Top 5 Weirdest Movies
I have always liked weird movies. It’s remarkable how creative some filmmakers can be. Here are five of the weirdest movies I have seen, in no particular order.
Movie: Teeth
Released: 2007
Director: Mitchell Lichtenstein
Plot: A girl discovers she has teeth in an unusual part of her body when she becomes the victim of rape attempts. She uses her teeth to give her abusers the comeuppance they deserve.
Commentary: A feminist horror film? There aren’t many of those out there. “Teeth” is the least acclaimed film on this list, but it has to receive at least some credit for creativity. Jess Weixler gives a solid performance in the lead role.
Movie: Mulholland Dr
Released: 2000
Director: David Lynch
Plot: A naïve and optimistic actress named Betty (Naomi Watts) moves into her aunt’s empty apartment in Hollywood to pursue her dreams of stardom. She encounters a strange woman named Camilla (Lauren Harring) hiding in the apartment. Camilla is suffering from amnesia and Betty tries to help her discover her identity. Together, they uncover a sinister plot that involves (or seems to involve) mobsters, a dwarf, an inept hit man, and a strange nightclub.
Commentary: It is any surprise that a David Lynch film made this list? “Mulholland Drive” is an eerie, bizarre movie that has been interpreted in myriad ways. While the plot is virtually impossible to fully comprehend, it does explore several interesting themes. The influence of dreams, the loss of personal identity, and the artificiality of Hollywood are all studied in the film. “Mulholland Drive” has earned tremendous critical acclaim, receiving four star reviews from many critics, including Roger Ebert. The lesson to draw from this film is that movies don’t necessarily have to be comprehensible to be good. If one tries to understand it, one will just become confused and frustrated. It’s better to just sit back, relax, and experience it on its own terms.
Movie: Donnie Darko
Released: 2001
Director: Richard Kelly
Plot: Set in Virginia in 1988, Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an intelligent but mentally disturbed teenager who begins having visions of a man in a giant bunny suit who tells him that the world is going to end in 28 days. Frank gives Donnie several tasks he must perform in order to save the world and grants him supernatural abilities to help him complete the tasks.
Commentary: This film is available in two versions, the original cut and the extended director’s cut. I prefer the original version because it is more mysterious. This is a fun movie to watch around Halloween. It has a nice ‘80s soundtrack and some solid performances. Like “Mulholland Drive”, it can be interpreted in many different ways, especially the ending.
Movie: Pi
Released: 1998
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Plot: A genius mathematician discovers a 216 digit number that explains the universe. A religious sect and a corporation both try to persuade him to give them his secret.
Commentary: This was Aronofsky’s first film. It was made with a very low budget and shot in black and white. It explores the concept of how information can be interpreted and exploited by groups to serve their own agendas. This is probably the least mainstream film on this list, which is saying a great deal.
Movie: Being John Malkovich
Released: 1999
Director: Spike Jonze
Plot: Depressed puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) discovers a portal on floor seven and a half of an office building that leads directly into the mind of actor John Malkovich (playing a fictionalized version of himself). Craig reveals his discovery to others and charges them $200 for the experience.
Commentary: This movie was written by Charlie Kaufman, who also wrote “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “Adaption”. The idea of being transported into the head of a famous person and experiencing life through their eyes (if only for fifteen minutes at a time, which is how long Craig is able to do it before being ejected) is an intriguing concept.
What are the weirdest movies you've seen? Please leave a comment.
- Donnie Darko - Rotten Tomatoes
Review: Richard Kelly's debut feature Donnie Darko is a daring, original vision, packed with jarring ideas and intelligence and featuring a remarkable... - Mulholland Drive - Rotten Tomatoes
Review: Mulholland Drive makes little sense, even for a Lynch film, but its dreamlike imagery is mesmerizing, and Watts delivers a great performance. - Pi - Rotten Tomatoes
Review: Dramatically gripping and frighteningly smart, this Lynchian thriller does wonders with its unlikely subject and shoestring budget. - Being John Malkovich - Rotten Tomatoes
Review: Being John Malkovich is both funny and smart, featuring a highly original script. - Teeth - Rotten Tomatoes
Review: Smart, original, and horrifically funny, Teeth puts a fresh feminist spin on horror movie tropes.