It’s anarchy this week at Psychotronic Netflix, as I wanted to go themeless and just point out ten flicks that are worth your time. You’ve got a three-day weekend, so you might as well start digging in!
10. Howling VI: The Freaks (1991)
Okay, so “best HOWLING sequel” is about the faintest praise that can possibly be offered, but Hope Perello’s DTV flick stands on its own, as a vampire and a werewolf cross paths at a small town carnival. With Bruce Payne (as the vampire), Brendan Hughes (as the werewolf), Antonio Fargas (as a geek), Carol Lynley and Deep Roy.
9. Tell No One (2006)
Based on a book by Harlan Coben, Guillaume Canet’s twisty, turny thriller about a doctor whose murdered wife seems to have reappeared manages to come together without becoming unbelievable or hackneyed – no small feat, considering the wild ride it takes you on…
8. The Imposter (2012)
…and it finds a real-life companion piece in the similarly twisty documentary THE IMPOSTER, recounting the events that brought a man back to a family, claiming to be a long-lost son. More than a thriller, it’s a fascinating portrait of humanity and confirmation bias.
7. Series 7: The Contenders (2001)
Released at the start of the reality television boom, SERIES 7 still works as great satire over a decade later. Shot as a television series that follows contestants in their efforts to off each other, this is a witty, well-acted and hugely entertaining flick that’s more BATTLE ROYALE or THE 10TH VICTIM than THE HUNGER GAMES.
6. F/X (1986)
Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy are co-billed, but they really only share about a minute of screen time in this fun ’80s thriller about a special effects artist who ends up framed for murder. While it tanked in theaters, its discovery on home video was one of VHS’s bigger success stories, launching a sequel and a spin-off TV series. With Cliff DeYoung, Diane Venora and Jerry Orbach.
5. Scarface (1932)
Yeah, everyone knows Brian De Palma’s “remake,” but Howard Hawks’ swift gangster saga starring Paul Muni as low-life on the road to the top of the mob chain gang is great, compelling stuff that should appeal to even those resistant of something made before 1950. With George Raft and Boris Karloff, who goes bowling quite memorably.
4. The Signal (2006)
Almost an anthology film in that it’s got three clear segments from three different directors, THE SIGNAL follows several characters over the course of a single apocalyptic event that turns normal people into madmen. All three segments are worthwhile, and each have their own distinct tone, something that can’t be said for most of the horror anthologies that have popped up in recent years.
3. A Shock to the System (1990)
Who doesn’t love Michael Caine, badass? Here he is as a white collar worker who gets passed up for a promotion, much to the chagrin of his shrewish wife (Swoosie Kurtz), so he does the only thing one can do — he starts killing his way to the top. With Peter Riegert, Elizabeth McGovern, and Will Patton.
2. The Baby (1973)
Ted Post passed away last week, and while he’s noted for many of his mainstream films (MAGNUM FORCE, HANG ‘EM HIGH), one of his best is the wild, wonderful 1973 drive-in classic about a social worker investigating a family in which the son, clearly in his 20s, is treated as a baby. Then things get weird.
1. Sound of Noise (2010)
After a few midnight screenings across the country, this bizarro Swedish film about a group of anarchist musicians who set out to perform a concert on non-traditional equipment, much to the chagrin of the townspeople, was worth the wait — this should reach a much larger cult audience than it has so far.
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