Description
Title: Sacred Cow Halloween Special (1993)
Genre: Comedy, Stand-Up, Sketch
Plot Synopsis:
In this offbeat and surreal comedy special, comedians Bill Hicks and Kevin Booth host a bizarre Halloween broadcast from “HELL,” celebrating ten years of Sacred Cow Productions’ contributions to Austin Public Access TV. The show blends live call-ins, pre-recorded sketches, and raw, unfiltered stand-up performances. With appearances from Sam Kinison and other guests, the special delivers satirical social commentary, dark humor, and an unpredictable mix of entertainment that captures the rebellious spirit of the 1990s underground comedy scene.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Kevin Booth
- Cast:
- Bill Hicks as Himself
- Sam Kinison as Himself
- Kevin Booth as Himself
- David Johndrow as Himself
IMDb Link:
Sacred Cow Halloween Special (1993)
Meta Description:
“Sacred Cow Halloween Special” (1993) is a stand-up and sketch comedy special directed by Kevin Booth, featuring Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison. Combining live call-ins, pre-recorded sketches, and satirical social commentary, this underground public-access special delivers a dark and unfiltered comedic experience.
Title: How to Carve Great Faces for Halloween with Gordy Falk “The Pumpkin Man” (1988)
Genre: Documentary, Family
Plot Synopsis:
Gordy Falk, affectionately known as “The Pumpkin Man” of Milwaukee, has cultivated a beloved Halloween tradition in Wisconsin since the late 1970s. In this 30-minute instructional video, Gordy shares his expertise in pumpkin carving, offering detailed lessons on transforming ordinary pumpkins into expressive jack-o’-lanterns. With simple tools—a small knife, a large spoon, and, of course, a pumpkin—he demonstrates techniques to create spectacular pumpkin faces, emphasizing that it’s quick, easy, and fun for everyone. The video delves into various carving methods, safety tips, and creative ideas to inspire both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts.
Cast and Crew:
- Cast:
- Gordy Falk as Himself
- Lindsay as Herself
IMDb Link:
How to Carve Great Faces for Halloween with Gordy Falk “The Pumpkin Man” (1988)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
SpOoky Lukey Video – ★★★★½
“Gordy Falk: American folk-art hero. He’s so full of himself, and I love it. You just know he gave himself the title ‘The Pumpkin Man.’” -
single white femalien – ★★★★☆
“Wait, I love the idea of carved pumpkins as ephemeral American folk art! Gordy is so good at it; what a sweet man to share his knowledge and passion for the reasonable price of $10 in 1988 money.” -
kat – ★★★★☆
“I meant to only casually watch this, but I got sucked into Gordy Falk’s world of jack-o’-lantern carving as folk art. My mind feels opened to pumpkin carving in a new way. I didn’t expect to feel so moved by this.”
Meta Description:
“How to Carve Great Faces for Halloween with Gordy Falk ‘The Pumpkin Man’” (1988) is a 30-minute documentary featuring Milwaukee’s own Gordy Falk. In this instructional video, Gordy imparts his pumpkin carving expertise, guiding viewers through creating expressive jack-o’-lanterns with simple tools, and sharing his passion for this cherished Halloween tradition.
Title: Full Body Massage (1995)
Genre: Drama, TV Movie
Plot Synopsis: Nina, an art dealer, schedules her regular massage appointment and is surprised to find a new masseur, Fitch, replacing her usual therapist. Throughout the session, they engage in deep conversations about past relationships and personal philosophies. As Fitch explains various massage techniques, including those used by Hopi medicine men, their interaction delves into themes of intimacy, trust, and self-discovery.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Nicolas Roeg
Writer: Dan Gurskis
Cast:
- Mimi Rogers as Nina
- Bryan Brown as Fitch
- Christopher Burgard as Douglas
- Elizabeth Barondes as Anne
- Gareth Williams as Jack
IMDb Link: Full Body Massage (1995)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- theironcupcake – ★★½
“You know, the most dangerous thing in the world is to think you’ve got time to play it safe.”
Meta Description: “Full Body Massage” (1995), directed by Nicolas Roeg, is a drama exploring the unexpected connection between Nina, an art dealer, and Fitch, a substitute masseur. Through their session, they discuss life, relationships, and personal growth, leading to profound self-discovery.
Title: Hotel Paradise (1995)
Genre: Drama
Plot Synopsis:
On the morning of her wedding day, a bride-to-be awakens in a lavish hotel suite, handcuffed to a bed, with no recollection of the previous night’s events. Beside her lies a naked stranger, also restrained. As they attempt to piece together the night’s occurrences, themes of memory, identity, and unexpected connections unfold.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Nicolas Roeg
- Writer: Michael Allin
- Cast:
- Theresa Russell as the Bride
- Vincent D’Onofrio as the Naked Stranger
- Jimmy Batten
- Reuben Levi
- Robert Goodman
IMDb Link:
Hotel Paradise (1995)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
Lencho of the Apes – ★★★½
“Roeg’s later-career misfires make me kinda sad, but this isn’t one. So funny!” -
Cate – ★★½
“Not very good but it’s fun to watch Theresa Russell and young hot Vincent D’Onofrio give equally oversized performances, rolling around naked with a snake.” -
trolleyfreak – ★★½
“This erotic short film is the seventh and final collaboration of husband and wife team Nicolas Roeg and Theresa Russell, one of the great Director/Actress partnerships in recent cinema history.”
Meta Description:
“Hotel Paradise” (1995), directed by Nicolas Roeg, is a dramatic short film exploring the mysterious events surrounding a bride-to-be who awakens handcuffed beside a stranger on her wedding day, delving into themes of memory and unexpected connections.
Title: Body Drop Asphalt (2000)
Alternate Title: ボディドロップアスファルト
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot Synopsis:
Eri Manaka, a young and intelligent Japanese woman, finds herself engulfed in depression and alienation. To escape her monotonous life, she pens a romance novel titled “Soft Cream Love,” envisioning an alter ego, Rie, who experiences love at first sight with a man named Fuyuki. The novel becomes a sensational hit, propelling Eri into the limelight of literary fame. Despite her success, Eri’s personal life remains unfulfilled, leading her to pursue a pessimistic sequel. As she delves deeper into her writing, the boundaries between fiction and reality blur, culminating in unexpected encounters and self-discovery.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Junko Wada
- Writer: Junko Wada
- Cast:
- Sayuri Oyamada as Eri Manaka
- Makoto Ogi as Rie
- Yôji Tanaka as Fuyuki Tôjô
- Yûichi Kishino as Hoshino
- Kenichi Okubo as Sekine
IMDb Link:
Body Drop Asphalt (2000)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
nara – ★★★☆☆
“A potent and straightforward film. The first 20 minutes show how frustrating life can be, so Eri creates a novel of how she wants her life to look but eventually becomes immersed in her story…” -
PlaguDocta – ★★★★☆
“Our dramedy. In a million galaxies; gaining and losing unrealism. Repeating…”
Meta Description:
“Body Drop Asphalt” (2000), directed by Junko Wada, is a Japanese comedy-drama that follows Eri Manaka, a young author whose fictional creations begin to intertwine with her reality, exploring themes of loneliness, creativity, and the blurred lines between fiction and life.
Title: Broadcast Girl (2008)
Alternate Title: 新人女子アナ危機一髪
Genre: Romance, Drama, Mature
Plot Synopsis: Aya Hirai, an unsuccessful news reporter, finds her career taking an unexpected turn after a compromising photo of her kissing the director surfaces, leading to blackmail. Two years later, she replaces Yuko Fujisaki as the main anchor. Determined to reclaim her position, Yuko is driven by the memory of her boyfriend, who was killed in Palestine six years prior. The film explores themes of ambition, jealousy, and the personal sacrifices made in the broadcasting industry.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Takayuki Tamura
- Writer: Junpei Sugimoto
- Cast:
- Rika Sonohara as Aya Hirai
- Lemon Hanazawa as Yuko Fujisaki
Letterboxd Link: Broadcast Girl
MyDramaList Link: Broadcast Girl
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
Kurtis Britts – ★★★☆☆ “A decent, light-hearted emotional story with several extended intimate scenes. The plot is interesting and occasionally sad, though perhaps not as well-executed as it could have been.”
-
CityGent – ★½☆☆☆ “Missed opportunity to showcase the abuse by senior TV executives. It starts with promise but devolves into a drab soap opera about two women competing for the same job.”
Meta Description: “Broadcast Girl” (2008) is a Japanese romance-drama directed by Takayuki Tamura. The film follows Aya Hirai, a news reporter whose career shifts dramatically after a scandal, leading to a rivalry with main anchor Yuko Fujisaki. Themes include ambition, jealousy, and personal sacrifice in the broadcasting industry.
Title: Marie, the Doll (1976)
Alternate Title: Marie-poupée
Genre: Drama
Plot Synopsis: Marie, a 17-year-old orphan with a childlike demeanor, becomes captivated by a doll shop owned by the affluent and eccentric Claude. Drawn to her doll-like innocence, Claude invites Marie to view his extensive personal collection, leading to a swift marriage. Unbeknownst to Marie, Claude’s obsession with dolls extends to treating her as one, confining her to a life of objectification and emotional isolation. As Marie’s longing for genuine human connection grows, she seeks solace elsewhere, culminating in tragic consequences. The film explores themes of fetishism, sexual repression, and the perils of self-objectification.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Joël Séria
Writer: Joël Séria
Cast:
- Jeanne Goupil as Marie-Poupée
- André Dussollier as Claude
- Andréa Ferréol as Ida Courtin
- Bernard Fresson as Sergio
- Fanny Ardant as Marie-Paule
IMDb Link: Marie, the Doll (1976)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- Scumbalina – ★★★★★ “A much more complex horror story than ‘Don’t Deliver Us From Evil’ which makes its intentions clear from the get-go. Sexual maturity, and all of the messiness that comes with it are at the core.”
- kennedi cotarelo – ★★★★★ “A tale of a fetishized existence as an idealized feminine object of perceived innocence, otherized and rendered a non-person: a doll.”
- Groverdox – ★★★☆☆ “Being left with a creepy relationship like the one at the centre of this movie—a guy who loves dolls falls for a girl who behaves like one—becomes pretty unpleasant when the movie does nothing with it.”
Meta Description: “Marie, the Doll” (1976), directed by Joël Séria, is a French drama that delves into the life of Marie, a young orphan who becomes ensnared in a marriage with Claude, a man fixated on dolls. The film examines themes of fetishism, s&xual repression, and the dangers of self-objectification.
Title: Depraved Relations (1975)
Alternate Title: Les liaisons perverses
Genre: Drama
Plot Synopsis:
A shallow and selfish young Parisian photographer seduces Hélène, the young wife of a businessman. The photographer’s immorality ensnares Hélène in a betrayal of her middle-class values. However, despite the photographer’s attempts to exploit her situation, Hélène’s genuine substance and intelligence provide an unexpected resolution.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Jean-Paul Savignac
Cast:
- Mona Heftre as Hélène
- Jean Roche
- Pierre Oudrey
- Samuel Sladow
- Monique Vita
Reviews from Letterboxd:
-
MrDilophosaurus – ★★★☆☆
“In cinematographic terms, ‘Les liaisons perverses’ is a pretty standard erotic drama for the time. Director Jean-Paul Savignac is competent enough, staging some of the sex scenes in unconventional ways.” -
OncleVernon – ★★☆☆☆
“Une rareté française exhumée par Le Chat qui fume… Le film en lui-même est malheureusement plutôt quelconque.” -
ToxicAvenger666 – ★★★½☆
“Enfaite j’aime l’érotisme à la française de l’époque… je le trouve très poétique et drôle à la fois.”
Meta Description:
“Depraved Relations” (1975), directed by Jean-Paul Savignac, is a French drama that explores the manipulative relationship between a selfish Parisian photographer and Hélène, a young wife entangled in a betrayal of her middle-class values.
