Audiences Met Count Yorga, The Stepford Wives Returned and The Stuff Attacked!
This Week in Eccentrica, June 8-14
Greetings, Worms n’ Germs! Here we are yet again at Misty Oracle Grove ready to embark on another excursion to Eccentrica—a place I’d love to live in full-time but can’t. Amazing strangeness awaits us in the Sinemastalgia Room.
Hopefully, your week was weird in an interesting way. The fantastic can be found behind the boring banal of the every day if you look close enough. I’m talking about the eccentricly entertaining and enlightening, discovering something different about the world that evokes a sense of wonder, and introspection or sparks creativity.
Learning a new skill or discovering or enhancing a talent that you’ve always known you had. Explore a subject you’ve always wanted to learn such as the history of an art movement. Learn something about the natural world, and the cosmos, or perhaps explore the paranormal. That’s why we invite you to banish the bland and leave it behind when stepping across the threshold of Misty Oracle Grove—-the Land of the Lurid, Home of the Horrorific, Our Idyllic Island In-Between Worlds.
This week, I dug up facts on the following cult films released this week in Sinema Obscura—the films that only the select few who relate to its otherness appreciate. So, let us sit in our Sinemastalgia room. Mix up an interesting concoction—whatever odd brew comes to mind. Let’s gaze into Merrick’s kaleidoscope and brace ourselves for what Eccentrica has for us this week!
June 10
Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)
Originally intended as a soft-core porn film called The Loves of Count Iorga, actor Robert Quarry said that he would only play the titular character if they made it into a straight horror film. According to The Movie Rating Game, a 1972 book by Stephen Farber the film’s distributor, American International Pictures had issues securing a GP (which became a PG) rating. The Motion Picture Association of America wanted to give it either an X or R rating. In order for the film to get a large number of showings in theaters and drive-ins, it needed to have a GP rating. Eventually, the MPAA gave it the GP rating after three minutes of violent and sexual content were cut.
Critics gave positive reviews. The film spawned a sequel The Return of Count Yorga and there was talk of making it a trilogy. However, the talked-about third film was never made. At one point pitting Count Yorga against Dr. Anton Phibes in Dr. Phibes Rises Again was one idea. However, Robert Quarry does appear as Dr. Biederbeck in that film.
June 11:
The Stepford Wives (2004)
This ill-received remake of the iconic 1975 film was based on Ira Levin’s 1972 novel of the same name. It needs to be noted, Levin is the author of another iconic horror tale, Rosemary’s Baby, covered in Horrorific Highlights this week.
The Stepford Wives is a horror/sci-fi social satire on gender roles, which caused quite a stir when released during the 1970s. This twisted tale presents a dark scenario where the men of the small town of Stepford, Connecticut decide to quash their wives' interest in feminism by killing them and replacing them with perfectly obedient androids.
Critics panned this remake, made as a black comedy directed by Frank Oz. The film features a stellar cast including Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, and Christopher Walken. This campy, comedic version of the film flopped at the box office.
June 14:
The Stuff (1985)
Speaking of social satire, The Stuff is a campy and entertaining satire on consumerism. An addictive alien substance becomes America’s most popular new sweet treat. However, the side effect isn’t anything as mundane as high cholesterol or a few extra pounds—it attacks people and turns them into zombies.
Written and directed by Larry Cohen, the film stars Michael Moriarty, Garrett Morris, Andrea Marcovicci, and Paul Sorvino. The Stuff received positive reviews from critics.
Random Odd Facts:
Let’s blow out our brains with the curious quirks of human history and science. Get ready for a fantastical foray for some peculiarities to ponder about human history and science. Here are some quirky curiosities to consider more deeply in your leisure time:
Nothing sparks the imagination more than the Ouija board. So many tales circulate as to the sinister activity it can evoke. Others tell rather boring tales of asking the spirits, whoever they may be, inane questions resulting in no malevolent activity. Some regard it as a party game and others as a portal into another dimension. In the right hands, it may open the door to something. What that is exactly is a matter of perspective.
This is something to ponder for another time. Now, onto the fun fact.
This isn’t a shocking revelation about the Mystifying Oracle but Elijah Jefferson Bond, the clever and curious individual who patented the spirit board, had the Ouija design etched onto his tombstone.
It should come as no surprise that I enjoy a good stroll through the cemetery. Gravestone artwork is sometimes quite creative and stunning. Hanging out in cemeteries among the peaceful and well-rested dead didn’t originate with goths or any other variety of eccentrics. It was a fad during the 19th century. At the time, the United States didn’t have many parks or green spaces. So, those desiring a leisurely weekend afternoon picnic went to the local cemetery. It is the ideal place—it’s certainly quiet and no one will disturb you there. Just make sure you don’t disturb the dead or perhaps a vengeful spirit may follow you home.
Here’s a brainy scientific fact. Something for your mind to devour. Your brain constantly eats away at itself in a process called phagocytosis. Don’t be alarmed this helps preserve your brain health. To maintain itself, brain cells surround and consume smaller cells or molecules to remove them from the system.
Here’s something for your amazing self-preserving gray matter to ponder: Water may not be wet. Scientists debate the definition of wetness. What constitutes “wetness” is the ability of a liquid to maintain contact with a solid surface. Many scientists conclude that while water isn’t wet, it makes other objects wet.
There you have it, some points to ponder. Perhaps you’ll go write the next great novel or screenplay revolving around water or brain function featuring a picnic in the cemetery with a Ouija board. Never know, as your cells eat away at each other perhaps there is some creative genius lurking around in that gray matter.
Have a sensationally surreal week, Strangelings!
Resources:
Movie blurb information provided by the pages of Wikipedia and our intriguing odd facts were provided by the following articles:
100 Facts That Will Make You Go “WTF” (mentalfloss.com)
101 fun facts that will blow your mind | BBC Science Focus