Author: vergeoflight

Visual artist / graphic designer / former experimental musician - Portland, OR.

From Beyond (1986)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is director Stewart Gordon’s second H. P. Lovecraft adaptation starring Jeffrey Combs. If you’ve read the original story then you know that it’s an extremely loose adaptation, like Re-Animator. However unlike Richard Stanley’s Color Out of Space this is still a great horror movie. Some of the practical FX look dated, but if that deters you from watching, you are going to miss a surrealistic, morbid, pervy, sometimes funny, cult classic. The recent restored versions of From Beyond showcase the awesome saturated colors, which was a real pleasure to see compared to the old VHS tape. Keep an ear out for some classic Skinny Puppy samples too. If you enjoy this, make sure to see the Gordon/Combs collaborations Re-Animator (duh – essential ’80s horror) and The Black Cat episode of the Masters of Horror series.

Available on 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

Fire of Love (2022)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a beautiful documentary on the lives and work of a married couple of volcanologists. Dull? No way. Their story and the stunning footage they captured make this essential viewing. It sounds great too, especially if you have a subwoofer.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

The Street Fighter (1974)

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Streaming on Roku Channel | imdb | trailer

NOTE: Some streaming services are showing the cut version of the film (1 hour 15 min). Make sure you’re watching the most uncut version (1 hour 29-32 min). Also the film should be in Cinemascope format (there will be black bars on the top and bottom of the screen). Some services are showing it cropped. The version on currently on Roku as of 3.17.24 looks like the one you want to see.

Sonny Chiba stars as Terry, who is one bad ass karate mercenary. Organized crime hires him to do a job, but things go off the rails and many asses must be kicked before the credits roll. I first heard of this movie from watching True Romance (1993), which was scripted by Quentin Tarantino, where the lead characters go to a Street Fighter movie marathon. Back then I had never even heard of Sonny Chiba or seen one of his movies, which is a pity because I would loved his Shadow Warriors TV series as a kid. I look at The Street Fighter as my gateway drug to hundreds of cult films that were never shown on TV and hard to find on VHS. Tarantino’s success led to him getting this film, Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond, Detroit 9000, Switchblade Sisters, and many other titles seen by a wider audience. Bottom line, this is an excellent martial arts film with plenty of bizarre quirks and funny moments that make it a very enjoyable watch. Oh and if you do attempt a marathon, stock up on psychoactives, because the rest of the series is pretty awful.

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory (as part of The Street Fighter Collection).

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

For a Few Dollars More (1965)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is the second of Sergio Leone’s groundbreaking westerns, which often gets overshadowed by The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I understand why, but I just rewatched For a Few Dollars More recently and was blown away. What I love about this movie is that it does not drag at all. As much as I enjoy The Good…, this feels a lot more relentless in its pace. There’s still plenty of artful shots, beautiful cinematography, and emotional scenes, but my interest and attention never wavered. Fantastic acting, music, and intense action sequences make this a thoroughly entertaining experience. It’s a standalone film, not a sequel to A Fistful of Dollars, so give it a watch, or rewatch if you’re like me and had never seen it in its original cinemascope format. This is top-tier sweaty, dark, and violent Anomalous Cinema.

Available on 4K UHD from KL Studio Classics.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

The Woodsman (2004)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Kevin Bacon is not a child molester, but he plays one in this movie. It might just be his finest performance too. Bacon is Walter, who is trying to make a life for himself after 12 years in prison, and that guy from Footloose makes you feel just about every emotion in the process. Yes, it’s an uncomfortable ride, but the difficult subject matter is expertly handled by first-time director Nicole Kassell (who went on to work on several excellent TV series). Discomfort can be good, sometimes even great. I rate The Woodsman a 10/10 work of Anomalous Cinema.

Available on Blu-ray from Adler & Associates.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

Black Christmas (1974)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This one is for you younger readers that may have never seen this excellent Holiday Season horror film. Black Christmas is considered one of the earliest slasher films, it was a massive influence on John Carpenter’s original Halloween, and the director went on to make a little movie called A Christmas Story. That is correct. Portland’s own Hollywood Theatre once even showed both on the same night, but not as a double feature unfortunately. Director Bob Clark was also the man behind the raunchy teen comedy Porky’s and the highly recommended horror film Deathdream (aka Dead of Night). Black Christmas took me multiple viewings to really appreciate because it is pretty tame in the blood department. Clark was not setting out to make a gory “hack ’em and stack ’em” slasher. However it features two excellent performances from Olivia Hussey and Keir Dullea (Dave from 2001: A Space Odyssey), plus you might recognize multiple other beloved actors in supporting roles. This is one of my top three Christmas horrors, along with Christmas Evil and Silent Night, Deadly night, so do not miss it. Don’t waste your time with the remake by the way, it’s just ok.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

Dog Soldiers (2002)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

There really should be more good action horror movies. Dog Soldiers is an example of what can be done. Scottish soldiers on night exercises + werewolves = awesome. Do I really need to tell you anything else? I really enjoyed this movie and was happy to see the director go on to make The Descent. Unfortunately that was pretty much all old Neil Marshall had to offer, other than appearing as a talking head in many horror-related documentaries (well, Centurion was not bad). Maybe it’s not too late for Mr. Marshall? He has two upcoming movies at this moment, so let’s hope for the best.

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is Peter Jackson’s documentary on World War I using restored historic film footage. That sounds pretty dull, but trust me people, that definitely not the case. Jackson used every bit of technology available at the time to make the images look as if they were shot recently, including adding accurate color, sound, and dialog. This all makes the WWI footage far more real and visceral than anything seen before. The process of restoration itself is very engaging on its own, and the end results are stunning. I give this doc a 10 out of 10.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

Upgrade (2018)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

A man is crippled by an accident that also kills his wife. He is given a chip implant to restore his mobility. The chip also turns him into an involuntary fighting machine that helps him to get revenge. Upgrade is one hell of a fast paced, violent, gory, sci-fi action flick. It’s often funny too. This movie isn’t perfect, but it is an absolutely entertaining blast to experience.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Here is a dramatization of the history of the German Red Army Faction terrorist group from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The filmmakers make their rise look rather glamorous and sexy, but don’t let that put you off, you’ll see that aspect degenerate in their fall. This is a good, fast paced movie, but it is on the long side, so the the end drags a bit. For some reason the burned in subtitles on the streaming version are huge too, which might be a distraction. Really it’s worth watching in spite of those issues. My only real criticism is how good looking the actors are. The real RAF members were a pack of uggos.

Available on Blu-ray from MPI.

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 / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.