Collective (2019)

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This bleak documentary starts with a devastating fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, then goes into the corrupt Romanian healthcare system and the evil elements that support it. The footage of the fire is horrifying, but things get even worse as you see what happens to hospitalized survivors. This doc is not uplifting in any way whatsoever, but shows the importance of investigative journalism. It is also extremely well constructed. Collective is a film most would be unwilling to watch, but I rank it among the most essential issue-oriented documentary movies of the last ten years.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Bronson (2008)

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This film is based on the real life criminal Michael Peterson, who became his alter ego Charles Bronson in prison. Nicolas Winding Refn is very hit or miss for me, but this one was a pleasant surprise. The film is weird, dark, violent, and thankfully not as deliberately paced as much of Refn’s other work. I also didn’t really notice Tom Hardy until I saw Bronson. He’d been in several movies before, but he absolutely blew me away in this role. This is 100% pure uncut Anomalous Cinema.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia.

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Sleepy Hollow (1999)

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I am posting this on the Friday before Halloween 2023, so I wanted to choose something with a particularly spooky vibe. In fact, many moons ago, my partner and I had a seasonal party where we showed this, along with the original versions of Night of the Living Dead and The Evil Dead. I will admit that Sleepy Hollow falls into the territory of movies I would think everyone with interest in horror has seen. However the film came out before 9/11, so this recommendation is for the benefit of you folks born after. Tim Burton is very hit or miss for me, but this and Ed Wood are probably my favorite among his work. Yes, it does have some wince-inducing cheesy parts that might have been better in Edward Scissorhands, but it also features plenty of gore and one of my favorite Christopher Walken appearances. Just watch Sleepy Hollow if you’ve never had the pleasure before. It’s a whole bunch of creepy fun. Oh, and if you’ve never seen the 1958 Disney version of The Legend… (or it’s been a while), watch that first.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Paramount.

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The Sentinel (1977)

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This is one bizarre work of ‘70s horror. I already liked the film because of the mind blowing ending that I cannot tell you about. Then several years ago, my girlfriend and I got to see a 35mm film print of it at the historic Castro theater in San Francisco on Halloween. Seeing this with an audience, in such a beautiful space, on arguably the best holiday, made for one of my favorite film memories. The Sentinel will not be an easy movie for many people under the age of 40 to enjoy. Everything may look extremely dated, the acting and some scenes will seem downright corny. I will assume these factors are why the film has a rather low IMDb rating. Trust me folks, if you can just ignore the blatant screaming 1977ness of this movie, you are in for a wild and scary ride. After you’re done, look up what makes the ending so special. It works without that knowledge, but… yowza.

Available on Blu-ray from Scream Factory.

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Daybreakers (2009)

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This is a sci-fi vampire movie that manages to straddle being very smart and pretty damned cheesy. However the action is solid, it features three excellent actors, and the gore is plentiful. I am also a sucker for movies with a Blade Runner influence. Daybreakers is a bit of a rollercoaster ride however. One moment you will notice the very insightful social commentary, the next you will be rolling your eyes at something ridiculous. The good news is that there’s a good chance you will remain entertained throughout.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Lionsgate.

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The Outpost (2019)

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This is a very good military action film based on true events from the US occupation of Afghanistan. I actually rewatched the full movie before writing this and it remained an intense experience. The first half is mostly plot and character setup, but thankfully none of it drags. The action gets very heavy around the one-hour mark. After watching The Outpost it’s a wonder anyone survived. On a lighter note, Clint Eastwood’s son Scott and Caleb Landry Jones (from Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral) are both excellent in this.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Screen Media.

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Reality (2023)

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I had zero interest in this at first. Then a friend, with admirably bizarre taste, recommended it. Listen to your weirdo friends people! Reality is a dramatization of the questioning and arrest of whistleblower Reality Winner in 2017. The interesting part is that the movie uses the actual FBI audio (and audio transcripts) as source material, in real time. That might sound dull, but it gets into some borderline David Lynch levels of bizarreness. Also the way the filmmakers handled the redacted parts of the transcript was genius. I went in knowing very little about the actual case, which may be the best way to experience this movie. Either way, check out this seriously original work of cinema.

Not available on Blu-ray (Release Date TBD).

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The Invisible Man (1933)

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A scientist discovers how to make himself invisible, and the process drives him into a mad crime spree. This may be the most high profile film discussed on this site, the National Film Registry considers it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” I decided to feature it anyway as this movie is a real standout among all other films I’ve seen from the ‘30s. The script is adapted from a book by H. G. Wells, as well as “The Murderer Invisible” by Philip Wylie. Wells didn’t appreciate the fact that director James Whale made the doctor a madman, but I feel that was a wise choice. Who but a lunatic would perpetrate such dastardly deeds? The special effects were ages ahead of their time and still look great 80+ years later, but that isn’t all this film has to offer. The Invisible Man is a perfectly paced, and gleefully negative, horror film balanced with a sense of humor. All the performances are great, and Claude Rains is perfect in the lead role. His ranting voice alone is like no other. Yes, of course, don’t miss out on James Whale’s Frankenstein movies, but I rate this one a notch higher. I suggest checking out the 1998 film Gods and Monsters too, as it is a good dramatization of the director’s life.

Available on UHD / Blu-ray from Universal.

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Thoroughbreds (2017)

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This is a very good, unpredictable, dark comedy thriller of sorts. Two former friends are awkwardly put back together and, since at least one of them is mentally ill, bad things happen. Thoroughbreds will not be for all tastes, as it revolves around two privileged white girls who are arguably insufferable. Thankfully Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy are excellent and made it all work for me. This is also one of the final appearances of actor Anton Yelchin (1989-2016) to whom the film is dedicated – RIP.

Available on Blu-ray from Universal.

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.

Sr. (2022)

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Streaming on Netflix in 4K UHD | imdb | trailer

Chris Smith is one of my favorite documentarians, and while this is not his best, it’s well worth watching. Robert Downey Sr. directed some of the edgiest American films of the ‘70s (Greaser’s Palace is highly Anomalous viewing). You get to learn all about his career and about his relationship with his much more famous son. Things get a bit fluffy for my taste, but really overall, Sr. is a very good film. Hey Netflix, where is Senior’s version of the movie?!?!

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.