The 13 Most Bizarre Films We've Ever Watched

      Here are 13 of the most bizarre films we've ever encountered.

      Some of these also rank among the best we've ever watched.

      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 work, is how it initially feels almost straightforward. Naomi Watts portrays aspiring actress Betty Elms, who unexpectedly proves to be incredibly talented. She teams up with Rita (Laura Harring), an amnesiac, to search for a woman named Diane Selwyn, as Rita remembers that name.

      Soon, Watts embodies Diane, while Rita becomes Camilla. Melissa George also plays a role in this transformation. The mafia gets involved, and Billy Ray Cyrus makes an appearance as Gene.

      Lynch, who passed away last month, always declined to clarify the film's meaning. The original DVD featured a card titled "David Lynch’s 10 Clues to Unlocking This Thriller," suggesting viewers "Pay particular attention in the beginning of the film: At least two clues are revealed before the credits" and "Note the appearances of the red lampshade."

      While it would be easy to populate this list solely with David Lynch films, we’ve chosen to highlight our favorite one for now. It’s safe to say nearly everything he created — with the exception of *The Straight Story* — would easily belong on a list of the strangest films we’ve witnessed.

      **Vanilla Sky (2001)**

      Paramount Pictures

      After the success of *Jerry Maguire*, writer-director Cameron Crowe and star Tom Cruise could have pursued anything — and they decided to remake the intriguing 1997 Spanish film *Abre Los Ojos* (translated as *Open Your Eyes*), featuring one of the original stars, Penelope Cruz.

      Both films are delightfully bold and bizarre, but *Vanilla Sky* is particularly fearless, transforming from a complex romance to serious sci-fi. We don’t want to reveal too much, but it’s a film that resonates with visual references to a 1963 Bob Dylan album, conversations about favorite Beatles, and a song by one of those Beatles. It’s undeniably one of the strangest films, yet, strangely enough, it serves as a comfort watch.

      It also showcases strong performances by Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell.

      **Superstar (1988)**

      Todd Haynes

      Todd Haynes’ *Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story* provides a biography of Karen Carpenter, the singer of The Carpenters, including her heartbreaking 1983 death from heart failure due to complications caused by anorexia. While that may seem straightforward, we must mention a crucial detail: it’s entirely performed with Barbie dolls.

      The film was withdrawn from release following a copyright infringement lawsuit from Karen’s brother and musical partner, Richard Carpenter, who disapproved of the use of The Carpenters’ music.

      If you find the film to be disrespectful, think again: it demonstrates deep empathy toward Karen while honoring her artistic legacy. The dolls serve as a commentary on her being manipulated and objectified. However, Richard and their parents come across as rather unlikable in the film, possibly explaining Richard’s objections to *Superstar*.

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

      Cinedigm Corp.

      This is a very DIY, low-budget film about depressed thrill-seekers searching for the exhilarating high of… worms.

      Director Alex Phillips, along with producer Ben Gojer, who crafted the eerie creatures, fills the film with disturbing behavior while employing cinematic devices — the promise of catharsis, uplifting music — to make us root for characters we know aren’t deserving of our support.

      Easily one of the strangest films we've seen, it also serves as an intoxicating cinematic experiment.

      **Videodrome (1983)**

      Universal Pictures

      No compilation of the most bizarre films we've seen would be complete without a work from David Cronenberg, the master of body horror, perfectly encapsulated in *Videodrome*.

      We can’t precisely explain what occurs in this film, released during the rise of home video, except to note that it strikingly foresaw reality TV, the internet, and the advancements in VR and AR that intertwine humanity with technology, particularly evident when James Woods’ character, Max Renn, inserts a Betamax tape into his body.

      We also admire Debbie Harry, the singer from Blondie, for her enigmatic role as Nikki Brand.

      **Sorry to Bother You (2018)**

      Annapurna Pictures

      Boots Riley’s debut film features LaKeith Stanfield as Cassius “Cash” Green, a young Black man who begins to thrive in his telemarketing job after adopting a white voice (voiced by David Cross).

      But that’s not what makes it one of the strangest films we've seen.

      Things get odd when Cash starts probing into what