Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…
NEW ON DVD:
Blood for Irina (2012): A world-weary female vampire lives at a broken down seaside motel. The ad copy says it’s inspired by Franco, Herzog, and (we’re guessing especially) Rollin. Buy Blood for Irina
“The Curtis Harrington Short Film Collection”: Harrington was an experimental filmmaker best known for the 1961 fantasy Night Tide (starring a young Dennis Hopper as a sailor who falls in love with a woman who may be a mermaid). He frequently based his films on the works of Edgar Allan Poe and is considered an influence on Kenneth Anger due to the homoeroticism and occultism of his movies. This release contains five complete short films along with abundant supplemental material. It appears to be only available in a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack (neither format is sold separately). Buy “The Curtis Harrington Short Film Collection”
Savage Witches (2012): Read our capsule review. Available directly from the source, this limited edition box set includes (assuming they’re not sold out yet) two booklets on the film (one signed) and two film frames. The DVD is Region 0 but probably in PAL format, so be sure your player can play it if ordering from the U.S. or Canada. Buy Savage Witches.
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
“The Curtis Harrington Short Film Collection”: See description in DVD above. Buy “The Curtis Harrington Short Film Collection”
NEPOTISM CORNER:
“Film Panic,” Issue #1: Mr. Weird Movies himself, G. Smalley, contributed a list of his 5 favorite weird films to the inaugural issue of this 72-page “fanzine of underground, experimental, arthouse, trash, queer, amateur, outsider and cult cinema.” The filler includes interviews with filmmaker Jeff Keen and “Psychotronic” guru Michael J. Weldon. Edited by Daniel Fawcett and Clara Pais, the team that brought you Savage Witches (see above). Buy “Film Panic,” Issue #1. (At the latest update only 18 copies remained).
“La Lontananza Nostalgica Utopica Futura”: Director and “Fringe Cinema” columnist Alfred Eaker‘s primary artistic endeavor is not film, actually, but painting. With a title taken from a piece by Italian composer Luigi Nono that translates as “Desired Nostalgia for a Future Utopia,” this 41-painting gallery exhibit runs from July 5 to August 29 at the Indy Indie Art Gallery in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information here.
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.