A fake psychic medium gets her husband to kidnap a child in order to help out business. This movie is a true oddball of the early ‘60s. It is tense, weird, and dark, but all done in a way I’ve never quite seen before. Kim Stanley was nominated for an Oscar for her part, and Richard Attenborough (brother of David) is really fantastic here as well. John Barry’s score is also very good and appropriately creepy. Check out Seance on a Wet Afternoon to experience a crime drama of a very unusual kind.
Not available on domestic Blu-ray.
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Honestly this whole recommendation should simply be “Isaac Hayes is the star of a Black Action film.” I’m not that lazy, so our hero Truck and his partner are hunting for a pimp, and Turner finds out he’s got a contract out on his life. This is a solid ‘70s cult shoot ‘em up. It’s not quite up to the level of Coffy or Shaft, but it is entertaining for sure. You also get to see Nichelle Nichols play the polar opposite of her character Uhura from Star Trek TOS. There’s also Yaphet Kotto, Scatman Crothers, and Dick Miller along with several other familiar faces. This is a cheesy fun ride. When someone asks what you watched last night, you can quote the man himself: “…tell ’em you been hit by a truck: Mac ‘Truck’ Turner!”
P.S. – Make sure to check out the previously recommended I’m Gonna Git You Sucka too, if you haven’t already had the pleasure.
The domestic Blu-ray is currently out of print.
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.
Jules is a drag performer whose life is upended by a homophobic assault. He finds his attacker and then things get extremely complicated. I discovered this one thanks to John Waters’ excellent Top 10 for 2024, and it is quite an experience. This film explores the nuances of sadism and masochism without pulling any punches. Judging by the IMDb Meta Score, the critics found this to be difficult viewing. I really appreciated how challenging it is to stereotypes and audience expectations. Femme may be difficult to sit through, but I think that’s part of what makes it special.
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This is an excellent docudrama on Gunnar Sønsteby, who worked his way up to be the leader of a group of resistance fighters in Norway during World War 2. He went on to become that country’s most decorated war hero. The film balances action, tension, drama, and ethical issues throughout in a really intelligent way. I found myself surprisingly invested in what was happening. Nr. 24 taught me about a part of WW2 history I was totally unaware of, and I give it an enthusiastic thumbs up.
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.
Natalia is a trapeze artist who is caught between two mentally disturbed clowns. Who better to handle this whacky premise than Spanish maniac director Álex de la Iglesia? Well, he’s actually a very level headed man, but damn if he doesn’t make some weirdly delightful movies. This is not as great as his debut feature Accione Mutante (which is available on a beautiful 4k / Blu-ray from Severin). Don’t let that discourage you. This is one hour and forty-seven minute ride on a crazy, funny, violent, and weird as fuck rollercoaster. If you enjoy this film, I also recommend The Day of the Beast (1995), Perdita Durango (1997), Dying of Laughter (1999), Common Wealth (2000), Eight Hundred Bullets (2002), Ferpect Crime (2004), The Baby’s Room (2006), The Oxford Murders (2008 – previously featured here), and As Luck Would Have It (2011). Álex de la Iglesia deals in many genres, but keep an open mind and there’s a lot to appreciate in his filmography.
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Years before The Silence of the Lambs came out, Michael Mann directed this stylish adaptation of Thomas Harris’ book “Red Dragon.” Here is one of those movies that I think many people have missed or overlooked in recent years. I have been a fan since first seeing it as a teenager. I loved Mann’s Miami Vice and Crime Story series at the time. I almost recommended this years ago, but the streaming services always cropped the beautiful cinemascope aspect ratio to 16:9. You need to see this in the extra wide 2.35:1 or it loses a lot of it’s charm. The headline here is, this is a kick ass crime thriller that is dripping with ‘80s style, and loaded with awesome actors. It is easily Tom Noonan’s best role. Yes, Manhunter is a little different than the book. If you want a closer adaptation, watch Red Dragon (2002). I didn’t care for it as much, but it’s worth seeing. The thing that sets this version apart is the awesome soundtrack and score. I own it on vinyl, and still listen to an extended music blog version regularly. The Shriekback song “This Big Hush” is the standout. It’s a damn shame they didn’t record an entire album like that. There are definitely some cheesy bits in this film, it was 1986 after all, so don’t expect perfection. Just experience it with your psychoactive substance of choice, and try to enjoy the trip.
Only a crappy Blu-ray is available domestically as part of a “Hannibal Lecter” set.
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This is an excellent documentary on the Lakota Indians fight to reclaim The Black Hills. I was reasonably aware of this struggle, but still learned a lot here. The way the movie is constructed is really quite an achievement. Beautiful footage, poetic narration, and seriously detailed history, all combine for a moving experience. This is information that EVERY American should learn.
Not available on Blu-ray.
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I decided to watch this because I am a fan of co-writer Jon Ronson, who was also behind The Men Who Stare at Goats. Of course I like the idea of Michael Fassbender working behind a mask for an entire movie too. This is all very loosely based on the true story of Ronson playing keyboards in Chris Sieveys, aka Frank Sidebottoms, backing band. I was in weird music groups for 25+ years, so some of that aspect of the film rings a bit false, but I still enjoyed watching it. If you’d like to see something Anomalous, give Frank a try.
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I have a long discussion with my friend Corey about Film Noir in the latest issue of Skree Zine. I also chipped in a list of favorite films of the genre and a couple of unpublished recommendations. This is a real print publication that will make you feel like it’s the ‘90s zine heyday all over again.
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I really try to avoid Oscar winners here, but this one is pretty damned Anomalous, so I’m giving it a pass. This is the dramatized version of Alan Turing’s battle to crack the Nazi Enigma code, as well as events that occurred after WW2. The man was a genius on an epic level, and his complicated story is well handled in this film. As usual with historical movies, there are several factual errors, but none that are unforgivable. I am just happy Turing’s tale has been told in a way that reached a large audience. I avoided watching The Imitation Game for years because it is a PG-13 drama. That was a mistake, as I definitely appreciated seeing it recently, and I hope that you will give it a try.
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.
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