Subgenre Sampler
Documentary > Cult: 82 Films to Buy & 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... –…
Work of Directors, The - Boxset Vol. 2 (Anton Corbijn, Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek, Stephane Sednnaoui) (2006)
- Dir. Anton Corbijn, Jonathan Glazer, Mark Romanek
- Directors Label boxset containing the final four music video/doco/shorts compilations in the series. Features the work of Anton Corbijn, Jonathan…
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…
Educational Archives - Sex and Drugs (2003)
- An interesting and amusing assortment of educational films for the young, dating from the 1940s through to the 1970s, dealing with the dread perils…
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…
Work of Directors, The - Boxset Vol. 1 (Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry) (2003)
- Dir. Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry
- Directors Label boxset containing the first three music video/doco/shorts compilations in the series. Features the work of Spike Jonze, Chris…
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.…
Primitive London (1965)
- Dir. Arnold L. Miller
- This once–shocking mondo style documentary film sets out to reflect societal decay through the sideshow spectacle of 60's London depravity.…
London in the Raw (1964)
- Dir. Arnold L. Miller, Norman Cohen
- 1960s documentary detailing the sordid underbelly of London, aiming for the shock–value notoriety of Mondo Cane, which was released several…
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…