Now that Halloween is over and you’re sick and tired of watching horror films, it’s finally time to break out some classic Christmas movies!!! Oh, wait. No it’s not. No Christmas movies until December, I promise. This week on What to Stream Right Now it’s all about the weird, so if you’re not into things a little bit stranger than usual, check out some iconic science fiction from last episode, or catch up on your geniuses from episode 6!
TRAINSPOTTING – Dir. Danny Boyle (1996) IMDb
A very strange film, starring Ewan McGregor as a career doper who makes several attempts to change his lifestyle and escape the bad influence of his equally doped friends. What ensues is a crazy and euphoric journey of maturity, sobriety, and of course… heroin. And while it sounds like a preachy or depressing movie, TRAINSPOTTING is actually an incredibly fun and fast paced tale about finding joy in one’s reality, away from the harsh effects of drug abuse. Our Scottish protagonist, Renton, struggles with his profound decision by going to some pretty bizarre lengths in order to cleanse himself of his addiction. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t.
Director, Danny Boyle’s vision has always been a little hallucinogenic, but never quite as much as it is in his beloved, drug-loving, movie. Like I said, it’s weird. There’s this whole scene where Ewan McGregor dives into the most disgusting toilet ever put to screen, just so he can retrieve some pills. But then again, if that’s not enough to sell you on this film, I’m not sure what is. Maybe it’s not a realistic look on the Scottish drug scene, but it sure is an interesting, albeit magical, take on the controversial subject.
TWIN PEAKS – Two Seasons (1990-1991) IMDb
At first glance, David Lynch’s cult classic TV series doesn’t seem all that weird. Keep watching. What appears to be a story about the death of a young girl in a small Washington town, quickly transpires into a mystery of magical occurrences surrounding the strange town of Twin Peaks. FBI Special Agent, Dale Cooper, leads the investigation into Laura Palmer’s death with the help of Sheriff Harry S. Truman (yeah, I’m not sure why) and other townsfolk including the late Log Lady played by Catherine Coulson. Together, they attempt to discover which of these quiet people murdered such a young and apparently troubled girl.
I started watching TWIN PEAKS after hearing the news that Mark Frost and David Lynch are bringing the show back in 2017 with the same cast plus new additions like Amanda Seyfried. So far, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the quirky series, and while I can admit that it’s oddness won’t appeal to everyone, I’m very interested in seeing what they do with the new series in the coming years.
