weird fucking movie night
Cats (2019) is a great film for Weird Fucking Movie Night
Over the years, weird fucking movies have become a sort of love language for me. If I’m watching a movie with someone and I get to pick the film, they’re coming away saying “dude… what the fuck.” It creates lasting memories, provides that larger-than-life cinematic experience, and is just a good dime to be had.
When I’m picking out a movie, I am aware of my audience. I’ve got some friends who are legitimately down for whatever, but others prefer stylized movies from the ‘50’s; or aren’t as open to a random cut in of unsimulated sex. Some of my friends prefer horror, and some are looking for something a bit less earnest. All that’s good - I think part of the fun is being able to find the weird in any situation.
Last week, a friend was over and we ended up watching a few films. We decided to double feature Kite from 1998, and then Tromeo and Juliet (1996). My buddy picked out Kite - he was in an anime mood and I pulled out my weird fucking anime and may have mentioned Tarantino’s love of the film. To be completely fair, I did mention that it was porn adjacent - but that hadn’t disueded him from picking the Erotic Adventures of Zorro (1972) a few months ago- and I think it’s a movie he wouldn’t have been able to otherwise watch. Tromeo and Juliet I wanted to push on him because of the muppet penis in the dream sequence.
This is a bit different from another friend who I’ll just assault with Bruce LaBruce’s The Visitor (2024), or Terrifier 2 (2022) because he’s literally up for whatever. Then you’ve got my wife who has the rules of no horror, no unsimulated sex, and overall light hearted; she gets movies like Repo! the Genetic Opera (2008) or Howard the Duck (1986). Always happy to curate a movie night with friends.
I think it’s important that the films I’m showing people are memorable in a good way. My buddy who’s been accosted with The Visitor texted me and told me I was Type 2 Fun (he was talking about camping, but I figure it extends to what I show him too). Apparently type 2 fun entails experiences that aren’t neccessarily fun in the moment, but are looked back upon fondly and feel like you accomplish something. I think an experience that perfectly encapsulates that is movie night back at the frathouse in college: we watched Human Centipede 2 (2011) and at the end we were all so grossed out that we turned the tv around to face a wall so it could think about what it showed us, and my friends still talk about that experience over 10 years later fondly, even if most of us don’t need to see that movie again (although the third film justifies the second and turns it all into a comedy: you’re getting that as a writeup at some point). Watching films socially should be a bonding experience: it’s an important social ritual that ties people together for a brief window in time and if you can make that time more memorable, and ensure it’s time thought about fondly, then the movie has an impact long after the credits roll.
Good films for Weird Fucking Movie Night:
Cats (2019)
Thanksgiving (2023)
Death to Smoochy (2002)
You’ve got cool friends for Weird Fucking Movie Night:
Assholes (2017)
Pink Flamingos (1972)
Reefer Madness (2005)
Bugonia (2025)
You and your friend need to have a blood pact for Weird Fucking Movie Night:
Salo, 120 days of Sodom (1975)
A Serbian Film (2010)
The Visitor (2024)
What are your favorite weird movies? Email me with recs at spikeecleaver@gmail.com
