I do believe this has been done before, haven’t been able to find the thread though.
Just this weekend I saw “Forbidden Zone”. Very strange, very freaky movie. Was kind of a cross between the Rocky Horror Picture Show and and old black and white Twilight Zone episode meets The Little Rascals!
Anyone else seen any movies cult like that didn’t become quite so popular?
I’m definitely interested in checking out more of these movies. (Does this explain how psycho I really am?)
Does “Blue Velvet” qualify? Dennis Hopper starred in it. A very disturbing movie, if I recall correctly.
Any of the movies mentioned in Late Night Picture Show from RHPS are good. Of course, my personal favorite is Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but I’m assuming you have a different cult in mind…
I always thought the the Talking Heads movie “True Stories” was the best movie no one has ever seen…quirky, weird characters and unusual plotlines. Don’t know that I can compare it to another movie.
I once flew with John Goodman (who was in the movie) a few years ago. As we were getting off the plane I commented on how much I enjoyed the movie. His reply was a grumbled “no accounting for taste”…or words to that effect, I couldn’t really understand him. Must have been the 10 mini bottles of Jack Daniels he drank during the three hour flight!
Blue Velvet was good. Not quite what I’m going for here though, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was a lot closer. The movies I’m talking about are more the Drag Queen, S&M, No holds Barred, sexually promiscous, Anything goes type shows. Rocky Horror fits perfectly, but it also became quite popular. There are tons of others I know for certain never became popular. I’m thinking there must be some John Waters flicks I’ve yet to see.
Anyone seen Forbidden Zone? Very scary that someone could come up with something like that. 1980 I think.
“Pink Flamingos” is John Waters’ best-known cult film, but I prefer “Female Troubles.” Both great, but “FT” is funnier, better written and has Divine in nearly every frame. It also has lines like:
• “Acid does what Eterna-27 cannot!”
• “I don’t like this neighborhood—I’m afraid rats will jump out and bite my new nylons!”
• “Oh, Gator—I do wish you’d go gay and get yourself a nice hairdresser boyfriend!”
and the immortal:
• “I wouldn’t suck your miserable little dick if I was suffocatin’ and you had oxygen in your balls!”
Hey, cult films are the only kind worth watching! If something becomes popular, let alone mega-popular, I KNOW it’s the sort of shit I wouldn’t sit through with a twelve-foot pole. Hope you enjoyed TITANIC and FORREST GUMP, but don’t strike up a conversation with me about 'em at the next Doper cocktail party, cause I haven’t seen them.
Amazon is delivering videos today of DOCTOR X (1933) and NIGHT MONSTER (1942), both featuring notable Hollywood villain and orgy-thrower Lionel Atwill. I’ll review them after I’ve watched.
I’m very fond of THE BLACK CAT (1934), the first starring vehicle for Karloff and Lugosi together, an Expressionistic horror tale. I’m infuriated that there’s no video edition of Dudley Moore/Peter Cook’s BEDAZZLED, a stunner of a British comedy from 1967, now remade probably horribly) with Brendan Fraser and Liz Hurley.
Hey, Eve! Did you know there was a film version of Thorne Smith’s NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS, made in 1935 with the divine Alan Mowbray and Florine McKinney? Too bad they didn’t get around to it a year or two earlier, before the Hays Office started flexing its muscle.
RE: Thorne Smith—I always thought it a real shame that Jean Harlow died before she could make his “Topper.” As much as I love Connie Bennett, the original cast was supposed to be Jean and Cary Grant as the ghosts, and W.C. Fields and Billie Burke as the Toppers.
Now, THAT would’ve been a corker!
Forbidden Zone was great! I saw it on the big screen, and of course, have it on tape!
Female Trouble: My favourite line in that is where (someone) is locked in a cage. Taffy (Mink Stole) announces she has become a Buddhist and will set the prisoner free. The line: “Thank Christ, Taffy!”
Of course, my favourite cult film is one I shout two scenes for. Zombie! vs. Mardi Gras. (No, I’m not the guy being interviewed.)
Meet the Feebles- best described as Muppets take on porn, slasher films, snuff, musicalls, and general nastiness. It contains a muppet fox doing a musical ode to sodomy. One of Peter Jackson’s best films.
ReAnimator. A really good horror film. Not afraid to laugh at itself.
I’ve said it before but, Evil Dead Trap is an excellent movie. The first scence starts out with someone doing things to eyeballs that should never be done.
ÊMultiple Maniacs isn’t one of John Waters more popular movies. It’s not great. But it has some high spots that make it worth it. The lobster rape scene, for one. I also like Desperate Living by him.
Not to mention that it’s the best comedy made from a H.P. Lovecraft story.
Okay, it’s the only comedy made from a Lovecraft story, but you get the idea. One of my personal favorites.
I also agree with the assertion that “True Stories” is a minor hidden classic. John Goodman has nothing to be ashamed of with his work in that movie; I like to show it to people who have no idea that Goodman can sing damn well. Anybody looking for some more great singing by Goodman should check out his work on teh cast album of “Big River,” the Huckleberry Finn musical, where he plays Pa Finn (as well as assorted minor characters). Wonderful bass voice.
** Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness **
Gotta love em…
Great, now i’ve got a collection of movies to start watching. Emultiple Maniacs sounds like it’ll be first on my list. I’ve seen the more commercial ones, all the evil dead, reanimator was awesome.
Doctor X, wow, I saw that when I was younger with my dad. Don’t remember what station it was on, but He loved it too. My dad has a wierd sense of taste for movies, mostly Kung Fu flicks, loves anything in black and white, Mr. Ed is god to him, but movies like reanimator and evil dead rock his boat. He sees these as real movies as well, and doesn’t quite understand why they don’t make the oscars…
I’m there with ya dad!
Sure is hard to pick just one!
A Bucket of Blood by Roger Corman. It’ll be another 2-1/2 months before it’s released on DVD!
I haven’t seen it, but I think you can probably leave the E off of “Multiple Maniacs”.
Thanx Johnny. I wouldn’t have known actually. Multiple Maniacs. First to watch.
Just last week I saw for the first time a movie several people I know have raved about for quite a while: “the City of Lost Children.” It’s a french movie in subtitles, I don’t remember what the original french language title is. But it definately ranks up there as one of the most compellingly bizarre films i’ve ever seen.
Quick laundry list of my fav’s:
The Liquid Sky
The Man who Fell to Earth
Eraserhead (an obvious one I know, but it had to be mentioned by somebody!)
Dark City
The Reflecting Skin
All of 'em truly weird and disturbing flicks.
Has anyone else here seen “The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield,” or did I imagine it in a fevered dream?
“True Stories” is also one of my favorite movies. For another great cult film with John Goodman check out “Barton Fink.”
My other favorite cult films:
Repo Man
Brother from Another Planet
Heavy Petting
If you want something really gross there is a movie I have seen in my local video store but never rented called “My Father is Coming.” Looks pretty icky.
Ah, Forbidden Zone! When I found it on tape at an independent video store, I stole it. I had the soundtrack album too- a prelude to the great things that were to come from the Elfman family.
Wasn’t Susan Tyrell (stole most of the scenes from Herve Villachez) also in Cry Baby, along with Johnny Depp, Traci Lords and Ricki Lake? Liked that, too.
Loved Re-Animator, never saw Liquid Sky or I Spit on your Grave but heard they were fun in a twisted sort of way.
Oh and for a totally twisted film experience, rent “Baxter.” You’ll find it in the foreign film section, and it is riveting and unbelieveable. Hubby & I loved it. Also loved “Delicatessan”, same section, dubbed or with subtitles.
Of course I have to second Myrr on the Evil Dead trilogy. I also really enjoyed American Vampires (formerly titled Revenant) which was directed by Richard Elfman. If he wasn’t my roommate’s dad, I probably never would’ve seen it, but it’s probably the funniest vampire movie I’ve ever seen.
Favorite line:
“Your friends are weird.”
“You should see them naked.”