July brings a small stable of new guest writers (so you won't have to suffer through my turgid prose as often), and a new contest!
The contest first: you can win a DONNIE DARKO Blu-ray (if you're in the UK) or one of five DONNIE DARKO posters (if you're located anywhere else in the world). All you have to do is make a comment on any movie on the site and then announce your entry: it's as easy as pie! Details here (http://366weirdmovies.com/july-contest-win-a-donnie-darko-blu-ray-uk-or-poster-rest-of-the-world/).
Reviews:
SAMURAI PRINCESS (2009) (http://366weirdmovies.com/capsule-samurai-princess-samurai-purinsesu-gedo-hime-2009/): "...a relatively unambitious attempt to cash in on the biohorror/splatterpunk formula established in Meatball Machine (2005); fans of this stuff will be probably be reasonably entertained, but newcomers would be better off checking out the aforementioned Meatball Machine or Tokyo Gore Police instead." This one is now available for viewing free on YouTube.
MICMACS (2009) (http://366weirdmovies.com/micmacs-micmacs-a-tire-larigot-2009/): Review by Alex Kittle. "Incorporating a clear penchant for high-concept stratagems and offbeat humor, Micmacs is an unavoidably cute diversion from the real world with a few narrative weaknesses."
KWAIDAN (1964) (http://366weirdmovies.com/61-kwaidan-1964/): "Although on the surface it's just a collection of bare-bones ghost stories, in telling these tales director Kobayashi wisely jettisons reality in favor of a stylized, expressionistic, visually poetic aesthetic that gently detaches the viewer from everyday life and floats him into an ancient spirit world that seems simultaneously to have never and always existed." The 61st entry on the List of the 366 Best Weird Movies of All Time!
THE MIRACLE RIDER (1935) (http://366weirdmovies.com/the-miracle-rider-1935/): Alfred gives us the scoop on this talkie serial with sci-fi elements, starring Western icon Tom Mix.
THE MACHINIST (2004) (http://366weirdmovies.com/borderline-weird-the-machinist-2004/): Pamela sez: "Honestly? I liked this movie much better THE FIRST NINE TIMES I SAW IT!"
New this week:
Don't forget to grab your chance at a DONNIE DARKO Blu-ray (UK) or poster (rest of world). Details here (http://366weirdmovies.com/july-contest-win-a-donnie-darko-blu-ray-uk-or-poster-rest-of-the-world/)! Based on entries so far, you currently have a 50% chance to win a Blu-ray and a 100% chance to win a poster!
HANSEL & GRETEL (2007) (http://366weirdmovies.com/borderline-weird-hansel-and-gretel-2007/): Introducing a new writer, Kat Doherty, who is obviously British: "Watching Hansel and Gretel is like settling down to enjoy a nice cup of tea and a fondant fancy, only to discover that your cake is crawling with ants."
LIFE BLOOD (2009) (http://366weirdmovies.com/life-blood-2009/): "The literal message of this Ron Carlson film is that vampires are God's avenging lesbian angels. (Pause for a moment and try to wrap your mind around that weirdness)."
FUNNY GAMES (1997) (http://366weirdmovies.com/capsule-funny-games-1997/): By Pam. "While there have been countless movies about the naive being held captive and tormented by the psychopathic, most such stories are redundant and sick in a gratuitous way. A little suspense is always nice, but not at the expense of seeing helpless victims tortured in the absence of any sort of thoughtful point or purpose. Surprisingly, with the setup to be just such a film, Funny Games manages to avoid the stereotype."
SIX-STRING SAMURAI (1998) (http://366weirdmovies.com/borderline-weird-six-string-samurai-1998/): "...it says something for the movie that, after a dozen summers had passed, I was looking forward to viewing it again. I remembered the crazed mish-mash post-apocalyptic/Spaghetti western/rock and roll premise, and the incongruous image of ur-nerd Buddy Holly with a katana in one hand and a Stratocaster slung over his shoulder, whirling and slicing his way through hordes of raggedy extras who fall around him like wheat cut by a scythe, had seared itself into my memory. The only problem was, after viewing the film again, I realized that that premise and image are all there is to the movie."
LONG PANTS (1927) (http://366weirdmovies.com/long-pants-1927/): Alfred delves into this uncharacteristically dark silent slapstick film: "Despite the happy conclusion, Long Pants ranks as one of the most authentically strange comedies of early cinema."
New reviews this week:
TERRIBLY HAPPY (2009) (http://366weirdmovies.com/capsule-terribly-happy-frygtelig-lykkelig-2008/) (Alex): "Most of Terribly Happy seems like the Coen Brothers appropriated the premise of Hot Fuzz with Danish actors and more dramatic intent."
WALKABOUT (1971) (http://366weirdmovies.com/capsule-walkabout-1971/) (Eric G.): "...a thought-provoking and undeniably beautiful film, but depictions of cultural differences and anthropocentricism are easily attainable on the Discovery channel or—to a much higher degree of weirdness—the National Geographic program 'Taboo'."
INCEPTION (2010) (http://366weirdmovies.com/capsule-inception-2010/): "Inception is, bottom line, enormously entertaining, without sacrificing brains or depth. Given Hollywood's low standards, that's an impressive achievement for a summer blockbuster."
SPLICE (2010) (http://366weirdmovies.com/capsule-splice-2010/) (Andreas): "Splice has a lot to offer the weird movie fan, as certain images, such as a press conference that becomes a bloodbath or Dren's development into a bald, feral adolescent, won't soon be forgotten."
Alfred Eaker interviews himself (http://366weirdmovies.com/alfred-eaker-interview-with-myself/)
LOVE OBJECT (2003) (http://366weirdmovies.com/recommended-as-weird-love-object-2003/) (Pamela):"The plot is sick and creepy, the content perverse, and it is skillfully handled, making Love Object a good candidate for the designation of being truly weird."
Finishing out the month with two certifiably weird pictures.
ALTERED STATES (1980) (http://366weirdmovies.com/62-altered-states-1980/): "...you know the movie's weird when the sight of a naked, simian William Hurt gnawing on a bloody gazelle is one of the film's more humdrum visions."
BRANDED TO KILL (1967) (http://366weirdmovies.com/63-branded-to-kill-koroshi-no-rakuin-1967/): "...after 40 years of experience in genre films with fractured, experimental narratives (including popular hits like Pulp Fiction and Memento), you would think this crazed little thriller it would have lost it's ability to confound audiences. Nope."
And also these shorter reviews:
SOME FOLKS CALL IT A SLING BLADE (1994) (http://366weirdmovies.com/short-some-folks-call-it-a-sling-blade-1994):"Harrowing and repellent, Bushman's stories and persona are diabolically funny and perversely charming right up to the devastating point at which he viscerally describes just how much he enjoys ripping out a woman's uterus and devouring her wet, glistening cervix." -PD
964 PINOCCHIO (1991) (http://366weirdmovies.com/borderline-weird-964-pinocchio-1991/): "Pinocchio emits a flood of custardy mess from some unspecified point on his head; Himiko regurgitates mounds of porridgy vomit before rolling in it and re-ingesting it; the head of the company which made Pinocchio continually eats cherries from a bowl of spittle. The film really screams in your face and refuses to apologize for any of its bizarre imagery." -KD
SOUTHLAND TALES (2006) (http://366weirdmovies.com/borderline-weird-southland-tales-2006/): "All of Donnie Darko's best and worst tendencies are on display (with an emphasis on the latter), but this time the showcase is twice as long, with enough intricate storylines and bizarre sci-fi subtexts to fill a dozen less ambitious movies." -AS
STINGRAY SAM (2009) (http://366weirdmovies.com/borderline-weird-stingray-sam-2009/): "...a wacky, memorable space musical with western flair, crisp black and white visuals, and imaginative, nonsensical notions of the future..." -AK
FEMALE TROUBLE (1975) (http://366weirdmovies.com/female-trouble-1975/): "Waters and company seem to be literally bouncing off the walls here. The first time I watched this film, I was drained by the time the credits rolled. Female Trouble is just so much damned fun that I have to disagree with Dawn Davenport about Christmas. I received this treasure as a Christmas gift (it was on my list) and it made for a hell of a unique holiday..." -AE
SPIDER (2002) (http://366weirdmovies.com/borderline-weird-spider-2002/): "Spider weaves a tangled web that ultimately becomes impenetrable, but the intricacy of webs always elicits fascination." -EG