Looking for some cult films.

[Venga]

As the title says, im just getting back into my cult films and have been browsing the internet for the last hour or so looking for any decent ones.

I've seen Pulp Fiction, Trainspotting, Reservoir Dogs. I know ive missed a fair few but have blanked on what they are.

Im hoping BG can fill me in on some great 18 certificate, gritty cult films.

[Shalyn]

Boondock Saints .. all I can think of this early.

[Qalbert]

^fucking seconded
speaking of which the sequel is FINALLY being filmed
also might I suggest this be moved to Bentertainment Geekly?

[Plow]

clockwork orange if you're into wtfingfuckisthisshit moments

[guartz]

Equilibrium, must watch.

[Blabj]

Most films by the Coen Brothers. Big Lebowski and Fargo especially.
LA Confidential
Chinatown (it's less gritty and more intelligent.)
Hard Boiled
Battle Royale
Snatch/Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels/Layer Cake (cult in the UK, not too sure about American audiences...)
Jacob's Ladder
Apocalyspe Now
The Deer Hunter
Jarhead
Generation Kill (TV series but what the hell)
Serenity

Mind is drawing a bit of a blank. Check out more of John Woo's films though, The killer is also a good one to look out for. A lot of asian cinema is enjoyable and is used in homage a lot in western cinema (Kill Bill is just plagiarism...) As well as Akira Kurosawa's films (definately check out Seven Samurai. Use wikipedia/imdb to find the rest of his films, he has a prolific back catalogue of good films!)

I'll give it some thought for the rest of today, and look at our DVD collection downstairs for some others.

[FallingHigher]

Dead Man's Shoes

[Plow]

Couple more

True Romance (dunno if that's exactly cult but... meh, it's good)
Kalifornia


And you've probably seen it, but Natural Born Killers needs mentioning, too.

[Blabj]

Check out some older Westerns too. I know we're getting away from the gritty part of your post and just suggesting cult films now, but I always find westerns to be really entertaining.

Fistful of Dollars
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
High Noon
El Dorado

Then watch some of the newer flicks such as 3:10 to Yuma and No Country for old men etc and see how the genre has changed, but still manages to keep it's roots.

Top 50 Western movies by average vote

[Brill Weave]

Any particular genre of cult films you're looking for? Comedies, horror, etc? Do you want good movies or bad campy movies? I have quite a few I can throw out there for you so I'll just toss a couple out. Bear in mind, these are all different genres and in no particular order.

This is Spinal Tap
Outpost
Session 9
They Live
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
Dance of the Dead
Carnival of Souls
The Thing
Big Trouble in Little China
Evil Dead
Suspiria
The Hogfather
Re-Animator
Slither
Escape From New York
Meet the Feebles
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
Who's Harry Crumb
They Call Me Bruce
Better Off Dead
Don't Torture a Duckling
Repo Man
Men At Work
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane
Lifeforce
Near Dark
Last House on the Left
Grosse Point Blank
Equilibrium
Once Bitten
Pan's Labyrinth
The Orphanage
Flash Gordon
Battle Royale
Dead Man's Shoes

[Blabj]

Brill has a great set of films there, a few I can't believe I missed out (Pans Labyrinth and Grosse point blank especially considering how many times I've seen them...)

I think already you should be getting a good enough picture of what you'll need to see, and I'm still coming up with more films (Dog Soldiers, Leon, The French Connection, Ronin). I think this is probably going to become a compendium of great gritty films, rather than a list of cult films, but I'm sure many will have a cult status attached to them.

[Blabj]

Something you might find worth reading: Cult Films

[tyven]

green street hooligans om nom nom

[Trocian]

Tremors

It's still awsome.

[Brill Weave]

Well here's the problem when it comes to defining a movie as a "cult" film or not. I would have to say 95% of all the films listed as "cult" films are labeled as such by the media etc. Most true cult films don't need the moniker attached defining them as a cult film. An easy way to figure out for yourself if a movie is a cult film or a manufactured media cult film is the following test. A buddy of mine came up with it and I must agree with it.

1. Did you randomly stumble across this movie?
2. Was this movie suggested to you by someone else?
3. Had you ever heard of this movie before?
4. Was your first reaction upon hearing the title "What the fuck is this?"
5. Are there more than 3 recognizable actors/actresses in the opening credits?
6. Was it written by John Carpenter?(Not a real question lol I just love Carpenter.)

The most important way to recognize if you're watching a true cult film are the answers to questions two and three. In most circumstances a true cult film flies under the radar and spreads by word of mouth. Some of the movies I have listed people have heard of.

I'm sure there are movies I listed that people are googling now. To me those are the ones that are the purest definition of a cult movie. But that's also the way I look at things.

[Brill Weave]

And Dog Soldiers is another great flick. As is Green Street Hooligans, though I hesitate to classify it as a "cult" movie. To me it's more of an indy movie with a recognizable lead.

[FallingHigher]

green street hooligans om nom nom

Where did the 'Hooligans' part come from? I thought it was just called Green Street. I'm well aware of there being a tyrid of name changes to the film during production and before release but maybe it's just an international thing?

[tyven]

i think in jolly old england its called green street hooligans, which is the first version i saw. i just assumed that was the title even when it carried over to the states

[Blabj]

And Dog Soldiers is another great flick. As is Green Street Hooligans, though I hesitate to classify it as a "cult" movie. To me it's more of an indy movie with a recognizable lead.

Yeah that's what I mean about the line being quite blurred. I know a lot of my friends will never have heard of it, nor seen it, so if I were to tell them about it, to them it would seem like a cult movie.

Your post was interesting about what makes a cult film, and I definately agree with the list (especially John Carpenter ) You also have to wonder if films can stay "cult" after the mass media begins to promote them. One great example is The Wire, which is going through a huge boom now, especially here in the UK.

[FallingHigher]

i think in jolly old england its called green street hooligans, which is the first version i saw. i just assumed that was the title even when it carried over to the states

Na it's just 'Green Street' over here. It's probably just an international thing then, no worries was just curious.