1980s

  • John Carr – Death Wish Club AKA The Dark Side to Love AKA Carnival of Fools (1984)

    1981-1990CultExploitationJohn CarrUSA

    Quote:
    “Kind of reminds me of a really drugged up version of a David Lynch film”

    “Imagine David Lynch directing the script of a low I.Q. first time screenwriting mental patient while both of them abused unapproved prescription meds in a closed garage full of open paint cans.”

    “David Lynch without the pretension & the budget”Read More »

  • David Cronenberg – Videodrome (1983)

    1981-1990CanadaDavid CronenbergHorrorSci-Fi

    “Television is reality and reality is less than television.” Brian O’Blivion (Jack Creley) in Videodrome.

    Max Renn (James Woods) runs a sleazy Toronto cable station that airs softcore porn and bizarre, violent entertainment. When a station techie begins receiving pirated signals of a disturbing sadomasochistic program called “Videodrome,” Renn decides that it would make the perfect addition to his line up. While appearing as a guest on a cable talk show, Renn meets relationship expert Nicki Brand (Deborah Harry). The two of them are immediately drawn to each other, both sharing a penchant for rough sex and, naturally, Betamax dupes of “Videodrome.” When it’s discovered that the pirated signal originates from somewhere in Pittsburgh, television producer Masha (Lynn Gorman) attempts to help Renn secure the rights for his station. She discovers that local television guru Brian O’Blivion (Jack Creley) is behind the violent show and that the behind-the-scenes machinations are of a deeply sinister and complex nature. Against Masha’s advice, Renn seeks out the elusive O’Blivion just as his obsession with the show begins to affect his own reality. Bizarre hallucinations melding his body and the video image begin to plague him. As a vast (yet increasingly personal) conspiracy behind “Videodrome” is slowly revealed, Renn begins a profoundly disturbing transformation into “the new flesh.”

    Read More »

  • Yavuz Turgul – Muhsin Bey AKA Mr. Muhsin (1987)

    Drama1981-1990ComedyTurkeyYavuz Turgul

    Muhsin Bey is frequently quoted as being a turning point in Turkish cinema. With some notable exceptions, much of Turkey’s movie production up to Muhsin Bey consisted of cheap tear-jerkers, juvenile comedy and remakes of popular foreign movies. While many of these movies still have appeal for Turkish audiences today, it is mainly for nostalgic reasons. Muhsin Bey, in contrast, is an original movie with both comedic and dramatic elements, dealing with social change in a way that is both universal and specific to Turkey.Read More »

  • Johan van der Keuken – De beeldenstorm AKA Iconoclasm AKA A storm of images (1982)

    Documentary1981-1990Johan van der KeukenNetherlandsPolitics

    Amsterdam’s De Melkweg (The Milky Way) is a 1960’s-type counter-culture center, set up in what was once a milk factory. As-yet unknown musical groups, theatre companies and poets perform there… Freedom of expression is absolute, multiform and eclectic; an explosion of rhythms (from rock to New Wave to Afro-Caribbean), colours, words and images attracts a young and cosmopolitan audience with an uncertain future. Portrait of a generation.Read More »

  • John Fasano – Black Roses (1988)

    1981-1990CultHorrorJohn FasanoUSA

    Synopsis: Mill Basin is your typical peaceful community where nothing out of the ordinary or exciting ever happens. That is until a heavy metal band named “Black Roses” announces that they are going to play their first ever concert in Mill Basin. At first all the parents in town are against the “Black Roses” performing in their town and corrupting the minds of their children. The band “Black Roses” conceal their true identities and motive for coming to Mill Basin by brainwashing everyone in town. Now firmly in place in Mill Basin can anyone stop the “Black Roses” before they acquire the souls of everyone in town?

    Read More »

  • Albert Pyun – The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)

    1981-1990ActionAlbert PyunFantasyUSA

    Quote:
    A mercenary with a three-bladed sword rediscovers his royal heritage’s dangerous future when he is recruited to help a princess foil the designs of a brutal tyrant and a powerful sorcerer in conquering a land.Read More »

  • Luc Moullet – Les Sièges de l’Alcazar (1989)

    France1981-1990ArthouseComedyLuc Moullet

    Paris, 1955. Guy, film critic of the Cahiers du Cinéma, often goes to see the films of Vittorio Cottafavi in a local cinema. One day he notices that Jeanne, film critic of “Positive “, the rival magazine, seems to be following him. He is intrigued.Read More »

  • Aleksey Uchitel – Rok (1988)

    Documentary1981-1990Aleksey UchitelMusicalRussiaUSSR


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    From Rockfilm.ru
    Rock
    It became a cult movie for an entire generation. And it’s significance only increases as the years pass. Rock musicians who were the founders of contemporary rock culture are captured here in their youth: giants such as Boris Grebenshchikov, Yuri Shevchuk, Viktor Tsoi, Oleg Garkusha, and Anton Adasinsky. “Rock” is a film about fate and about music; it is the portrait of a generation. Director Uchitel observes his characters up close, and offers up the same unique opportunity to his audience.
    Read More »

  • Erdogan Tokatli – 72. kogus (1987)

    1981-1990DramaErdogan TokatliTurkey


    29f7c043f76a2bde437fd0d52a185152

    Adapted from a novel by Orhan Kemal, this movie depicts the hard life of prisoners in ward 72 during 1940s.Read More »

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