Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Documentary > Cult: 77 Films to Rent
- Search for Weng Weng (2013)
- Dir. Andrew Leavold
- A bizarre history of Filipino B–films, as told through director Andrew Leavold's personal quest to find the truth behind its midget James Bond…
- Paradise Lost 3 - Purgatory (2011)
- Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
- This concluding chapter in the Paradise Lost saga came on the back of the West Memphis Three's sudden release from prison, and covers the defense…
- Kim Newman's Guide to the Flipside of British Cinema (2010)
- Dir. Jake West
- Cult film critic Kim Newman hosts this entertaining doco that looks at some British cinema's more esoteric films.
Includes three short films:…
- Machete Maidens Unleashed (2010)
- Dir. Mark Hartley
- Eye–opening look at the exploitation film–making industry that thrived in the Philippines during the seventies as American producers took…
- Velvet Underground - Vanishing Point (2010)
- Dir. Tom Barber
Feat. Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, John Cale
- Doco on the legendary art–rockers featuring a wealth of material, including evocative period footage of New York, obscure interviews and…
- Crazy Love (2007)
- Dir. Dan Klores, Fisher Stevens
- Stranger–than–fiction story of the obsessive love of Burt and Linda Pugach, whose personal tragedy made international headlines during…
- Beales of Grey Gardens, The (2006)
- Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles
- Comprised of new footage and fresh hindsight, the Maysles brothers revisit the iconic Beales immortalised in their 1976 verite classic GREY GARDENS.…
- MTV Barrio 19 (2006)
- Excellent compilation of amazing demonstrations by street performers from around the globe – Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Britain... –…
- Devil and Daniel Johnston, The (2005)
- Dir. Jeff Feuerzeig
- Shadowy and sympathetic look at cult American songwriter Daniel Johnston, whose quirky pop gems – covered by the likes of Sonic Youth, Beck,…
- Midnight Movies - From The Margin To The Mainstream (Incl. Night of the Living Dead and Reefer Madness) (2005)
- Dir. Stuart Samuels
- Entrenched in the counter–cultural fertility of the seventies, this documentary profiles six seminal underground flicks that transformed the…
- Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005)
- Dir. Carlene Cordova
- A passionately reverential treatment of 'Lord of the Rings' culture and Tolkien mania, dissecting the varied influences of the now–ubiquitous…
- Save Your Legs! (2005)
- Dir. Boyd Hicklin
- Genial documentary follows a group of amateur Australian cricketers – the Abbotsford Anglers Cricket Club – on a 'tour' to India.…
- Work of Director Anton Corbijn, The (2005)
- Dir. Anton Corbijn
- A celebrated photographer, particularly in his association with Depeche Mode and U2 (he shot the iconic album cover for Joshua Tree), Anton Corbijn's…
- Riding Giants (2004)
- Dir. Stacy Peralta
- Perhaps the definitive cinematic fan–letter to the sport of surfing, in particular its "big wave" subcult, with the dir. of DOGTOWN AND…
- American Misfits (2003)
- A unique mix of skateboarding, prankery, skits and interviews – hosted by JACKASS star Wee Man and fellow misfit Laban Phiedas. Much stuntwork…
- Billabong Odyssey (2003)
- Dir. Philip Boston
- Surf documentary with a difference – this chronicles the search by a group of top wave–riders (Shawn Barron, Layne Beachley, Ken…
- Chlorine (2003)
- Commended documentary covers the hardcore pool–skating scene in the USA, in which emptied swimming pools are transformed into adhoc…
- Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, The (2003)
- A circus fit for the new millenium, 'The Jim Rose Circus' features various self–described freaks such as Torture King, Mr Lifto, The Enigma and…
- Off The Charts - The Song-Poem Story (2003)
- Dir. Jamie Meltzer
- A gem of a music doco from off the beaten track, this charts the arcane history of the "song poem", a genre of music where members of the public have…
- Plaster Caster (2003)
- Dir. Jessica Villines
- Groovy "cockumentary" tracing the colourful career of artist and super–groupie Cynthia Albritton, who became infamous for making commemorative…
- Work of Director Michel Gondry, The (2003)
- Dir. Michel Gondry
- A comprehensive compilation of music videos, art experiments and short films from the fiercely creative French director Michel Gondry, whose visual…
- Work of Director Spike Jonze, The (2003)
- Dir. Spike Jonze
- Before his successful foray into feature films, director Spike Jonze made his name as the pre–eminent music video director of the 1990s. He…
- BaadAsssss Cinema (2002)
- Dir. Isaac Julien
Feat. Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Quentin Tarantino…
- A fan's–eye–view of 1970s Blaxploitation cinema, featuring juicy interviews with players, directors, critics and aficionados.
Although…
- Backyard, The (2002)
- Dir. Paul Hough
- A cringe–inducing glimpse into the American subculture of backyard amateur wrestling, in which contestants up the ante with barbed wire,…
- Decasia: The State of Decay (2002)
- Dir. Bill Morrison
- Highly original experimental film that achieves a stunning aesthetic and haunting visual poetry by compiling an array of found archival film footage…
- Steve-O - Don't Try This at Home (2002)
- Feat. Steve-O
- A collection of special moments featuring Steve–O, one of the wilder stars of MTV's JACKASS show. Lacking the imaginative wit of the movie,…
- Educational Archives - Social Engineering 101 (2001)
- A delightful mixture of government American educational films from the 1940–70 period which were shown in schools to tutor children in the ways…
- Schlock! - The Secret History of American Movies (2001)
- Dir. Ray Greene
- A suitably low–rent survey of 50s and 60s B–grade movies, with insights courtesy of Roger Corman, Peter Bogdanovich, David F. Friedman,…
- Filth and the Fury, The (2000)
- Dir. Julien Temple
- Film–maker Julien Temple gives an angry and commanding voice to 'The Sex Pistols' (incl. the late Sid Vicious), who tell their story 'like it…
- Mark of Cain, The (2000)
- Dir. Alix Lambert
- Instructive documentary on an esoteric subject: the disappearing art of the Russian prison tattoo. Journeying the penal system of the Russian…
- Oracle of Omaha (2000)
- Dir. Lisa D Gildehaus
- The second–richest man in America, investor Warren Buffett, is the subject of this study, whose investment success and ethics have made him a…
- Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations (2000)
- Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
- Essential sequel to the brilliant documentary of the now infamous Robin Hills Murder trial that saw three small boys savagely murdered and three…
- Pie in the Sky - The Brigid Berlin Story (2000)
- Dir. Vincent Freemont, Shelly Dunn Freemont
Feat. Brigid Berlin
- The true story of Brigid Polk, real name Brigid Berlin, a blueblood socialite who rebelled to become an Andy Warhol bad–girl, and starred in…
- CKY Trilogy (1999-2003)
- Feat. Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Brandon DiCamillo
- Sampling scenes from the 'Camp Kill Yourself' videos and documentary, this is an excellent compilation of skate–boarding and twisted stuntwork.…
- Curse of the Blair Witch (1999)
- Expose of the BLAIR WITCH PROJECT back–story, keeping up the pretence of 'fact' and wringing more than a modicum of new twists out of the…
- Hitman Hart - Wrestling with Shadows (1999)
- Dir. Paul Jay
- A must for wrestling fans and detractors alike, this is the hugely compelling real–life story of Brett 'The Hitman' Hart, five times WWF…
- Life of Python, The (1999)
- Feat. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam…
- The BBC celebrates 30 years of Monty Python with new sketches and a plethora of guest appearances.
Volume One:
"Pythonland" – Journey with…
- Original Schtick / Schtick Happens (1999-2002)
- Dir. Maciek Wszelaki
- A stranger–than–fiction documentary following American visual artist and egotistical maniac Robert (Bob) Fischer on a bizarre tour of…
- Trekkies (1999)
- Dir. Roger Nygard
- Comprehensive, eye–opening tour of the STAR TREK phenomenon and the lives of some of its more ardent devotees. Chuckle and gasp as Denise…
- Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)
- Dir. James Marsh
- A deadpan, quietly unsettling documentary that charts 10 years of creeping misfortune at the end of the 19th century in the small Midwest town of…
- Destroy All Rational Thought (1998)
- An eclectic patchwork of material to do with William Burroughs and Brion Gysin, including footage from Burroughs films and home–movies, and…
- Divine Trash (1998)
- Dir. Steve Yeager
- A divine treat for fans of the film–maker John Waters’, this supplements contemporary and archival interviews with rare footage of the…
- Wadd: The Life and Times of John C Holmes (1998)
- Dir. Cass Paley, Alan Smithee
Feat. John Holmes
- Well hung, generously portioned portrait of the American sex film industry's most famous and successful male 'porn star'.
Legendary for his…
- Kurt and Courtney (1997)
- Dir. Nick Broomfield
- Not even an unofficial biography of 'Nirvana', Kurt Cobain or Courtney Love, but instead a wickedly amusing slice of pop–cultural…
- Pretty As a Picture (1997)
- Dir. Toby Keeler
Feat. Jack Nance, Mel Brooks, Dean Stockwell
- A beguiling and extensive peep behind the velvet curtains of director David Lynch's creative processes, during the making of LOST HIGHWAY. Helping…
- Fetishes (1996)
- Dir. Nick Broomfield
- One of dir. Broomfield's more insalubrious documentaries, where his customised faux innocence is used as a passport into the world of New York's…
- Paradise Lost (1996)
- Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
- A ‘tour de force’ crime documentary, courtroom saga and true life horror show, this is a bare witness account of the trial of three…
- Nico Icon (1995)
- Dir. Susanne Ofteringer
- Most famous as one–time singer for the Velvet Underground or arguably just for being famous, this takes a biographical tour of the late German…
- Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora (1994)
- Doco on the B–movie director, that reveals the man beneath the pink cardy. Covering the time of Tim Burton's biopic and beyond, through to the…
- Endless Summer 2 (1994)
- Dir. Bruce Brown
Feat. Patrick O'Connell, Robert Weaver
- Brown is some thirty years older but his passion for surfing and engaging humour has diminished none. Awesome surfing footage is captured this time…
- Hated (1994)
- Dir. Todd Phillips
- Unflinching shock–umentary exposes the grubby exploits of the late GG Allin – punk rocker, nihilist, sad bastard – who, despite…
- Life & Times of Allen Ginsberg (1993)
- Dir. Jerry Aronson
- This resonant film double–acts as a nostalgic looking–glass into bohemian culture and as a showcase of the New York beat poet/political…
- Charles Manson - Then and Now (1992)
- Tracing America's morbid fascination with the infamous sociopath , jailed in 1970 after members of his cult "family" went on a murder spree, this…
- Cyberpunk (1992)
- Dir. Marianne Trench
Feat. William Gibson, Timothy Leary
- Low–budget insight into the cyberpunk counter–culture. Author William Gibson and many hangers–on offer their view of what it means…
- Fishing with John (TV Series) (1992)
- Dir. John Lurie
Feat. Matt Dillon, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper…
- Neo–beatnik musician John Lurie hosts his own candid, off–beat TV show in which he takes a hipster celebrity pal on an exotic fishing…
- Commissioner of Sewers (1991)
- Dir. Klaus Maeck
- Dir. Maeck brings a European perspective to bear on the cult American writer, William S. Burroughs (NAKED LUNCH). A familiar blend of archival…
- Jodorowsky Constellation, The (1990)
- Dir. Louis Mouchet
- The creator of latterday surrealist films such as EL TOPO, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN and SANTE SANGRE, Alejandro Jodorowsky, gets due homage in this detailed…
- For Adults Only (Sex and Buttered Popcorn) (1989)
- Dir. Sam Harrison
- A must–see for schlock film fans, this investigates the origins of exploitation film–making in the 1930s and 1940s, mixing rarely seen…
- Mondo New York (1987)
- Dir. Harvey Keith
Feat. Joseph Arias, Rick Aviles, Charlie Barnett
- Eye–opening documentary depicts the seedy underbelly of life in the Big Apple. Fascinating but often repulsive, so keep the remote at close…
- Erotic Tatooing and Body Piercing (1986)
- Dir. Charles Gatewood
- A behind–the–scenes peek at the 'modern primitive' sub–culture. Mondo king Charles Gatewood visits a body adornment convention…
- Private Practices: The Story of a Sex Surrogate (1985)
- Dir. Kirby Dick
- The debut feature from bold documentarian Kirby Dick (SICK) is this fascinating and humane portrait of a sex surrogate Maureen Sullivan, who is…
- Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
- Dir. Godfrey Reggio
- This unique visual and aural masterpiece looks at our earth and 20th Century 'progress' through the eye of time–lapse camera. The…
- Being Different (1981)
- Dir. Harry Rasky
Feat. Billy Barty, Sandra Elaine Allen, Jo-Ann Cantilla
- Siamese–twin cowboys, a bearded lady, the world's tallest woman and a living 'elephant man' are among those that come upfront for this well…
- Let Me Die a Woman (1978)
- Dir. Doris Wishman
- You’ll need a strong stomach for trash queen Doris Wishman’s sensational bad taste documentary about men (and women) desperate to change their…
- Grey Gardens (1976)
- Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde
- An intimate portrait of acute eccentricity, this offers a ‘home movie’–style insight into the lives of colourful high–society…
- Overlord (1975)
- Dir. Stuart Cooper
Feat. Brian Stirner
- Remarkable one–off that seamlessly interweaves archival war footage and a fictional narrative, this accounts a twenty–year–old’s…
- Shocking Asia Vol.1 & 2 (1974-1985)
- Dir. Rolf Olsen
- One of the original ‘video nasties’, this mondo–style reportage on extreme social practices on the Asian continent includes cremations in…
- Ciao! Manhattan (Edie) (1972)
- Dir. Sam Green, David Weisman
Feat. Roger Vadim, Isabel Jewell, Viva
- The notorious documentary portrait of Andy Warhol 'superstar' Edie Sedgwick, whose beguiling good looks and dissolute lifestyle came to symbolise the…
- Crystal Voyager (1972)
- Dir. George Greenough
- A psychedelic surf oddity which sees a lone narrator build a boat and cross the ocean to find that perfect wave. Hippie tomfoolery climaxes in a…
- Endless Summer (1966)
- Dir. Bruce Brown
Feat. Mike Hynson, Robert August
- Widely popular cult documentary follows two American surfers who trot the globe looking for the perfect wave, even stopping off at Raglan, NZ.…
- Divine Horseman (1953)
- Dir. Maya Deren
- Interesting filmic record of Voodoo 'possession' dances from Haiti, shot by experimental filmmaker Deren, whose rhythmic editing patterns enhance the…
- Hooked: Anti-Drug Films from the 30's to the 70's (1935-1979)
- Dir. Various
- Typically alarmist and all the funnier for it this set of nine "educational" shorts never lets research get in the way of putting the fear into…
- Las Hurdes (Land Without Bread) (1933)
- Dir. Luis Bunuel
- Surrealist non–fiction short film focused around Las Hurdes, the poorest region of Western Spain. An unnervingly straight travelogue delivered…
- 50 Worst Movies Ever Made
- An appropriately schlocky, American–centered countdown of the 'worst movies ever made', ranging from classic cult items like "Glen or Glenda"…
- Fish Tank Tele
- Impress your party guests and turn your television set into an instant aqaurium! Contains sixty minutes of action–packed fish life.
- Rhino's Guide to Safe Sex
- A hilarious retrospective of public service sexual films from the '40s, '50s and '60s, detailing everything from proper petting etiquette to military…
- Shocking San Francisco / Weirdo New York
- Dir. Charles Gatewood
- Two galleries in which Gatewood's low–tech perv–cam sniffs out dubious delights from both capitals of kink. SEE a mistress of…