Free IndieFlix subscriptions

Quality Cult Cinema has been approached by companies who would like to advertise here before, and I've always politely declined. However, when I was recently contacted by a new streaming service that specialize in showing independent movies that would otherwise be lost on the hard-drives of innumerable talented filmmakers from all over the world, I jumped to the occasion.

IndieFlix is a community of independent filmmakers and fans. It helps filmmakers translate artistic vision into commercial success, and gives film lovers access to high quality independent films not otherwise available. IndieFlix’s mission is to champion filmmakers, rethink traditional approaches to distribution, and celebrate the artistry and impact of independent film. Through it is a membership-based streaming service, they will not require anyone to enter their credit card number or otherwise obligate themselves to continue after their free trial period is up.

Now, with HBO, Netflix and several others out there fighting for your hard earned dollars, why would you be interested in yet another streaming service for movies? Well, Indieflix is different because it:

• Enables you to watch thousands of independently made films.
• Sort on many categories including genre, length, most-viewed, film festival, country or mood.
• See stars (like Rebel Wilson) before she was famous
• Watch on any device
• Choose films that match your mood, or the time you have available to watch (some movies are as short at 5 minutes-perfect for standing in a line)
• Indieflix has a unique Royalty payment system called RPM Royalty Pool Minutes (TM) to share the money made through subscriptions with the filmmakers themselves. Every minute you watch could help fund the next Steven Spielberg.

In other words: Just what the film industry needs!

The people at IndieFlix have been nice enough to donate a bunch of two-month subscriptions to the readers of Quality Cult Cinema. To get your very own subscription, all you have to do is find a film here on Quality Cult Cinema that no one has commented on before, and make a comment telling me what you think about it. Also post your e-mail (or send a private e-mail to contact[at]cultcinema[dot]net telling me which movie you commented on) so that I can give you the subscription info privatly. That's it!

The subscriptions will be limited to one subscription per reader, and handed out on a first come, first served basis.

I'm obligated to say I'm also getting a free subscription for myself, as compensation for making this post, but to be honest, this is such a great service that I would gladly have advertised for free.

The Bothersome Man (2006)

For years I've been saying Hawaii, Oslo is the greatest movie to ever come from Norway, but that was only because I took a stupendously long time to see The Bothersome Man.

The protagonist is a man living a normal life, doing a normal job, married to a normal wife, living in a normal house and having a normal affair with a normal secretary. The problem is that he's not content with normality.

This is social satire at its very best, rivaling that of Brazil and Bone. The writing is so good it feels like it was adapted from a classic Kafka novel, the casting is so great you laugh just by seeing actors' faces, and the cinematography of the dreamlike reality is nothing short of mesmerizing.

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While the original poster with artwork from the great Pushwagner is quite brilliant, the German poster and different title is also pretty cool.

Kontroll (2003)

Seeing this film reminded me why I started this site. Kontroll is a funny, exciting, cute, mystical, well-shot piece of pure enjoyment from start to finish, that very few people seem to be aware of.

Set in an underground world of magical quirkiness, it tells the story of a misfit gang of subway ticket controllers, who get into all kinds of silly mischief. Think Trainspotting meets Hot Fuzz meets Dark Days, with a hypnotic soundtrack which you will crave hearing again and again


IMDB
DOWNLOAD (torrent) This is a 720p version that's rather oversized, but the other versions out there are in such terrible quality it will ruin the experience.

Soundtrack (torrent) After having seen the movie, you'll definitely want to get this as well.

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Sports films. They're boring, right? Always with the same old underdog story: Guy gets bullied, meets cute chick, makes a fool of himself, meets old master, attains mad skills, wins the final championship and gets the girl.

So if you're gonna make yet another one of these tired formula films, why not go all in, and make it so over the top, it's a parody of the whole genre?

That's exactly what Shaolin Soccer is. A campy, tongue in cheek poke at all sport films, where all the characters are 100% stereotypical and has supernatural abilities to boot.

Seeing this film will definitely make you hungry for more, and while there's also a Battlefield Baseball film, it is a not at all in the same league as this gem, and you're much better off checking out what else Shaolin Soccer's writer/director/star Stephen Chow has done; first and foremost Kung-Fu Hustle and God of Cookery.

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It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Looking for a silly comedy? Look no further. This is as silly as a film gets, right down to the stuttering title. The dated look only adds to the hilarious campyness, and makes sure the film is genuinely funny throughout, albeit not always intentional.

The idea of a gang of misfits engaging in a zany race across continents, has been ripped off and remade countless times since, most notably with the 2001 film Rat Race featuring John Cleese, but as remakes go, 99,9% of the times the original is much better.

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Alone in the Wilderness (2004)

This is one of those films you have to trust me on. If I were to tell you it's basically nothing more than a one hour documentary about a man building a lodge in the woods, it probably wouldn't sound all that interesting, but believe me: the story of how this simple man manages to make everything from scratch, even down to the tools he uses to make everything else, will actually have your jaw hanging wide open for almost 60 minutes.

If you've seen Into the Wild, you were probably wishing for it to have a different ending, and this film tells the story of how to actually make it. A simple man goes out into the woods on his own, with nothing but knowledge, and builds his own perfect paradise.

IMDB
DOWNLOAD (torrent)
Included in the torrent is a sequel and a couple of more documentaries featuring the same oddball hermit.

Pecker (1998)

Are you feeling down? Could you use some feelgood energy? If so, there is not much that will cheer you up as much as seeing Pecker.

Not only is it a film full of good vibrations, it also features a merry bunch of misfits the likes of which you have never seen, and if there is any message it is simply that everyone are ok. It doesn't matter if you're a homeless fashion addict, a seven year old sugar junkie, a religious ventriloquist, or if you have a name that sounds ominously similar to genitalia. Everyone are awesome!

Written and directed by the one and only king of trash cinema John Waters, as is expected there are no taboos and the only judgement falls upon those who judge, in the form of quirky satire about stereotypes and prejudice.

See Pecker today, and feel better about yourself for the rest of the week.

IMDB
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Human Nature (2001)

Human Nature is one of those films you just can't understand why so few people seem to have seen. After all, it features:
- A magnificent script by Charlie Kaufman at the top of his game
- Direction by legendary Michel Gondry
- Tim Robins in what might be his last great role
- And nudity

While I never really made much notice of the nudity in this film before, the IMDB forums make it seem that most of those who did see it, noticed nothing else. Never mind the existential philosophies and evolutionary theories of our species, put forth by the rather ingenious script. Who can focus on all that when there's a nipple on the screen? Porn-hounds salute it, soccer mums are disgusted, teenagers are mystified and religious nuts are offended. Together they debate for hours about whether it is right to have so much nudity in a film, never realizing the sweet irony of the film's title, and that they are debating nakedness in human nature.

In an even sweeter double irony, this is also exactly what the film is about.

See for yourself; and join the discussion.

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Boxing Helena (1993)

No woman is perfect. Each has their qualities and parts. If only you could chop off the imperfections.

While it might be partly wrong to chop women's bodies into parts, this film argues it can also be a way to show affection.

Being the directorial debut of David Lynch's daughter, she tried to outdo her father's weird obsession with severed body parts, and amped the amputating with aptitude.

I'm sure you could find meaning behind it all if you wanted to, and it would probably be amusing to hear what a feminist had to say about it, because unlike most other movies about chopping women into pieces, this film is not trying to be scary. Instead, it argues mutilation is erotic. (Which might actually be even more scary when you think about it.)

The film was slaughtered by critics when it came out, and some might say it's in the so-bad-it's-good category, but it's still heaps of fun to see Julain Sands of Warlock fame, try to fit the incredibly sexy Sherilyn Fenn (from Twin Peaks) inside a tiny box.

Go and see it now. Chop chop.

IMDB
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Edmond (2005)

Do you remember the film Falling Down? The story of a man that lash back at the everyday things he's fed up with in a broken society, was quite the hype when it came out, and caused much debate. While the premise surfed on the counterculture of the 90s, the actual film was a huge letdown, much thanks to a terrible ending that went against the whole concept of the movie.

12 years later Edmond came out, and delivered with a bang what Falling Down had promised.

William H. Macy (of Fargo fame) gives the performance of his career, as another man that is tired of all the bullshit. Instead of merely beating up no-good gangbangers and snobby golfers like in Falling Down, he ventures down a less romantic path and makes you question your sympathy for a misogynistic racist that is anything but a hero.

The dialogue, written by legendary David Mamet of Glengarry Glen Ross fame, flows like musical pieces of miscommunication and feels both clumsily real and poetically beautiful at the same time.

The perfect direction is by Stuart Gordon of Re-Animator and From Beyond fame, and was the film that finally raised his status up to the height of legendary peers like John Carpenter and Larry Cohen.

And the ending.... oh, you just got to see it!

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DOWNLOAD (left click & select "Download")

The Ambulance (1990)

Here's another great Larry Cohen flick for ya.

As always, the title perfectly sums up what horrible monster will come charging after some unlucky sap, this time none other than Julia Robert's brother, Eric. The rest of the story is so obvious and self explanatory I won't even waste any time on it. You don't watch Larry Cohen movies for intricate story lines, but for the sheer entertainment value. As such, The Ambulance is perfect viewing on a hungover Sunday or when procrastinating a college paper.

It doesn't make much sense, but heck, does anything?

IMDB
DIRECT DOWNLOAD (right click & "save as")

The Secret Cabaret (1990)

I apologize for being gone so long, but I return with a blast, in form of a Quality Cult Cinema exclusive.

Before Criss Angel, David Blaine and Darren Brown; when David Copperfield making the statue of liberty disappear was the world's most amazing act, a British fellow named Simon Drake came along and shook the world of magic. His show was the very first to suggest that magic could be something more than simple parlor tricks and manicured "ta-da" moments with cute bunnies and flowers pulled from a hat. It was the first show to cater only to adults, and featured a distinct gothic style which kept the audience trembling between morbid awe and disgusted amazement.

The Secret Cabaret was more of a variety act, and sometimes all out freak show, than the sensationalist performances of his peers. Often more grotesque than magical, in addition to Simon Drake's gory numbers, each episode showcased a selection of vampires, contortionists, knife jugglers, swindlers, midgets and ghost hunters. One of the guest performers was Frank Abagnale, who later attained world fame through Leonardo DiCaprio's depiction of him in Catch me if You Can.

The tone was set right at the intro, when a giant spider with a human head giggled in his web, accompanied by perfectly mischievous music and outlandish freaks tumbling about in wonderfully weird costumes, within a haunting mansion that framed the eery atmosphere.

Today, some 22 years later, while certain segments might look somewhat dated, overall it is still truly amazing to behold. Hugely influential, the show had tremendous impact on the entertainment industry, and aside from the aforementioned David Blaines and the likes who can attribute much of their success to the show, several obvious inspirations are to be found in the movie Lord of Illusions, and many others.

The sad thing is that while the DVD is out of print and somewhat difficult to obtain, and what you get here is the only version currently available anywhere in the world; it is also incomplete. Apparently the rights to all the sideshow acts could not be obtained, so these are merely the segments where Simon Drake performs himself. Hence what is left of the total of six hours running time is a meager one and a half hour. Still, the renaming bits are startling displays of showmanship since unsurpassed, and lacking the bloated gloating of Criss Angel and the likes (admittedly, mr. Angel did pay tribute, in naming on of the episodes of Mindfreak "My Secret Cabaret".)

Whether you've never seen a magic show before, or are practicing magic yourself, The Secret Cabaret is essential viewing for anyone who appreciates outristic art.

IMDB
DIRECT DOWNLOAD Season 1 (right click & "save as")
DIRECT DOWNLOAD Season 2 (right click & "save as")