Cult

  • James B. Harris – Some Call It Loving AKA Sleeping Beauty AKA Dream Castle [+Commentary](1973)

    1971-1980CultFantasyJames B. HarrisUSA

    In this modern day re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty, a disillusioned musician named Robert obtains a carnival act from a sleazy carny and brings home a young girl who has been asleep for many years. After bringing her to his secluded castle and awakening her with a kiss, Robert tries to introduce her to his strange and magical world, but as their relationship develops Jennifer begins to pine for a life that is more complex than Robert can offer.Read More »

  • Raoul Walsh – The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945)

    1941-1950ComedyCultRaoul WalshScrewball ComedyUSA

    Synopsis by Hal Erickson
    Though Jack Benny made a cottage industry out of joking about the purported rottenness of his 1945 vehicle Horn Blows at Midnght, the film is in fact a delightful comedy-fantasy-certainly not Benny’s best film, but far from his worst. While dozing off during a radio broadcast, studio musician Athaniel (Benny) dreams he’s a trumpet player in Heaven’s celestial orchestra. At the behest of glamorous angel Elizabeth (Alexis Smith), Athaniel is brought into the lavish chambers of The Chief (Guy Kibbee), who has a job for our hapless hero. Read More »

  • León Klimovsky – La noche de Walpurgis AKA The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman AKA Werewolf Shadow (1971)

    1971-1980CultHorrorLeón KlimovskySpainSpanish cinema under Franco

    Synopsis:
    Elvira is travelling through the French countryside with her friend Genevieve, searching for the lost tomb of a medieval murderess and possible vampire, Countess Wandessa. They find a likely site in the castle of Waldemar Daninsky, who invites the women to stay as long as they like. As Waldemar shows Elvira the tomb that supposedly houses the countess, she accidentally causes the vampire to come back to life, hungrier than ever. Daninsky has a hidden secret of his own, but will it be enough to save the two girls from becoming Wandessa’s next victims?Read More »

  • Jed Johnson – Andy Warhol’s Bad (1977)

    1971-1980Andy WarholComedyCultJed JohnsonUSA

    Hazel runs a beauty salon out of her house, but makes extra money by providing ruthless women to do hit jobs. K.T. is a parasite, and contacts Hazel looking for work when he runs out of money. She is reluctant to use him for a hit, since she prefers using women, but decides to try him on a trial basis. Meanwhile, the local cop she pays off wants an arrest to make it look like he’s actually doing his job, but she doesn’t want to sacrifice any of her “associates.” Several other side plots are woven in, populated with characters from the sleazy side of life.Read More »

  • Gordon Parks – Shaft (1971)

    1971-1980ActionBlaxploitationCultGordon ParksUSA

    Synopsis:
    John Shaft is the ultimate in suave black detectives. He first finds himself up against Bumpy, the leader of the Black crime mob, then against Black nationals, and finally working with both against the White Mafia who are trying to blackmail Bumpy by kidnapping his daughter.Read More »

  • Sam Raimi – The Evil Dead (1981)

    USA1981-1990CultHorrorSam Raimi

    Synopsis:
    Five college students take time off to spend a peaceful vacation in a remote cabin. A book and audio tape is discovered, and its evil is found to be powerful once the incantations are read out loud. The friends find themselves helpless to stop the evil as it takes them one by one, with only one survivor left with the evil dead and desperately tries to fight to live until morning.Read More »

  • Storm Thorgerson – Drug-Taking and the Arts AKA The Art of Tripping (1993)

    1991-2000CultDocumentaryStorm ThorgersonUnited Kingdom

    A 2-part programme exploring the history of drug use by creative artists, for the ‘Without Walls’ strand of Channel 4.

    Presented by: Bernard Hill
    Written by: David Gale
    Produced by: Jon Blair
    Directed by: Storm Thorgerson
    Soundtrack by: David GilmourRead More »

  • Perry Henzell – The Harder They Come [+Extras] (1972)

    1971-1980Caribbean CinemaCrimeCultJamaicaPerry Henzell

    Quote:
    Review (Popeye Pete, The Deuce: Grindhouse Cinema Database)
    Director/Producer Perry Henzell created one of the most popular films to come out of Jamaica. The Harder They Come was a triumph for the Jamaican culture and it gave an honest look at life within the ghettos of that part of the world. It also became a legendary cult film. Ivan (Jimmy Cliff) is a country boy looking for fame and fortune in the big city of Kingston, Jamaica. He has dreams of becoming a star in the new reggae scene. When Ivan gets to town, he finds out things wont be as easy as he expected. When Ivan visits his mother and she explains that even though he has good intentions hes headed for a rough road ahead.Read More »

  • Bob Kelljan – Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)

    1961-1970Bob KelljanCultHorrorUSA

    Synopsis:
    Sixties couples Michael and Donna and Paul and Erica become involved with the intense Count Yorga at a Los Angeles séance, the Count having latterly been involved with Donna’s just-dead mother. After taking the Count home, Paul and Erica are waylaid, and next day a listless Erica is diagnosed by their doctor as having lost a lot of blood. When she is later found feasting on the family cat the doctor becomes convinced vampirism is at work, and that its focus is Count Yorga and his large isolated house.Read More »

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