OCN Distribution brings another month of art house and cult titles to the video shelves. The big title is Penny Lane’s Nuts! This early documentary feature is about a doctor that used goats’ testicles to cure ED. Nintendo Quest is about a guy attempting to collect all the original NES games can he find them? This is great for people who have fond memories of playing Goldeneye all weekend long. Bastards is Claire Denis first digital project. Here’s the press release from OCN with descriptions of all their releases:
This month, we are beyond excited to share the first release from brand new partner label Cartuna, an animated (in every sense of the word) documentary from nonfiction auteur Penny Lane, along with a baker’s dozen of new titles. We’ve got experimental independent features; a LARPing-inspired classic; one-of-a-kind thrillers; a new West African folktale; and much more.
AMANDA AND THE ALIEN (AGFA)
A classic straight-to-Showtime romcom between an ordinary woman and a shape-shifting, human-eating alien, like an R-rated episode of The Secret World of Alex Mack with all the ‘90s fashion and humor intact. AGFA restored this feel good, vaguely feminist nostalgia trip from the original 35mm camera negative and packs the release with brand new bonus material—for made-for-TV collectors and anyone up for a charming sci-fi trip down memory lane.
| WAY BAD STONE (Bleeding Skull)A D&D campaign come to life, with live action swordplay, lusty maidens, warring metal-haired gangs, plenty of low-budget gore, and even fireballs. This classic of regional SOV filmmaking from the wooly wilds of Florida is a must-have for collectors of analog media and fans of fantasy and role playing games—a headbanger’s Ren Faire, beautifully preserved from the original S-VHS master and accompanied by an additional feature film from co-producers/writers Jan and Janne Skipper. |
THE BITTER ASH (Canadian International Pictures)
A newly-restored, seminal 1963 film in English Canadian cinema from Larry Kent, a deeply influential independent filmmaker whose fans include such up-north luminaries as David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan. Several young, working-class couples trapped in bleak circumstances confront the limitations of their lives, culminating in a drug- and alcohol-fueled party in one couple’s dingy, artist-filled flat with far-reaching consequences. For fans of Canadian, independent, and ‘60s time-capsule films.
The second feature-length documentary from filmmaker Penny Lane (Our Nixon, Hail Satan?) takes as both its subject and stylistic inspiration John R. Brinkley, an early 20th-century country doctor whose fame rested on his legendary cure for impotence: the implantation of goats’ testicles. The wild, often hilarious, and prototypically American tale that follows, presented with archival materials and amusing animation, must be seen to be believed. A fantastic first release from our newest partner label and a must for documentary collectors.
NIGHT CALLER (Dark Star)
A gory homage to the grimier grindhouse classics of the ‘70s and ‘80s from Troma graduate Chad Ferrin. In a plot reminiscent of slashers like Eyes of Laura Mars, a hotline operator receives psychic visions of killings just before they take place; when the police refuse to help, she turns to her father, a retired cop himself, with a secret connection to the murderer. For horror hounds and fans of gruesome genre throwbacks.
MAMI WATA (Dekanalog)
A new, genre-defying West African folktale realized in stunning black and white from debut filmmaker C.J. “Fiery” Obasi. Spiritual doubt and rebel interlopers arrive on the shores of the fictional village Iyi, threatening the rule of matriarch Mama Efe and belief in the deity Mami Wata and leading to shattering violence. Truly unique, beautiful, and a festival favorite, essential for world cinema and genre collectors.
NINTENDO QUEST: THE MOST UNOFFICIAL AND UNAUTHORIZED NINTENDO DOCUMENTARY EVER! (Enjoy the Ride Media)
In a time when game collectors rely most on online retailers and auctions, one brave Canadian sets out to acquire a copy of each of the original Nintendo games in person—in just one month, and with limited funds—in this low-budget, big-hearted documentary made by a couple of best friends on a fun, border-crossing mission. A nostalgic treat for Nintendo players and a delightful addition to any analog collection.
| GO DOWN DEATH (Factory 25)The singular feature film debut of independent maker Aaron Schimberg (Chained for Life, A Different Man) is a selection of folktales from the fictitious “Jonathan Mallory Sinus,” set in an old-timey yet timeless village populated by wayward soldiers, scowling youths, sex workers plagued by nightmares, a strongman/shape-shifting doctor, and other unforgettable characters. Filmed in gorgeous 16mm on detailed, handmade sets, this atmospheric creation is a must for fans of independent film and uncanny Americana. |
MARCEL PAGNOL: MY FATHER’S GLORY, MY MOTHER’S CASTLE (Film Movement Classics)
The first two volumes of French playwright, novelist, and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol’s “autobiographical novels,” translated for the big screen by director Yves Robert and brought to awe-inspiring life by cinematographer Robert Alazraki. The beauty of nature and the wisdom required by the land imbue these collected reminiscences with a lasting, heartwarming depth. Canonical works for classic, French, and arthouse film collectors
BASTARDS (IFC Films)
The first digital film from French auteur Claire Denis and frequent collaborator Agnès Godard is a bleak, brutal exploration of intimate and economic corruption. Vincent Lindon is a gruff sailor on a revenge mission against a uniquely sinister Michel Subor, distracted by stunning neighbor Chiara Mastroianni and their undeniable chemistry. Complex, devastating, and one of the best films of 2013, an essential addition for Francophiles and fans of international, arthouse cinema
LIVING A ZOMBIE DREAM / KITTY KILLERS (Saturn’s Core)
A shot-on-video take on something like Blue Velvet starring ordinary-looking people with unfortunate haircuts, and featuring blood-thirsty zombies—and that’s just the first of the titles on this compelling double feature. Springfield, Missouri writer/director Todd Richardson’s audaciously abstract and suitably gory videos from the 90s are required viewing for SOV collectors and unique entertainments for open-minded horror fans.
| FEMME (Utopia)A pulse-pounding stunner about a drag performer who, after a brutal attack prevents his return to the stage, encounters his attacker—who doesn’t recognize him out of makeup—at a gay sauna, and puts a wildly dangerous revenge plot into action. Compelling performances from leads Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay drive this powerful new entry in the erotic thriller subgenre, a must-have for fans of arthouse, queer, and suspense films. |
| LOST PROPHET (VHShitfest)Early David Lynch meets Begotten in this beautifully hypnotic 16mm nightmare from 1991. A wandering man winds up in an abandoned mansion where he encounters a witchy woman, a trio of partiers, aggressive youngsters, and a sinister killer in a ridiculous wig—or does he? This low-budget feature debut from Michael de Avila (host of the fishing show Lunkerville) is a haunting hidden gem of independent cinema that rewards rewatching. For arthouse and curio collectors. |
SHE’S ALLERGIC TO CATS (Yellow Veil Pictures)
A wry black comedy about the anxieties and tribulations of a video artist/dog groomer struggling to make ends meet and find love in LA. Full of stylized, often hilarious performances, glitchy video bad dreams, and bachelor-pad detritus, this trippy 2016 film speaks to both the artistic trends of its time and our current state of alienation. One-of-a-kind independent cinema for fans of experimental film and adventurous genre collectors.
