Cinema Obscura

In a selfless act to explore the murky depths of obscure films, I have taken on the gruelling mission to submit myself regularly to what cinema has to offer on the lowest shelf and in its darkest recesses. Normal rules don’t apply here, neither do good taste and common sense; this is Cinema Obscura.







GAYNIGGERS FROM OUTER SPACE (1992)

I couldn’t have picked a better movie than this one to start what will surely become a chastising experience for me. Well, movie is a big word here, it’s more a short film. I decided to pay attention to some of the obscurest that cinema has to offer, without submitting myself to vomit-inducing perversities (well, not if I can help it). From Ed Wood’s (now)cult films to Troma Movies to flicks that were barely worth the video they were copied on, all in an attempt to steer clear from mainstream cinema. I’m not an outspoken pulp lover, but I am intrigued by this dark undercurrent in moviemaking that manages to stay alive and maintain such a devoted following. These movies become good because they are so bad, but just being plain bad is not enough, though.
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MONSTER HIGH (1989)

This self-imposed quest to the lowest depths of cinema made me ‘dig in the crates’ of the local video rental. The real dirt must to be sought on VHS tapes, preferable in those big eighties-styled video covers, complete with corny punch lines to get you to rent it. Proud of having dug up some of the worst I could find, my surprise would only become bigger when the people at the video rental told me I could keep this undisputed work of art. Stating that I probably would want to put myself through such an ordeal only once in my life was to no avail. I had to take the sucker home to keep…
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STEVE OEDEKERK’S THUMB PARODY SERIES

It might seem unjustified to add a person like Steve Oedekerk to this ill-famed section of CoP, since he has been involved mostly in mainstream cinema. As writer/producer/director he was responsible for several successful movies like Bruce Almighty, The Nutty Professor, Kung Pow, Patch Adams, Ace Ventura and the comedy TV series In Living Color. Nevertheless, Oedekerk has his own pet project that grants him a place in this darker side of cinema: his infamous Thumb Stories.
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IT’S ALIVE!

My local video rental has been holding a garage sale these past months: every VHS tape you rent, you get to keep (as I mentioned in an earlier review). In a way that’s rather sad, as I’m witnessing the end of an era. I grew up on these bulky and analogue things, contrary to the coming generation that will know only DVD. I remember often vigorously cursing the tapes if they would be near complete disintegration, but more often loving them for the entertainment they brought and feeding my early love of movies. So on this occasion I decided to stock in on some elusive titles that probably wouldn’t find their way back on DVD in the near future. I got a bit of everything and with this ill-famed section in mind I got this particular movie also. And boy, does it fit the bill well!
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