The 12 Most Bizarre Movies We’ve Ever Watched

      Here are the most unusual films we've come across — some of which are also among our all-time favorites.

      Did we miss any? Share your thoughts in the comments.

      **Mulholland Drive (2001)**

      *Universal Pictures*

      The most curious aspect of *Mulholland Drive*, often regarded as David Lynch's finest work, is that it begins almost conventionally. Naomi Watts portrays an aspiring actress named Betty Elms, who proves to be impressively talented. She teams up with Rita (Laura Harring), who suffers from amnesia, to search for a woman named Diane Selwyn, a name Rita recalls.

      However, Watts eventually embodies Diane while Rita becomes Camilla — though Melissa George also plays a role. The mafia gets involved, and Billy Ray Cyrus appears as Gene.

      Lynch, who passed away last month, consistently declined to clarify the film’s meaning, but the original DVD release included a card titled “David Lynch’s 10 Clues to Unlocking This Thriller.” Among the clues was: “Pay close attention at the start of the film: At least two clues are revealed before the credits” and “Watch for the red lampshade.”

      It would be simple to fill this list with David Lynch films, but we’ve chosen our favorite for today. It's safe to say that nearly any film he directed — excluding *The Straight Story* — would comfortably belong on a list of the oddest movies we’ve ever seen.

      **Vanilla Sky (2001)**

      *Paramount Pictures*

      Fresh off the success of their collaboration on *Jerry Maguire*, writer-director Cameron Crowe and star Tom Cruise were able to pursue any project they wished — and decided to remake the intriguing 1997 Spanish film *Abre Los Ojos* (translated as *Open Your Eyes*), with one of that film’s stars, Penelope Cruz.

      Both films are strikingly audacious and surreal, yet *Vanilla Sky* is particularly bold as it transitions from a complex romance to a serious sci-fi narrative. Without revealing too much, this film features a visual nod to a 1963 Bob Dylan album, a conversation about one's favorite Beatle, and a song by one of those Beatles. It stands as one of the strangest films but is oddly also a comfort watch.

      It showcases strong performances by Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell as well.

      **Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1988)**

      *Todd Haynes*

      Todd Haynes’ *Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story* recounts the biography of Karen Carpenter, the singer of The Carpenters, including her tragic death in 1983 due to complications from anorexia. While this description might seem straightforward, it’s important to note that the story is portrayed using Barbie dolls.

      The film was withdrawn from release after a copyright suit initiated by Karen’s brother and musical collaborator, Richard Carpenter, who objected to the use of The Carpenters’ songs.

      If the film appears disrespectful, it is not: it is deeply empathetic toward Karen and honors her artistic legacy, with the use of dolls serving as a commentary on her manipulation and objectification. Conversely, Richard and their parents come across as unlikable figures in the film, possibly explaining Richard’s objections to *Superstar*.

      **All Jacked Up and Full of Worms (2022)**

      *Cinedigm Corp.*

      This highly independent, microbudget film centers around depressed thrill-seekers chasing the latest high of… worms.

      Director Alex Phillips and a team including producer Ben Gojer, who designed the film's disturbing creatures, showcase egregious behavior but utilize all the elements of filmmaking — the expectation of catharsis, uplifting music — to encourage us to root for characters we instinctively know we shouldn’t.

      Easily one of the most peculiar movies we've encountered, it also serves as an intoxicating cinematic experiment.

      **Videodrome (1983)**

      *Universal Pictures*

      No list of the oddest movies we have ever seen would be complete without at least one entry from David Cronenberg, the master of body horror, whose obsessions are perfectly captured in *Videodrome*.

      Explaining the film's events, released during the emergence of home video, is challenging, except to note that it eerily predicts reality TV, the internet, and advancements in VR and AR that intertwine humanity with technology, epitomized when James Woods’ character, Max Renn, inserts a Betamax tape into his own body.

      We also admire Debbie Harry, the Blondie vocalist (above), in her role as the enigmatic Nikki Brand.

      **Sorry to Bother You (2018)**

      *Annapurna Pictures*

      Boots Riley’s debut film stars LaKeith Stanfield as Cassius “Cash” Green, a young Black man who begins to thrive at his telemarketing job by using a white phone voice (dubbed by David Cross).

      However, this premise alone doesn’t explain