I am burned out from the day job and art-related work, so I will be taking this weekend off.
Speaking of art-related, my latest artists’ book “Carry On” is available now. I would appreciate it if you would consider picking up a copy. Info / order here: https://wakeless.studio/products/14
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.
This is an excellent documentary on how inmates from multiple prisons in Alabama united to fight against abusive conditions. It is definitely a rough watch because of footage of horrific abuse and institutional conditions alone. On top of that, seeing the way that Alabama’s government has gamed their prison system is absolutely infuriating. Need I say this is not a movie for everyone? If you are not afraid to learn about some dark truths for the sake of greater knowledge, I highly recommend this doc. I also highly recommend you stay the hell away from Alabama if possible.
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 or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
This marks the first time I have recommended films by the same director back to back, but it felt like the right thing to do. Set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, an assembly of intellectuals deal with their precarious lives, and the fate of human achievement. This is a much less abstract movie than Visitor to a Museum (previously recommended here). It is also considered to be Konstantin Lopushansky’s masterpiece. The style is not as challenging as Visitor, and it also has the advantage of being shorter than 90 minutes, with a relatively straight forward concept. The mostly sepia toned photography really works for this film too, and obviously reminds one of Stalker (1979), which the director worked on as a PA. The use of what seems to have been existing bombed out buildings, with very artistic added set dressing, is also very impressive. The films characters manage to say it all about the stupidity of humanity along the way too. This is a truly fantastic dark film that I give my most enthusiastic recommendation, as well as a rating of 10 out of 10.
Not available on domestic 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.
My coworker Dan turned me onto this amazing film recently. I had never heard of it, or writer and director Konstantin Lopushansky before. I am writing this after just finishing the movie, and have not done any research on the director (I did find this article that I will be reading later). I personally loved Visitor of a Museum, but I can tell you right away this is not a film for everyone. It is deliberately paced and on the long side. However if you are a fan of Andrei Tarkovsky (who was Lopushansky’s mentor) as well as early Jodorowsky and Lynch, you really need to watch this. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future where a man decides to use his vacation to see a museum that is submerged in water most of the year. That’s all you really need to know. This is definitely an artsy movie, but unlike Tarkovsky, it manages to slip in various cult film staples like uncomfortable humor, disabled actors, and even a bit of sex. One element that really stood out to me was the haunting musical score and sound design. Think dark ambient but made by someone with access to real classical instruments and performers. I know that what I have said has immediately connected to film fans that are most likely appreciate this. If you are one of those folks, get on it.
NOTE ON QUALITY: I watched the version on YouTube that is uploaded as UHD. I’m not a video expert, but I suspect it was upscaled from a Blu-ray. There is a fair amount of scratches in the film, a lack of grain, and quite a bit of visible compression artifacts. I wasn’t terribly bothered by any of that though. I have to imagine this one is hard to track down, so I am just grateful to the person that was kind enough to upload it.
Not available on domestic 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.
To be honest right out of the gate, this is a ridiculous French action comedy. Dobermann must have been inspired by the early Tarantino films, but is much more comical and over the top. Warning: there’s a fair amount of CG in this one, and it did not age well. However, if I haven’t scared you off yet, this is a truly fun and hyper-paced shoot ‘em up. Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci are great together too. Try to turn your brain off and enjoy the insanity, otherwise don’t bother. The version I watched defaulted to an English dub, but I strongly recommend you watch it in French with subtitles.
Not available on domestic 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 or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
I first became aware of Anita Pallenberg from seeing the film Performance (1970) for the first time. I watched it on the IFC cable channel back in the ’90s, and they also aired the documentary Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance (1998). That doc truly expanded by understanding of the film, and about Pallenberg’s life at the time. Up until seeing Catching Fire, that was the extent of my knowledge of this person. There is so much more to know. What a life! Do yourself a favor and check out Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg, she’s someone every weirdo should know about. I also highly recommend you get a hold of the Criterion 4k / Blu-ray of Performance. It looks and sounds better than ever AND features a restored version of The Ultimate Performance.
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 or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
I hadn’t seen this since it came out and a friend recommended I revisit it. I did, and it blew my damn mind. I don’t know how I forgot how insane this movie is. Gremlins 2 must be one of the most bizarre big budget PG-13 films ever made. It’s so bonkers that Key and Peele did a parody of the pitch meeting in their episode “Hollywood Sequel Doctor” (Season 5, Episode 8). If you happen to have never seen either that skit or G2, wait to watch the K&P episode until after the film. I will admit that the original Gremlins is a minor classic, and I rate it 8/10. However The New Batch gets a 9/10 in my book. Oh and it appears Gremlins 3 may become a reality soon as well.
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.
Stuart Swezey is an important figure in my life. When I was 18 I rented the found footage VHS compilation Amok Assault and it blew my fucking mind. Check it out for yourself on Internet Archive but proceed with caution. The pictures are very graphic and you may not want to watch. Anyhow, Amok started as an infamous LA book store and then began publishing books. My favorite title is “Amok Journal: Sensurround Edition” which is somewhat like Amok Assault in book form. Mr. Swezey opened my eyes to a strata of counter culture that I didn’t know existed. Little did I know that years before Amok existed he also organized three legendary music and performing arts events as Desolation Center. I was much too young and far away to witness any of these happenings in person. Thankfully this amazing human being directed a pretty much flawless documentary on the whole story. I will make it simple for you… If you are interested in counter culture in any way, this movie is mandatory viewing. Thank you Stuart.
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.
This is a strange mix of dark comedy and political satire that I really enjoyed when it first came out. Aaron Eckhart is perfect in the lead role as you’ll see. You also get Robert Duvall, J.K. Simmons, William H. Macy and Sam Elliott (who used his own rifle in the film). I have to think this movie was a partial inspiration for Mad Men. Give Thank You For Smoking a shot and you’re in for some fun and cynical infotainment.
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 or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.
This ‘80s slasher just barely squeaks by my usual criteria for this website. The flaw here is that the acting and story between kill scenes is pretty mediocre. However when the blood is flowing, The Prowler is spectacular. Tom Savini did the FX and the murder sequences are all very memorable. The killer’s outfit is really intimidating too. The other thing I like about this film is that it’s a non-franchise, all-in-one horror flick. You will most likely enjoy this one if you keep your expectations low, or just fast forward to the juicy stuff.
NOTE ON QUALITY: I have this linked to the version on YouTube because it’s totally free and uncut as far as I can tell. It looks a bit compressed, so if you’re a stickler for quality, check out JustWatch to see where else it is streaming (currently several places), or watch the disc.
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.
Anomalous Cinema 