Startling, provocative, and often unsettling, midnight movies have left an indelible mark on American cinema. Beginning in the 1970s, these late-night cult events offered films that were unlike anything else glimpsed on movie screens. Among the offbeat hits are some of cinema's most... [More]

Startling, provocative, and often unsettling, midnight movies have left an indelible mark on American cinema. Beginning in the 1970s, these late-night cult events offered films that were unlike anything else glimpsed on movie screens. Among the offbeat hits are some of cinema's most unique works. This fascinating documentary explores six midnight movies and their impact: John Water's trashy classic PINK FLAMINGOS; David Lynch's surreal take on fatherhood, ERASERHEAD; cinema's preeminent transvestite musical, ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW; Alejandro Jodorowsky's otherworldly Western, EL TOPO; the reggae-cum-gangster film THE HARDER THEY COME; and George Romero's genre-defining zombiefest, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Packed with film clips and interviews with critics and the filmmakers themselves, MIDNIGHT MOVIES shows how these nocturnal showings offered audiences entry into cinematic worlds which were distinct from typical Hollywood fare, but later seeped into mainstream film culture. [Less]