When we think of entertainment, fun times, or relaxation, we instantly think of movies. There are several genres of movies ranging from romance, comedy, and action to suspense, thriller, and horror.
There are multiple sub-genres like fantasy romance, rom-com, psychological thrillers, and more. And then there is the next category.
These movies are a mixture of multiple above genres or something that is unique from all. I am talking about weird movies.
If you are confused about what I am speaking of, do not worry. I will explain. Weird movies are those movies that do not prescribe to usual logic or reasoning.
They defy common sense and may even be uncomfortable to watch. However, they are the kind of movies that will jar our senses, and force us to think differently.
Now that we have described weird films, ENTOIN brings you a list of popular weird films that cover this genre.
They range from movies that are emotionally weird to those that might make one feel physically uncomfortable. It is advisable to watch these movies with a pinch of salt.
DramaFantasyWar
Director:
Guillermo del Toro
Release Date:
Fri Jan 19 2007
Star Cast:
Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi López
Budget:
$19,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$83,862,032
"Pan’s Labyrinth," written, directed, and co-produced by Guillermo del Toro, is a haunting dark fantasy set in 1944 during Francoist Spain. The film seamlessly blends historical reality with enchanting yet ominous fairy tale elements.
The story follows a young girl named Ofelia as she travels with her pregnant and ailing mother to live with her new stepfather, the merciless Falangist Captain Vidal. Ofelia’s concern for her mother’s health and unease around her domineering stepfather set the stage for her emotional journey.
Within the grounds of their new home, Ofelia discovers a mysterious, neglected labyrinth. Inside, she encounters a fantastical faun and a host of otherworldly, fairy-like beings.
They assign Ofelia three daunting tasks. As she undertakes these challenges, the lines between reality and fantasy blur, leading to a surprising and poignant revelation.
Recommended:
DramaFantasy
Director:
Ingmar Bergman
Release Date:
Mon Oct 13 1958
Star Cast:
Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot
Budget:
$150,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$311,212
"The Seventh Seal" is a landmark Swedish film directed and written by Ingmar Bergman, adapted from his own play, "Wood Painting." Renowned for its philosophical and visual depth, the film has become one of the most iconic works in cinema history.
Bergman drew inspiration from Akira Kurosawa, aiming to craft a historical fantasy that explores existential questions. The story unfolds during the Black Death, a period marked by widespread despair across Europe.
The narrative follows Antonius Block, a weary crusader, and his loyal squire as they return home only to find devastation and a land gripped by fear and mortality.
Struggling with doubt and searching for meaning after the horrors of war, Block encounters Death personified and challenges him to a compelling game of chess—an encounter that symbolizes the human quest for answers in the face of mortality.
As the game progresses and Block crosses paths with various characters, the film delves into profound truths about faith, life, and the inevitability of death.
ComedyDramaFantasy
Director:
Spike Jonze
Release Date:
Fri Dec 3 1999
Star Cast:
John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener
Budget:
$13,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$23,106,667
"Being John Malkovich" is a surreal fantasy comedy written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. The film delves into the bizarre concept of actor John Malkovich's consciousness existing as a tangible place, discovered by an opportunistic individual.
The story centers on Craig Schwartz, an unemployed puppeteer who stumbles upon a hidden floor within an office building that happens to be the gateway into Malkovich’s mind.
This mysterious portal allows Schwartz to not only experience life through Malkovich’s eyes but also manipulate his actions. At first, Craig experiment out of curiosity, finding amusement in the experience.
As his obsession grows, Craig devises a scheme to take full control of the actor, using him to fulfill his own desires and ambitions. When he reveals the portal’s existence to others, their involvement plunges Malkovich’s life into absolute chaos.
Recommended:
FantasyHorror
Director:
David Lynch
Release Date:
Fri Feb 3 1978
Star Cast:
Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph
Budget:
$10,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$23,557
Eraserhead marks David Lynch's debut as a feature film director, following his earlier focus on short films while studying advanced filmmaking at AFI.
For this groundbreaking project, Lynch not only wrote, directed, edited, and produced the film, but also collaborated with Alan Splet on its distinctive sound design and musical score.
The story centers on a factory worker and his girlfriend, whose child is born with a severe deformity and cries relentlessly through the night.
Pressed by the weight of social expectations, the couple marries to care for their child. However, the intense pressure and responsibility quickly prove overwhelming.
When the mother ultimately leaves, the father struggles to manage the burdens alone, with his inability to care for the child or maintain his work only intensifying his distress.
AnimationDramaFamily
Director:
Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Release Date:
Fri Dec 9 2022
Star Cast:
Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
Budget:
$35,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$109,846
"Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" is a stop-motion animated masterpiece directed by Guillermo del Toro, reimagining the timeless tale of Pinocchio with a deeply immersive touch.
Set against the backdrop of fascist Italy, the story follows Pinocchio, a wooden puppet yearning to become a real boy. The narrative delves into powerful themes of identity, morality, and the struggles inherent in pursuing one's dreams.
Del Toro's unique visual artistry and flair for dark fantasy bring a mesmerizing, atmospheric depth to this classic story, making it captivating and visually rich.
Featuring a stellar voice cast—including Ewan McGregor as Pinocchio, along with Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, and David Bradley—the film offers a fresh yet poignant take on a beloved fairy tale.
CrimeSci-Fi
Director:
Stanley Kubrick
Release Date:
Wed Feb 2 1972
Star Cast:
Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates
Budget:
$2,200,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$26,960,374
Directed, produced, and adapted by Stanley Kubrick, A Clockwork Orange is based on the acclaimed novel by Anthony Burgess. Kubrick’s signature style amplifies the unsettling nature of this dystopian classic.
Set in a bleak future, the film explores a society plagued by rampant juvenile crime. The government responds by deploying brutal and invasive psychological experiments in an attempt to control the youth and restore order.
At the center is a young delinquent subjected to controversial brainwashing techniques, stripping him of free will and ultimately forcing him to confront the harsh consequences of his past actions upon his release.
A Clockwork Orange sparked widespread controversy due to its graphic depictions of violence, which some felt influenced real-world crimes. In response to public outrage, the film was withdrawn from several theaters after its initial release.
DramaHorrorThriller
Director:
David Cronenberg
Release Date:
Fri Sep 23 1988
Star Cast:
Jeremy Irons, Geneviève Bujold, Heidi von Palleske
Budget:
$13,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$8,038,508
"Dead Ringer" is a striking film directed by David Cronenberg, focusing on the enigmatic story of the Marcus twins, Samuel and Cyril. While the movie is a fictionalized retelling, it delves deeply into their unusual lives and mysterious demise.
Inspired loosely by Baru Wood's book The Twins, the film introduces audiences to the successful gynecologist twins, Beverly and Elliot Mantle, who share both a career and a troubled bond.
Beverly, the introverted and reserved brother, contrasts sharply with Elliot, who is outgoing and engages in promiscuous affairs. Together, they head a thriving private gynecology clinic.
Elliot often seduces patients, only to later lose interest and redirect them to Beverly. With the arrival of patient Claire, things take a dramatic turn as Beverly becomes emotionally involved.
This entanglement spirals when Beverly begins abusing prescription drugs and barbiturates, dragging Elliot into his downward spiral out of ill-fated loyalty. The brothers’ tragic trajectory ultimately ends with both succumbing to their addictions.
AnimationSci-Fi
Director:
René Laloux
Release Date:
Sat Dec 1 1973
Star Cast:
Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Drake, Eric Baugin
Fantastic Planet is a groundbreaking animated film created through a collaboration between France and Czechoslovakia. Adapted from the novel Oms en série by French author Stefan Wul, the movie delivers a truly imaginative and surreal viewing experience.
The story unfolds on a mysterious, beautifully realized world reminiscent of Earth but populated by towering, blue-skinned humanoids known as the Traags.
Within this society, humans—called Oms—are kept as pets by the Traags or forced to survive in the wild as frightened, oppressed creatures. The movie explores the dynamics between these two species in a visually inventive setting.
The Traags rule with indifference and occasional cruelty, viewing humans as lesser beings. As the oppression intensifies, the Oms plan a daring revolt in hopes of gaining their freedom and the right to coexist.
Armed with stolen Traag technology, the humans set out to establish their own society, determined to escape the control of their oppressors and build a future for themselves.
DramaRomanceSci-Fi
Director:
Yorgos Lanthimos
Release Date:
Fri Oct 16 2015
Star Cast:
Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden
Budget:
€4,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$17,581,104
"The Lobster" is a darkly comedic dystopian film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos. Acclaimed at numerous film festivals, it notably received the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for its originality and unique storytelling.
The film was also honored with an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Set in a bleak future, it imagines a world where the government forces single individuals to stay at a hotel for 45 days to find a suitable partner, or else face a bizarre fate.
If they are unable to pair up, they are transformed into animals of their choosing. Adding to the intrigue, a rebel group known as the Loners lives in the nearby forest, strictly banning romantic relationships among members.
The protagonists find themselves torn between these two extreme ideologies, highlighting the absurdities of love and societal expectations.
AdventureDramaFantasy
Director:
Alejandro Jodorowsky
Release Date:
Fri Jul 11 1975
Star Cast:
Alejandro Jodorowsky, Horacio Salinas, Zamira Saunders
Budget:
$750,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$104,160
"The Holy Mountain" is a surreal fantasy film, created by the visionary Alejandro Jodorowsky, who served as writer, director, producer, editor, and lead actor. So impressed were The Beatles with Jodorowsky’s earlier work, "El Topo," that John Lennon, George Harrison, manager Allen Klein, and Yoko Ono took on the role of producers for this unique cinematic experience.
The film was met with critical acclaim, celebrated for its bold exploration of religious symbolism and avant-garde storytelling. It made its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and was later showcased at various prestigious events across Europe.
Although its theatrical run was limited, with select screenings in cities like New York and San Francisco, "The Holy Mountain" quickly earned cult status. The plot centers on a diverse group of individuals embarking on a metaphysical quest to find the Holy Mountain, a journey that challenges them with distractions and confronts them with their deepest fears and negative emotions.
ActionAdventureSci-Fi
Director:
Sam Raimi
Release Date:
Fri May 3 2002
Star Cast:
Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe
Budget:
$139,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$825,025,036
"Spider" is a 2002 film directed by David Cronenberg, adapted from the novel by Patrick McGrath. The movie intricately explores psychological themes, making it a standout in Cronenberg's filmography.
After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, "Spider" received a limited theatrical release. The film resonated strongly with Cronenberg fans, while also winning over many critics with its unique atmosphere and storytelling.
The performances of Ralph Fiennes and Miranda Richardson drew particular acclaim, with critics highlighting their complex and nuanced portrayals. The story centers on a schizophrenic man who, having been released from a mental institution, is placed in a halfway house to adjust to ordinary life.
At first, he seems to regain stability, but as haunting childhood memories begin resurfacing in disjointed fragments, his grip on reality unravels. This psychological spiral propels the narrative and deepens the film's unsettling mood.
DramaThrillerWar
Director:
Ralph Fiennes
Release Date:
Fri Jan 20 2012
Star Cast:
Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox
Box Office (Worldwide):
$2,435,325
Coriolanus (2011), directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, is a bold adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy. This film brings the intensity of ancient conflict into a modern setting, offering a fresh perspective on timeless human flaws.
The story centers on Coriolanus, a celebrated Roman general renowned for his battlefield prowess. His remarkable military achievements bring both glory and envy, as rivals plot against him amidst the political intrigue of Rome.
After securing a seat in the Roman senate, Coriolanus's pride grows unchecked, making him vulnerable to manipulation by enemies. Accused of treason, he is ousted and publicly disgraced, fueling his anger and sense of betrayal.
Consumed by vengeance, Coriolanus allies himself with his former foes to wage war against Rome. Eventually, he recognizes the tragedy of his choices and seeks redemption, but his attempts to atone are tragically misunderstood, resulting in dire consequences.
DramaHorrorMystery
Director:
Jonathan Glazer
Release Date:
Fri Apr 18 2014
Star Cast:
Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay
Budget:
$13,300,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$5,968,016
"Under The Skin" is a science-fiction film that offers a unique perspective by exploring humanity through the eyes of an alien observer.
The story centers on a mysterious woman who lures men into her grasp, only to lead them into a bizarre, tar-like liquid void where their fate remains uncertain.
Assisted by a shadowy motorcyclist, her motives and the ultimate purpose of her haunting mission remain ambiguous throughout the film.
Some critics interpret the story as a commentary on immigration and racial assimilation. While Scarlett Johansson's performance drew considerable praise, the film's deeper message was elusive for many viewers.
ComedyDramaThriller
Director:
Roman Polanski
Release Date:
Mon Nov 7 1966
Star Cast:
Donald Pleasence, Françoise Dorléac, Lionel Stander
Box Office (Worldwide):
$1,500
"Cul-de-Sac" is a British film crafted by renowned director Roman Polanski, who both wrote and directed this psychological thriller. As with many of Polanski's works, the film delves into themes such as jealousy, alienation, and paranoia, creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere throughout the story.
The movie shares similarities with other Polanski classics like "Rosemary’s Baby" and "The Tenant," particularly in its exploration of human psychology and emotional isolation. The plot centers on a British couple living in isolation within a remote castle on a tidal island.
Their solitude is shattered when an American gangster and his wounded accomplice arrive, fleeing the aftermath of a crime. They force their way into the castle just before the incoming tide makes escape impossible.
As the gangster holds the couple hostage, he awaits his boss's promised rescue. However, he is unprepared for the chaotic turn of events and the startling betrayal when his boss ultimately abandons him.
Drama
Director:
Gus Van Sant
Release Date:
Sat Jul 20 1991
Star Cast:
River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo
Budget:
$2,500,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$6,401,336
"My Own Private Idaho," directed by Gus Van Sant in 1991, is a landmark independent film. The story centers on two friends, Mike and Scott, portrayed by River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, who work as male hustlers navigating life on the streets of Portland and through the landscapes of Idaho.
Blending elements of drama and road movies, the film delves deeply into themes of friendship, identity, and the ache of unrequited love. Its unconventional storytelling and nonlinear structure set it apart from traditional narratives.
The movie was praised widely for its artistic ambition, emotionally charged performances, and nuanced depiction of complex, vulnerable characters. The mix of art-house style with mainstream appeal brought the film widespread attention.
Ultimately, "My Own Private Idaho" became a cult classic and played a significant role in elevating independent cinema. The film also helped cement Gus Van Sant's reputation as an innovative filmmaker.
DramaSci-FiThriller
Director:
George Lucas
Release Date:
Thu Mar 11 1971
Star Cast:
Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Don Pedro Colley
Budget:
$777,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$2,437,000
THX 1138 marks the directorial debut of George Lucas, based on a story he originally conceived as a college short film project. This visionary work displays his unique approach to storytelling even before the era-defining Star Wars series.
Although initially labeled a box office flop, THX 1138 found new life as Lucas rose to stardom. Renewed interest from his Star Wars fanbase transformed the film into a celebrated cult classic over time.
Set in a stark dystopian future, the film explores a society where strict regulations and authoritarian control suppress individuality and outlaw emotional expression. The film’s chilling environment is both visually striking and thematically thought-provoking.
Uniformity is brutally enforced by android police, while the government ensures compliance through mandatory drug regimens designed to quash dissent and eliminate human emotion. The result is a haunting vision of conformity and control that continues to resonate today.
ComedyHorrorMusical
Director:
Jim Sharman
Release Date:
Thu Dec 18 1975
Star Cast:
Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick
Budget:
$1,200,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$115,798,478
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is a unique comedy-horror film adapted from the cult favorite stage musical of the same name. Known for its eccentric mix of humor and horror, the movie offers a wild, unforgettable viewing experience.
This film brilliantly parodies classic horror genres, featuring outlandish costumes and grotesque masks. Its quirky characters and outrageous moments have captivated audiences, creating a devoted global fanbase and cementing its status as a true cult classic.
The story kicks off with a newly engaged couple embarking on a road trip. When their car breaks down during a storm in a remote area, they are forced to seek shelter and assistance.
As in many classic horror tales, they stumble upon a mysterious old castle. Hoping to make a phone call, they step inside and quickly become involved with its bizarre inhabitants.
The eccentric castle owner is a mad scientist who has created a Frankenstein-inspired creature named Rocky. The plot unfolds as a tongue-in-cheek homage to B-grade horror films, skillfully lampooning genre conventions every step of the way.
FantasyMysterySci-Fi
Director:
Alex Proyas
Release Date:
Fri Feb 27 1998
Star Cast:
Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly
Budget:
$27,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$27,200,316
"Dark City" is a science fiction suspense thriller co-written and directed by Alex Proyas. The film received critical acclaim for its haunting atmosphere, distinctive art direction, and intricate set design.
The story is both imaginative and suspenseful, centering on a man who wakes with amnesia and finds himself accused of murder. Unable to recall his past or identity, he becomes desperate to prove his innocence.
While searching for answers, the protagonist is relentlessly pursued by a shadowy group known as The Strangers. As the narrative unfolds, it is revealed that The Strangers are actually aliens with a disturbing plan to recreate earth-like conditions.
ComedyDramaMystery
Director:
Richard Ayoade
Release Date:
Fri Apr 4 2014
Star Cast:
Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn
Box Office (Worldwide):
$1,662,515
The Double is a black comedy and mystery film written and directed by Richard Ayoade. Adapted from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novella of the same name, the film received critical praise for its unsettling yet darkly humorous atmosphere and storyline.
The plot centers around doppelgangers Simon James and James Simon, who could not be more different in personality. Their constant interactions lead to increasingly bizarre situations, as each steals what the other holds most dear.
Despite Simon James' sincere efforts, everyone continues to misunderstand and overlook him, instead favoring James Simon—the imposter—whose charm and confidence win people over at Simon's expense.
Drama
Director:
Reed Morano
Release Date:
Fri Oct 23 2015
Star Cast:
Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi
"Meadowland" is a poignant drama that explores the harrowing reality of child loss. The film delves into the overwhelming pain and confusion that parents endure when their child suddenly disappears.
The story follows a joyful couple whose lives are upended during a simple road trip when their son vanishes without a trace at a gas station. What unfolds is every parent's worst nightmare, depicted with raw emotional intensity.
The father, a police officer, clings to hope through support groups and a steadfast search for answers, fighting to maintain some sense of normalcy amid chaos. Meanwhile, his wife takes a more unorthodox path, plunging into risky behavior as she tries to process her overwhelming grief.
DramaHorrorMystery
Director:
Nicolas Gessner
Release Date:
Wed Jan 26 1977
Star Cast:
Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen, Alexis Smith
Budget:
CA$1,100,000 (estimated)
The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane is an American suspense film. It is based on a novel of the same name written by Laird Koenig.
When the film was released, it raised quite a controversy over the apparent nude scenes in the film. However, the film was praised for Jodie Foster's acting.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane has been viewed by critics as a film about children’s rights.
A young girl of 13 years is living in a small house down the lane. Her father is constantly absent and this gives an opportunity for the landlady and her son to harass the child for seemingly minor things.
As the film progresses, we are shown that the girl’s father has died and left her with a bottle of cyanide to protect her from the unscrupulous mother.
DramaThriller
Director:
Martin Scorsese
Release Date:
Fri Oct 22 1999
Star Cast:
Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette, John Goodman
Budget:
$55,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$16,797,191
Bringing Out The Dead is a film by Martin Scorsese based on a novel of the same name written by Joe Connelly.
The film was received well by critics who have praised the work of Scorsese and Nicholas Cage. However, the audience was not able to connect with the film.
The story is about a New York City paramedic who is bogged down by his recent spate of unsuccessful cases.
He has been dispatched with multiple partners to different emergencies that have resulted in varying degrees of failure. He starts to drink and hallucinate in unclear situations.
The reason for his depression could be his failure to save people, but what brought it on and what cures it is unclear. In fact, we are not sure if his hallucinations are cured or not.
DramaFantasyMystery
Director:
David Lynch
Release Date:
Wed Feb 7 2007
Star Cast:
Karolina Gruszka, Krzysztof Majchrzak, Grace Zabriskie
Box Office (Worldwide):
$4,299,667
Inland Empire is a David Lynch film that he wrote, directed, and co-produced. The film was hailed by a few critics as a surrealist film that is typical of Lynch films.
Inland Empire was praised as a nuanced, incisive film that devolves into a parody of itself. The film follows a female movie star who gets a script and auditions for it.
Her neighbour assures her that she will succeed in getting the role and tells her that this is a cursed project.
The actress doesn't believe her and begins work on the film. It slowly dawned on the actress that the lines between the film and real life were getting blurred.
Eventually, the actress loses all grip on reality and completely gets immersed in the film script till the director calls for a cut and declares that the filming was done.
DramaHorrorMystery
Director:
Darren Aronofsky
Release Date:
Fri Sep 15 2017
Star Cast:
Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris
Budget:
$30,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$44,516,999
Mother! is a psychological horror that was written and directed by Darren Aronofsky. The film was met with generally positive reviews from critics.
It also competed for the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival. However, Mother! Courted controversy with religious groups protesting against biblical allegories.
The film starts with a burned-down house with a beautiful garden surrounding it. In the ruin sits a man who is lamenting the ruin.
The next day, the ruin is reset back into a beautiful house, and the man runs into the bedroom to find his dead wife alive again.
The couple restarts their idyllic life and the man, once again, garners fame and recognition. With this, he starts to have visitors, and the weirdness starts. The film has scenes of extreme violence, adultery, chaos, and confusion.
AnimationComedyCrime
Director:
Richard Linklater
Release Date:
Fri Jul 28 2006
Star Cast:
Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr.
Budget:
$8,700,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$7,659,918
A Scanner Darkly is a Richard Linklater movie that is adapted from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name.
The film is an adult animated film that was shot in live-action and later converted into animation using an interpolated rotoscope.
The film received positive reviews for Linklater's direction and the performance of the cast, especially Robert Downey Jr. A New York police detective is sent undercover to investigate the widespread use of drugs, particularly the new drug called Substance D.
While undercover, the identities of fellow agents and their handlers have been kept a secret using scrambler suits. As the film progresses, the goalpost keeps moving away as the detective himself becomes addicted to the drug.
There also appear to be many more deep-cover operations that run parallel to his role, making things confusing.
HorrorMysterySci-Fi
Director:
David Cronenberg
Release Date:
Fri Apr 23 1999
Star Cast:
Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm
Budget:
$15,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$2,856,712
eXistenZ is a science-fiction film that is written, directed, and co-produced by David Cronenberg. The film is about a struggle between virtual reality game designers and realists who oppose the game.
eXistenZ is about assassins, secret agents, double agents, and more. Allegra Geller is a game designer presenting her newly developed game called eXistenZ. Multiple parties set out to sabotage the game.
They even send out assassins to kill her. With the help of a security officer, Ted Pikul, she must set out on a dangerous mission to rescue her game and identify all the enemy parties.
Things get murkier as the film progresses until they are stuck in a diseased game.
AdventureComedyDrama
Director:
Sebastián Silva
Release Date:
Thu Apr 24 2014
Star Cast:
Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffmann, Juan Andrés Silva
Box Office (Worldwide):
$223,821
Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus Is a film about the trip that a group of youngsters experiences under the influence of a psychotropic drug.
The trip starts with a young American teen who is footloose and fancy-free. He decides to go to Chile along with three Chilean brothers to locate a variety of San Pedro Cactus.
Using this cactus, the four men plan to make a psychotropic drug. But a fifth person tags along who is a new-age hippie who quickly gets on to their last nerve.
After experiencing a series of comedic events, the group coalesces and finds peace. The critics gave favourable reviews to the movie.
They felt that Michael Cera was adorable as a self-absorbed youth, and the director kept the movie together perfectly.
DramaHorrorMystery
Director:
Adrian Lyne
Release Date:
Fri Nov 2 1990
Star Cast:
Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello
Budget:
$25,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$26,118,851
Jacob’s Ladder is a psychological horror written by Bruce Joel Rubin. The film is a story of the ordeals of a Vietnam war veteran that slowly descends into a chaos of hallucinations, reality, and dreams.
By the end of the movie, we see light at the end of the tunnel, but the experience is nerve-wracking.
Jacob is a Vietnam War veteran trying to overcome the after-effects of his brutal war experiences. He keeps hallucinating about his days with his unit and trying to piece together the reasons for his condition.
To add to his ordeal, Jacob also starts seeing his dead son and family. As the hallucinations get more insane and his grip on reality becomes tenuous, Jacob receives help from his friend, who shows him the way out of this hell.
Drama
Director:
David Cronenberg
Release Date:
Fri Apr 24 1992
Star Cast:
Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm
Budget:
$16,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$2,641,357
Naked Lunch is another David Cronenberg film that he directed and wrote based on a novel of the same name by William S. Burroughs.
The film became a cult classic, despite its dismal performance at the box office. The film received good reviews from critics and also won honours for direction.
The film chronicles the effects of overexposure to insecticide on an exterminator. He starts to get addicted to the use of the insecticide and has hallucinations.
He sees that most of the people in his life are undercover bugs who are working for a secret organization. They offer him secret missions that involve killing people and recording extensive mission logs.
ComedyDramaFantasy
Director:
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Release Date:
Fri Jul 1 2016
Star Cast:
Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$4,935,501
Swiss Army Man is described as an absurd black comedy. The film was made by debutant directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who also wrote the story.
The film received positive reviews, with many critics calling the movie odd and well-acted with a deeply dark sense of humour.
A man is marooned on a deserted island and stumbles upon a corpse that washes ashore. The body is weirdly flatulent.
The man uses this to jet ski onto a bigger island. Feeling grateful for the corpse, he pulls it along with him. As the film progresses, the man realizes that the corpse has many more weird powers that are useful, entertaining, and awkward.
The corpse slowly starts to learn how to speak and learns to be civilized. However, he is not up to the task of being integrated into society.
DramaSci-Fi
Director:
Douglas Trumbull
Release Date:
Fri Mar 10 1972
Star Cast:
Bruce Dern, Cliff Potts, Ron Rifkin
Budget:
$1,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$336
Silent Running is an environment-themed post-apocalyptic film. Earth has been ravaged by decades of environmental neglect. To save the flora and fauna, as many plants and animals as possible have been kept in geodesic domes that are attached to large spaceships and stationed in an orbit outside Saturn.
A group of researchers, including a botanist, are left to take care of the various plants and animals. As the situation on Earth deteriorates, an executive decision is made to abandon all plants and animals and use the spaceship elsewhere.
This disturbs the botanist, who revolts and wreaks havoc on the spaceship. The film starts out as an ecological-themed film, but it meanders and loses track.
It does not reach its potential and falls short on many counts. Yet, it is a unique theme that was previously overlooked.
DramaMysteryThriller
Director:
Denis Villeneuve
Release Date:
Thu Feb 6 2014
Star Cast:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon
Box Office (Worldwide):
$3,468,224
Enemy is a psychological drama directed by Denis Villeneuve. It is based on the novel titled, The Double by José Saramago.
The film received favourable reviews from critics and the audience alike. The style, picturization, ambience, etc., were all compared to the work of David Lynch.
The film starts with a history professor who leads a mundane life that lacks change or novelty. One day, he discovers a movie that stars a person who looks like him, and this intrigues him.
He obsessively follows that guy and tries to meet him. When he does meet the look-alike, the professor realizes that nothing is the same anymore.
It starts to dawn on him that he might have a look-alike after all, and both characters are different personalities of the same person.
AnimationDramaSci-Fi
Director:
Ari Folman
Release Date:
Thu Jul 24 2014
Star Cast:
Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm
Budget:
PLN 34,148,170 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$758,754
The Congress is a film based on the novel The Futurological Congress by Stanislaw Lem. The film is science-fiction about a world where the lines between the real world and the animated world are all blurred with the help of questionable technology.
The film follows the life of an ageing actress who is also a mother, struggling to keep her son safe from his illness.
Initially, in need of money, she agrees to sell her image as an animation that acts in films. As technology progresses, the boundaries between the real world and computer animation blur, and human identity gets lost.
The world becomes a dystopian society where reality is dismal and animation reigns.
ComedyFantasyHorror
Director:
Takashi Miike
Release Date:
Sat Feb 23 2002
Star Cast:
Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda
Budget:
$1,500,000 (estimated)
The Happiness of the Katakuris is a 2001 Japanese musical comedy horror film directed by Takashi Miike, with screenplay by Kikumi Yamagishi. It is loosely based on the South Korean film The Quiet Family.
The plot follows the Katakuri family, who opens a rustic mountain inn after the patriarch, Masao, is fired from his job. However, their plans to start a new life are quickly derailed when their guests start dying in strange and gruesome ways.
The film is a dark and disturbing comedy that is not for the faint of heart. It is full of violence and gore, but it is also surprisingly funny and heartwarming. The Katakuri family is a dysfunctional but lovable bunch, and their attempts to keep their inn running are both hilarious and heartbreaking.
ComedyDramaHorror
Director:
Ari Aster
Release Date:
Fri Apr 21 2023
Star Cast:
Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan
Budget:
$35,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$11,480,078
Beau Is Afraid is a 2023 psychological horror film made by Ari Aster. Director Ari Aster crafts a visually stunning and deeply unsettling world, blurring the lines between reality and delusion as Beau's grip on sanity starts to slip.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as Beau, a man haunted by his childhood trauma and debilitating anxiety. As he embarks on a surreal and nightmarish journey after the death of his mother, Beau confronts his deepest fears and darkest secrets.The film takes a deep dive into Beau's fractured psyche, exploring the themes of family dysfunction, generational trauma, and the power of fear.
"Beau Is Afraid" is a mind-bending cinematic experience that will challenge viewers' perceptions and leave them questioning the very nature of reality.
MusicalComedySci-Fi
Director:
Cory McAbee
Release Date:
Sat Jan 20 2001
Star Cast:
Cory McAbee, Rocco Sisto, Gregory Russell Cook
The American Astronaut is a science-fiction film that was written and directed by Cory McAbee. The film has a plot that is built on the premise that space travel is a job or hard labour that was created for manual labourers and not an intellectual pursuit.
An astronaut, Samuel Curtis, does the job of delivering and undertaking missions from different planets in the solar system.
While on a mission to locate a boy who saw a woman, Samuel Curtis realizes that all women are confined to the planet Venus. At the same time, another person is hunting him down on a mission to kill him.
DramaHorrorThriller
Director:
Kaneto Shindô
Release Date:
Thu Feb 4 1965
Star Cast:
Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Kei Satô
Onibaba is a Japanese period film that is set in 14th-century Japan. It was written and directed by Kaneto Shindo, and he used his usual cast of stage play performers for the movie too.
The film opens with a country that is at war, resulting in a shortage of food and money. Most men have been drafted into the army, but they are deserting the war and stealing food from farmers.
In these tough times, a mother and daughter-in-law pair resort to killing soldiers and stealing their belongings. One day the neighbour returns from war and shows a liking for the daughter-in-law.
This makes the old woman angry and jealous. She encounters a lone samurai, wearing an oni mask of jealousy, and she kills him.
Using this mask, the old woman scares the younger woman, but the mask refuses to come off.
HorrorSci-FiThriller
Director:
Saul Bass
Star Cast:
Nigel Davenport, Michael Murphy, Lynne Frederick
Box Office (Worldwide):
$289
Phase IV is a science-fiction horror film made by Saul Bass. It was the only feature film directed by him and was inspired by the short story Empire of the Ants, by H. G. Wells.
The film was a flop, but it gained a cult following after it was telecast during the KTMA era. The story starts with an unexplained cosmic event that affects the ants, and they start to develop a superior intellect.
Coupled with their hive mentality, they aggressively engage hums in the desert of Arizona and start to take over the place.
The film received mixed reactions, with critics calling it a monster film and a film where special effects take precedence over the story.
ComedyCrimeThriller
Director:
Nicholas Tomnay
Release Date:
Sat May 7 2011
Star Cast:
David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Nathaniel Parker
Budget:
$500,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$453,708
The Perfect Host is a black comedy and crime thriller. It was written and directed by Nicholas Tomnay, based on a short film that he made earlier.
The film received mixed reviews. The story was initially engaging but lost its way towards the end. A bank robber is trying to escape the police who have issued warnings and notices on TV and radio.
While he is trying to look for a hideout, the robber stumbles into the house of a strange man, who is preparing for a dinner party.
Although he finds shelter in the house, the robber finds the host’s behaviour to be odd. Soon, it is revealed that the host is hosting a party with all imaginary people who turn out to be murder victims, and the robber has been drugged with no way to escape.
HorrorSci-Fi
Director:
Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Release Date:
Sat Jul 1 1989
Star Cast:
Tomorô Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Nobu Kanaoka
Tetsuo: The Iron Man is a Japanese body horror that was written, directed, produced, and edited by Shinya Tsukamoto.
He is known for making low-budget, underground productions that have a massive following in Japan and around the world.
The film revolves around a metal fetishist who can mysteriously survive and function with plates of metal inserted into his body.
On one occasion, he is overrun by a car and appears to be dead. The man driving the car panics and goes away from there.
However, the driver realizes that slowly his body is transforming into a metallic body. His body parts are either encased in metal or turned into a metal object, and he is unable to escape or do anything about it.
ActionFantasyHorror
Director:
Panos Cosmatos
Release Date:
Fri Sep 14 2018
Star Cast:
Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache
Budget:
$6,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$1,653,784
Mandy is a drug-fueled gore fest with revenge as the main theme. A logger and his artist girlfriend are leading a simple idyllic life, far from the bustling city.
A sinister cult moves into the neighbourhood, and the cult leader takes a liking to the girlfriend. With the help of a drug-dealing MC gang, the cult leader captures and kills her.
The logger who has witnessed all this flies into a rage and exacts his revenge on the MC gang and the cult.
It is a John Wick-style movie but is much more chaotic, gory, and drug-fueled. The performance of Nicholas Cage was praised, and the story was also appreciated, but the film did not do well.
ComedyDrama
Director:
Harmony Korine
Release Date:
Mon Nov 24 1997
Star Cast:
Nick Sutton, Jacob Sewell, Lara Tosh
Budget:
$1,300,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$116,799
Gummo is an experimental film that is set in a small town in midwestern America. The town has been torn by a devastating tornado and the signs of decay are everywhere.
The townsfolk who remain are stuck in poverty and lack civic amenities like police, governance, or even medicines. The youth start to pass the time by indulging in various illegal, immoral, and unethical behaviours.
The director, Harmony Korine tried to make a stylized film that shows everything that is wrong with the youth without making excuses or romanticizing it.
The story is filled with themes like drug abuse, homophobia, racism, prostitution, sexual abuse, suicide, sadness, animal cruelty, and more.
ActionThriller
Director:
Joseph Losey
Release Date:
Mon Mar 22 1971
Star Cast:
Robert Shaw, Malcolm McDowell, Andy Bradford
Figures in The Landscape is an action thriller that raises more questions than answers. It is based on a novel of the same name written by Barry England.
The film follows the struggle of two men who are trying to escape something or someone. They are constantly chased by a mysterious black helicopter.
Out of the two men who are escaping, one of them is a leader who is more aggressive with a fighting spirit, while the other wants to escape with minimum violence and appears to be a pacifist.
We are not given any clear indication about the identity of the escapees, their backstory, or their reason for escape. We are also not given any lead on who is the pursuer and if they are the good guys or the bad guys.
Horror
Director:
Jean Rollin
Release Date:
Wed Jul 5 1978
Star Cast:
Marie-Georges Pascal, Félix Marten, Serge Marquand
The Grapes of Death is a French horror film with a weird logic and ending. The film is set in a vineyard where an experimental new pesticide is used on the grapes.
Soon, we see groups of people with boils on their faces and bodies who turn violent and kill others.
A young woman inadvertently comes upon this situation and has a long struggle to get to the root of the problem.
After she finds the cause, inexplicably, she adds to the problem by killing the only other normal people with her. The film is a combination of surreal atmosphere, blood, gore, and weirdness.
Horror
Director:
Paco Plaza
Release Date:
Fri Jan 28 2022
Star Cast:
Almudena Amor, Vera Valdez, Karina Kolokolchykova
Box Office (Worldwide):
$3,033,653
The Grandmother is a wildly imaginative film written and directed by David Lynch. It is a combination of live-action and animation with no dialogue.
We can only find intermittent rants of gibberish to convey the mood or emotion of the scene. It is a short film, but it became pivotal in helping David Lynch earn a scholarship to join the AFI's Center for Advanced Film Studies/ A young boy lives with his abusive and neglectful parents.
Even though his situation is not ideal, he has a very strong imagination. The young boy finds a bag of seeds in his house and plants them in the middle of a single bed.
As the plant grows, it fruits to a grandmother who is always smiling and approving of him. It only remains to see if his grandmother is helpful to the kid in overcoming all the abuse of his parents.
DramaFantasyHorror
Director:
Wojciech Has
Release Date:
Wed Dec 12 1973
Star Cast:
Jan Nowicki, Tadeusz Kondrat, Irena Orska
The Hourglass Sanatorium is a surrealist film by the Polish director Wojciech Jerzy Has. The film is the adaptation of Bruno Schulz's story collection Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass.
It is well-known in Western countries with the name The Sandglass. The film takes us on a bizarre, fantastical journey with Joseph, who comes to visit his dying father in the sanatorium.
The condition of the dilapidated sanatorium shocks him, but the fact that time passes differently in this place is the main surprise.
He starts to behave like a child and relives his childhood memories. The film was not appreciated by the Polish people as alluded to their difficult past with Jews.
The film's Jewish characters and the holocaust imagery were not to the taste of the Polish government.
DramaMysteryThriller
Director:
Basil Dearden
Release Date:
Thu Sep 2 1971
Star Cast:
Roger Moore, Hildegard Neil, Alastair Mackenzie
Budget:
£400,000 (estimated)
The Man Who Haunted Himself is a psychological thriller based on the novel titled The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham, written by Anthony Armstrong.
Roger Moore starred in the lead role, and he considered the movie his favourite film ever. Critics also agreed that this film was his best film apart from the Bond movies.
The story of the film is similar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in some ways. Mr. Pelham is a creature of habit and strictly follows his mundane life.
After an unusual car accident, the life of Mr. Pelham is turned chaotic with events that he cannot recollect that involve him.
He starts to behave uncharacteristically and identifies that he has a doppelganger who has taken over his life. How all this happened and why adds to the weirdness and suspense of the film.