The final week of screening brings us to our final set of blogs. I would like to start this last one by extending my thanks to all of you for a wonderful semester (apart obviously from the pandemic.)

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” was a great film to conclude this class. Quinten Tarantino has always been a director I have admired through my recent years of “enlightened” cinematic viewing (thanks to film classes at AU.) However, this film is an absolute game-changer. We have always known Tarantino for his brilliant twists and “Hollywood” endings when he addresses a historical injustice and gives it new life with a happier ending than what is written down in the history books. For this film, that only partially holds true. The dramatic “cartoon-like” violence that ensued in this film near the end put everyone’s mind at ease as it would seem the “bad guys” have met their match with Brad Pitt (probably because of his role in fight club.) Leo’s contribution was one that I saw coming as an earlier camera shot the inside of his maintenance shed held a little too long on a certain fire-breathing device for me to not draw a foreshadow. The pair beat down the three villains with the help of a very smart and good girl (the dog; yeas I looked the dog up and her name is Brandy and she is a fine girl.)

After all the commotion, our minds are almost left to rest on the idea that once again Tarantino has made everything better; we are reminded that this beautiful masterpiece of cinema is non-fiction. The words “Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood” appear, and we are left somber and a reminder of what really happened, and the tragedy that overtook all of Hollywood.

The readings this week were great, and really helped create a better understanding of this film. I also found a lot of YouTube videos that really explained a lot of Tarantino’s work. My favorite clip from the ones that found talked about this film as Tarantino’s “love letter to Hollywood.” This is a concept that we have talked about in class before last week. This film encapsulates Hollywood, and Los Angeles during 1969. The actors where the biggest proponent of this clip in explaining why this film is viewed as a love letter. Kurt Russel was convinced of this after only reading a few pages of the script; it reminded him of his experiences in 1969, and the people he knew (including stuntmen).

Watching this movie, although it was a touch long, was great. However, reading more about its context and underlying meanings was sensational. It brought out an entirely new perspective and tattooed my brain forever. Quinten Tarantino is not just gore, he is a storyteller, and a damn good one at that.

This class will be a tough one to leave. It has strengthened my understanding of cult movies as the weeks have progressed. If you would have told me during my senior year of high school that I was going to be writing a weekly blog for a history of the motion picture class, I probably would have laughed and said “yeah right.” If you would have continued by saying “oh yeah and the next year after that one, you’ll be doing the same thing for a cult movies class.” I would have told you that you have gone mad. But after that first week of history of the motion picture, I WAS HOOKED! Throughout my four years at Alfred University as an accounting student, I have developed a deep-seeded lust for films of all types from all different eras (Except really scary ones). This experience can only be labeled as priceless, for I have been given the tools to understand not only movies, but the directors and why the movies were even created in the first place. I honestly cannot say it enough but thank you all for letting me on the “film ship” and thank you Professor Schlegel for being our captain.

My favorite film that we watched this year is an honest “hold a gun to my head” and ill still tell you this three-way tie. The three films (in no particular order) are “The Warriors”, “Detroit Rock City”, and “Dazed and Confused”. One thing these films have in common is that I never would have seen them if it were not for this class. All these films have now developed a special place in my heart because of how incredible they are. They have helped me understand the platform of cult cinema, and learn to love it. I agree with the order that we discussed as a class that these movies should fit in with the likes of “Susperia” and “Sid and Nancy” because they complement each other nicely and bridge gaps in not only culture but exuding moods.

My least favorite film this year would have to be “Pink Flamingos.” Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the film whole-heartedly. I just think that of all of the films, I like this one the least. There was a lot of things that I expected to see when I sat down in that chair to watch the screening that night, but those things were completely stomped to bits by the filthiest person alive. I know that this film will continue to be shown to future cult cinema classes, and I completely encourage it, because I will NEVER forget the night I watched “Pink Flamingos.”

The most interesting film in my opinion that we watched was “Valerie and her Week of Wonders.” I was fortunate enough to present the readings for that week, and I think had I not had to present them, my level of appreciation for the film and understanding of it, might not have been as high.

The overall workings of this class were as suspected flawless. Even in a time of world crisis, this class as still remained an anchor in my life, and I am sure the same thing holds true for my peers. Thank God for you all, thank God for Quinten Tarantino, AND THANK GOD FOR CULT CINEMA.

The link below is the final project.

https://youtu.be/lTHZsfD0CP0

This week’s screening was the masterfully punk surrounded movie titled “Sid and Nancy.” It’s a toxic love story riddled with romance, destruction, but perhaps most importantly PUNK. My favorite scene from this movie was Sid and Nancy’s kiss in the ally. We talked about this in class, but it deserves at least a second mention. The imagery in this scene is not beautiful. But in my opinion, if more people see this movie, it would be iconic. It takes Hollywood’s overdone and cliché “kissing in the rain” and turns it on its head. The rain becomes trash raining down on a couple who shouldn’t be together but are drawn close and create destruction all around them.

I thoroughly enjoyed the readings this week. Averi and I presented on both “Sid and Nancy” as well as a reading about drugs and cult movies. The reading about “Sid and Nancy” gave a lot of insight into the world of punk, and the history of the subculture that took the UK by storm in the mid 70’s. the Sex Pistols were the band that made the biggest impact on this movement, but were only together for a short while. Their impact was one so great that it sparked the making of this week’s screening based around their bassist with no musical talent, and a woman who was despised by the masses.

The reading about drugs in cult cinema was also very informative and reinforcing. We’ve studied films like “The Trip” in classes prior to Covid-19 and in the history of film course, but it’s always nice to have a refresher on the topic. “Head movies” are something that have always fascinated me because they’re like a gateway into someone’s mind. Grant it, that mind is on Hallucinogenic drugs, but the journey and destination are more important than the trivial starting point. The way that the directors used drugs to help them create masterpieces, and theaters encouraged drug consumption on their premises is a cornerstone in this world of film. It also makes so much sense. It is truly an interesting concept to think about; watching a movie made under the influence of drugs while using those same drugs. It increases interaction, and connectivity among an artist, and their fans.

I also presented this week on the movie “Fight Club.” I have always wanted to watch this movie, but there never seemed to be a right time to do it for some reason. When I saw it on the list to present as a candidate for a cult film, I knew I had to do it. Watching this movie was very similar to basically all the movies I have seen because of this class. It becomes a right and a pleasure instead of a requirement and a drag.

Talulla’s presentation was absolutely awesome. There were so many interesting and thought provoking aspects to the movie she talked about; from the techniques used, to the mirror scene, I enjoyed all of it. I can’t wait to watch this movie.

I hope everyone is staying safe, and doing well. I wish all of you nothing but the best, and I will see you guys and gals on Wednesday.

This week’s screening of “Detroit Rock City” was a rollercoaster ride of emotion. Watching the 4 main characters fight for their lives to see a Kiss concert was seemingly never ending. I distinctly remember keeping track of who’s luck was up, and who’s was down while we tagged along for the ride.

The opening of the film was hilarious. I knew from the second she pulled the album from the shelf that she would be in for it. To her surprise, and our delight, she went nuts while trying to stop the album from playing. As if the title wasn’t enough to know that this movie was going to be about kiss and made for fans of their decades, a woman going ballistic over a record of the band was a clear indicator.

If I am being totally honest, I thought that after she dot the record to stop playing, that would be the last that we saw of her. I had no premonition that she would become a main antagonist and the mother of my favorite character.

The four friends went to hell and back to see their idols, and I for one, loved the story line. The way the scenes were married together in order to produce four running timelines was cool. It’s not often that you see movies with so many characters going through very different sets of adversity in order to achieve the same result, and I thought this was very well done. We all knew they were going to meet up at the intersection after time was up to see the show, but we had no idea of the shenanigans that would take place until then.

We were met with many scenes and compilations that made me laugh, and some that made me cringe (male strip-ish puke club LMFAO). But my favorite scene from the whole movie was the guys beating themselves up to try and get into the show. This scene just shows what Kiss means to these guys, and they even after all of the things these guys had to go through, they still stopped at nothing to get into the concert.

I really enjoyed all of the presentations this week including the readings, and the proof of yet more cult films. I have never scene “Tank girl” but the presentation piqued my interest, and I would not be surprised if I find myself watching it soon. “Hot tub time Machine” is an absolute classic in my book. There is not a funnier time-traveling story out there (full disclosure, back to the future is awesome, but this is funnier in my opinion.) The cover of that movie, and any stills, bring me back to the first time I watched it at my friends house on a sleepover. Then, it was just a funny movie, but now it brings me to a decade that I very much wish I had a larger connection to. I would kill to be in a time where neon was the color choice for multiple types of clothing.

This weeks screening was “Dazed and Confused.” I was absolutely head-over heals for this movie. The hardest thing I must grapple with on this movie, is the fact that this was only my first time seeing it. I am so disappointed in myself for never seeing this auspicious piece of media.

Every movie I watch, I always gravitate to the cars being used in it. most films that we’ve seen this semester, the cars were basically a necessity of transportation, and were not highlighted much.

For this film however, the cars were always front and center, and we even catch glimpses of Mathew McConaughey’s character describing his cars engine and being really excited about its capabilities.

In order to avoid just rambling on about the “Judge” or the only Chevrolet truck I’ve ever wanted to own, I will just say that I was in love with all of them, and how they were juxtaposed beautifully in this film; (yes I know its an art word, and feel free to correct me if it’s the wrong usage, but it felt right.)

As for the movie itself, and the workings of the scenes, I loved every frame. All I could do was dream that I was in high school during this period. I would give anything to ride around in these cars, go to parties like these in the woods, and listen to the glorious music that accompanied such scenes. The soundtrack was amazing, and magnificently elevated each scene with familiar songs that anyone can sing along to.

The presentations this week were nothing short of awesome once again. I have seen glimpses of the shinning only by accident, but I had never heard of “Jennifer’s Body.” Images of both films, as the presenters talked about; are very famous, and worth noting. The first image that I wish to talk about, is from “The Shinning.” Mountain Dew partnered with Brain Cranston to create an add creepy enough to smolder into my brain whenever I see mountain dew. I am sure all of you have seen it, and I am pretty positive that it was talked about this week during the presentation. Nevertheless, IT IS CREPPY and I cannot bring myself to drink mountain dew because of it. I just hope that for their marketing team’s sake, more people found it humorously creepy instead of deter-inly creepy.

The “Jennifer’s Body” meme of a doll re-creating a scene in the movie where Meghan Fox is burning her tongue with a lighter while talking on the phone. My one question for that scene was “who the heck was she talking to?” That scene is captured with just a single picture; provides endless possibilities for memes both comedic and cringy. This aspect really makes me happy, because people can engage with a film, yet they have not seen it. Eventually they might come to the conclusion that they want to know more about the girl who burns her tongue while talking on the phone. But even if they don’t, they will still be affected by this work of Cult cinema, whether they like it or not! (They should like it though, just saying)

It was another great week apart from graduation being moved to December, and my late post; that will bother me well into my 30’s.

This week’s screening of “Susperia” was a little less scary than I thought it was going to be. However, it did not leave anything left unsaid when it came to goriness. Every “throat-slice” or glass stabbing was enough to make you turn away until you were certain the image was no longer there. That being said, the dancing color changes were enough to real me back in every time.

One of the biggest things that puzzled me throughout this entire film was the aspect of setting. Most of the movie was centered in on the dance school / ancient witch whereabouts. However, the setting of each scene always seemed to change. We were never given very many shots that looked the same, and it made the landscape of the film seem much larger than it was. One minute we were in a dance studio looking at the class, the next we were in an attic looking at spoiled meat covered with maggots. to me, this seemed to remind me a lot of “Valerie and her Week of Wonders.” It was as if the film wanted us to remain in the grasps of ever changing scenery within a very small world.

This wasn’t your typical “haunted house” everyone will perish who is tagged as “prying eyes,” but it came close, and I am glad that it ended up being the film that it was. The one question that will stay with me for this movie and for every other movie like it, is “Why didn’t she just leave?” The point where I would have left was the maggots. I would have left whatever items I had brought to that school with me and headed out the front door once I caught wind of an invasion of maggots. this surprised me even more as I began to wonder why a building full of women were more brave to stick it out than I would have been.

The presenters this week were phenomenal. I enjoy learning from my peers a lot, and I am glad that this class is structured like that. I particularly enjoyed Leon Hunt’s reading, and his description of how horror is a great way to tell how good a movie is. I feel that I share his view of better movies actual show less horror and gore as apposed to “bad” movies who load up on the stuff and leave you semi-scarred.

As for the cult movie presentations this week, the road of excellence in film understanding and proving of cult status continues to be paved. “Grease 2” was my favorite movie that was presented this week, but both presenters did awesome! I’ve always loved Grease, and still find the soundtrack to be able to lift any spirit no matter the time. I enjoyed “Grease 2” just as much as the first one because the concepts, cool cars, and leather jackets were still pretty much intact. But I still love the first installation the best.

This week was a very engaging one for me, and I am sure for many of my peers. Despite being thrown into this new universe of online learning and film observation, we’re still studying cult cinema, and interacting with our classmates.

This week’s screening (From the comfort of my room) was “Valerie and Her Week of Wonders.” This film got a lot of praise from our professor prior to the screening, while we were still at AU 😥 . And I can say without a doubt, it lived up to it. One of the craziest things I noticed during this film, was the MASSIVE amounts of cuts. As talked about in the podcast, “The longest single shot seemed to be like 8 seconds.” At first glance of this technique, I thought it was a great way to edit this film, and I felt it made things even more chaotic.

The reading I presented this week was called “Valerie and Her Week of Wonders; Grandma What big Fangs You Have.” I found this reading to clear a lot of aspects of the film up for me. It helped guide me through the masterful “screen play gone movie.” My reading gave me the insight that Jires does these frequent cuts in order to create the chaos that I was feeling. He does not want any member of his audience to be able to grasp onto a singular plot line, or even be able to distinguish from real-life and folklore.

 If I am being totally honest, I could not distinguish either dimensions of location or time while watching Valerie, and I feel that this experience added to the film’s beauty. Not only was each scene and cut masterfully executed, beautiful, and accompanied by an incredible score, but I found myself lost in every conceivable way, and I LOVED that feeling.

I was beyond impressed by all three of our presenters this week. Each one of them was extremely confident in their film and proved Cult status very well. Buffalo 66 is a movie that I have not seen, but the presentation has led me want to watch it. As for scream, even though its apparently a funny horror movie, I will not be watching it, unless I have to, because horror only works for me in a well-lit room, with plenty of people around, and no cruel jokes pertaining to the film after the completion of the movie. Blade runner 2049, is a movie that I can really get behind because I have seen the first one in the series due to its availability on Netflix. I honestly cannot think of why I haven’t seen it yet, but now it is added to my list of must-sees.

Overall, this online learning has been awful for most of my classes. However, for some reason my outlook for this class has not changed. I think that it has a lot to do with the energy that is somehow still thriving, even though we are all hundreds of miles away from each other. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you guys and gals are awesome.

This week’s screening was my favorite by far. “The Warriors” was an absolutely riveting story of non-stop chase and “beat” or be “Beat up”. Or as Chris aptly described “one long chase scene.”

As you all know by now, I am an absolute sucker for title sequences. This week’s performance did not disappoint one bit. The title and introduction of movie staff was incorporated into the beginning scenes of the movie. As we were leaning the names of the people behind the movie, we were also being submerged into the plot of the movie as well.

Within these first moments, the funniest line I heard was “I’ll bet no one’s even gonna be there.” Moments after this line, we are brought to the gathering of thousands of gang-members surrounding a platform awaiting the words of the man that brought them there.

The fandom for this movie as we discussed in class is off the charts! One of the biggest parts of this fandom is the extremely quotable aspect of this film. One quote that that stood out to me the most was “Can you dig it?!” I have heard that line countless times all through my entire childhood, and always thought it was a part of a different movie, when in fact it was those other movies that used the line from this cult classic. When I heard those words come out of the “leaders” mouth, my face lit up with joy because of how impactful that line has been to me, and the unity it created when spoken to the thousands of people gathered there that night.

The true beginning of the chase this movie provided was when the leader was shot. The warriors were framed with the murder and all the “menacing” gangs of New York were tasked with eliminating them. Throughout this entire chase, I couldn’t help but wonder if the sun was ever going to be out. This was an interesting thought that I took note of while watching the film, but we later discussed in class that because of the way they wanted to shoot this movie, they had to film most of it at night. This in turn led to the lack of pedestrians.

The comic book-like transitions were mesmerizing. I loved its incorporation, and in my opinion, it brought even more life to the film.

John Fiske’s reading this week on the cultural economy of fandom, is the one that stuck me the most. When he talks about cinema filling the voids for people who lack certain social experiences, that stuck a core with me, as I completely agree with that statement, and all that it represents.

All of the presentations this week were phenomenal, but my favorite was the one about back to the future 3. The presentation itself was very informative, and proved cult status to not only the trilogy, but the 3^rd movie in its own right. The best part about the presentation was the personal connection that was displayed towards the film, and the impact that it has had on her from her childhood, to her homecoming parade.