Tag: drama

Devil’s Express (1976)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

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.

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.

Hostiles (2017)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

A contemporary, ethical Western. It leans towards blockbuster cheesiness and runs a bit long, but has enough action and high quality drama to compensate. It’s pretty graphic at times, so if think you’re getting some old timey, bloodless, John Wayne affair you’re dead wrong. Hostiles has a sympathetic and informed take on Native Americans as well, which makes the whole thing work. You won’t hear me mention books too often here, but I truly believe every American should read “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” by Dee Brown. We need to know our own history, even the darkest parts.

Available on Blu-ray from Lion’s Gate.

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.

Duel to the Death (1983)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I got to see a 35mm print of this and Shogun Assassin several years ago. It was one of the best double features I’ve ever seen. The plot is simple, the top sword master of Japan versus his Chinese counterpart. Non-stop action, sprinkled with strangeness, makes for one of the best martial art films in cinema history.

Available on import Blu-ray from Celestial Pictures.

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.

High Rise (2015)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Social norms melt down to the darkest depths in a self-contained mega apartment complex. J.G. Ballard is my favorite author, and this is an excellent adaptation of one of his more extreme novels. I’m not one to re-watch more recent movies but I’ve seen High Rise at least three times. It’s almost perfect and checks all the boxes. Watch this immediately, and then check out all the other work by director Ben Wheatley.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnet.

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.

Turkey Shoot (1982)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Aka Escape 2000 this is a futuristic prison film where baddies hunt humans. This is a personal all-time favorite exploitation movie. It’s got everything: action, drama, sleaze and a belligerent mutant wolf man. Turkey Shoot may be the most bizarre of all the ’80s Australian exploitation films and is a blast from start to finish.

Available on Blu-ray from Severin.

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.

Tom of Finland (2017)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Fantastic bio-pic about erotic artist Touko Valio Laaksonen. If you’re not a homophobe, you need to see this. If you are a homophobe, you don’t belong here.

Available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

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 Stranger (1946)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

I am a big fan of Film Noir and this is an excellent example. Orson Welles has something to hide and Edward G. Robinson is on to him. Sounds too simple but damn this is a great film. The Stranger is not to be missed Anomalous Cinema!

Available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

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.

Force Majeure (2014)

vergeoflight1 Comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

An avalanche causes family issues. This movie is beautifully filmed, original, sometimes funny, and pretty damned thought provoking. Be warned, it is long and very deliberately paced. It also made me want to crawl out of my skin with embarrassment and sympathy for the characters. Recommended if you are patient and open minded.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia Pictures.

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.

Annihilation (2018)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is a solid, big budget SF adventure film that borrows heavily from Andrei Tarkovsky and J.G. Ballard. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, that’s just what makes it “Anomalous.”

UPDATE 2.24 – I recently read the book and it is excellent. It’s so different from the movie it is mind blowing (and better IMO). I would say the novel is recommended reading unless you expect it to be more than a little similar to the film. I like both, but you know I am a weirdo.

Available on Blu-ray from Paramount.

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.

I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

vergeoflightLeave a comment

Streaming on Netflix | imdb | trailer

This is an excellent dark comedy with plenty of action by Macon Blair aka the star of Blue Ruin. The bad guy is David Yow, visual artist and lead singer of Jesus Lizard. Elijah Wood is also in there wearing (what I heard are his own) awesome metal shirts. Filmed in my home base of Portland, Oregon, one of the locations is The Sandy Hut bar. That place is a personal favorite and highly recommended if you happen to visit.

Not available on Blu-ray.

If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema please consider donating any amount via Paypal using this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.