A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Well I Thought It Was But It Wasn’t Really

There I was in my teenage years lying on the back room sofa all alone drifting in and out of consciousness. Not only had I caught glandular fever but the doctor, in his wisdom, had prescripted the wrong antibiotics. The mix up had caused my whole body to breakout in a rash. It looked like scarlet fever and I was beside myself! In between the crazy itching and bouts of fever sweats I’d become drowsy from all the medication.  I was hallucinating. There I was making my way up the Stairway to Heaven!

Black Moon (1975) Science Fiction Fantasy French Fruit Loop Mind Wibble Wobble

Is this science fiction? It certainly starts that way! Kind of post-apocalyptic. Maybe not following a nuclear war but some other world-wide disaster has probably happened. I got a sense and feeling of Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 sci-fi thriller Children Of Men to start with. The bleak and the gloom, the underlying air of sadness. Yes that was soon to change and oh, how we all laughed that I could have thought such a thing! Hehe. But first……

The Cube (1969) Muppet Man Trippy Surreal Mind Melt In A Box

“Hello can anybody hear me!?” These are the first words of an unnamed man, I’ll call him Cube Man (Richard Schaal). He’s woken up, maybe just appeared, inside a white cubed room. He repeats “Hello! Can anybody hear me?” Baffled. Cube Man tries to work out his bearings. It has to be a joke, right! An elaborate practical joke. It’s not funny. Starting to get panicked. Trapped. “Is there anybody there?”

Je t’aime, Je t’aime (1968) French Surrealism Experimental Time Travel

The French do mind trippy fantastic science fiction surrealism in film with ease. Just check 1965’s Neo Noir sci-fi Alphaville and snappy 1962 time travel short film La Jetee. Amazingly creative, thoughtful science fiction. Here’s another sixties onslaught attack on your precious grey matter cells. From director Alain Resnais and his 1968 film Je t’aime, Je t’aime (I Love You, I Love You).

The Snake Pit (1948) Olivia de Schizo Journeys The Levels Of Madness!

Maybe it’s an insight into my own fractured mind but I do enjoy a good insane asylum film. Traveling into the depths of madness. They do have to be done well and feature deep thoughts on the subject. Films like David and Lisa and Shock Corridor have score high on my wolfy meter.

Society (1989) Saucy Debauchery Cult Of The Social Elite

What with Halloween nearly upon us it only feels right to jump into a horror and one with a big pumpkin sized barrel filled with pitch black humour instead of sweet candy. Not sure how I had missed the delights of Society, it had truly passed me by. Luckily I had my younger brother Dan to disturb and warp my mind. And what with the riot that was to come forth, I don’t know whether I should be thankful or not? hehe of course I was, it’s a total blast but I assure you, it’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s saucy, sexy and rather naughty and, without doubt totally utterly bat-shit insane.

The Naked Kiss (1964) Jazz Slaps, Karate Chops & Bonbon Girls

The Naked Kiss begins with what could be the most craziest jazz scored shocking opening scene to a movie ever, I certainly went “what the fook!” as I picked my chin from the floor. Don’t worry I won’t spoil it for you, wait for the surprise…… He’s back with another controversial film hot on the heels of the brilliant Shock Corridor, writer and director Samuel Fuller gets to unleash another bout of bonkers.

Tagline – SHOCK and SHAME STORY of a NIGHT GIRL!

The Night My Number Came Up (1955) Dreams, Omens & Final Destination

Opening with that distinct, recognisable voice of Paddington Bear, Commander Lindsay (Michael Hordern) worriedly confronts an air traffic control officer with news that a Dakota airplane has crashed landed at a certain point over Japan.  The control room officer is convinced that no distress warnings have come in or the fact that the Dakota isn’t even on that flight path. “How do you know this?” he asks, “I can’t say but if I did you wouldn’t believe me but please believe me I know something has happened!” replies the Commander.

Branded to Kill (1967) Chipmunk, Butterflies, Steamy Japanese Sex & Boiled Rice!

Oh come on now, you really shouldn’t have made such incredible films Mr Seijun Suzuki. My constant buzzing and face of awe makes it hard to concentrate on normal life stuff. My mind wanders off, all day thinking about the pure wonder and excitement that greeted me on the screen. Tokyo Drifter had always been one of my favorite films, it’s just so damn bloody cool but then I got recommended Branded To Kill, well it couldn’t be as good as Tokyo Drifter, that would be impossible, wouldn’t it, surely?

Brainstorm (1983) The Christopher Walken Virtual Reality Mind Experience

Spanish poster for Brainstorm

Rented this on VHS cassette tape in my teens, though I didn’t realise until many years later this was the second and last movie to be directed by legendary special effects guru, Douglas Trumbull. His first, and always to be a favourite sci-fi movie for me, was the eco warrior Bruce Dern film, Silent Running. A film with a message to mankind and of course those three very cute robots called Huey, Dewey and Louie.