PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Sometimes a film makes perfect sense: Point A to point B, no problem. But then there are the ones that make you go: “HUH?” These are all great films! But they are different, strange, and down right weird. And I’m here for it. Here, in no particular order, are my favorites.
The Void
Directed by Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski
Synopsis
Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.
Ah, who doesn’t love a good attack by cultists? Or a weird shape-shifting tentacled creature? Or a film where everyone is stranded in a single location? Oh, and geysers of blood? The Void gives you all this and more!
We Are the Flesh
Directed by Emiliano Rocha Minter
Synopsis
After wandering a ruined city for years in search of food and shelter, two siblings find their way into one of the last remaining buildings. Inside, they find a man who will make them a dangerous offer to survive the outside world.
This film serves as a brutal, bizarre allegory of what awaits us at the collapse of our rotting society. Personally, I’m hoping the end of the world is not going to be anything like this film depicts. This movie as it all: incest, cannibalism, orgies, and the twist to end all twists. You need a strong stomach if you plan on watching We Are the Flesh, but fans of extreme horror should give this stylish film a look.
YellowBrickRoad
Directed by Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton
Synopsis
1940: the entire population of Friar, New Hampshire walked up a winding mountain trail, leaving everything behind. 2008: the first official expedition into the wilderness attempts to solve the mystery of the lost citizens of Friar.
I love, love, love this one. This strange, low budget film has an intriguing story and one of the best uses of sound to unnerve the audience ever. It turns up the screws of tension until you almost can’t bear it.
In Fabric
Directed by Peter Strickland
Synopsis
In Fabric is a haunting ghost story set against the backdrop of a busy winter sales period in a department store and follows the life of a cursed dress as it passes from person to person, with devastating consequences.
Reason number 3426 why I don’t wear dresses is this movie. In Fabric is played with a deadly seriousness I really wasn’t expecting for a movie about a cursed dress. Marianne Jean-Baptiste is fantastic in the lead role as a woman who wants her life to take a new direction. And the dress is happy to provide it – at a cost.
Tickled
Directed by David Farrier and Dylan Reeve
Synopsis
Journalist David Farrier stumbles upon a mysterious tickling competition online. As he delves deeper he comes up against fierce resistance, but that doesn’t stop him getting to the bottom of a story stranger than fiction.
It started off so innocent and normal – ok, as normal as it can be for a documentary about the sport of ‘endurance tickling.’ But it takes a dark turn you will never see coming as the stakes get higher. Harassment, blackmail, and legal threats are just a few actions awaiting the makers of this stranger than fiction documentary.
Exte: Hair Extensions
Directed by Sion Sono
Synopsis
When a girl is discovered dead at a dock, the local coroner, Yamazaki, soon realizes that her hair is still growing at an incredible rate.
I went into this one blind and with absolutely zero expectations, and I was delighted to find that this was a pretty fun and well written movie. But it was as weird as you would expect for a film about haunted hair extensions. Thankfully, this is simply not an area of beauty that’s ever crossed my mind to try. And I never will!
The Skin I Live In
Directed by Pedro Almodovar
Synopsis
A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.
Every time I think Pedro Almodovar (whose films I’ve been watching for over 20 years) is mellowing out…BAM: he comes out with something like this. Don’t even try to figure out where this one is going because just when you do everything gets flipped on its head.
Versus
Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Honestly one of my favorite J-Horror films of all time, Versus starts completely insane and never lets off the throttle. Just ignore thought, reason, and character development and enjoy the ass-kicking ride. I mean, Yakuza Zombies? HELL, YES!
Rubber
Directed by Quentin Dupieux
Synopsis
A homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.
I mean, would any weird list be complete without including this film? I would have given anything to have been in the room for the pitch for this one. “So yeah, it’s about a killer tire.” “I’m sorry, a what?” But the film works by using subtlety, cleverness, great cinematography to make a truly weird film experience.
Night Watch
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Synopsis
A fantasy-horror set in present-day Moscow where the respective forces that control daytime and nighttime do battle.
One of the most strange and cool films of all time, this under appreciated Russian film is a must see treat! The plot is complex, but it’s the insane visuals that are the real star of the show here. If you pick just one film on this list to watch, it should be this one! Oh, and don’t forget to watch the sequel Day Watch!
Any other weird films you think should have made the list? Let me know in the comments below!
