I LOVE cult movies!! I have a large collection of movies that I lend out to friends. i enjoy turning people on to new movies they wouldn't normally consider. I like weird, twisted tales and interesting characters. I idolize John Waters, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, to name a few.
Valley of the Dolls is melodramatic and trashy and that's why I LOVE this movie. The film follows the careers of three innocent girls on their journey through life, which becomes corrupted by fame, booze and pills (a.k.a dolls). Most of the characters are over the top and their behavior runs the extremes from sickening sweet to ego maniacs. Schmaltzy songs and dance numbers along with the corny soundtrack add to the unintended humor of the film.
Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers - the BEST acronym ever!!
C.H.U.D (1984) has one of the cleverest film titles of all time; for that reason alone it has become a cult movie icon. C.H.U.D could have easily been a b-movie, but it rises above such a status due to its talented cast which includes John Heard (After Hours), Daniel Stern (Diner) and Kim Greist (Brazil).
The film takes place in NYC's SoHo district, where there is something strange going on in the sewers. Could it be Alligators? Demented homeless people? Toxic waste? Is there a conspiracy afoot?
If you like comedy with your horror then check this gem out!
Is there something in the water? What exactly is going on in Stepford?
The Stepford Wives (1975) is a chilling movie based on the book (1972) by Ira Levin (who also wrote the novel Rosemary's Baby). The film stars Katherine Ross, whose character moves to a "perfect" town in the suburbs. However, strange things are happening in Stepford. The men of the town go to mysterious meetings, while the women dutifully stay home and do chores. The wives of Stepford not only keep a clean house but their lawns are well groomed, they wear frilly outfits, they don't raise their voices and most importantly they are happily at their husband's beck and call. Aren't they aware of the female revolution?
The film examines the changing role of women in the 70's, through the use of a fictional utopia/distopia setting. It brings into focus mens' unease with women's liberation. Times were changing for women; they were moving their attention away from the home and concentrating on their own needs and desires. This film demonstrates the paranoia that society was going through during the 70's women's movement.
Swinging London in the early 70's, what is a vampire to do?
Dracula A.D. 1972 is my favorite Hammer Production that stars longtime screen-duo Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. The story is centered around a groovy group of kids, looking for kicks. For a giggle, they participate in a ritual, headed by their strange, new friend Johnny Alucard (check out his name backwards - yeah baby!). Before the laugh is over, Dracula is resurrected and ready to take a bite out of the psychedelic scene. Hipsters, drop your grass and run!
Life is a twisted mess when you sell your soul to the devil.
Angel Heart is a mysterious, dark tale that includes voodoo and satanism with a backdrop of New Orleans and Harlem. The film stars Mickey Rourke, one of my all time favorite actors in one of his very best performances. As always, he is able to create a character with multiple layers, through facial expression, body language, inflections in his voice and complex delivery of his lines. Robert De Niro plays a supporting role. Although his screen time is rather short, his performance is extremely memorable and creepy.
Angel Heart was directed by Alan Parker (Fame and The Commitments) who masterfully constructs a world that pulls the viewer in through intriguing visuals and strange clues. Parker causes the viewer to have an unsettling feeling; he creates intangible evil currents which wax and wane throughout the telling of the tale.
Clue (The Movie) is a wacky comedy, loosely based on the popular board game, which stars cult movie icon Tim Curry along with Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Ellen Brennan and Lesley Ann Warren. Whether you're a fan of the game or not, the film holds its own. Clue was released in 1985 with three different endings; the whodunit conclusion depended on the exact theater you saw it at. The DVD contains all three endings, which are equally entertaining and silly.
An overbearing, invalid mother gets trapped in her home and tormented by hooligans.
Lady In A Cage (1964) stars Olivia de Havilland as the smothering, controlling mother who is recuperating from a hip operation. She is quite wealthy and has had an elevator installed in her home, which she uses to travel from one floor to another. During one fateful trip, the power goes out and she is stuck in her elevator which resembles a cage. Various degenerates come upon the scene (including one played by James Caan), tormenting the trapped woman, violating her home and stealing her possessions.
Olivia de Havilland's melodramatic acting, frantic voice-overs and contorted facial expressions notably add to the campy quality of the film. Also, there is an implied sub-plot that her son is gay and would rather kill himself then live another day with his dominant mother.
Lady In A Cage has a wonderful title sequence, interesting cinematography, suspense, violence, drugs/alcohol, juvenile delinquents, prostitutes, and pawn shops all centered around one hot afternoon.
Polyester stars Divine as Francine Fishpaw, an unhappy housewife whose porno-theater owner husband's adulterous behavior drives her into alcoholism. To make things worse, her daughter Lulu gets knock-up by Bo Bo (Stiv Bators of Lords of the New Church), a juvenile delinquent and her son Dexter, is the infamous Foot Stomper wanted by the law. To top it off, her mother is trying to drive her mad and embezzle Francine's money by using her slimy boyfriend (Tab Hunter) as bait. Luckily, she has Cuddles (Edith Massey) who is a true friend and the only person in this rotten world she can count on.
Polyester is one of my top favorite films by John Waters (Pink Flamingos). Drawing inspiration from his idol William Castle, John Waters cleverly adds his own gimmick creation to the movie called Odorama. The film has classic one liners and also stars Mink Stole.
Seconds stars Rock Hudson, as a man who ends up undergoing a life-changing operation, which completely alters his appearance. He is given a new identity to go along with his improved face. His old self, as a stodgy, boring man is now "dead". He has been replaced as a handsome, swinging-playboy artist who lives in a community amongst other "Reborns".
Seconds raises many questions about self worth, vanity and the social expectations and taboos that hold us back from being our real selves. The film's contemporary subject of plastic surgery demonstrates that altering your outward appearance doesn't change who you are on the inside. The film offers a profound examination into one's psyche and the happiness within ourselves.
Seconds (1966) directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate) is clever and disturbing. The film was shot in black and white, which gives it a foreboding feeling of loneliness and despair. The cinematography is at times avant garde and surreal, creating a twisted reality.
Coffy (1973) stars Pam Grier (Jackie Brown), along with Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses) and other seasoned actors. The acting in the film is sensational and adds to the powerful script that is funny, action-packed and disturbing. Pam Grier believably portrays Coffy, a bad-ass woman that is sexy, smart and tough.
Coffy is out to settle the score after her kid sister gets hooked on smack. Coffy hunts down the guilty drug pushers and takes the law in her own hands to get even. After a violent attack on her friend, she decides to infiltrate the mob in order to bring down the whole drug cartel. Coffy uses her seductive ways to earn trust within the tight circle. She is willing to stop at nothing to achieve her goal.
The film contains great dialogue and outrageous costumes. The character King George, who is a pimp, looks the part in form fitting jumpsuits, platform shoes, hats, etc. Coffy wears low-cut dresses, go-go boots, etc. The film is a wonderful time capsule of early 70's fashion.
Coffy was written and directed by Jack Hill, who was also the man behind Foxy Brown and one of my all time favorite movies, Switchblade Sisters.
Platform shoes, boas and glam rock; this movie has it all AND Ewan McGregor.
Velvet Goldmine directed by Todd Haynes is a fictional story loosely based and intertwined with real life people and events. Instead of a docudrama, it is more of a homage to the short-lived, yet extremely influential glam rock period and its cohorts.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a convincing rock-star on the rise. His character has elements of Bowie and Marc Bolan (T. Rex), which mirror their change from folk-based guitar to rock gods. The more apparent similarities to these rock legends are the costumes, hair, make-up and glitzy live performances. Ewan McGregor portrays a raw character that is very similar to Iggy Pop. It is when Ewan and Jonathan's characters meet, that the story has influences of Lou Reed's life immediately after the Velvet Underground. The film has a clever way of twisting all of these real-life stories and mixing them with fiction to create an amalgamation that is fun, glamorous and tragic.
The costumes in this film are incredible. I am a huge fan of the glam rock style, so for me this film is pure heaven. There are platform shoes, fitted long jackets, outrageous wigs, feathered boas, colored hair, leather pants, glitter make-up, etc. Another great element of the film is the music. The soundtrack is filled with actual glam rock songs from the period, along with original music made for the film.
Suburbia is about a group of disconnected youth who call themselves T.R. (The Rejected). The young characters are a mix of teens who have been abused, ignored or mistreated by their parents and have found salvation in punk. Their lives at home were so terrible that they'd rather live together as squatters in a roach infested, condemned house on the edge of the suburban jungle. It is here, at the T.R. house, through the unconventional family they've created where they finally have a sense of security and love.
The T.R. kids are punk, in the true sense of the word. They are revolting against all convention; because the "normal" world has rejected them for too long. Why should they want to be part of something that didn't want them in the first place? With every great punk story, you must have great punk music. Suburbia has live performances by T.S.O.L, DI and The Vandals.
The film was written and directed by Penelope Spheeris who before had documented the punk scene in the film The Decline of the Western Civilization. Later she went on to direct another movie centered around rock, Wayne's World.
Motel Hell centers around one of my favorite cult movie topics; cannibalism. A strange set of siblings run a roadside motel (Motel Hello - the "O" on the neon sign is on the fritz) and a smoked meat business. Their "secret recipe" jerky is world famous and people come from miles around to get the stuff. But, what exactly makes their meat so special? If you haven't already guessed, some motel patrons check-in but they don't check-out.
The movie has a nice balance of comedy and horror along with a twisted romance. Like Psycho, House of 1000 Corpses and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, after viewing this film you'll most likely think twice about entering a roadside business in the middle of nowhere, because they're probably owned by sociopathic entrepreneurs.
"This is my happening and it freaks me out." Any movie with this line HAS to be great.
Beyond The Valley of the Dolls was written by Roger Ebert and directed by Russ Meyer. It is not a sequel to Valley of the Dolls, although originally it was somewhat inspired as such. There are similarities between the two films (young girls trying to make it famous, the corruption of the entertainment business, drugs, parties, Hollywood, etc); however Beyond is far more edgy and weird.
The story centers around a girl rock band who go out to Hollyweird and hit it big. Along the way they use friends, sleep around, get naked and play one song concerts. It's a tough life going to parties, getting high and having sex with multiple partners; but these dolls quickly adjust to their new roles as rock goddesses.
A flying saucer shaped as a circus tent, deadly cotton candy, popcorn shooting ray guns and CLOWNS.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a goofy horror movie that pokes fun at the sci-fi/horror genre. Its tag-line "In space no one can eat ice cream" is a spoof on Alien. However, in this movie the aliens are clowns and their cocoons are made out of cotton candy.
A small town is invaded by evil clowns, but the police are slow to act. Now a guy, his girlfriend and a couple of dudes in an ice cream truck have to save the town and possibly the universe.
Although the clowns are menacing, they are cute in a demonic way. If you have a serious fear of clowns, you might find this movie scary. The characters and situations are meant to be goofy and over-the-top.
People from the future go back in time and end up in the bell-bottomed, eight-track loving 70's.
The Spirit of '76 is a spoof of our abysmal future and our groovy past. Three time travelers, in search of answers, find themselves in the decade where everyone looked bad. Jeff and Steve McDonald (from the band Redd Kross) stumble upon their time machine and help the travelers assimilate.
If you lived through the 70's, you'll relate to the sets, costumes, dialogue, cast and dialogue. Plus the film stars 70's icons Lief Garret and David Cassidy, who poke fun at themselves and the era that made them famous. The all star cast also includes Devo, Moon Unit Zappa, Tommy Chong, Olivia D'abo and Rob Reiner.
Terror on the road. After this movie you may never want to drive again.
Duel stars Dennis Weaver, who plays an average salesman that's just trying to travel from point A to B. However, what he didn't plan on was, between these points, the open road can be a dangerous place. He unwillingly becomes part of a cat and mouse game, where the terrorizer is an enormous truck. Dennis Weaver masterfully portrays his role with pure terror, confusion, comedy and lots of sweat.
Duel was Steven Spielberg's full length feature debut and has common threads to his later films. Even in this early work, Spielberg was able to build tension without showing too much. He offers us a character that we immediately can identify with, which draws us into the story and causes us to sit on the edge of our seats.
Mommie Dearest is based on the book of the same name, written by Joan Crawford's adopted daughter Christina. According to the book, Joan Crawford terrorized her two adopted children through horrific verbal, mental and physical abuse. The whole premise of a famous Hollywood legend, behaving in such a way, already laid the ground work for a larger than life story. Then to top it off, Crawford was a neat freak who wanted to control the world around her; which lead her to command all night cleaning and gardening sessions. The transformation of the written story to the big screen had the addition of heavy lipstick, big hair and sparkling evening gowns; therefore the camp meter was bound to go up.
Faye Dunaway portrays Joan Crawford in an amazing, over-the-top performance that is pure camp. Her melodramatic performance is extremely rememberable, quite terrifying and down right hilarious. Dunaway just assume forget about this role, but the fans love her performance.
One of my fave movies of all time. Funny and gruesome. Peter Jackson in his twisted early years.
Dead Alive was directed by Peter Jackson and was billed the goriest film when it debuted. The film centers around Lionel, a momma's boy and his dominating mother, who gets bit by a rabid monkey and turns into a zombie. Mother starts turning other folks into zombies, while Lionel tries to keep the undeads under control in his basement. As you know, zombies never stay still for long and that's when things get really wild.
Peter Jackson creates an atmosphere of innocence; which allows the gore elements to be less gruesome and more ridiculously funny. The costumes, sets, characters and music are often overly sweet and seem out of place for a horror film. However, the multitude of gross effects and wild scenarios keep this film lively with slapstick comedy and plenty of blood and guts. In a similar vain to Evil Dead 2, the most horrific moments are always the goofiest.
The first gore film, filled with bright red blood, severed limbs and a crazy dude with bushy eyebrows and a limp.
Blood Feastwas directed by the godfather of gore Herschell Gordon Lewis; a true Renaissance man who filmed and scored the movie as well.
Although there is never an actual feast, there is still plenty of blood. Herschell is a master of setting up grotesque shots of bright red blood and severed limbs. The movie centers around Fuad Ramses who spends the film gathering up victims and dismembering them. The acting is appalling, but that adds to the appeal and charm of Blood Feast.
The film was groundbreaking for its use of blood and gore; even with today's standards this film still holds up as gruesome.
I'm weird, wacky, funny, compassionate, goofy, nerdy, intelligent, creative, unconventional, friendly, stylish, fair, hard working, and honest. ENTJ, Monkey, Libra and in numerology a one.
I need my dolls!!!
