Obviously there’s lots of weird trash in the direct to VHS/DVD/streaming ecosystems, but when it comes to something that actually got a first run theater release, what is your strangest?
For me, it’s Southland Tales. I actually kind of love this movie but it’s difficult to recommend because people you recommend it to might not look at you the same afterwards. The cast is positively stacked with big names, the movie looks great, and there’s a fantastic and really sad musical number half way through. This is the only movie that has truly captured the vibe of reading the biblical book of Revelation in that it’s making you go “wait, what?” every five minutes as it spirals into either intensely meaningful imagery or schizophrenia manifest on 35mm.
See, I liked Southland Tales, too.
But, for me, and I’ve seen some pretty strange theatre releases:
Baise-Moi (2000): It was banned, for glaringly obvious reasons. But, the theatre got an injunction and we went to one of the only showings.
Happiness (1998): Todd Solondz makes everything awkward.
The Cell (2000): Tarsem’s Jennifer Lopez starring sci-fi mind trip.
House of 1000 Corpses: Rob Zombie. I’m not a horror-movie person, yet, somehow, I saw this.
하녀 (The Housemaid, 2010): one of the wildest endings I have ever witnessed. Bar none.
Irreversible (2002): My first film by Gaspar Nöe.
Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams (1990): This is what happens when you can make literally whatever you want. And, you’re one of Japan’s greatest filmmakers.