Experimental cinema can push boundaries, often to controversy, sometimes re-inventing the very medium itself. Still, while some have come to appreciate these films, they have resonated mainly with a small audience that actively seeks them out, whether due to personal preference or academic reasons. Experimental films will never be “for the people” in the sense that they are inherently not meant to capture mainstream attention. Still, that does not mean that some films can bridge that gap.
These 8 films may be unconventional, but they contain enough content to pique the interest of a broader audience and encourage them to check them out.
‘The Holy Mountain’ (1973)
Opening with the awakening of a Christ-like figure known as The Thief, The Holy Mountain unfolds into a spiritual journey involving a group of ‘pilgrims’ led by a man called the Alchemist, as they seek to find meaning in life by conquering the holy mountain. Each figure, influential in their own right, abandons all their earthly possessions to find enlightenment with the Thief in the lead.
Too Bizarre To Be Ignored
We are starting with a heavy hitter here, with the surrealist film by Alejandro Jodorowsky being as absurd as it gets. The Holy Mountain is such a bizarre psychedelic experience that it becomes a spectacle that people can’t help but gravitate towards. If you have a fellow movie nerd who wants to dig deep into the content, this one has a lot to discuss. Alternatively, if you wish to have the strangest movie screensaver in the background of a party, The Holy Mountain is the ideal choice; maybe consider starting it at about 15 minutes in, as the film begins with some shocking imagery.
‘House’ (1977)
A schoolgirl named Gorgeous decides to visit her aunt in the countryside along with her friends for their summer vacation. Yet, as the group settles in, they start to notice a series of bizarre events, and soon find themselves battling against supernatural entities. Including a malicious cat that has a command over the home they find themselves trapped in.
A Strange Yet Entertaining J-Horror Classic
A relatively straightforward horror story will be the grounding factor to get a group interested in this Japanese horror classic. Yet, what makes the film an utterly absurd and experimental experience is director Nobuhiko Obayashi’s utterly original approach to effects, which often seem to defy logic, utilizing a weird mash-up of practical effects and camera trickery. The result is a remarkable visual experience that leans into the absurd, lending the film a dark and surreal comedic tone. This is the perfect silly horror movie to watch with a crowd and still appease that desire to find something experimental in approach.
‘The Box Man’ (2024)
A mythical figure in the urban Japanese landscape, “Box Man” lives a life of isolation that grants him access to infinite wisdom as he observes the world and meticulously takes notes. Yet, the life of the Box Man is a perilous one, as not only does he have natural enemies, but he is also the envy of those wanting to take his place. Box Man meets his match in a doctor whose obsession led him to a series of bizarre experiments, culminating in the creation of his own cardboard home to live in.
Two Cardboard Boxes Duel It Out
The Box Man presents a bizarre blend of surrealism, meta-storytelling, humor, and action, all of which come together under the skilled direction of experimental filmmaker Gakuryū Ishii. It is this push and pull between the utterly abstract and experimental and the crass comedy and explosive action that casual fans can find some common ground with those seeking out more.
‘The Wizard of Speed and Time’ (1988)
A semi-autobiographical film, The Wizard of Speed and Time, follows Mike Jittlov, a quirky aspiring filmmaker and special effects enthusiast. Mike dreams of making it big in Hollywood, but finds that he is held down by the studios, which seem to hinder his every creative desire. However, by using these techniques, Mike can transform himself into a superhero, blurring the lines between fiction and reality as he effortlessly jumps from location to location and between time frames to accomplish his goal.
An Experimental Superhero Film
Story-wise, The Wizard of Speed and Time is a clear-cut underdog story with quirky humor, courtesy of a filmmaker who has a deep love for the movie-making process. This makes it easily accessible to anyone, as the movie becomes experimental in its approach to special effects, with director Mike Jittlov painstakingly crafting every effect using a mix of conventional and unconventional methods; the movie took over a decade to complete. A movie that is straightforward in plot but experimental in execution is a surefire way to please a mixed crowd of movie fans.
‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001)
A woman (played by Laura Harring, who is later known as Rita) survives a car crash on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles and wanders the streets with a lack of memory. It is here that she meets aspiring actor Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), who decides to help her recollect her memories. At the same time, Mulholland Drive interweaves the story of director Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux), who a mysterious figure has told that he must cast an unknown, Camilla Rhodes (Melissa George), in his new film or face dire consequences.
A Drive Into the Darkest Avenues of Hollywood
Mulholland Drive may not be David Lynch’s most revered film. Still, it offers a striking balance of his experimental narrative approach, with moments of dark humor and horror that perfectly blend with its experimental narrative. If you’re ready to try explaining to your friends what actually happened and how the film serves as an allegory for the death of the Hollywood dream, there’s plenty to keep everyone engaged. You could also check out Lost Highway for something similar, but Mulholland Drive pushes even further into the surreal and disorienting.
‘The Catechism Cataclysm’ (2011)
Father Billy Smoortser (Steve Little) is struggling to fit in with his parish, an awkward man whose constant clumsiness and social ineptitude make him more of an embarrassment. Told to take a break, Father Billy reaches out to his childhood idol and sister’s ex-boyfriend, Rob Cutili (Robert Longstreet), and asks him to go on a canoe trip with him. Rob reluctantly agrees, having barely remembered Billy, but also with no prospects going on in his life, he decides he has nothing better to do.
A Surreal Buddy Comedy
The Catechism Cataclysm at first feels like an awkward buddy comedy, making it the perfect film to draw in a broad audience. Yet, the way the film meanders, and its subtle dips of surrealism and nonsensical moments, slowly reveal its experimental approach to the buddy comedy sub-genre. The film’s conclusion is something else to be seen. Director Todd Rohal has been slowly building a cult fan base for his unconventional approach to filmmaking, including his most recent depraved comic book adaptation, which sparked a series of walkouts at its premiere.
‘Borgman’ (2013)
Living in the woods with others, Camiel Borgman (Jan Bijvoet) emerges one day as a man on a mission to find a space to dwell after being chased out of his forest home. He ends up wandering to the house of Richard (Jeroen Perceval) and Marina (Hadewych Minis), initially asking for a bath, but then slowly worming his way into the lives of the two, with catastrophic results.
Welcome the Devil Into Your Home
The Alex van Warmerdam film does a fantastic job of implying that there is something even more sinister going on with the enigmatic Borgman, casting a wide net for those who will be intrigued by what exactly is transpiring. Here, it is a casual build into the surreal, with the film amplifying its strangeness as Borgman becomes more intertwined with the family he has targeted. This one veers off the rails in more than one way, and it can be a bit of a head-scratcher for those who prefer their stories cut and dry, but it is a devilishly dark tale of madness that will resonate with those willing to invest.
‘Rubber’ (2010)
In the California desert, a group of strangers arrives to watch an event from afar, hosted by a man. Here, they get to see the story unfold of a tire gaining sentience and eventually going on a killing spree. As they watch, details are revealed about those watching, as well as the tire, delivered in a dry, comedic approach.
The Story of a Telekinetic Killer Tire
Director Quentin Dupieux is known for his absurd comedies, which often incorporate elements of surrealism; yet, many of them would seem a stretch to call experimental. Rubber is a bit different, still possessing that sharp, bizarre, comedic wit while weaving it into a meta-plot with unconventional storytelling. This makes it both experimental and highly accessible to a broad audience, as its abstract structure is punctuated by the humor of a tire using telekinesis to blow up those who oppose it; that is cinema silliness anyone can enjoy.
