Netflix Worst Instant 100
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The Groundhogs: Live at the Astoria (1998) : 1.5 stars
London's famed Astoria Theatre provides the backdrop for this gritty 1998 performance by British blues band the Groundhogs, as founder Tony McPhee and the boys blaze through a set list comprising songs spanning the group's 30-year career.
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Taintlight (2009) : 1.5 stars
When lovely young Stella strikes up a romance with pale, brooding vampire Edgar, the couple must navigate the treacherous waters of human-undead love and fend off the amorous advances of a werewolf named Jack. Meanwhile, another brood of bloodsuckers seeks to impale Edgar and claim Stella for themselves. This horror spoof of teen vampire flicks stars Meredith Host, Kurt Indovina and Jessica Stephens.
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The Other Half (2006) : 1.5 stars
By day, law clerk Xiaofen sees endless cases of women wronged by men, but her own life isn't much better. Her boyfriend, just out of prison, may have committed murder. The entire city, meanwhile, is coming apart amid an environmental disaster.
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Betelnut (2006) : 1.5 stars
In director Heng Yang's coming-of-age tale, two teenage rebels spend their days committing petty crimes, getting into fistfights and finding love during one sun-soaked carefree summer in Hunan.
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1313: UFO Invasion (2011) : 1.5 stars
While he's always been interested in what's "out there," Adam, a graduate student working on his dissertation in theoretical astronomy, finds a perfect opportunity to both work and play in Roswell, N.M.
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Johnny Hallyday: Live at Montreux 1988 (1988) : 1.6 stars
Rockabilly icon Johnny Hallyday demonstrates why he's often been called France's answer to Elvis in this thrilling, intimate 1988 concert, recorded in Montreux, that showcases his unique blend of American rock 'n' roll and European style.
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Lessons for the Lovelorn (1980) : 1.6 stars
When he chances upon a woman of rare beauty in a picturesque little Italian café, a geeky young man falls head over heels and resolves to win her heart, even though he knows she's way out of his league. But the love-struck lad is going to need every ounce of his resolve as he tries one scheme after another to soften the lady's hard heart. Andy Luotto and Mirella D'Angelo star in this charming romantic comedy.
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Vapid Shallow Models Must Die (2006) : 1.6 stars
When his dream of becoming a model is dashed, a pudgy, unattractive everyman takes gruesome revenge on the runway hotties he'd once hoped would be his high-fashion colleagues. Masquerading as a photographer, the humiliated (and mentally unhinged) loser lures his photogenic but vacuous victims into a deadly lair in this campy slasher flick starring Michael Haboush, Kate Crash, Stephen Molinaro and Jason North.
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Seducing Time: Selected Prize Winning... (2011) : 1.6 stars
This collection of award-winning shorts from video artist Lynn Hershman Leeson covers more than a quarter-century of her accomplished career. As society grows increasingly automated, her takes on identity and privacy are all the more timely.
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Ornaments (2008) : 1.6 stars
In this darkly funny comedy-drama, a group of college friends reunite for a Christmas celebration that goes horribly wrong. As their friendships unravel, they find out that their lives didn't turn out exactly as they'd hoped.
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Fujian Blue (2007) : 1.6 stars
Weng Shou Ming's award-winning debut spins a pair of stories about two members of the same teenage gang, shedding light on illegal emigration and human trafficking in China's Fujian province.
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The Agent (2008) : 1.6 stars
It's all in a day's work for high-flying literary agent Alexander: manuscripts to read, deals to be done, celebrity lunches. But first, there is an author to deal with whose latest book is just not up to scratch.
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The Superhero (2007) : 1.7 stars
A unique mix of live action and animation, this comic book-style fantasy thriller unfolds on the rough-and-tumble streets of Manchester, England, where a gang of drug-addicted thugs led by the infamous Needler is terrorizing the citizenry. Neither the people nor the police can seem to stop this reign of brutality -- their only hope might be a masked vigilante with a flair for violence who demands justice at any cost.
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Crazy Richard (2002) : 1.7 stars
Richard Veide used to be a child star, but after a drug overdose nearly killed him at age 13, he discovered that fame was fleeting. Now, in an attempt to make a comeback, he allows cameras to follow his every move in this parody of reality TV.
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Spaced Out (2006) : 1.7 stars
Extraterrestrials prepare to wreak havoc on Earth when they send abducted and brainwashed reporter Al Manac back to the planet on a probing mission. But will Al obey his alien captors or will he save humankind?
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Carcasses (2009) : 1.7 stars
For more than 40 years, Jean-Paul Colmor has amassed hulks of old cars, creatively arranging them in his auto cemetery where visitors hunt for parts. In this quirky documentary, his unique lifestyle gets shaken up by some unexpected company.
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Carmel (2009) : 1.7 stars
Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai -- a war veteran whose son fights in the conflict that has seized the region -- interweaves a kaleidoscopic portrait of the Middle East's bloody and complex history with personal reflections on family and war. Actress Jeanne Moreau delivers texts and poems in voice-over throughout this thought-provoking collage of image, sound and ideas. This film was an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival.
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Housequake (2009) : 1.7 stars
Capturing political theater at its most basic level, this documentary recounts the Democratic Party's stunning takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2006 elections, inspired by the aggressive tactics of strategist Rahm Emmanuel.
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Intimate Stranger (1991) : 1.7 stars
Filmmaker Alan Berliner attempts to tell the life story of his grandfather, a Palestinian Jew who escaped the dangers of World War II, only to spend most of his life working in Japan, far away from his wife and children. His family saw him as an absent father who shook off responsibility to pursue his own interests. But those he did business with in Japan paint a glowing portrait of an admirable adventure seeker.
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Daughters, Daughters (1973) : 1.7 stars
Father to a gaggle of daughters but no sons, Sabbatai Alfandari (Shaike Ophir) turns to outlandish folk remedies to ensure that his -- and his wife's -- fertile loins bring him a desperately wanted male child. But when the treatments only result in another girl, Sabbatai must face his own misconceptions about what it means to be a father, a husband and a man. The film was nominated for the Golden Palm at Cannes in 1974.
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Love 600 (1970) : 1.7 stars
Eva (Iris Berben) is the object of rich Sugar Daddy's (János Gönczöl) affection. But while he showers her with gifts, she wants someone younger -- namely Erich (Jochen Richter), who's more her style. Learning that Eva has left, Sugar Daddy sends his chauffeur, Theo (Mogens von Gadow), to find her and Erich. What results is a hilarious pursuit that turns this romantic comedy into a slapstick free-for-all.
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Fearless Frank (1967) : 1.7 stars
Jon Voight made his screen debut in this 1967 satire about country rube Frank, who leaves his rural home for the big city of Chicago. After he meets luscious moll Plethora (Monique van Vooren), mobsters shoot him and his wounds endow him with super powers. Under the tutelage of the Good Doctor (Severn Darden), "Fearless Frank" becomes a sophisticated crime fighter, but finds that he must contend with a nefarious twin named "False Frank."
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Straight Line (2005) : 1.7 stars
Wounded by the recent loss of his mother, Bobby (director Sean Ackerman) seeks solace in the beauty of Montana, where he also finds love with the free-spirited Sophie (Shannon Shultz). When Sophie leaves for Panama, Bobby follows her in an epic cross-country quest that will cleanse his soul. Bobby's journey is interwoven with the story of his mother's death and his life with Sophie in a provocative narrative accentuated by sumptuous photography.
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Apple Pie (1976) : 1.7 stars
In this experimental fairy tale, gangster Jacques "the Ace" Blinbaum (Tony Azito), relates the tale of his first con -- faking his own kidnapping to obtain a "ransom" from his father (Brother Theodore). But as the film spirals into fantasy, the gangster may not be what he seems. Director Howard Goldberg interweaves disparate narrative threads that converge in a dance sequence with music by Daryl Hall and John Oates on the streets of New York.
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Cutter (2003) : 1.7 stars
Joe Watson (Charlie Matthes) always knew he was destined to be a "cutter" ever since his grandfather gave him his first lawn mower at age 5. Now, all grown up and head of the Turf's-Up mowing company, Joe is primed to nail down a giant shopping mall contract. Standing in his way, however, are rivals KW Lawn Solutions and Mr. Mow it All, who are prepared to do whatever it takes -- honest, dishonest or illegal -- to win the contract themselves.
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Antisex (2008) : 1.7 stars
It's love at first sight when Ivan meets gorgeous Nonna, but there's a catch: When their relationship gets physical, Nonna reveals she's asexual. Ivan's buddies say to dump her, while Nonna's friends urge her to abstain, but neither wants to give up.
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Girl King (2002) : 1.7 stars
Take a gender-bending journey on the high seas with this swashbuckling lesbian romp. Angry that the king has left and taken her treasure, the queen compels Butch to find the stolen booty.
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Using (2007) : 1.7 stars
Documentary filmmaker Zhou Hao examines the complicated relationship between two drug addicts who become dealers over the course of three years. Shot in the city of Guangzhou, the film offers a rare look into China's unknown heroin subculture.
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Pleasures of the Damned (2005) : 1.7 stars
When a group of Satan-worshiping bikers seeks out a book holding the secrets of eternal life, they accidentally resurrect an ancient evil that manifests itself as zombified cult members who killed themselves years earlier.
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Over the Rainbow, Under the Skirt (1994) : 1.7 stars
In this sequel to Yesterday You, Yesterday Me, Bobby looks back on his youthful dreams -- the joys of love and the pain of separation. He also remembers the summer of 1985 when he was smitten with a woman named Sharon.
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1313: Actor Slash Model (2011) : 1.7 stars
An embittered actor decides it's time to slash a few models after losing a life-changing role to some guy who looks good with his shirt off. David DeCoateau directs this campy horror flick.
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Seduction: The Cruel Woman (1985) : 1.8 stars
Wanda is a dominatrix who lures men and women of all types into her sadomasochistic world of sex. These seemingly random encounters occur with no accompanying dialogue that might insightfully point to politics or philosophy as a subtext. But then, perhaps that is the message … that there is no message.
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Mummy Maniac (2007) : 1.8 stars
This horror thriller follows serial killer Michael Savage (Ben Stewart) -- who has issues with mummy dearest -- on a ritualistic murder spree as forensic profilers and other law-enforcement officials scramble to uncover his identity before he strikes again. Posing as a cop, the unhinged Michael kidnaps and taunts his prey and then mummifies their heads. The story line is based on a series of headline-grabbing 2006 homicides in New York City.
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Variety (1983) : 1.8 stars
When Christine (Sandy McLeod) gets a job as a Times Square porn theater ticket-taker, she soon finds herself intrigued by the underground world she's entered, and her eagerness to explore it leads her on an erotic journey of self-discovery. Her new passion also has a profound effect on her relationship with boyfriend Mark (Will Patton). Controversial novelist Kathy Acker wrote the screenplay for this provocative feminist drama.
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Once Upon a Scoundrel (1974) : 1.8 stars
After falling for Alicia (Priscilla Garcia), greedy and powerful Mexican landowner Carlos (Zero Mostel) has her fiancé thrown in prison on a bogus charge. To trick Carlos into releasing her man, Alicia teams up with her Aunt Delfina (Katy Jurado) and tries to convince Carlos that he's a ghost. Featuring noteworthy cinematography of beautiful Mexican landscapes, this comedy also stars A Martinez, Aurora Clavel and Xavier Marc.
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Peoria Babylon (1997) : 1.8 stars
Down to practically their last dollar and fresh out of legitimate ideas, art gallery owner Candy and her gay business partner Jon hatch a dodgy scheme that involves a porn star turned politician, a con man and the mob.
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Bachelor Party in Bungalow of the Damned (2007) : 1.8 stars
Sammy (Gregg Aaron Greenberg) plans to throw a bachelor party for his best friend, Chuck (Joseph Riker), and secures a sweet hideaway in the Hamptons for the occasion. Soon three sexy strippers arrive, but things could get a little gory when Chuck's fiancée makes an appearance. Written and directed by Brian Thomson, this gross-out indie horror flick co-stars Trina Analee, Monique Dupree and Kaitlyn Gutkes and features cult icon Lloyd Kaufman.
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Deflating the Elephant (2008) : 1.8 stars
Sean Penn teams with author George Lakoff in this thought-provoking examination of how language frames the nature of political discourse in America. The film explores how terms like "war on terror" and "tax relief" are used to shape policy debates.
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Isle of the Damned (2008) : 1.8 stars
While searching a remote island for Marco Polo's legendary treasure, Det. Jack, his adopted son, Billy, and the expedition's sponsor, Harold, desperately try to evade a vicious tribe of flesh-eating savages hot on their tail.
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Generic Thriller (2009) : 1.8 stars
When Steven (Daniel Hart Donoghue), a gay theater professor, sets out to write a "generic thriller," things take a decidedly nongeneric twist when first his cast tries to take over the production and then the characters themselves vie for control. Ultimately, however, the battle takes place in Steven's head as several of his creations -- including one named Mr. Vertigo (after a teacher and former lover) -- take on minds of their own.
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And the Winner Is... (2009) : 1.8 stars
The hypocrisy lurking behind politics and small-town life is revealed in this sharp, hilarious satire that finds Centerville shaking up its mayoral election by forcing the candidates to participate in an "Election Pageant." Seven eccentric, competitive locals run for office despite their many flaws, and during the pageant, show off their skills at baby kissing, photo ops, handshaking and other skills needed by a savvy politician.
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Cannibal Suburbia (2008) : 1.8 stars
Man-eating body doubles and predatory party girls stalk the suburban streets of Melbourne in three taboo-defying tales dredged from the heads of Australian creative team Pleasant Productions. The collection opens with the traumatic story of an elderly lady who picks the wrong party to crash, moves to a fantasia about a practical joker and his disturbed doppelgänger, and ties it all up with the tale of a guy looking for love at the Snuff Machine.
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Open (2010) : 1.8 stars
Cynthia (Gaea Gaddy), a hermaphrodite, embarks on a life-changing quest when she meets a couple (Tempest Crane and Jendeen Forberg) who teach her about pandrogony, in which two people's facial features are merged to reflect their evolution into a unified entity. Meanwhile, transsexual Syd (Morty Diamond) is grappling with an equally complex idea -- motherhood -- in this multifaceted tale about love and exploring new frontiers of the human form.
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The Storytellers (1999) : 1.8 stars
When an aging writer (Tippi Hedren) resigns herself to the fact that Hollywood doesn't want her scripts, she pulls her freeloading grandson (Michael Worth) out of school and asks him to sell her ideas by passing them off as his own. Mitzi Kapture, Zach Galligan and Brad Dourif co-star in this low-budget look at the movie business's unwritten rules -- and the lengths people will go to get around them.
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Fraternity Massacre at Hell Island (2007) : 1.8 stars
Pledging a frat isn't easy, but for Jack Jones (Tyler Farrell), getting into Zeta Alpha Rho could be murder. Left on a creepy deserted island, the pledges are hunted by a knife-wielding clown. But for Jack, coming out may hold the key to his survival. That single act could also save his fellow pledges. It's all fun and games until someone gets a knife in the back in this tongue-in-cheek horror romp that co-stars Billie Worley and Corie Ventura.
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Stuck! (2009) : 1.8 stars
Paying tribute to the "caged heat" B-movie classics of the 1950s featuring innocent and less-than-innocent women stuck together behind prison bars, this intentionally trashy potboiler includes plenty of tough talk and bad female behavior. Starina Johnson portrays the wrongly accused Daisy, while veteran Karen Black (Nashville) takes a turn as the next-door neighbor whose false testimony could send Daisy to the gallows.
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The Headhunter's Sister (1997) : 1.8 stars
Ray (Bob McGrath) is paid to woo lawyers from their firms, and new Colombian wife Teresa (Isabel Robayo) works as a phone-sex operator, but their own language barrier has them barely speaking. Then Ray's square-peg sister, Linda (Elizabeth Schofield), pays a visit, breaking the silence in novel ways. In this indie comedy-drama set in New York City, Linda falls in with an addict, Teresa's eye wanders and Ray copes with failing health and home.
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Berlin Blues (1988) : 1.8 stars
In Cold War-era West Berlin, Lola (Julia Migenes-Johnson), an American blues singer with a nightclub band, falls for the piano player, David (Jose Coronado). Their romance is cut short when David must return to his native East, and Lola soon begins an affair with Huessler (Keith Baxter), the bandleader. But any guilt Lola may feel for betraying David is assuaged when Huessler saves her from unexpected misfortune.
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Hammer Down (1992) : 1.8 stars
In this crime drama set in Los Angeles, a string of tough homicide cases confronts veteran Det. Eddie Van Owen and youthful partner Johnny Marks, but the murder of a music video dancer takes their investigation in an unexpected direction. When the duo, played by Matt Almond and Tony Peck, looks into the killing, a shady producer turns up the prime suspect, and the ensuing scandal spills out of the music world and into gangland.
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Born to Laugh (1988) : 1.8 stars
An up-and-coming funny guy finds as well as creates ways to bolster his comedy career in this film from Israeli comedian Yehuda Barkan, who writes, directs and stars. Menahem Zilberman, Moshe Timor, Edit Punk and Tzvi Shissel also make appearances. Barkan is known for films such as Bo Nefotzetz Million, Malkat Hakvish, Attack at Dawn, He Walked Through the Fields, Hayeh Ahaltah Otah and Mehapeset Baal Al Arba.
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The King of Love (1987) : 1.8 stars
As the illegitimate son of a chorus girl, William Hall's (Nick Mancuso) prospects didn't look bright. But he returns from the Korean War as a skilled photographer, catching the eye of newspaper mogul Jack Kraft (Rip Torn), whom he believes is his father. William eventually becomes a media king himself, rocking the world with a magazine that serves as a platform for his sometimes radical views on sex and politics. Sela Ward and Michael Lerner co-star.
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Flying Devils (1985) : 1.8 stars
In this offbeat melodrama from accomplished Danish director Anders Refn, a family of aerialists decides to go after the $250,000 prize being offered to any group that can execute a next-to-impossible trapeze maneuver. However, personal dramas and financial difficulties soon threaten to overtake the flyers' pursuit of the elusive quadruple somersault. The film received a Robert Award as the best Danish film of 1985.
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Happy Hoboes (1979) : 1.8 stars
Vagabond Italian musicians Pippo (Vittorio Gassman) and Peppe (Philippe Noiret) discover that in addition to sharing a jail cell, they also shared a past lover, Lucia (Anna Melato) -- and that one of them is the father of the woman's child, Piripicchio. After Lucia dies, both men become convinced the boy is theirs, and both help raise him. But as Piripicchio grows older, the two "dads" grow less certain they want to claim him as their own.
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The Bells of Silesia (1972) : 1.8 stars
Based on Martin Walser's compelling novel, this multilayered drama examines life in West Germany in the early 1970s, when the pressures of modern society have complicated effects on the citizens of a small town preparing for a festival. The chaotic incidents surrounding the celebration are seen through the eyes of lackluster student Hille (Vitus Zeplichal), whose overbearing father, Pastor Vavra (Reinhard Kolldehoff), has organized the event.
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Apart From That (2006) : 1.8 stars
Rural Washington serves as the setting for an intimate snapshot of five disparate, eccentric characters living in the small community. The elderly Peggy (Alice Ellingson) is given to making false fire reports and then greeting the arriving firemen unclothed. Other local characters include an American Indian road striper beset by an emotional burden he won't talk about and a local banker whose job brings him into major conflict with his son.
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Psychopathia Sexualis (2006) : 1.8 stars
Writer-director Bret Wood brings to the screen titillating vignettes that portray the deviant sexual behaviors catalogued in Richard von Krafft-Ebing's infamous medical text that shocked Victorian sensibilities. Dramatizing cases such as those of a masochist seeking carnal fulfillment from being dominated and a lesbian tutor who seduces her female pupil, this provocative film is a study in steamy soft-core fetishism and sexual exploitation.
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Contadora Is for Lovers (2006) : 1.8 stars
Helen (Renee Pietrangelo) and Mike (Vincent De Paul) travel to the island of Contadora for a romantic honeymoon. Upon arrival, the couple is greeted by charming Gabriel (Anthony Sago), a romantic dreamer in search of his true sexual identity, and the alluring threesome soon develop an intimate relationship. Exotic scenery heats up the sexual exploration in this steamy romp directed by Jorge Ameer.
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Waiting For Caroline (1967) : 1.8 stars
Unable to decide between continuing her romance with a handsome actor (François Tassé) and reuniting with her ex-boyfriend, Caroline (Alexandra Stewart), a recent transplant to French-speaking Quebec, struggles to deal with her dear father's engagement to her friend from college. As Caroline remains noncommittal and openly demonstrates abnormal devotion to her dad, the two frustrated suitors begin to grow tired of her games.
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The Climax (1967) : 1.8 stars
Lady-loving violinist Sergio (Ugo Tognazzi) has acquired no less than three families. Unwilling to give up the charade, Sergio must work day and night to provide for his expanding households. When the pressure becomes too great, a fatal heart attack provides just the perspective he needs to see the impact of his selfishness as he watches his funeral unfold from heaven. The film garnered two Golden Globe nods and a Golden Palm nomination.
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Perfect 10 Model Boxing: Vol. 1 (2006) : 1.8 stars
&NFi;Perfect 10&NFi_; magazine, in partnership with HDNet, delivers a combination of stunning beauty and punching prowess in this collection of boxing matches featuring professional models formally trained in the art of the fisticuffs. Among the roster of attractive athletes delivering brutal blows are Jenny Leone, Daniela Gil, Tricia Wilds and Brandy Ritchy. Los Angeles's Grand Olympic Auditorium is the venue for the perfectly proportioned event.
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The Oregonian (2011) : 1.8 stars
In this blood-spattered thriller set in the Pacific Northwest, Lindsay Pulsipher plays a strange young woman who goes on the road to leave her past behind -- a seemingly aimless voyage that brings her into contact with others as odd as herself.
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American Breakdown (2007) : 1.8 stars
This collection of short films -- featuring actors James Gandolfini, Steve Carell and Scott Caan, among others -- focuses on an array of modern characters as they struggle to overcome oppressive circumstances of tragedy, betrayal or simply bad luck.
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The Color of Your Socks: A Year with... (2009) : 1.8 stars
This documentary gives viewers an exclusive look inside the colorfully warped mind of acclaimed Swiss video artist Pipilotti Rist. Join Rist and her team as they prepare for an installation at New York City's Museum of Modern Art.
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Trick or Cheat (2009) : 1.8 stars
A school is trying to sabotage a student group's efforts to put on a musical dance number, citing their atrocious grades. The group's leaders must lead everyone to the promised land of academic competency -- via some innovative cheating methods.
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One Night: Choice of Evil (2010) : 1.8 stars
The lives of five lost souls -- an unassuming valet, a femme fatale, a mob boss looking for redemption, a foreigner with a painful past and a suicidal waitress -- collide in one night of life-changing choices in this neo-noir offering.
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I Am Waiting for You (2010) : 1.8 stars
After Leung Kwong is hired to work at a medical company, he learns that he got the job because he looks like the factory owner's long-missing son. Soon, strange occurrences begin to plague him.
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Barney: Clean Up, Clean Up! (2011) : 1.8 stars
Barney shows how to make cleaning fun -- from painting the caboose, to washing windows, to putting away toys. Everything's better with friends, and when teamwork helps with clean-work, the world sparkles and shines.
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1313: Wicked Stepbrother (2011) : 1.8 stars
Jarrod is horrified to learn that a faceless killer is celebrating his birthday by filling his mansion with the corpses of his closest friends. David DeCoteau directs this installment in the 1313 series of thrillers.
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Domain (2009) : 1.8 stars
As colorful Nadia, a single mathematician in her 40s, falls deeper into alcoholism, her 17-year-old nephew Pierre becomes passionate about rescuing her. Meanwhile, he grapples with his budding sexuality in this introspective drama.
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Classic Albums : Primal Scream... (2011) : 1.8 stars
This Classic Albums installment pofiles Primal Scream's seminal album, "Screamadelica," an album with a mix of rock, dance, dub, gospel and more that captured the zeitgeist of the early '90s to perfection.
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Queer as F**k (2002) : 1.9 stars
These sexy and surreal shorts from innovative gay filmmakers feature party-loving plastic dolls, domineering moms, mad scientists, stuttering sidekicks and adorable break-dancing foreign exchange students! "Jeffrey's Hollywood Screen Trick," "Shame No More," "Pyongyang Robogirl, Soda Pop," "The Trey Billings Show" and the bonus film "Dirty Baby Does Fire Island" are among the funny, provocative, award-winning films in this collection.
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Virgin Machine (1988) : 1.9 stars
In this arty German drama, Dorthee (Ina Blum) is researching an article on the science and philosophy of romantic love. On a trip to San Francisco to connect with her mother, the young journalist plunges headfirst into the city's diverse sexual culture. But her research turns personal when she meets Ramona (Shelly Mars), a lesbian stripper and sex therapist who guides Dorthee through a sexual awakening. Sexuality expert Susie Bright co-stars.
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Sweet Ecstasy (1962) : 1.9 stars
French director Max Pecas's sensual drama follows a bunch of morally challenged students during their summer vacation exploits. Elke (Elke Sommer) is a temptress who has no desire to form a meaningful relationship, but still gets involved with one of the male students. Intrigued by the mysterious beauty, the young man becomes infatuated with her until he realizes her fleeting ways and breaks things off, causing Elke to alter her habits.
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Puppets and Demons (1997) : 1.9 stars
Vincent -- the Twinkie-and pasta-eating puppet that serves as the alter ego for his creator, experimental filmmaker Patrick McGuinn -- makes several appearances in this collection of early work from the eccentric auteur and animator. Also included are the award-winning short films "Terrence Baum: Intergalactic Assassin," "Agnes Keedan's Secret Plan," "Say Thankyou, Please" and the comical Super 8 animation fantasy "Evolution."
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Bryan Loves You (2007) : 1.9 stars
The life of a therapist begins to unravel when he delves into the inner workings of a sinister religious cult that's taking over his Arizona town. At the heart of their dogmatic devotion is Bryan, a brutally murdered, near-mythological figure whose mindless worshippers don't countenance heretics.
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Mink Deville: Live at Montreux 1982 (2008) : 1.9 stars
One of the bands to call the world-famous CBGB nightclub home, Mink DeVille came to be known for their unique blend of punk, rock, roots and R&B -- a signature sound that's on full display in this memorable 1982 performance.
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Stuff: Live at Montreux 1976 (1976) : 1.9 stars
Individually, the members of Stuff were session musicians for rock's biggest names. Together, they formed one of the must-see live acts of the '70s, as demonstrated in this 1976 concert film, their only show at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
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The Devil's Muse (2007) : 1.9 stars
A young starlet's big break may become her undoing, when Lisa Small (Kristen Kerr) is cast as Elizabeth Short - who became known as the Black Dahlia after her tragic murder - and becomes obsessed with recreating Short's final days.
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Citizen Juling (2008) : 1.9 stars
Inspired by the shocking murder of Buddhist teacher Juling Pongkunmul, this documentary from Kraisak Choonhavan, Manit Sriwanichpoom and Ing K. explores the violent uprising of Islamic fundamentalism that has plagued Thailand since 2004.
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Keane: Curate a Night for War Child (2007) : 1.9 stars
Piano-based rockers Keane headline an evening of inspired -- and inspiring -- music in a 2007 concert benefiting the charity War Child. Featured artists include the Pet Shop Boys, Brendan Benson, Findlay Brown, Lily Allen and the Magic Numbers.
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Happy Mondays: Call the Cops (1990) : 1.9 stars
During their first U.S. tour (to promote their hit album "Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches"), British alternative rockers Happy Mondays bring down the house in this 1990 concert at New York City's Sound Factory.
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To Die Like a Man (2009) : 1.9 stars
Her health and career quickly deteriorating, drag queen Tonia escapes with her drug-addicted boyfriend, Rosário -- who wants his lover to get a sex-change operation -- Portuguese countryside, where they get lost in an enchanted forest.
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In Search of Lovecraft (2009) : 1.9 stars
When TV reporter Rebecca Marsh (Renee Sweet) gets assigned the annual Halloween puff piece on this year's topic, cosmic horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, she has no idea it will take her into a world where the creatures from his fiction actually exist. That's exactly what happens, though, as Marsh and her cameraman get drawn in to the mad universe of a cult intent on resurrecting one of the sleeping gods from Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos stories.
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The Club (2004) : 1.9 stars
There's no such thing as a free lunch. That's what Leon (Treva Etienne) discovers when he's invited to a billionaire's club that claims to exist solely to cater to members' fantasies. But he soon discovers that it's a front for shady dealings and illegal businesses; that knowledge that could very well cost him his life. Now Leon must find a way to disengage himself from the entire operation without becoming the Club's next victim.
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Helen (2008) : 1.9 stars
When a girl named Joy goes missing, Helen, who lives in a care home, is recruited to stand in for her in a police reconstruction of her final moments. Soon, Helen is taken in by Joy's parents and begins a relationship with Joy's boyfriend.
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I Can See You (2008) : 1.9 stars
With one bored girlfriend in tow, three Brooklyn ad men take a weekend camping trip to brainstorm pitches for a cleaning product called Claractix. But when the girlfriend goes missing, a strange series of events is set into motion. This twisty, psychedelic thriller co-stars Heather Robb as the vixen Summer Day, and producer and art-horror impresario Larry Fessenden plays long-lost pitchman Mickey Hauser.
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The Samurai Princess (2009) : 1.9 stars
When 11 of her friends are raped and murdered, leaving the Samurai Princess (adult video star Aino Kishi) the only survivor, she becomes infused with her comrades' souls. Transformed into an android, she sets out to avenge their deaths. Dai Mizuno co-stars as the princess's human partner in this Kengo Kaji-directed gore fest that features breast grenades, detachable chainsaw limbs, deadly guitar riffs and more.
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Flexing with Monty (2008) : 1.9 stars
Outrageously arrogant bodybuilder Monty (Trevor Goddard) relishes torturing his smart, sensitive gay brother, Bertin (Rudi Davis), with sexual taunts. But their bizarre routine is turned upside down one day when a Catholic nun (Sally Kirkland) arrives in search of donations for an unusual cause. Soon Monty and Bertin find their relationship in complete upheaval in this strange and twisted character study.
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Frontrunner (2008) : 1.9 stars
Following the presidential run of Dr. Massouda Jalal in Afghanistan's initial democratic election, this compelling documentary details her experience as the first woman to run for the highest office since the exile of the Taliban. A mother and a physician, Jalal courageously defied the Taliban with her persistent advocacy for children before facing death threats and braving bomb attacks during her presidential campaign.
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Dan Zanes: The Fine Friends Are Here! (2009) : 1.9 stars
Children's troubadour and Grammy winner Dan Zanes brings out his friends to play such favorites as "Wabash Cannonball," "Jump Up," "Let's Shake" and "Catch That Train." The program also includes three music videos.
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Married 2 Malcolm (2000) : 1.9 stars
Night shift cabby Malcolm (Mark Addy) has been keeping a big secret for nine years: He's happily married to two women. Natalie (Josie Lawrence) and Norma (Tracey Wilkinson) have never met, but that might change when pop star Noddy Holder arrives in town. Designer Natalie is tapped to create Noddy's stage costume, and karaoke star Norma gets a chance to perform with Noddy. Now Malcolm's sweating to keep his wives apart in this British comedy.
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The Family Album (1988) : 1.9 stars
Using amateur movies and still images captured by ordinary Americans over a span of some 30 years, filmmaker Alan Berliner crafts a collective portrait of the human experience and the definition of "family" from the 1920s to the 1950s. The project also throws oral histories into the mix that were collected from dozens of different families, presenting a fascinating array of perspectives from various ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic groups.
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The Owls (2009) : 1.9 stars
A decade after unplugging their all-girl band, the Screech, lesbian rockers Iris (Guinevere Turner), Lily (Lisa Gornick), MJ (V.S. Brodie) and Carol (Cheryl Dunye) are in an adult-contemporary rut ... until a hot young wild child named Cricket (Deak Evgenikos) enters their midst and mixes things up. Jealousy flares when Cricket turns on the charm, but when tragedy strikes, the women are forced to shelve their differences and work toward a common purpose.
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Sex Galaxy (2008) : 1.9 stars
Director-producer Mike Davis sets out to make history with the "world's first 'green' film" ... which is another way of saying it's cleverly compiled from public-domain movies other directors have already made. When it comes to storytelling, the results aren't necessarily linear (Who says robots and gratuitous nudity don't go together?), but the entire opus serves as a celebration of all things sci-fi and sexual.
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White of Winter (2003) : 1.9 stars
As teens, a traumatic event scarred best friends Rachel and Tommy. Twelve years later, Rachel is watching a movie when she glimpses Tommy as a bit player. Deluged with unwanted memories, she embarks on a journey to find Tommy. But she may never heal the wounds they shared in their youth. This moving drama was an Official Selection of the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. Poledouris also composed the haunting score.
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Feuille (2004) : 1.9 stars
In this tale of love and self-discovery, an artist meets a woman who will change her life forever. After moving from China to Paris, Meihua (Youxin Yang) connects immediately with photographer Stephanie (Sabine Bail). The new friends share their feelings about art and a fascination with each other's culture, and soon, passion takes over. But cultural differences and family pressures cause conflict, and Meihua decides she must end the affair.
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Wake the Witch (2010) : 1.9 stars
When teenager Deb Allen (Stefanie Tapio) and two of her friends accidentally awaken the malevolent spirit of a murdered witch while playing a game in the forest, they try to set things right -- but their attempts can't stop the spread of evil. Murdered by townspeople 100 years ago amid accusations of killing children, the witch returns to seek bloody vengeance on the entire town. Martin Kenna and Karis Yanike co-star in this supernatural tale.
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Don't Look in the Cellar (2008) : 1.9 stars
Looking to turn a class research project into a party, a group of college students chooses Halloween night to explore the long-abandoned local insane asylum, but one killjoy they didn't count on was Smiley (Jed Rowen), the asylum's last surviving resident. As the malicious inmate makes his presence felt and the building's murderous past is exhumed, the teens discover that their only hope of escape is to head to the one room they don't want to visit.
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Nightmare Alley (2010) : 1.9 stars
This over-the-top gore anthology from Brain Damage Films features seven low-budget, high-camp horror fests complete with zombie cowpokes, repugnant neighbors, a modern-day Jack the Ripper and more. Writer-director Scarlet Fry also serves as the collection's macabre host, introducing tales that range in subject from a toy rat that's set on world domination to a rumination on the perils of online hookups.
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The Eleventh Commandment (1986) : 1.9 stars
Years after his Uncle Charles (Dick Sargent) cruelly and unjustly has him committed to a mental asylum, Robert Knight (Bernard White) manages to escape and immediately tracks Charles down at an upcoming family reunion. Along the way, Robert makes a detour to abduct his cousin (Lauren Woodland). After sharing a meal and conversation, the two set off to the reunion, where Robert plans to dispense gory vengeance.