Cult films aren’t planned. Actually, no. If someone is going to write, cast, direct, finance, and shoot a movie, somewhere in their auteurist heart, they want to make the next “little low-budget indie that could.” Cultdom is usually their best option. However, art may fare worse. Filmmakers now wear “cult” as a badge of pride. Given their business, they should.
1. Labyrinth
Labyrinth, released in 1986, is a quirky film with an incredible roster of talent including Jim Henson and Terry Jones from Muppets fame, David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. Originally a box office flop, it has since become a cult classic. The plot is a basic fairytale story about a girl named Sarah who gets trapped in a strange, fantasy world. She must use her wits to navigate this mysterious, perilous labyrinth in order to rescue her baby brother from the Goblin King before time runs out.
In addition to being a classic children’s movie, Labyrinth is also a dark fantasy that rejects princess-ism in favor of an empowered female hero. The film also highlights the tension between childhood imagination and adult responsibilities. You can download it from az movies download for free.
2. The Greasy Strangler
Jim Hosking’s debut feature is a twisted comedy that’s the closest you’ll get to a John Waters Trash Trilogy. It’s a film that takes a lot of cues from Troma and the fashionable surreal comedy sensibilities of Tim and Eric or Quentin Dupieux, but it also has its own unique weirdness. The Greasy Strangler is a cult favorite that was one of the most talked about films at Sundance this year. It may not appeal to everyone, but it’s a must-see for anyone who appreciates unflinching oddity and twisted humor.
Father-and-son duo Ronnie (Michael St. Michaels) and Brayden (Sky Elobar) run a disco walking tour of their small Los Angeles town, where they meet Janet (Elizabeth De Razzo). When a mysterious woman comes along and begins to fall for them both, Ronnie is drawn to lathering himself up in grease and killing people.
3. The Dark Crystal
Among Jim Henson’s many contributions to the world of puppetry, The Dark Crystal is probably his most ambitious. Billed at the time as the first live-action film to not feature a single human character, it’s an epic tale set on Thra, a planet that splits and cracks into two vying cultures: the evil Skeksis who harness a dark crystal for their power, and the patient Mystics who work in harmony with the other.
Despite its obvious shortcomings, The Dark Crystal is a true cult classic and a testament to Henson’s unique talent. Its puppetry is as beautiful and fluid as any in film history, and the sets and creatures are incredibly inventive.
4. The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Man Who Fell to Earth, a 1976 film based on Walter Tevis’ novel, is an important sci-fi work that delves deeply into human nature and our planet’s dwindling resources. It reflects on a culture of over-consumption and distraction by social media, while also examining race relations, immigration, evolution and extinction. While The Man Who Fell to Earth is a classic, it isn’t without its flaws. The film’s edgy and experimental style isn’t always the most appealing to a general audience, especially since it was adapted into a TV series by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman.
The new version of the show isn’t a direct adaptation, but it still centers on the titular alien Faraday (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his relationship with Justin Falls (Naomie Harris). This is a must-watch for fans of the original, but Showtime should take care to make this adaptation a more audience-friendly affair, otherwise, it will be one more cult classic that gets relegated to a streaming service.
5. The Devil’s Rejects
If you love gore, a good story and a little violence, Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects is a must-watch. The sequel to House of 1000 Corpses, it takes the same psychopathic Firefly family on a killing spree that will sicken you. There’s a lot more to this film than what you might expect from a director like Zombie. Rather than take a more traditional slasher route, the filmmaker takes a more political approach to his characters and their stories.
The movie is shot in a similar style to many of the cheesy grindhouse movies from the ’70s, but it never feels amateurish or hackneyed. It’s a great example of Zombie’s true devotion to his genre.
