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So I'm starting this thread of films I love and recommend. Hope you find a few you haven't seen.
I will add to it over time. If you reply with some of your own favourites I'll have more to watch.
Here goes...
I will add to it over time. If you reply with some of your own favourites I'll have more to watch.
Here goes...
BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA
Cool as fuck film about a bar piano player after the bounty on some lowlife who knocked up a Mexican crime lord's daughter.
The hard drinking curmudgeon gets obsessed with the head for personal reasons and starts talking to it on his travels.
Cool as fuck film about a bar piano player after the bounty on some lowlife who knocked up a Mexican crime lord's daughter.
The hard drinking curmudgeon gets obsessed with the head for personal reasons and starts talking to it on his travels.
DEAD MAN'S SHOES
Brutal revenge flick with a bitterly tender heart. A British Army paratrooper returns home to small town England to hunt, machine-like and fearless, the petty gang of drug dealers and layabouts that tormented his mentally-impaired brother while he was away.
Brutal revenge flick with a bitterly tender heart. A British Army paratrooper returns home to small town England to hunt, machine-like and fearless, the petty gang of drug dealers and layabouts that tormented his mentally-impaired brother while he was away.
AUDITION
A widower wants to date again so his film producer buddy sets up an audition. Of the women that show up, he likes Asami the best. None of the references she gives check out but he pursues her anyway. Unfortunately, she's a lunatic who plunges his life into nightmare.
A widower wants to date again so his film producer buddy sets up an audition. Of the women that show up, he likes Asami the best. None of the references she gives check out but he pursues her anyway. Unfortunately, she's a lunatic who plunges his life into nightmare.
MEET THE FEEBLES
A theatre troupe of horrible-looking puppets is practicing for their big show. The plot is a whirlwind in a trash can but kind of revolves around Robert, a hedgehog and newcomer. Loads of drugs, silly voices and pointlessly tasteless violence.
A theatre troupe of horrible-looking puppets is practicing for their big show. The plot is a whirlwind in a trash can but kind of revolves around Robert, a hedgehog and newcomer. Loads of drugs, silly voices and pointlessly tasteless violence.
I SAW THE DEVIL
The fiancée of a national intelligence agent is murdered so he goes off duty to get justice. When he finds the killer, instead of wasting him he shoves a GPS tracker down his throat so he can hunt him down again and again... until he fucks up and the tables turn.
The fiancée of a national intelligence agent is murdered so he goes off duty to get justice. When he finds the killer, instead of wasting him he shoves a GPS tracker down his throat so he can hunt him down again and again... until he fucks up and the tables turn.
POSSUM
A disgraced children's puppeteer returns home to face his past and dispose of the man-faced spider marionette in his hold-all. Every time he gets rid of it, though, it comes back, somehow, of its own accord. Meanwhile the police want to question him about a missing child.
A disgraced children's puppeteer returns home to face his past and dispose of the man-faced spider marionette in his hold-all. Every time he gets rid of it, though, it comes back, somehow, of its own accord. Meanwhile the police want to question him about a missing child.
BAD BOY BUBBY
A man is tricked into staying indoors for the first thirty-five years of his life by his mother, who tells him the air outside is contaminated. Eventually he escapes and embarks on a wild journey of discovery in the outside world, learning to speak along the way.
A man is tricked into staying indoors for the first thirty-five years of his life by his mother, who tells him the air outside is contaminated. Eventually he escapes and embarks on a wild journey of discovery in the outside world, learning to speak along the way.
DARKMAN
Overlooked and very cheesy superhero revenge film with Liam Neeson as a scientist who creates artificial skin for burn victims. The tissue melts after 99 minutes in the light. He gets blown up by mobsters and has to remake his own face with it but it remains unstable.
Overlooked and very cheesy superhero revenge film with Liam Neeson as a scientist who creates artificial skin for burn victims. The tissue melts after 99 minutes in the light. He gets blown up by mobsters and has to remake his own face with it but it remains unstable.
MAN BITES DOG
Pitch-dark mockumentary wherein a camera crew follows the jovially sadistic escapades of a serial killer. At first passive observers, they wind up increasingly active participants in his slayings. An absurd film that forces reflection on violence and voyeurism.
Pitch-dark mockumentary wherein a camera crew follows the jovially sadistic escapades of a serial killer. At first passive observers, they wind up increasingly active participants in his slayings. An absurd film that forces reflection on violence and voyeurism.
THE STRAIGHT STORY
The true story of Alvin Straight, an old man on canes with poor eyesight and no driving license who, when his brother has a stroke, fixes a trailer to his lawn tractor and rides across country at a top speed of 5 miles per hour to see him. Simple, sweet film.
The true story of Alvin Straight, an old man on canes with poor eyesight and no driving license who, when his brother has a stroke, fixes a trailer to his lawn tractor and rides across country at a top speed of 5 miles per hour to see him. Simple, sweet film.
TURBO KID
A violent, pleasingly ramshackle post-apocalyptic retro action adventure where all the costumes look like they came from an incel's garage sale. Turbo Kid battles Zeus, a sadistic maniac who throws people in a gigantic blender to extract the water from their bodies.
A violent, pleasingly ramshackle post-apocalyptic retro action adventure where all the costumes look like they came from an incel's garage sale. Turbo Kid battles Zeus, a sadistic maniac who throws people in a gigantic blender to extract the water from their bodies.
BAD LIEUTENANT
Harvey Keitel is a crack-smoking alcoholic cop on a losing streak to some violent bookies. The degenerate gambler, apparently in the throes of a substance-fueled midlife breakdown, doubles down on his bets and suicidal behaviour until there's nowhere left to hide.
Harvey Keitel is a crack-smoking alcoholic cop on a losing streak to some violent bookies. The degenerate gambler, apparently in the throes of a substance-fueled midlife breakdown, doubles down on his bets and suicidal behaviour until there's nowhere left to hide.
SEVEN NOTES IN BLACK
(aka THE PSYCHIC)
A clairvoyant woman's vision leads her to the skeleton of a murder victim inside the wall of her husband's house. With her husband's sister Gloria, Gloria's lawyer friend and a researcher of psychic phenomena, she investigate the killing.
(aka THE PSYCHIC)
A clairvoyant woman's vision leads her to the skeleton of a murder victim inside the wall of her husband's house. With her husband's sister Gloria, Gloria's lawyer friend and a researcher of psychic phenomena, she investigate the killing.
FUNNY GAMES (1997 VERSION)
A family are taken hostage at their holiday home by two young men visiting the area. For hours they're subjected to mental and physical torment as the movie consistently defies narrative convention. Perverse, unpredictable and confrontational film.
A family are taken hostage at their holiday home by two young men visiting the area. For hours they're subjected to mental and physical torment as the movie consistently defies narrative convention. Perverse, unpredictable and confrontational film.
BUBBA HO-TEP
An old guy in a nursing home who was in a coma for twenty years and thinks he's Elvis and another old guy that believes he's JFK square off against a reanimated ancient Egyptian mummy that feeds on the souls of their fellow residents. Funny and strangely affecting.
An old guy in a nursing home who was in a coma for twenty years and thinks he's Elvis and another old guy that believes he's JFK square off against a reanimated ancient Egyptian mummy that feeds on the souls of their fellow residents. Funny and strangely affecting.
WITHNAIL AND I
One of the funniest, deftest, bluntly charming black comedies of all time. Two out of work actors contemplating the sorry state of their careers take a trip to the rural cottage of one of them's eccentric uncle. A classic that's near perfect in tone and delivery.
One of the funniest, deftest, bluntly charming black comedies of all time. Two out of work actors contemplating the sorry state of their careers take a trip to the rural cottage of one of them's eccentric uncle. A classic that's near perfect in tone and delivery.
IN A GLASS CAGE
A Nazi doctor who did experiments on kids tries to kill himself but ends up paralysed, reliant on an iron lung. The new helper his wife hires to look after him turns out to be a grown up kid he abused while in exile after the war. Good, but not for the sensitive.
A Nazi doctor who did experiments on kids tries to kill himself but ends up paralysed, reliant on an iron lung. The new helper his wife hires to look after him turns out to be a grown up kid he abused while in exile after the war. Good, but not for the sensitive.
FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!
Three extremely uninhibited go-go dancers out racing their cars decide to rob an old man who lives in the desert. A kitschy, trashy, tasteless, cheap exploitation flick that feels like it's made up entirely of over-acted and under-acted first takes.
Three extremely uninhibited go-go dancers out racing their cars decide to rob an old man who lives in the desert. A kitschy, trashy, tasteless, cheap exploitation flick that feels like it's made up entirely of over-acted and under-acted first takes.
CECIL B. DEMENTED
A band of 'kamikaze filmmakers' called the SprocketHoles kidnap Hollywood actress Honey Whitlock and force her to star in their terrorist gonzo B-movie. Whitlock begins to identify with her captors and willingly helps them sabotage the sequel to Forrest Gump.
A band of 'kamikaze filmmakers' called the SprocketHoles kidnap Hollywood actress Honey Whitlock and force her to star in their terrorist gonzo B-movie. Whitlock begins to identify with her captors and willingly helps them sabotage the sequel to Forrest Gump.
ROLLING THUNDER
A major who spent years tortured as a POW in Hanoi comes home to his family. After a home invasion and robbery leaves him mutilated, he travels to Mexico to punish the men responsible.
A bleak and brooding minor masterpiece that bleeds sadness in every scene.
A major who spent years tortured as a POW in Hanoi comes home to his family. After a home invasion and robbery leaves him mutilated, he travels to Mexico to punish the men responsible.
A bleak and brooding minor masterpiece that bleeds sadness in every scene.
THE ROOM
Everything about this film is untreated cattle vomit: the script, the sets, the wardrobe, the characters, the music, the acting, the green screen, the direction, and the plot (which doesn't exist). Horrible in myriad ways you cannot imagine. Two thumbs up.
Everything about this film is untreated cattle vomit: the script, the sets, the wardrobe, the characters, the music, the acting, the green screen, the direction, and the plot (which doesn't exist). Horrible in myriad ways you cannot imagine. Two thumbs up.
PREDATOR
A perfectly-paced, tense, climactic, action-packed feast that never compromises the mesmeric air of mystery around its monster. An elite rescue team has to extract a foreign minister from hostile jungle territory but ends up battling an advanced and vicious alien.
A perfectly-paced, tense, climactic, action-packed feast that never compromises the mesmeric air of mystery around its monster. An elite rescue team has to extract a foreign minister from hostile jungle territory but ends up battling an advanced and vicious alien.
POULTRYGEIST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD
I don't know if I'd recommend this as such, but I feel strangely compelled to mention that it exists.
This puerile, blood-drenched horror musical from Troma is probably best viewed with a lot of beer and your brain in a different room.
I don't know if I'd recommend this as such, but I feel strangely compelled to mention that it exists.
This puerile, blood-drenched horror musical from Troma is probably best viewed with a lot of beer and your brain in a different room.
GANJA & HESS
Hypnotic experimental 1970s horror film about an anthropologist who gets stabbed with a ceremonial dagger and becomes a vampire. He marries the widow of the dead man who stabbed him and makes her a vampire too.
This has a unique look and an amazing soundtrack.
Hypnotic experimental 1970s horror film about an anthropologist who gets stabbed with a ceremonial dagger and becomes a vampire. He marries the widow of the dead man who stabbed him and makes her a vampire too.
This has a unique look and an amazing soundtrack.
IF....
Three non-conformist boys react to the violent and punitive hierarchy of life in a 1960s English boarding school.
After taking a beating from some senior boys for their bad attitudes, the group acquires a small armoury of mortars, automatic weapons and live ammo.
Three non-conformist boys react to the violent and punitive hierarchy of life in a 1960s English boarding school.
After taking a beating from some senior boys for their bad attitudes, the group acquires a small armoury of mortars, automatic weapons and live ammo.
OLD BOY (2003 VERSION)
An obnoxious, hard-drinking businessman is kidnapped and thrown in a sealed room for fifteen years.
He spends the time watching TV and boxing shadows until he's suddenly released and encouraged by his captors to uncover the motive behind his imprisonment.
An obnoxious, hard-drinking businessman is kidnapped and thrown in a sealed room for fifteen years.
He spends the time watching TV and boxing shadows until he's suddenly released and encouraged by his captors to uncover the motive behind his imprisonment.
WAKE IN FRIGHT
A young, middle-class teacher stranded in a job in a remote town tries to get to Sydney on his break to see his girlfriend. En route he loses his money in 'The Yabba', a backwater town he struggles to escape.
TW: Contains real, graphic footage of a kangaroo hunt.
A young, middle-class teacher stranded in a job in a remote town tries to get to Sydney on his break to see his girlfriend. En route he loses his money in 'The Yabba', a backwater town he struggles to escape.
TW: Contains real, graphic footage of a kangaroo hunt.
MS .45
A mute seamstress is attacked (TW: brief scenes of sexual assault) by two men, causing her to rampage through New York City killing toxic men.
Very well-made, concise, atmospheric grindhouse revenge movie that actually works quite well as a condemnation of rape culture.
A mute seamstress is attacked (TW: brief scenes of sexual assault) by two men, causing her to rampage through New York City killing toxic men.
Very well-made, concise, atmospheric grindhouse revenge movie that actually works quite well as a condemnation of rape culture.
THE HITCHER (1986 VERSION)
A young man traveling to San Diego picks up a rain-drenched hitchhiker but, unhappily for him, it's a somewhat anti-social Rutger Hauer.
For no apparent reason other than his own sick amusement, the Hauer-hitcher taunts and chases the kid round Texas.
A young man traveling to San Diego picks up a rain-drenched hitchhiker but, unhappily for him, it's a somewhat anti-social Rutger Hauer.
For no apparent reason other than his own sick amusement, the Hauer-hitcher taunts and chases the kid round Texas.
THIEF
James Caan plays a stubborn ex-convict and jewel thief who gets sucked into the employ of an exploitative crime boss. When their relationship turns out to more than he agreed to, matters take an ugly turn.
Great direction, acting, plot, soundtrack, script and pacing.
James Caan plays a stubborn ex-convict and jewel thief who gets sucked into the employ of an exploitative crime boss. When their relationship turns out to more than he agreed to, matters take an ugly turn.
Great direction, acting, plot, soundtrack, script and pacing.
ALIENS
For me, this is the slavering apex monster of Hollywood action films, edging out the first movie by the slimmest whisker due to Ripley's relationship with Newt and its expansion of the species mythology.
I watch this every couple of years and it's always fucking great.
For me, this is the slavering apex monster of Hollywood action films, edging out the first movie by the slimmest whisker due to Ripley's relationship with Newt and its expansion of the species mythology.
I watch this every couple of years and it's always fucking great.
MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE
A one-armed martial arts teacher is stalked by a blind assassin out to avenge the deaths of his two disciples. The assassin has a circular bladed weapon on a chain, which he uses to behead any one-armed man he encounters. Fun film. Tons of action.
A one-armed martial arts teacher is stalked by a blind assassin out to avenge the deaths of his two disciples. The assassin has a circular bladed weapon on a chain, which he uses to behead any one-armed man he encounters. Fun film. Tons of action.
FOUR LIONS
Peculiar farce about a group of incompetent terrorists trying to blow up the London Marathon while dressed as colourful mascots.
This is nowhere near as edgy or controversial as it sounds, and the humour is alternately smart, silly and unashamedly broad. Unique film.
Peculiar farce about a group of incompetent terrorists trying to blow up the London Marathon while dressed as colourful mascots.
This is nowhere near as edgy or controversial as it sounds, and the humour is alternately smart, silly and unashamedly broad. Unique film.
