"Artsploitation" (TM) films

Rev. Powell · May 19, 2009, 08:09:58 PM

A discussion in another thread with Moreau made me think up the term "artsploitation." I googled it and it looks like no one's used it the term before, so I wanted to trademark it fast. I want to write a blog post on the subject, and I'd like you guys' input before I start.

What I mean is movies that are "artsy" or aimed at the arthouse crowd, but that include lots of exploitation film elements: gratuitous nudity, blood n' guts/violence, shocking footage. Ken Russel comes to mind as the king of the genre. I think the subgenre may have started with EL TOPO (1970); at least, that's the first example I can think of.

I don't mean to limit the discussion to this formula, but you can think of it like this:

EL TOPO = arthouse + Spaghetti Western
SANTA SANGRE = arthouse + serial killers
THE DEVILS = arthouse + nunsploitation
GOTHIC = arthouse + horror
LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM = arthouse + horror
THE THIEF, THE COOK, HIS WIFE & HER LOVER = arthouse + grossout cannibal film
Larry Clark's KIDS = arthouse + juvenile delinquent film
CEMETERY MAN = arthouse + zombie film
etc.

So, any more examples/thoughts?

ghouck · May 19, 2009, 08:26:02 PM

Liquid Sky is the first movie that came to mind when I read the word "Artsploitation." I'm not sure what else it is combined with though, but to me it seemed like it was intended to have a very artsy element.

WingedSerpent · May 19, 2009, 09:50:38 PM

While I may be totally wrong, isn't Suspira sort of an artsy horror flick?

ghouck · May 19, 2009, 10:18:38 PM

"The Seduction of Dr. Fugazzi" is another that seems like they tried to make kinda artsy. Not sure if I'm on the right page with my interpretation of "artsy".

sideorderofninjas · May 19, 2009, 10:25:50 PM

The Andy Warhol Frankenstein and Dracula movies.

Jack · May 20, 2009, 07:21:39 AM

Baba Yaga is the first one that comes to mind.

Raffine · May 20, 2009, 07:58:50 AM

An earlier example of what you're talking about is DEMENTIA (1955). Imagine a Bunuel film directed by Ed Wood!

This very bizarre and consciously 'artsy' film follows a psychotic young woman through a surreal night in L.A.'s skid row. There's no dialogue, but a wild score by classical composer George Antheil and jazz musician "Shorty" Rogers and His Giants - with vocalizations by Marni Nixon (the movie singing voice of Debra Kerr, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, etc.).

There's hallucinations, wild dancing, a hand getting sawed off, and Angelo Rossitto selling newspapers.

It was later recut with narration read by Ed McMahon and retitled DAUGHTER OF HORROR. It's the movie the audience is watching when THE BLOB invades the theater!

Both versions are available on a terrific DVD from Kino. I prefer the original McMahon-less version meself.

Here's the trailer for the recut version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUEGL4_1g48&feature=related

lester1/2jr · May 20, 2009, 08:55:17 AM

carnival of souls (edit really more art than sploitation)

space is the place (starring Sun Ra) which I just saw last night

Who are You Polly Magoo

Loves of a Blonde

Rev. Powell · May 20, 2009, 12:30:26 PM

Quote from: ghouck on May 19, 2009, 10:18:38 PM
"The Seduction of Dr. Fugazzi" is another that seems like they tried to make kinda artsy. Not sure if I'm on the right page with my interpretation of "artsy".

You probably are, because LIQUID SKY was a good example of what I mean. Now, DR. FUGAZZI I have no idea about, because this is the first time I've ever heard of it. But look at that cast on IMBD! Faye Dunawaye and Greg 'G-Spot' Siebel--together at last! I wonder if they share an explicit love scene?

Rev. Powell · May 20, 2009, 12:42:23 PM

Quote from: Raffine on May 20, 2009, 07:58:50 AM
An earlier example of what you're talking about is DEMENTIA (1955). Imagine a Bunuel film directed by Ed Wood!

This very bizarre and consciously 'artsy' film follows a psychotic young woman through a surreal night in L.A.'s skid row. There's no dialogue, but a wild score by classical composer George Antheil and jazz musician "Shorty" Rogers and His Giants - with vocalizations by Marni Nixon (the movie singing voice of Debra Kerr, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, etc.).

There's hallucinations, wild dancing, a hand getting sawed off, and Angelo Rossitto selling newspapers.

It was later recut with narration read by Ed McMahon and retitled DAUGHTER OF HORROR. It's the movie the audience is watching when THE BLOB invades the theater!

Both versions are available on a terrific DVD from Kino. I prefer the original McMahon-less version meself.

Here's the trailer for the recut version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUEGL4_1g48&feature=related

DEMENTIA is a great example, probably the earliest one. Do you have any idea if it was marketed as a "serious" film and ended up playing drive-ins, or if it was intended as a drive-in movie that had artistic pretentions?

Another example: I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW) (1967). A really terrible and boring avant-garde Swedish film with Socialist politics. "Regular guys" packed the arthouse theaters to see it, though, just to see a few seconds of a chunky Swedish gal giving a guy head. They could sneak explicit sex past the censors because it was "art."

Raffine · May 20, 2009, 04:37:19 PM

QuoteDEMENTIA is a great example, probably the earliest one. Do you have any idea if it was marketed as a "serious" film and ended up playing drive-ins, or if it was intended as a drive-in movie that had artistic pretentions?

If I remember the info included with the Kino disc correctly, it was intended as a serious artistic film. Respected composer George Antheil was hired to composed the score, which certainly wouldn't have happened if this was intended from the git-go to be another cheap exploitive flick.

After the film was finished it basically sat in limbo for several years since state censor boards refused to certify it. It was eventually bought by an exploitive releasing company called 'Exploitation Pictures' (really!) who recut it, added the narration by McMahon, and gave it a more sensational title.

Rumor has it the mysterious John Parker who was credited as the screenwriter, director, and producer, was only the producer and the film was actually written and directed by costar and low budget horror regular Bruno VeSota. The alarmingly tubby VeSota played "The Rich Man" and is best remember around these parts as the jealous husband in ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES.

Composer Antheil is probably best remembered for his bizarre Ballet Mécanique (1924), which was composed for 16 player pianos in four parts, 2 regular pianos, 3 xylophones, at least 7 electric bells, 3 airplane propellers, siren, 4 bass drums, and 1 tam-tam.

RCMerchant · May 20, 2009, 04:51:50 PM

At times....Ed Wood's GLEN or GLENDA plays like some demented art film.
Going waaaay back....Bunel's UN CHEIN ANDALOU (1929)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVbTEVfLksU

Herzog's EVEN DWARFS STARTED SMALL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSB5da8vja0

ghouck · May 20, 2009, 10:43:14 PM

Quote from: Rev. Powell on May 20, 2009, 12:30:26 PM
Quote from: ghouck on May 19, 2009, 10:18:38 PM
"The Seduction of Dr. Fugazzi" is another that seems like they tried to make kinda artsy. Not sure if I'm on the right page with my interpretation of "artsy".

You probably are, because LIQUID SKY was a good example of what I mean. Now, DR. FUGAZZI I have no idea about, because this is the first time I've ever heard of it. But look at that cast on IMBD! Faye Dunawaye and Greg 'G-Spot' Siebel--together at last! I wonder if they share an explicit love scene?

I don't think so. He and October Kingsley's character are hooked up in that movie. IIRC, no nudity, , close, , very close, but not directly nudity. It was a bit of a bummer. .

Allhallowsday · May 20, 2009, 10:59:36 PM

Cool word; I think it could be argued that the Italian Neo-Realism, French New Wave, and British Kitchen Sink could all be called "Artsploitation". I will say within the context you offer, only temporally, ERASERHEAD would seem to be the progenitor.

Moreau · May 21, 2009, 02:25:57 PM

i've always been amused by the fact that both 'conan the barbarian' and 'caligula' kick off with a quotation from nietzsche - the same one, the only one anyone can ever remember. and i love those bits in russ meyer films, like at the beginning of f'aster pusscat kill kill' or the end of 'beyond the valley of the dolls' , when the narrator explains all the sleazy action by philosophising over the human condition.

now that i think of it, loads of classic horror and science fiction films try to crowbar in clunky claims about the evil in men's souls in order to explain their particular brand of cheese. it's pretensious, but does it qualify?

on the otherhand, a film like 'jacob's ladder' contains blood and guts, shocking scenes and an hallucinogenic storyline, ticks all the boxes, but i wouldn't want to dismiss it as artsploitative. i think it is genuinely insightful and moving, despite the sensationalist trappings.

as for genuine artsploitation, how about nic roeg, with stuff like 'the man who fell to earth' and 'performance'? 'zardoz'? surely 'la bete'?