80's Cult Films

There two lists: 80's Cult Films I Loathed & 80's Cult Films I Loved.

Some of these films are so cult, they're like the cult of cult or actually experimental films.

There are cult films I love (ROCKY HORROR anyone?) and cult films I like (DIVA) or am intrigued by (BRAZIL) and then there are...

Cult films I loathe.

Some people like to loathe -- call me squeamish (guilty!) but these cult films seriously freak me out. They rank a 10.0 on the richter scale of freaky disturbing so watch at your own risk.

Funny, a few of them I saw back in the day, granted years after theatrical release, on video at a party or with friends and one in particular appeared on TCM recently and I thought... I bet this film, now that I'm older and wiser, is cheesy. I remember it as being kind of freaky and edgy when I was young but now I bet it'll be cheesy.

Nuh-uh.

SUBURBIA still disturbs. The acting is so monotone bad that it is its own style. The opening sequence is ridiculous but not for the faint of heart. The one thing I didn't realize: it's Roger Corman! If I were to have a favorite moment in the film it is when the low-rent Billy Idol drives the naive protagonist in his hunk of junk past a city bus while drinking in the car. The Billy Idol wannabe throws his bottle out the car window, smashing it against the side of the bus (cue bad SMASHING F/X) and declares: "I hate buses!"

The following are my lists of the 80's Cult Films I loathe and 80's Cult Films I loved (or liked). Comment and add your own. But -- watch at your own risk! :)

The Loathed List (and not in a good way):

5. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
It seems watching this film through a bong-induced haze is a teen right of passage. Ah, to be young! Kubrick is a genius no doubt, but definitely more of a guy's thing, imho. My favorite film of his is EYES WIDE SHUT. This one -- I don't want to get. Creepy scale: 10+

4. ERASERHEAD
Loathe this one so much... couldn't watch the entire flick. Lots of people hail it, I know.

3. REPO MAN
Hate it for my own personal not fun watching it experience. We all have those, no?

2. SUBURBIA
Penelope Spheeris directorial debut. The acting is so bad it's almost its own style. The opening sequence is not to be forgotten. She takes realism to a new height: it's freakin' real. Get ready for some hardcore punk and well, not really my thing. Watch for a cameo in the role of the Rat Boy. ("Hey, that's Flea!" the DH said.) Makes FIGHT CLUB look like the Hallmark channel.

1. LIQUID SKY
Bizarre. Disturbing. Taboo kind of film you will never forget. I can't explain why... in print... its so bizarre. Let's just say there's aliens, sex, lesbian sex AND alien lesbian sex. It's up to you whether you find it fascinating or out there. This makes an ep of Howard Stern look like a trip to Disneyland.

and now...

80's Cult Films I loved:

5. DIVA
Haven't seen this one in years. I remember a very haunting and beautiful song and BOURNE-esque action.

4. ZIGGY STARDUST
Ok, technically from the 70's but still great.

3. CHOOSE ME
Obscure, unique, strange. Very 80's. Liked it.

2. THEY LIVE
Actually didn't catch this until it hit cable. Freaky distrubing - but in a good way.

1. AFTER HOURS
Scorsese genius. Hilarious. Love it, love it, love it.