matthew McConaughey stoner comedy The Beach Bum. We’ll also take a look at Severin Films’ monumental documentary/trailer collection/soundtrack compilation All the Colors of Giallo. And, to top it off, another Blu-ray giveaway contest, to thank our readers for keeping us in business. Onward and weirdward!

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.