Cult Films (Update from original post November 2010)

A Clockwork Orange

Reefer Madness

SLC Punk!

I used to have a list of must-see movies. Unfortunately for me, that was deleted along with lots of my contacts and other info on my phone. Now, I just do my best to watch obscure, gore-filled, and/or social commentary films. Lately, I've also been pretty fascinated with documentaries, but that's another post entirely. Anyway, what I have realized, thanks to stumbleupon, is that all my must-sees tend to be deemed cult films. So I wondered, why do I gravitate toward these notable oddities?
Cult films are plucked from all genres like sci-fi, comedy, musical, action, horror, etc. So it can't be narrowed down to my love of blood, guts, and zombies. Perhaps it's the underground, taboo factor that makes these films so appealing to me. While I do believe this is a large part their allure, I believe it's mostly that these films are misfits. They break rules and stereotypes of cinema, challenging (or maybe reinforcing) beliefs of societal norms, religion, art, language, etc. These films feel significant while you're watching, usually because of how real the character or message is in such a surreal environment.

Films to watch with my recommendation:

• A Clockwork Orange
• Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Resevoir Dogs
• Pulp Fiction
• The Wall
• The Evil Dead
• Donnie Darko
• Requiem for a Dream
• Reefer Madness
• (Romero's Living Dead Series)
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
• SLC Punk!
• 2001: A Space Odyssey