For many years, my hobby has been collecting movies. I love nothing more than digging through bargain bins and flea stores, hoping to find some overlooked, lost, or forgotten piece of movie history. Because of this, I was instantly interested when I heard about Eternal Family, a streaming service that promises “hidden gems from the past and surreal entertainment.”
Thankfully, the service doesn’t disappoint, having a massive catalogue of odd, hard-to-find, and downright bizarre films. In fact, due to its tightly curated collection, Eternal Family feels less like a streaming service and more like having a sleepover with your cool cousin who lets you rummage through his big box of weird VHS tapes.
Because of this, Eternal Family is the perfect way to expand your cinema horizons. If you’re looking for a place to start, here are ten movies I think best encapsulate the platform’s dedication to the weird and wonderful.
Magic In The Mirror Is Surreal But Mesmerizing
Released in 1996, Magic in the Mirror follows Mary-Margaret Dennis. Many kids would think that Mary-Margaret is lucky, as her father is a botanist and her mother is a genius physicist. Alas, both of these parents are so absorbed in their work that they often overlook the young girl, leaving her feeling underappreciated.
However, Mary-Margaret’s life changes when she finds her great-grandmother’s old mirror. She quickly learns that this mirror is actually a portal into another world, one packed with strange and unusual sights. Alas, Mary-Margaret encounters a member of the Mirror Minders, a secretive group who are trying to prevent mirrors like Mary-Margaret’s from falling into the hands of duck-like creatures called the Drakes. Charmingly weird, Magic in the Mirror is a fantastic film for lovers of fractured fairytales and unique takes on the standard Alice in Wonderland narrative.
Flesh for Frankenstein Is A Gore-Soaked Slice Of History
Released in 1973 and directed by Paul Morrissey (who would also make Blood for Dracula), Flesh for Frankenstein follows Baron von Frankenstein. As is tradition, Frankenstein aims to create life he can rule over and thus spends his day working in his lab, much to the annoyance of his wife. But, as the project continues and the days draw on, both the Baron and his wife start to succumb to their sexual desires, something that sparks a spiral of depravity and bloodshed.
What makes this film so fascinating is its history. In America, this film was released as Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein and shown in 3D in some venues. However, the film was also deeply controversial due to its violence and nudity, leading to it getting an X-rating. Thus, it is worth a look for lovers of strange slices of cinematic history.
The Mysterious Castle In The Carpathians Is A Uniquely Surreal Adventure
Directed by Oldřich Lipský and released in 1981, The Mysterious Castle In The Carpathians is a Czech film. Written by Oldřich Lipský and Jiří Brdečka (who worked on several films together), the film follows opera singer Count Felix Teleke of Tölökö and his manservant Ignác. While traveling through the Carpathian countryside, they stumble upon a village that lives in fear of the nearby haunted castle.
However, when Felix and Ignác investigate, they find the castle is home to Baron Robert Gorc of Gorcena, one of the count’s old rivals. Even worse, it soon appears that the Baron has spent the last few decades putting a sinister plan into motion. A wonderfully surreal film, The Mysterious Castle In The Carpathians feels like a loving fusion of Eastern Bloc animation with Monty Python-esque sensibilities. Because of this, it is a movie everyone should check out at least once.
He Who Gets Slapped Is A Fascinating Drama
Directed by Victor Sjöström (who would also direct His Lordship’s Last Will and The Scarlet Letter), He Who Gets Slapped follows Paul Beaumont. Paul is a dedicated scientist who has spent his life tirelessly working to refine and prove his theories on the origins of man. When Baron Regnard becomes his patron, Paul is ecstatic, thinking that the man’s money and support will allow him to make great strides.
However, a few months later, Paul finds the Baron has been taking credit for his work. Even worse, when Paul confronts him, the Baron slaps him across the face. Even worse, Paul’s wife admits that she and the Baron have been having an affair, something that causes Paul to mentally unreval. He quits science and becomes a circus clown whose gimmick is allowing the other clowns to slap him. However, when the Baron visits the circus Paul is part of, the old wounds reopen, leading to a tense showdown. He Who Gets Slapped is a fascinating exploration of power and humiliation that will leave you pondering many topics.
The Pied Piper Has An Amazing Atmosphere
Produced in Czechoslovakia and directed by Jiří Barta, The Pied Piper (titled Krysař in its original release) is a retelling of the classic folk tale. The town of Hamelin is overrun with rats and thus hires the services of a mysterious piper who says that he can use his music to lure the rats to their doom. Naturally, the townsfolk hire him, keen to solve the issue as quickly as possible. However, when locals opt to skip paying the piper and harm an innocent woman in front of him, he decides to take drastic action.
What makes The Pied Piper stand out is its visuals. The film’s animation combines expressionistic and traditional medieval styles to create a striking look that fantastically conveys the film’s dark, almost gothic atmosphere. Because of this, the movie will make you see The Pied Piper in a whole new light.
Atragon Is A Classic Sci-Fi Adventure Film
Known as Kaitei Gunkan in Japan, Atragon is a 1963 film directed by Ishirō Honda and featuring effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the pair who created the legendary Godzilla. When an empire claiming to be from the lost continent of Mu appears and declares its intention to seize control of the world by force, the world falls into panic. Thus, the military deploys a massive warship, Gotengo, tasking its crew with heading to the undersea kingdom and putting a stop to their plan.
However, it quickly becomes apparent that there may be more to Mu’s plan than meets the eye. The highlight of Atragon is Eiji Tsuburaya’s effects and miniatures, as they remain as stunning today as they were in 1963. Combine this with a fun and well-paced story, and you’ve got a sci-fi epic that has dated surprisingly well.
Life Is Cheap… But Toilet Paper Is Expensive Is A Darkly Delicious Comedy
Directed by Wayne Wang (who would go on to direct A Thousand Years of Good Prayers), Life Is Cheap… But Toilet Paper Is Expensive debuted in 1989. In San Francisco, a man who calls himself “The Man with No Name” is hired to transport a mysterious briefcase to Hong Kong and hand it over to a local mob boss. Alas, when the man arrives in Hong Kong, he quickly loses the case, leaving him to work out how to resolve the problem while also dealing with his mistress.
A fantastic black comedy that tackles the absurdity of modern life and the various narratives we often get tangled in, Life Is Cheap… But Toilet Paper Is Expensive is a memorable movie that is sure to resonate with modern viewers.
Kung Fu Wonder Child Turns Kung-Fu On Its Head
The martial arts genre is no stranger to unusual premises and odd genre mashups. However, even in this crowded field, few can compare to Kung Fu Wonder Child. Released in 1986 and directed by Lee Tso-Nam, the film follows Chiu Hse, a girl who is attempting to track down an evil wizard to reclaim the souls of her grandfather and mother. While on this quest, she encounters a group of three mischievous prankster martial artists who agree to help her (even if they refuse to take the mission seriously).
Kung Fu Wonder Child is infamous in weird movie circles as the film rarely makes sense, jumping between tones and situations almost at random. Thus, viewers can expect action-packed fight scenes, odd monsters, and plenty of toilet humor as the kids travel to the wizard’s base. Because of this, Kung Fu Wonder Child is a fantastic choice for movie night, as you can never guess what is coming next.
Blood Tea and Red String Is A Visual Triumph
One of my favorite films of the 2000s, Blood Tea and Red String, debuted in 2006. Directed by Christiane Cegavske, this stop-motion animated film introduces viewers to a group of aristocratic white mice. These mice approach the Creatures Who Dwell Under The Oak and ask them to make them a doll. The Creatures Who Dwell Under The Oak comply, but as they make the doll, they fall utterly in love with it and refuse to hand it over to the white mice.
Thus, the mice begin to plot and scheme, desperate to find a way to recover the doll. Blood Tea and Red String is a stunning visual achievement that is sure to leave viewers mesmerized. Combine this with an excellent and thought-provoking story, and you get a movie that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
The Rare Blue Apes Of Cannibal Isle Is Surreal To The Point Of Madness
Released in 1974 and directed by Donn Greer, The Rare Blue Apes Of Cannibal Isle follows Nonnie, a young boy who decides to run away from home. However, soon after leaving home, he and Mr. Quack Quack (his pet duck) find themselves stranded in a world packed with giant blue apes who love to sing. These apes quickly inform the boy that, aside from singing, they spend their time avoiding the Swampies, a group of cannibal crocodiles.
The best way I can describe The Rare Blue Apes Of Cannibal Isle is nightmare-inducing. While clearly aiming to be fun and psychedelic (a’la H.R. Pufnstuf), it goes so far that it ends up becoming genuinely unnerving, to the point that you’ll spend most of the movie waiting for a surprise genre twist that never comes. Because of this, The Rare Blue Apes Of Cannibal Isle is a must-watch film for those who want to feel deep confusion.
