It Comes at Night (2017)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I was hoping to recommend a horror movie, but this is more of a psychological thriller. Pretty damned creepy at times though. I saw It Comes at Night when it first came out and gave it a good rating, but I didn’t remember a thing about it. I figured why not rewatch it after a few drinks and give you a more off the cuff recommendation? 

Ahem… 

Killer cinematography. The whole cast is solid. Nice to see Christopher Abbot again in a role before I began recognizing his awesomeness. There are bits of this that remind me of how it felt at the beginning of Covid (oh boy doesn’t that make you want to watch this now?). Some people were turned off by this not being a straight forward horror movie. Some were turned off by not knowing exactly what is going on. I was not turned off. I am not calling this a fun movie, or even a great movie, but it sure as hell is Anomalous Cinema. 

The themes reminded me of the OG Twilight Zone episodes The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street (1960) and The Shelter (1961). I suggest if you’ve never seen those, watch them AFTER It Comes at Night.

Available on Blu-ray from Lion’s Gate.

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Clearcut (1991)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Graham Greene stars as an Indigenous activist seeking to teach a lesson to the head of a logging company. I only saw this movie for the first time recently and what a pleasant surprise it was. Clearcut is an original mix of horror and thriller, and is satisfying throughout the run time. Going in knowing as little as little as possible will give you the best viewing experience. It would be best to not even watch the trailer.

Available on Blu-ray from Severin Films.

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Surviving Edged Weapons (1988)

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Streaming on YouTube | imdb (current rating 8.4!!!) | (Funny Clip – not the trailer)

This is a documentary made for the police that is surprisingly entertaining for civilians. The people who produced it somehow did not realize that the majority of this video is hilarious and ridiculous. The historical and reenactment scenes will leave you in amused disbelief. There is some good info peppered in there too, so you’ll be more prepared for your next street fight. Amazingly Surviving Edged Weapons also features famed martial artist Dan Inosanto, who you may have seen in Big Trouble in Little China (or a bunch of lesser films). This video does show some pretty gruesome real-life injuries so don’t watch if you can’t handle that. Everyone else please enjoy this slab of inadvertently entertaining Anomalous Cinema.

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.

American Gangster (2007)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Frank Lucas was a NYC gangster that one journalist called a real-life Superfly. This was the last Ridley Scott film I truly enjoyed, and he did a solid job of making Lucas’ story into a fast-paced entertaining experience. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are both excellent in this, and the cast is packed with many familiar faces. This isn’t quite as good as DePalma’s Scarface, but it’s a dark and violent crime film that delivers the goods.

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.

Donyale Luna: Supermodel (2023)

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Streaming on Max | imdb | trailer

Here is a really good documentary on the life and career of a model that I was totally unfamiliar with before. Luna had a groundbreaking career in late ‘60s Europe but was passed over for big opportunities in the USA because she was black. Her lack of a larger success was part of what led to her tragic end. This is a movie that I chose specifically because it is off the beaten path and shines a light on a human story that is worth knowing about. At this time there are very few user or critic reviews on IMDb, which I find terribly sad. Challenge yourself to watch this film and learn a little something, instead of turning your brain off with simple entertainment. Anomalous Cinema is often not easy cinema. Donyale Luna is a person worth knowing about, and this is a very well made movie that is absolutely worth your time.

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 Stabilizer (1986)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Indonesia had a moment there in the ‘80s. Mystics in Bali, Lady Terminator, and this epic slab of cheese. The action starts immediately and does not let up. It’s schlocky as can be, but charming. Some people feel this way about Troll 2, but that ain’t got endless gun fights, kung fu, and car chases my friend. Oh and The Stabilizer has a Javanese Mr. T. It’s as if the filmmakers watching every action movie and TV show available at the time and made their own awful version. Thankfully for humanity that equals a very entertaining movie experience.

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.

Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold (2017)

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Streaming on Netflix | imdb | No YouTube trailer available (sorry)

I was only just barely aware of Joan Didion before seeing this documentary. That is precisely why I am recommending it here. I watched the film and then read her non-fiction work “Slouching Towards Bethlehem.” That book was a real revelation and I am looking forward to reading more. Fun fact: The Center Will Not Hold was directed by Didion’s nephew Griffin Dunne (American Werewolf in London, After Hours, etc).

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.

Man Bites Dog (1992)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

When it comes to disturbing fiction films, this one is often mentioned along with Salò, A Clockwork Orange, and Irreversible. I try to avoid obvious recommendations, but it just occurred to me that Man Bites Dog has never been available on Blu-ray. It came out on VHS shortly after the theatrical run. Then Criterion did a laser disc and DVD many years ago, but that’s it. Those of you who saw this in the past really need to check it out in full HD. Then there’s those of you who have just never experienced one of the most unique independent films ever made. All you need to know is this: Benoît is a very charming but egomaniacal serial killer, and you are watching a documentary about him unfold ala This is Spinal Tap. What you get is a weird mix of funny and horrific from start to finish. It has ALL the triggers minus animal abuse, so you should avoid this if you are sensitive about pretty much anything. I made the mistake of taking a date to see this in the theater back in 1993. It did NOT go well. Yes, it’s extreme. It also looks fantastic and the lead performance by Benoît Poelvoorde is a personal favorite. If you are a fan of the most edgy kind of cinema, this is essential viewing.

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 Reflecting Skin (1990)

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Just-Watch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

A boy lives in early 1950s rural Idaho where reality is very strange, and mysterious deaths are occurring. When I first heard the COIL song “Omlagus Garfungiloops” I was baffled by the sample “You’ve been exploding frogs again?” A friend informed me it was from the movie The Reflecting Skin. I knew I needed to see this. I finally was able to rent a copy a year or so later and was 100% not disappointed. I have watched this one multiple times over the years. I never get sick of it. This movie is darkly surreal, beautiful, horrific, funny at times, and features very good performances. That includes an early appearance of Viggo Mortensen, who I’ve been a big fan of ever since. There are moments where you see the limits of the budget, but they take little away from this unique indie masterpiece.

BONUS: You can watch director Philip Ridley’s bizarre short film The Universe of Dermott Finn (1988) here on YouTube. Check out an article about Ridley’s multi-faceted career here.

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.