The 13 Weirdest Films We've Ever Encountered

      Here are some of the most bizarre films we've ever encountered, many of which also rank among the best we've seen.

      Think we missed one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

      **Mulholland Drive (2001)**

      *Universal Pictures*

      The most unusual aspect of Mulholland Drive, arguably David Lynch's finest film, is its seemingly conventional start. Naomi Watts stars as Betty Elms, an aspiring actress whose talent is surprisingly impressive. She teams up with Rita (Laura Harring), who suffers from amnesia, to search for a woman named Diane Selwyn that Rita can recall by name.

      However, Watts soon embodies Diane, while Rita becomes Camilla. Melissa George also appears as Camilla. The mafia plays a role, and Billy Ray Cyrus shows up as Gene.

      Lynch, who passed away last month, always avoided explaining the film's meaning, but the original DVD included a card titled "David Lynch's 10 Clues to Unlocking This Thriller." Some clues were: "Pay particular attention in the beginning of the film: At least two clues are revealed before the credits" and "Notice appearances of the red lampshade."

      It would be easy to fill this list solely with David Lynch films, but we’re selecting our favorite for now. Almost anything he created — except for The Straight Story — would easily belong on a list of the strangest movies we've encountered.

      **Vanilla Sky (2001)**

      *Paramount Pictures*

      Following the success of their previous work, the charming Jerry Maguire, writer-director Cameron Crowe and star Tom Cruise had the freedom to pursue any project they desired and chose to remake the intriguing 1997 Spanish film Abre Los Ojos, featuring Penelope Cruz from the original.

      Both films are boldly unconventional, but Vanilla Sky takes more risks, transitioning from a complex romance to serious sci-fi. Without giving away too much, this film includes a visual nod to a 1963 Bob Dylan album, a chat about a favorite Beatle, and a song by one of those Beatles. While it stands out for its strangeness, it also oddly qualifies as a comfort watch.

      Additionally, it features strong performances from Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell.

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

      *Todd Haynes*

      Todd Haynes' Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story offers a biography of Karen Carpenter, the singer from The Carpenters, focusing on her tragic 1983 death from heart failure due to anorexia. This may sound straightforward, but it's notably acted out using Barbie dolls.

      The film was withdrawn from release following a copyright lawsuit filed by Karen's brother and musical partner, Richard Carpenter, who objected to the incorporation of The Carpenters' songs.

      Although the film may seem disrespectful, it’s deeply empathetic toward Karen and honors her artistic legacy. The use of dolls serves as commentary on her being manipulated and objectified. However, Richard and their parents are depicted unfavorably in the film, which might explain Richard's opposition to Superstar.

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

      *Cinedigm Corp.*

      This ultra low-budget, DIY film revolves around depressed thrill-seekers seeking a new high involving… worms.

      Directed by Alex Phillips, with a team including producer Ben Gojer, who created the unsettling creatures, the film portrays disturbing behavior while using cinematic tools — the promise of catharsis, uplifting music — to make us root for characters we know we shouldn’t support.

      It’s undoubtedly one of the strangest films we’ve ever watched, yet also an absorbing cinematic experiment.

      **Videodrome (1983)**

      *Universal Pictures*

      No list of the strangest movies we’ve encountered would be complete without a film by David Cronenberg, the master of body horror, who encapsulates his obsessions in Videodrome.

      Explaining the film’s events, released amid the rise of home video, is challenging, except to say it presciently anticipates the realities of TV, the internet, and the advancements in VR and AR that merge humanity with technology, particularly when James Woods' character, Max Renn, inserts a Betamax tape into his body.

      We also appreciate Debbie Harry's (of Blondie) role as the enigmatic Nikki Brand.

      **Sorry to Bother You (2018)**

      *Annapurna Pictures*

      This debut film from Boots Riley, leader of the talented rap group The Coup, features LaKeith Stanfield as Cassius "Cash" Green, a young Black man who thrives in his telemarketing role after adopting a white phone voice (dubbed by David Cross).

      However, this isn’t what makes it one of the strangest films we've seen.

      Things spiral into the bizarre when Cash starts investigating his company’s actual practices… we won’t spoil it for you here. Just know it has one of the most shocking twists you’ll find in cinema.

      **Phantom of the Paradise