Your Netflix Instant Weekend: THE WOMAN, FATSO (2008), and more
I owe many apologies for not providing this column last week (though there wasn't much to recommend anyways).
We pick back up with a great mix of new titles added recently including a deeply unsettling (and greatly misunderstood) horror film and a Norwegian sex comedy.
A sequel to the not-so-great OFFSPRING, this collaboration between Lucky McKee (MAY) and Jack Ketchum (Off Season, The Girl Next Door) may have initially made headlines for causing wild outbursts during its Sundance premier but beyond the great publicity of ignorant reactions to it, THE WOMAN is a cunning and powerful horror film. The Woman (played fearlessly by Pollyanna McIntosh) is the last remaining member of a cannibalistic tribe and when Chris Cleek stumbles upon her while hunting, he decides to capture her and chain her up in a root cellar on his property. Forcing his wife Belle (Angela Bettis), daughters and emotionally-imbalanced son to participate in his efforts to civilize the feral woman, Chris creates a path of woman-hating destruction that culminates in a third act that is truly spectacular and sickening to behold. THE WOMAN is deeply uncomfortable satire, a horrifying, button-pushing horror tale told without any reservations or compromises. (Available in HD)
Rino is a loser, an overweight shlub spending his 30s as a chronically masturbating virgin who fantasizes about grocery store clerks and watches massive amounts of porn. He also hangs out with his friend (perhaps that should be in quotation marks) Fillip who constantly talks about his (made up) sexual exploits. This tortured but balanced existence is rocked when Rino takes in a sexy 20-something Swedish girl named Malin as his new roommate. Sexually frustrated in her own way (desired for her body but not for her as a person) she inspires confidence in Rino. Through colorful fantasy sequences and darkly grotesque animations of Rino's darkest thoughts, FATSO is a offbeat, gross, yet somehow still tender Norwegian comedy. (Available in HD)
The Wildcard - OUTCAST (2010)
You have to admit that's one hell of a poster. Yet one immediately recognizes the slick marketing tactics. I bet those monster hands aren't even in the movie ("Beware the best WITHIN"). Still, buzz on this one is generally favorable and I've never met a horror movie I wasn't willing to try. Plus, it's Irish! (Available in HD)
If you're looking for more...
More entertaining than anything, the THE PEOPLE VS. GEORGE LUCAS takes a look at the sticky relationship between the director and the fans of his films. Re-added to Netflix is the heartbreaking and breathtaking documentary film MARWENCOL about a man's mental escape into a tiny world of his own creation. TERMINAL FORCE is cheesy action that could only be brought to us by the Fred Olen Ray. Will Ferrell tones it down for his role in the indie dramedy EVERYTHING MUST GO. The Korean period actioner WAR OF THE ARROWS makes for thrilling viewing. ROADIE is an interesting little indie character piece about a roadie's life after traveling with Blue Oyster Cult for 20 years. THE PACK is a mostly successful French horror film featuring some evil kids. Finally, everyone loves THE BIRDCAGE but be sure to check out the original film LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.
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