1980: The Year in Bedlam
In this Year in Bedlam overview, highlighting 30 lesser-known and/or underappreciated film releases, I’ll be exploring 1980
CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE
A double dose of early 1980s Italo-sploitation, blending an account of crazy Vietnam veterans on the loose with cannibal movie nastiness
THE MEDIUM
A partially successful 1951 release that gives filmed opera a good name
1983: The Year in Bedlam
If this year proves anything it’s that the rosy view of the eighties that has taken hold is complete bullcrap
1988: The Year in Bedlam
I really hate to keep repeating myself in my year-end summations, but I just have to say it: 1988 was an abysmal year for movies
A JOURNEY IN THE PHANTASMAGORICAL GARDEN OF APPARITIO ALBINUS
In the category of Raymond Roussel/H.P. Lovecraft/Clark Ashton Smith inspired oddities this quasi-graphic novel definitely stands out
THE TWENTY DAYS OF TURIN
One of the most interesting translations to appear in some time, this is the first-ever English version of a short novel that was originally published in Italian back in 1977
TV Flashback: I GIOCHI DEL DIAVOLO
The Italian TV miniseries I GIOCHI DEL DIAVOLO: STORIE FANTASTICHE DELL’OTTOCENTO (THE DEVIL’S GAMES: FANTASTIC STORIES OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY) consists of six mini-films by varied directors. Each episode runs a little over an hour, and each is based on a 19th Century horror story.
CONTAMINATION
Fun, hyper-gory Italian trash!
CLOSED CIRCUIT
An Italian made movie theater set murder mystery that gradually morphs into something far stranger and horrific