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Welcome to Cinephilia's Cult Movies section. Many people have different ideas of what constitutes a cult film. Looking at the dictionary definitions you can see why
Cult (n.) - Latin cultus, worship, from past participle of colere, to cultivate.
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- Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
- The object of such devotion.
- An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
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The devotion with which some film fans follow their favorite genre
perhaps should make all such films 'cult'. It seems, however, there
are no fans more voracious than the horror fan, constantly hunting
down the longest print, original language versions from all over the
world, looking for more and more extreme material. This makes them
the quintessential cult film fans. Yet cult films are not always genre-based.
Actors and directors also attract rabid fan interest - whether it's
Winona Ryder or Ray Harryhausen.
A cult film often features something different, something that you
would never see in a Hollywood production. Pitch-black comedy, outrageous
characters, bizarre plot lines, pushing the boundaries of what is
generally deemed acceptable as cinematic entertainment. And for that
we love them.
Some argue that the moment a cult film becomes admired by millions
it no longer remains a cult movie but I disagree. If a film, genre
or a director's work maintains all the idiosyncrasies that drew
those fans to it in the first place, then surely it is still be
called a cult. The work of David Lynch is a fine example. From his
debut Eraserhead to Mullholland Drive he constantly
challenges the viewer with the obscure and esoteric, filled with
strange and shocking images. His films are loved by millions but
he remains an enigma, a cult phenomenon for the masses.
Cinephilia's Cult Movie section will encompass the work of such cult
directors as Lynch, Russ Meyer, John Waters, Mario Bava, Alejandro
Jodorowsky, John Carpenter, Brian De Palma and Ken Russell along with
many one-off oddities that have not, and maybe should not have, ever
been aired to more than a handful of people.
From Mildred Pierce and Heathers to A Clockwork
Orange and Videodrome, the selection of films will be diverse
and interesting. I very much hope you enjoying delving into the strange
and weird world of cult movies. Enjoy and be inspired to dig deep
into the often shocking cesspool of cult cinema, avoid the blockbuster
shelves and look for something strange - it could change the way you
watch movies. |
