NEWS
EVENTS
Unmissable cult films of the last 20 years
Tuesday 20th August 2013 | Valery
Since the history of cinema began, certain films have paved the way for more underground movements which over a period of time have formed something we can call a cult following. Cult films can be classified for a number of different reasons, such as the effect produced by the director, the acting, or simply nostalgia. Here we can commence the most influential and popular cult films of the last 20 years.
Fight Club (1999) – David Fincher
Fight Club is undoubtedly an incredible addition to the world of cult cinema. Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, the tale is told by an unnamed narrator – an insomniac, struggling to keep a grip on reality. When he crosses paths with devilish Tyler Durden, they form an underground club for men to fight each other, plain and simple. The film is astoundingly quirky and stylistic, providing the viewer with an all too intentional, invigorating buzz. It strikes hard at modern-day life and materialism, showing the world its own twisted reflection in an adrenaline-blurred mirror. The film was praised for being one of the most influential and thought-provoking works of the decade, and Brad Pitt impressed critics for his unparalleled, charming representation of Tyler, paired with Edward Norton’s bleak and painfully witty characterisation of the narrator.
American Psycho (2000) – Mary Harron
Christian Bale plays a stunningly brisk, almost impenetrable statue of a man. A wealthy New York banker, Patrick Bateman is the epitome of perfection – calm, collected, and confident. However, behind this he hides a sordid secret – his psychotic tendencies. He hides his dark violent side from his co-workers, friends and fiancé, transgressing deeper and deeper into his own volatile, gratuitous fantasies, embarking on a killing spree and murdering “twenty, maybe forty people,” He is a man desperate to fit in, knowing deep in his unconscious that he can’t. The famous business card scene is completely astounding, as Bale delivers a deep-seated wrath shown only in the gentle twitching of his angled face. The mix of his almost-comical personality provides an exhilarating cinematic ride which is anything but subtle.
Trainspotting (1996) – Danny Boyle
A brilliant Scottish cast provides this film with all the charm and charisma that could possibly be squeezed from a heroin addiction. This drama is gritty and definitely not for the easy-going. It gives a deep tunnelled view of the lowest lives of Edinburgh, focusing on Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), a good-for-nothing junkie, trying and failing to kick the habit for good. Trainspotting managed to distinctly outline a thing many drug-based films failed to do – the fact that this lifestyle is not enviable. Danny Boyle expertly manages to put across the insatiable need and unreachable goals, receiving countless accolades in the process.
Donnie Darko (2001) – Richard Kelly
Donnie Darko is a troubled teenager, the black sheep in his family. One night he is led outside by a monstrous figure in a rabbit costume calling himself Frank. Frank informs Donnie that the world will end in 28 days. The film twists through surreal levels of suspense, almost lulling the viewer into hysteria and paranoia. Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of Donnie is packed full to the brim with sinister smiles and cutting humour that almost makes you nervous as you anticipate the next turn in his enigmatic mind. He also manages to arouse a sense of empathy from the viewer, showing fleeting moments of a confused teenager, perpetually terrified of loneliness. The most admirable aspect of this incredible cinematic experience is the amazing range of emotions that it’s able to evoke. Mixtures of dread, hope, and ominous serenity are only a tiny fraction of what it has in store.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) – Terry Gilliam
A classic cult favourite, this film has been critically acclaimed precisely for its lack of soul. Featuring similar ideas to Fight Club, it focuses very effectively on the materialism and consumerism of America. It is a pointless pursuit of greed and perennial ineptitude. Without focus on the typical guideline of what a film should be, Gilliam’s style is surreal and warped, almost creating the illusion that you’ve entered a Dali painting. The performances of Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro are unmistakably impeccable, bordering on suspiciously realistic. An almost magical-ride through the shoddiest places in America, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a moving and care-free world of discovery for any cult fanatic.
by Valery Roslikova
