TNL Movie Club - Post Apocalyptic Black Comedy Double-Feature

[Frogacuda]

I'm cheating and doing two movies this week. Rumpy said it was ok. They're both short and you can watch them together. And I kinda get to continue a cannibalism theme from last week.

I'm going for a theme this week with two comedies set after the fall of civilization. Despite the similar themes, these are two very different movies. I've selected them because they're unique, memorable, short enough to watch together, and most people here probably wouldn't see them otherwise. Despite the futuristic setting, neither movie has a particularly strong sci-fi element, either, which is curious (Delicatessen has none, in fact).

A Boy and His Dog

This award-winning 1975 cult classic comes from sci-fi legend Harlan Ellision. A boy Vic, and his telepathic talking dog Blood roam a post-nuclear desert wasteland. They have a symbiotic relationship; Vic helps Blood find canned goods (the only surviving source of food), and Blood helps Vic find women to rape. It's a dark, sardonic film, that also served as the inspiration for the Road Warrior/Mad Max films. It's somewhat controversial for its misogynistic streak and sociopathic protagonist, but the ending will make you laugh really hard.

Delicatessen

Delicatessen is a surreal French film from Jean Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, who would go on to direct The City of Lost Children a few years later. Set after undisclosed events have left civilization in ruin, it tells the stories of the residents of an apartment building who live off of rations of human meat served by the deli on the first floor. It's strange, bizzarre, and funny, and it's a film that will stay with you.

[Dolemite]

A Boy and His Dog

This award-winning 1975 cult classic comes from sci-fi legend Harlan Ellision. A boy Vic, and his telepathic talking dog Blood roam a post-nuclear desert wasteland. They have a symbiotic relationship; Vic helps Blood find canned goods (the only surviving source of food), and Blood helps Vic find women to rape.

I might have to check this out, if only to see how they handle this. It's not often that a serial rapist is the main character of a movie.

[Frogacuda]

Oh yeah, he's played by Don Johnson, pre-Miami Vice. Bonus!

[sleeve]

Wow, I didn't even know Delicatessen was set in the future. It's been more than a decade since I saw it last.

A Boy and His Dog is one of my favorite movies. But I haven't seen it since the VHS days. Is there a DVD release worth buying?

[Frogacuda]

Wow, I didn't even know Delicatessen was set in the future. It's been more than a decade since I saw it last.

I don't know that it's clear when it's set. It could just as easily be an alternate-reality past. Kind of it's own universe.

A Boy and His Dog is one of my favorite movies. But I haven't seen it since the VHS days. Is there a DVD release worth buying?

Yeah, there's been like 3 DVD releases. I have the most recent one and it was so much better than the old VHS I used to watch. Got a decent commentary track and trailers (both of them) and not much else for extras. Still worth a purchase.

[Rumpy]

Looks like Netflix only has ABAHD.

[Frogacuda]

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/60000704?trkid=73

Or do you mean it's just out or something?

[Rumpy]

That's weird, it didn't show that to me when I searched for it. Must have been a glitch or something.

[Frogacuda]

Yeah, I actually passed up my first two choices because netflix and blockbuster didn't have them and I wasn't trying to ask people to actually buy the movies just for this.

[animegirl]

Seen both of these and they are both awesome for different reasons. A Boy and His Dog has a fucked up ending too.