Top 10 Oddball Films
Charlie LaPlaca takes us through the oddballs at Sundance.
10. RED STATE
Kevin Smith tries something new. Claiming to be a ''shocking new kind of horror film,'' I'm going to give this film the benefit of the doubt. While it may be just another horror flick, watching the trailer, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the concept of a murderous Christian fundamentalist group. This one's at least worth a look.
9. TAKE SHELTER
Leading man Michael Shannon just has a strange look to him, no matter what character he plays. And the concept of this latest Jeff Nichols film seems perfect for Shannon. Kind of like a creepy version of ''Field of Dreams,'' Shannon's character starts building a storm shelter after a series of disturbing, apocalyptic dreams. I can't wait to see how this story plays out.
8. BELLFLOWER
Keeping with the apocalyptic paranoia theme, Evan Glodell's first feature film seems like an original take on the modern love story. Equipped with a muscle car, flamethrowers and lots of violence, this film promises to redefine the term romance. This low-budget project could make Glodell an indie star, because what great American doesn't love sex and violence?
7. THE WOODS
A modern, 20-something hipster version of Lord of the Flies? Perhaps. At the very least, this Matthew Lessner film looks like an amusing critique on the politically misguided youth of today. They abandon civilization, but bring all the gadgets that their tech-obsessed generation is consumed by. Something is bound to go wrong there.
6. THE WOMAN
This one sounds disturbing. Lucky McKee, who brought us May, looks to up the ante a bit further with this one. As if anyone could imagine a film more twisted than May, this film just might be it. A father enlists his wife and two kids in to torturously taming a savage woman he finds roaming the wilderness. That's definitely one messed-up dad.
5. SEPTIEN
Everything I've read about this sounds borderline insane - but the ''good'' kind of insane. And, trust me, I'd know. Michael Tully's 2011 film will (hopefully) be both insightful and funny. Some filmmakers try too hard at being quirky - and ultimately fail - but Septien might be what all of us who yearn to relate to the rest of the world are always looking for. We'll see.
4. ALL FLOWERS IN TIME
This short by Jonathan Caouette looks really weird. And creepy. The screen shot of that old man is all I need to want to see more. And with a run time of 14 minutes, who doesn't have time to check it out?
3. CODEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME
With a name like that, what else is there to say? Lesbian aliens come to get their hearts broken in order to save their home planet. I can only imagine the mishaps that would ensue from such an expedition. It's been said that Ed Wood would have been envious of this Madeleine Olnek film. That's good enough for me.
2. HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
Another one of those, ''with a name like that'' movies, only this one has a much bigger budget and some star power thrown in as well. The latest of the ''fake'' Grindhouse trailer films, Jason Eisener just might have given us the next great American ''pulp'' action film. If not, it could still be wildly entertaining in the bad sort of way.
1. THE OREGONIAN
I've never been more creeped out by a movie trailer featuring a hot chick covered in blood, holding a shot gun. It was terrifying. Calvin Lee Reeder's film looks like a complete psychological-trip. I really have no idea what it's supposed to be about, other than an amnesiac wandering through the backwoods of Oregon, but I'm hooked. If you like weird, and I know I do, go see this movie.
