The Big Racket (1976)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

For a while there Italy was making the best crime thrillers in the world. They were initially inspired by Dirty Harry so you should know what to expect. The subgenre is called poliziotteschi and there’s a ton of these films to sift through. The Big Racket is one of my top favorites of this style, and I give it my highest recommendation.

Available on Blu-ray as part of the “Rogue Cops and Racketeers” set on Arrow.

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Death Warmed Up (1984)

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This is a pioneering New Zealand cult film that bounces between horror, action, sci-fi, comedy, and candy-colored ‘80s nightmare. Features the synth pop hit “I Like to Drive.” Well, it should have been a hit.

Available on Blu-ray from Severin.

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Headshot (2016)

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Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

You: “Hey Jonathan, I want to see a Netflix movie that is pretty much non-stop fist fighting for two hours.”

Me: “Headshot. It’s kinda dumb but… Headshot.”

Available on import Blu-ray from Arrow.

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The Tenant (1976)

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Let’s get this out of the way, I’m separating the man from his art.

(Shifts collar uncomfortably)

Ahem.

Here we have Roman Polanski’s strangest film. It’s creepy, funny, and surreal but does require a bit of patience to enjoy. However when you get towards the end… blast off for Weirdsville. The Tenant was not available for ages, so this 1080p HD version is a real pleasure to see. Do not miss.

Available on import Blu-ray from Kaleidoscope.

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Custody (2017)

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This is a very slow paced film but it is almost perfectly made and successfully teeters somewhere between drama and thriller. If I tell you anything more it might spoil it. Feeling patient and like getting your emotions toyed with for the sake of cinematic art? Custody is the movie for you.

Available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

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Don’t Torture a Duckling (1972)

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It’s pretty amazing it took me this long to recommend a Lucio Fulci film. Sadly there aren’t many available via streaming services. This is one of my favorite movies by the man dubbed The Godfather of Gore. It’s not one of his goriest ones either. In fact, some scenes feel more like an art film.

Ok look… this movie is a fantastic horror thriller, but the end features a very clumsy FX prop death scene. You’ll know it when you see it. It looked crappy when I first saw this in the ‘90s and it looks even more ridiculous now. What’s weird is that Fulci liked it so much he used the same scene in another later film. WTF Lucio? Great film though. Truly great.

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow.

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Hell or High Water (2016)

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This was written by Taylor Sherridan, who wrote Sicario, so I knew it’d be good. Good? Nope, it’s excellent (although his work after this got a bit uneven). While not as action-packed as his previous film, this is a tight, well-made drama with some shocking bursts of violence. It’s a shame I never hear anyone talk about this film. It is not to be missed.

Available on Blu-ray from Lion’s Gate.

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Nightmare (1981)

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Aka Nightmares in a Damaged Brain this is a seriously gritty, dark, and bloody ’80s horror film. Aspects look a bit dated and cheap but honestly this is an excellent movie. There are some amazing scenes from the heyday of Times Square shot in real peep show locations that are all gone now thanks to Rudy Giuliani. I was fortunate enough to see a 35mm print of this AND Maniac at an old school one-screen movie house in New Jersey around 2005. If you ever get the opportunity to see a classic movie projected on celluloid do not pass it up. It’s a magical experience and has become my favorite pastime.

Available on import Blu-ray from 88 Films.

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Suburra (2015)

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Here’s a high quality, graphic, gangster drama. It is also one of the better movies I’ve seen come out of Italy in recent years. If you enjoy this film, the series is just as good. It’s called Suburra: Blood on Rome.

Available on import Blu-ray from Kaleidoscope.

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Devil’s Express (1976)

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Aka Gang Wars. What the man doesn’t tell you is that back in the mid ‘70s New York City was plagued with Kung Fu gangs and zombies. Low-budget exploitation doesn’t get much better than this.

Please note: 1) Deep creep analog synth as the eyelid zombie staggers around NYC. 2) Theodore Gottlieb, who voiced the original Gollum, has a cameo as a priest.

Bonus: Yet another amazing 35mm double feature I saw was Devil’s Express with Death Promise. That’s right, this ain’t no Death Wish punk, it’s a PROMISE. You may be able to watch them back to back online (psychoactives encouraged). Even if Death Promise isn’t available in HD it’s worth a watch. If you’re doing things right, you won’t care about the resolution.

Available on Blu-ray from Code Red.

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