Oddur B.T.Film Archive ⌕

Cult cinema, physical media, and strange films

Oddur B.T.
Film Archive

Notes from the darker side of the video shelf.

„Cult“ is where my comfort zone lies

I mostly enjoy writing about films that fit into the category „Cult“ in one way or another. It‘s, frankly, where my comfort zone lies. It would be easy to just focus on horror films, but the category also includes so many films that are truly un-classifiable.

Clear

Warning Sign (1985)

Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller, Drama

A government run research facility called BioTek Agronomics deals, on the surface, with genetically engineered corn that will improve farming considerably. But what the government is really doing is sponsoring a germ-warfare program which be can activated should the Soviets launch an attack on the USA. At the end of a normal working day the biohazard alerts appear on the monitor and security guard Joanie follows protocol and effectively puts BioTek on lockdown.

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The Brood (1979)

Sci-Fi, Horror

Frank Carveth is experiencing lousy times. His wife Nola is under the care of controversial psychiatrist Hal Raglan and requires complete isolation. Frank’s marriage is severely on the rocks and when their daughter Candy returns from a visit to her mother she’s covered in bruises.

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The Mist (2007)

Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller

A massive storm hits a small Maine town and causes a lot of damage. The next day a lot of residents head to the local supermarket to stock up on supplies. Among them are David, his son Billy and neighbour Brent who has a fairly rocky relationship with David. As the folks go about their business a thick mist approaches fast and suddenly a deathly frightened man comes running into the store shouting that there’s something in the mist.

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Terminal Invasion (2002)

Sci-Fi, Mystery, Action

Inside an isolated airport, a group of people learn that their charter flight has been grounded. Things don’t get any better when two guards escort convicted murderer Jack to the premises after their car skidded off the road. But soon things get even worse as the group discovers that some may not be who, or what, they appear to be. An alien invasion is taking place and it begins at this terminal.

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Inseminoid (1981)

Sci-Fi, Horror

A group of scientists are working on a freezing cold planet excavating the ruins of an ancient civilization believed to have lived there. Soon one crew member starts showing signs of being possessed and another one, Sandy, is attacked and impregnated by a creature there. At first she seems to have survived the ordeal intact but soon starts behaving weirdly and eventually starts killing her colleagues and drinking their blood in order to protect her rapidly growing fetuses.

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Night of the Creeps (1986)

Comedy, Sci-Fi, Horror

“Night of the Creeps” is mostly comically driven, at least in the beginning, but once the threat becomes apparent there’s some grisly gore on display and a few well realized suspense set-pieces. It’s never really scary but it is well paced and has enough enjoyable lulls that add tremendously to the characters and it’s a gamble that more than pays off due to the terrific lead performers.

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Altered States (1980)

Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller

The passing of William Hurt on March 13th prompted me to go through my collection and check out some of his work. I’ve always thought he was a very good actor and I was quite saddened to hear he was gone. I don’t own a lot of his movies but “Body Heat” (1981) is a big favorite, “The Big Chill” (1983) as well and also “Altered States”. There are a few movies I really like but I’m not sure why and “Altered States” has always been one of those. I know painfully little about the film’s late director

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Deadly Friend (1986)

Sci-Fi, Horror, Drama

While the film has never been a critical darling or even that well liked by it’s own director it has always been well regarded among a huge number of Wes Craven fans and a general cult item with steadily increasing followers. I’d describe it as the closest thing you’d get to a family oriented graphic horror movie as it’s mash up of genres create a unique viewing experience that somehow works like a charm.

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Without Warning (1980)

Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller

“Without Warning” is a fun cross between gruesome sci-fi and slasher flicks that were doing good business in the late seventies and early eighties. A real coup was getting two terrific old timers Palance and Landau to headline the proceedings and inject real intensity into their wacky characters. They certainly help distinguish “Without Warning” and raise it from being of interest to only genre fans into being also a real curio.

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Three Thing(s): 1951 – 2011

Sci-Fi, Horror, Mystery

For the longest time while I was growing up “John Carpenter’s The Thing” was the scariest thing I’d ever seen. Even watching it on grainy VHS the ground breaking practical effects and suspenseful set-pieces, the extremely effective moody atmosphere and isolated icy setting made a massive impression. For many the film is on the short list of the top horror movies of all time.

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