The Guilty (2018)

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A police officer is assigned to work the emergency call center and gets involved in a crime in progress. It’s not a spoiler to tell you that the film never leaves that one location, but damn if things don’t stay intense for the duration. The Guilty is not the first single-set film ever made but it still makes for one of the most original thrillers I’ve seen in recent years. Oh and there was an American remake of this… don’t bother.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia.

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The Seven Five (2014)

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This is a riveting documentary about an outrageously corrupt cop in NYC from ‘82 to ‘92. The Seven Five is one of the best docs I’ve seen in recent years. A word of warning, it does get pretty graphic at times.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Eye in the Labyrinth (1972)

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This one barely squeaks by my usual standards for this website. Don’t get me wrong, its a decent giallo with a good twist at the end. However I’m recommending it ONLY for those of you that have seen all the other well-regarded giallo films. I’ve watched pretty much every decent film in the subgenre that I could get my hands on so this was a pleasant surprise. Check out Eye in the Labyrinth if you think you’ve seen em all.

A Blu-ray was released by Code Red but it is currently out of print. They’re selling on eBay for $$$.

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Shoplifters (2018)

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Do you need a palate cleanser after all my other various weird movie suggestions? This is it. Shoplifters is a nearly perfect drama, and by the end you will clearly see why I think it qualifies as Anomalous. My only problem is that it’s a bit long, so maybe don’t watch it straight through for maximum impact.

Not available on Blu-ray.

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Coffy (1973)

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My girlfriend and I have an expression we use a lot – “Ten Times Pam Grier” (emphasis on ten times with pauses between the words). It works for many purposes. This comes from the time we saw a 35mm print of Coffy with a Pam Grier Q&A after. A very enthusiastic fan said the above words to Ms. Grier and followed by “I’ve seen this movie ten times,” and many kind words about the actress. Pam loved it, and I love this movie. It’s easily my favorite blaxploitation film, and you can watch a nicely restored version on Amazon Prime.

Available on Blu-ray from Olive Films.

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The Cat o’ Nine Tails (1971)

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I could write a lot about the many pluses and minuses of Dario Argento, but I will restrain myself. I saw an interview where the director said he didn’t care for The Cat o’ Nine Tails because it was too straight-forward. I love it. This is a pretty bloodless murder mystery. It was rated PG no less, but I think they had to cut a couple of graphic death scenes to get that certification. Those scenes have been restored on the versions available now as far as I know. This movie also features one of the catchiest Ennio Morricone theme songs. The Cat o’ Nine Tails is an excellent example of the giallo subgenre. Yes, it’s somewhat tame, but should not be missed.

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow Films.

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Dead or Alive (1999)

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This was my first Takashi Miike experience. I was lucky enough to see a 35mm print at the Philadelphia Film Fest (thank you Travis Crawford). I am always hunting for fast paced movies. This is one of the fastest! Dead or Alive is crazy, hyperactive action from start to finish. If you can forgive a little cheap looking CG at the end, this movie is a blast (pun intended).

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow.

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The Big Racket (1976)

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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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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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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.

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.