Forbidden Zone

I LOVE this movie. Sometimes I get nostalgic for it - on occasion, I actually cry. Because I no longer have a copy, I played it so many times, the tape just wore itself out. My first viewing stands next to a weekend-long John Waters marathon as cherished memory of being punked into the magical world of what gets termed as "cult."

The sights, sounds and actions are too just impossible to put into words, wildly creative, yet the whole thing is actually put together pretty tight, considering the clearly low budget and that you imagine the Elfmans were just like bribing their pals to show up and do stuff. The soundtrack, obviously, is the most fabuloso thing about it, but it works on lots of levels. If you have a copy, try playing it on MUTE and see what you think. If you've only seen it with recreational aids, you should try seeing it straight.

Come the revolution, this should be required viewing for all nine-year-olds and/or aspiring filmmakers. It's that good.