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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):
Memory House: A black Brazilian experiences racism at the hands of his white employers and retreats to a house filled with masks. Social commentary told in a magical realist/fourth-wall-breaking fashion. Receives a very limited Oscar-qualifying release in LA and NYC this week. Memory House official site.
Mogul Mowgli: On the cusp of a career breakthrough, a Pakistani rapper (Riz Ahmed) is diagnosed with a degenerative disease, and spirals into a series of flashbacks and hallucinations. This “surreal drama” from first time director Bassam Tariq is getting a lot of positive buzz from the critics. Mogul Mowgli official site.
IN DEVELOPMENT (announced):
“Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” [formerly titled “Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight”] (2022): Netflix has announced an eight-episode anthology series curated by the very busy del Toro (whose remake of the 1947 film noir Nightmare Alley releases later this year), intended to “challenge our traditional notions of horror.” Although this project has been known for a long time, we just received significant new information: besides the name change, we have episode titles, directors ans writers, and partial cast lists. Our readers may be interested in the two stories 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. Deadline has more details.
NEW ON HOME VIDEO:
Bugsy Malone (1976): The story of prohibition-era gangster Malone, but told as a musical with an all-kid cast (including Scott Baio and Jodie Foster). Alan Parker‘s first feature came in an era when Hollywood would greenlight just about anything. On Blu-ray from Paramount Presents. Buy Bugsy Malone.
Dune (1984): Read Eric Gabbard’s review. With the upcoming Denis Villeneuve on the horizon, Arrow re-releases David Lynch‘s personal least-favorite Lynch movie in a deluxe 2-disc Blu-ray limited edition with every conceivable type of extra feature, a 60-page booklet, poster, lobby card reproductions, and so on. You can buy it on HD Ultra or standard Blu-ray, while also considering that next week they release a 3-disc steelbook edition with the movie on both HD and standard Blu-ray, but without the booklet or lobby cards. So check your choices carefully when ordering (the following link defaults to standard Blu-rays). Buy Dune.
Love Rites (1987): A man becomes obsessed with a prostitute he meets on the Metro. Walerian Borowczyk‘s final film is experimental and arty, but not especially erotic, and not really recommended—but here it is for the die-hards. On Blu-ray or DVD from Kino Classics. Buy Love Rites.
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.
WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE: September’s Netflix party will be The Signal (2014). Save the date and time: September 11 at 10:15.
We are also planning on squeezing in an additional watch party this month on September 18: Strange Frame: Love & Sax (2012), with director G.B. Hajim in the chat room to answer your questions. This will stream on Tubi.tv, so no subscriptions will be required. More details to follow soon.
As for next week’s reviews, Terri “Goregirl” McSorley checks out Netflix’s “Brand New Cherry Flavor”; Pete Trbovich thinks about THX 1138; and Gregory J. Smalley goes really underground for the animated satire (?) Tickles the Clown. 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.