For anyone currently exploring the world of cinema during lockdown, or looking to catch up on classic films they may have missed, Dr James Newton, Lecturer in Media Studies at the School of Arts, has recommended six cult classic films that are worth checking out. But what is a ‘cult’ film?
‘The phrase ‘cult film’ is notoriously imprecise, and can be employed to refer to a wide range of very different films from very different contexts. ‘Cult’ can refer to the activities of fans, who congregate around a shared interest in franchises such as Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings. It can refer to films that have been dismissed by critics as being ‘bad’ examples of film art, but which have subsequently been celebrated as trashy fun by audiences. Tommy Wiseau’s The Room (2003) is a notable example of this tendency.
‘The term can refer to films that didn’t achieve much critical or commercial success at the time of their initial release, but have subsequently been reappraised, such as Edgar G. Ulmer’s masterful film noir, Detour (1945). There is also a way of understanding such a thing as a ‘cult’ aesthetic – referring to films which are offbeat or campy. In other words, ‘cult’ can refer to a variety of areas of cinema, sharing only, perhaps (but not always) a separation from Hollywood or ‘the mainstream’. There are a number of designated ‘classics’ that are frequently mentioned in any rundown of cult films; these include The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Wicker Man, Withnail and I, Eraserhead, or Plan 9 From Outer Space. You should at some point probably get around to watching these for one reason or another.
‘The films I suggest below tend to appear less commonly (or at least lower down in the running order) on lists of ‘top cult films’. They are stylistically and thematically diverse, and are terrifically entertaining examples of not just ‘cult’ cinema, but the art of film in general.’
The Warriors (Walter Hill, 1979)
A highly quotable action film about the titular Warriors racing back to Coney Island in the dead of night, fighting off other gangs out to get them.
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Jaromil Jires, 1970)
A dreamlike mixture of fairy tale, horror, and surrealism from communist Czechoslovakia.
Return of the Living Dead (Dan ‘O Bannon, 1985)
This is a punky, energetic, and rebellious parody of the zombie genre.
El Topo (Alejandro Jodowrowsky, 1970)
A surreal, and violent western from Mexico awash with Christian and Buddhist symbolism.
The Harder They Come (Perry Henzell, 1972)
This Jamaican film has a very famous reggae, rock steady, and ska soundtrack and stars Jimmy Cliff as a singer turned outlaw.
Cry-Baby (John Waters, 1990)
Waters is a famous director of cult movies, and this teen musical set in the 1950s is one of his lesser known works. It stars Johnny Depp, as well as other cult figures such as Traci Lords, Patty Hearst, and Iggy Pop in small roles.
For more from Dr James Newton, check out his podcast ‘Newton Talks’ where he discusses topics related to cinema, television, and culture. His guests are from the world of academia, as well as filmmakers and other artists, and the podcast takes the form of unscripted discussions.
Dr Newton’s research interests include the relationship between film form and content, horror, spaghetti westerns, and other cult cinemas, as well as anarchism in popular culture. His book The Anarchist Cinema (Intellect, 2018) explores how aspects of anarchism have influenced film culture, and how anarchist theory can be used as a method to understand and interpret developments in cinema history.