Hannie Caulder (1971)

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Streaming on Amazon Prime | imdb | trailer

Who would have thought this oddball western was one of the inspirations for Kill Bill? The plot is pretty simple… Hannie and her husband are brutally attacked by the creepy Clemens Gang, so naturally it’s revenge-o-matic time. She gets a gunslinger to train her and the plot unfolds from there. I had never even heard of this movie before I saw a 35 mm screening a while back. Raquel Welch and Robert Culp are fun to watch (as are MANY other familiar faces), and the whole thing makes for an entertaining western-style vengeance film. Imagine Thriller: A Cruel Picture without the graphic sex and violence. Those elements are there, just not in your face. I believe this one is pretty obscure, so I’m glad to see it’s been restored and made available again.

Available on Blu-ray from Olive.

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The Toxic Avenger (2023)

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Streaming on Hulu | imdb | trailer

I am very skeptical of remakes, but I gave this Toxie reboot a shot for three reasons: Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, and Macon Blair (bonus points for David Yow and what the hell, I’ll throw in Elijah Wood). I would say if you’re not a fan of those people, maybe skip this version. Minus some unimportant personal quibbles, I found this to a very entertaining tribute to the original film. It’s fast paced, funny, and gory as hell. To put things in perspective, I rated this an 8/10 on IMDb, and the 1984 Toxic Avenger a 10/10.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Legendary Pictures.

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Cover Up (2025)

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Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

This is a gripping documentary on the career of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. You may know him from such scandals as the My Lai massacre, Watergate, and torture at Abu Graib prison, among many others. His name is not as well known as some who reported on these stories, but he was the reason they didn’t remain covered up. I found this a fascinating watch. It also benefits from an excellent ambient experimental score by Maya Shenfeld. This doc is very graphic at times, so if you’re squeamish about images of real-life violence, stay away.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Zabriskie Point (1970)

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Streaming on HBO Max | imdb | trailer

Michelangelo Antonioni is considered a very important auteur director. While I love art cinema, I have to admit I’m not a fan of his work other than Red Desert (1964) and this film. Zabriskie Point is a psychedelic art house movie with a pretty kick ass soundtrack, the highlight of which is a re-recorded version of Pink Floyd’s “Careful With That Axe, Eugene.” Antonioni rejected an original composition by Floyd’s keyboardist Richard Wright, so it went on to become the classic track “Us and Them.” Anyway, this film does have some slow parts, and some eye-roll inducing moments if you’re not a hippie fan (like me), but stick with it. The finale of the film is fantastic. You might be able to spot a very young Harrison Ford too.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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When Fall Is Coming (2025)

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Streaming on Amazon Prime | imdb | trailer

A retired grandmother is having family issues but is helped by her friend’s ex-con son. Sounds pretty damned boring right? Well, if it wasn’t for John Waters’ always awesome top 10, I would have skipped it for sure. Thank you Mr. Waters! This is a fantastic movie. You get everything from the scenic beauty of Burgundy, some surprisingly heavy plot twists, and genuinely touching moments as well. When Fall Is Coming is must-see Anomalous Cinema.

Available on Blu-ray from Music Box.

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Six Anomalous Years / A Cosmic Christmas (1977)

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Today marks six years since I first started Anomalous Cinema. It’s quite an achievement as I have created somewhat similar websites in the past that rarely lasted more than one year. Part of what keeps me going is that I honestly believe that I am inspiring a small audience to watch better movies. I still hear friends talking about watching garbage, which is a damn shame. Hopefully you, I’ll just go ahead and say it… smarter people, have enjoyed some of my recommendations over the years.

Anyway, earlier this week my partner Suzie and I went to see a showcase of Holiday themed 16mm films called “The Psychotronic After School Christmas Special” at Portland’s historic Hollywood Theatre. It was pretty amazing. I had completely forgotten about the above linked A Cosmic Christmas, which was shown on TV during my childhood. This HD version of the film looks much sharper than what we saw, so enjoy the holiday spiced cheese if you dare. 

Let me tell you about the highlight of the screening: a 1969 short film called The Season. The Episcopal Church funded this crazy excoriation of the consumer aspects of the holidays that ended with bulldozers crushing multi-colored Christmas trees in the dump. I would have avoided that spoiler, but you cannot find this film online. It’s not on IMDb, and there’s hardly a mention of it on the internet aside from the Nyback Film Archive website (maintained by Greg Hamilton who put on this event). My point is, if you are able to see rare film screenings, do it. It is an exceptional feeling to know you’re seeing something special, and better yet, away from your usual TV and phone screen.

I want to close with a shout out to my friend Joe McDonald, who made the only recent donation to this site. He also wisely suggested making a list of all the films here. I will be adding an alphabetical / linked list very soon!

Happy Holidays. -Jonathan 

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Night of the Juggler (1980)

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Streaming on Kanopy (and available on all the main rental platforms) | imdb | trailer

NOTE: This is an update of a recommendation from January, 2024.

An ex-cop’s daughter is kidnapped by a psycho in dirty old New York City. This is loosely adapted from a novel of the same name. I was lucky enough to see a 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino’s print of this obscure action movie a few years ago. Up until the recent 4k restoration this was only ever officially released on VHS. James Brolin is great, and his nemesis, Cliff Gorman, is a recognizable bad guy in many ‘70s movies and TV series. When I saw this at Portland’s Hollywood Theatre, the programmer extraordinaire, Dan Halsted, wisely said that the real star of the film is New York City at its gritty peak. Times Square porno shops, dive bars, and grindhouse theaters feature prominently. Do not miss Night of the Juggler. It is a blast from start to finish.

Available on 4k UHD / Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.

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The Mauritanian (2021)

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Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

This is a dramatized version of the story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man who was imprisoned for years with no charge in Guantanamo Bay. Critics did not like this film for some reason. I found it to be very effective. All performances were great, particularly the lead played by Tahar Rahim (from the previously recommended A Prophet). Things get surprisingly dark and weird during the interrogation segments. Some of the torture used was shocking even compared to what made the news at the time. It’s stunning that a human being endured it all. The Mauritanian is uncomfortable viewing, but I suggest you watch it anyway. 

Available on Blu-ray from Universal.

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Love+War (2025)

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Streaming on Hulu | imdb | trailer

This excellent doc follows Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Lynsey Addario capturing the Ukraine war while looking back on her career. Both her photography and the video of her life look so alternately beautiful and potent the overall effect is mind blowing. This should come as no surprise as it is a National Geographic production. There is a lot of disturbing content, as Addario is a conflict photographer, but that is balanced with her family life. The mix makes Love+War a well rounded documentary that I highly recommend.

Not available on Blu-ray

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Out of the Past (1947)

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Streaming on HBO Max | imdb | no original trailer available

Jeff runs a small town gas station and has led a quiet existence for three years. Then his old life as a private detective catches up to him and one of my favorite film noir stories begins to unfold. This is a real gem of ‘40s cinema. You have the always excellent Robert Mitchum in the lead role, and Jacques Tourneur in the director’s chair. Tourneur also made one of my top ‘50s horror films Curse of the Demon, as well as the recommended Nightfall, The Leopard Man and a 1964 episode of The Twilight Zone, Night Call, among many other highly regarded movies. In my book this might just be the single film noir that stands above them all. If you were going to watch one movie in this style, Out of the Past would be an excellent choice.

Available on Blu-ray from Warner Archives.

If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.