The Occasional Random Double Bill of Doom

Being the first of a never ending and never improving series of posts in which I recommend (at spear point if i must) double bills of Movies, Albums, Non-prescription drugs for you to endure.

Today, a double bill of films with a tenuous religious link.

1. The Wicker Man
In a shocking move I'm picking not the Nicholas Cage disaster but the late Edward Woodward's greatest achievement on the silver screen, Christopher Lee sings and wears a dress, Britt Ekland sings and wears nothing and everyone loudly sings Cuckoo!! I know I may sound like I am being facetious but I'm not, I love this film. The word unique gets tossed around with so little care for where it lands these days, but Robin Hardy's picture is a textbook definition. From it's achingly beautiful folk score (courtesy of Paul Giovanni), and perfect choice of locations to it's still traumatic denouement and the pitch perfect performance of Woodward as the deeply religious policeman. It's portrayal of the lifestyle of the folk of Summerisle is both meticulously researched but also incredibly attractively shown, hence the island's inhabitants become more agreeable than the films supposed hero, a rare occurence in film.

2. The Ninth Configuration
EVERYONE knows about The Exorcist, and a few admit to knowing it's pitiful sequel, but novelist William Peter Blatty's directorial debut is almost an unknown film despite it being an astonishing mix of blatant comedy, unexpected violence and religious exploration. In a castle right out of a Universal horror movie, supposedly insane Vietnam War veterans explore there deluded fantasies under the watchful eye of their compassionate doctor, who may or may not be just as round the twist as his patients. Expertly performed by a catalogue of character actors (including James Miller, Scott Wilson, Joe Spinell, and Richard Lynch) and littered with memorable dialogue ("Infinite goodness is creating a being you know, in advance, is going to complain."). The film doesn't force it's religious convictions upon it's audience but let's them decide for themselves where they stand. An outstanding achievment.