Wacky But Great: 11 Weird Filmmakers That Hate Normal

You get the popcorn ready. You get the drinks ready. You prep the couch. And you decide to watch a trendy movie. But hereโ€™s the plot twist: the movie is called โ€œPoor Thingsโ€ and you donโ€™t quite know what to do. This is what weird filmmakers do: they bring the weird, the bizarre, and the less-than-probable than probable on your screens.

David Lynch

weird filmmakers david lynch

David Lynch is like the poster child for “weird” in the movie world. If you feel like youโ€™ve walked into someone elseโ€™s nightmare, chances are you are watching one of his movies. You get a mix of mundane stuff with disturbing twists, a mix that in the end will make you question reality.

“Eraserhead,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Mulholland Drive” are some of his most famous works. And then we have the all-time classic โ€œTwin Peaks,โ€ a surreal 90โ€™s series that turned into a worldwide phenomenon. He’s made some of the weirdest movies that’s for sure.

Learn more about David Lunch and other films he made if you are Interested:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch

Alejandro Jodorowsky

weird filmmakers Alejandro Jodorowsky

Next up, Jodorowsky, aka that eccentric uncle who tells you crazy stories that make no sense but for some reason you just have to listen to the story unfold to the very end. His movies are full of bizarre, mystical imagery, often loaded with a ton of symbolism.

Theyโ€™re not the kind of movies you “get” on the first watchโ€”or ever, really. Two of his movies, “El Topo” and “The Holy Mountain,” gained the cult classics badge that combines spirituality, surrealism, and the kind of weirdness that might give you a major headache.

We recommend watching this video made by Jeffrey Stillwell if you want to know more about “Who Alejandro Jodorowsky Is”

Harmony Korine

weird filmmakers Harmony Korine

Harmony Korine is the guy whoโ€™d rather show you the grime of everyday life than give you a polished story. His films often explore the fringes of society, featuring characters who are usually ignored or labeled as outcasts..

His debut “Gummo” is a disjointed, semi-documentary look at a small, run-down town in Ohio after it was hit by a tornado, and itโ€™s as unsettling as it is captivating. Then there’s “Spring Breakers,” a movie that will take the party-gone-wrong theme to a bizarre, neon-drenched extreme: drugs, guns, and the ensuing chaos.

Yorgos Lanthimos

weird filmmakers Yorgos Lanthimos

Yorgos Lanthimos, a name that came to center stage in 2023 when โ€œPoor Thingsโ€ was released. He has this unique ability to make the mundane feel completely absurd. Letโ€™s be blunt: he likes societies with strange rules and even stranger characters. “The Lobster,” where single people are turned into animals if they donโ€™t find a mate, and “Dogtooth,” about a family so isolated that the children donโ€™t even know what the outside world is like, are two perfect examples that will help you understand exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

Hereโ€™s a WordPress-friendly format for your blog post about Yorgos Lanthimos:


Fun Facts About Yorgos Lanthimos

Yorgos Lanthimos, the acclaimed Greek filmmaker, is known for his unique storytelling style and visually striking films. Here are some fun and fascinating facts about him:


1. From the Basketball Court to the Big Screen

Before becoming a filmmaker, Yorgos Lanthimos was a basketball player for Pagrati BC in Greece. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Antonis Lanthimos, who was both a basketball player and coach.
Source: Wikipedia


2. A Career Starts in Commercials and Music Videos

Lanthimos began his creative journey directing television commercials and music videos in Greece. This experience helped shape his distinct visual storytelling style.
Source: Britannica


3. Academy Award Success

His critically acclaimed film The Favourite (2018) earned ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Olivia Colman won the Best Actress award for her role in the film.
Source: Lanthimos.com


4. Real Locations for a Real Feel

For his film Kinds of Kindness (2024), Lanthimos shot on location in New Orleans instead of relying on studio sets. This added a layer of unpredictability and authenticity to the movie.
Source: Architectural Digest


5. Photographic Storytelling

During the filming of Kinds of Kindness, Lanthimos used his analog camera to create a stunning photobook titled I shall sing these songs beautifully. The book includes portraits of Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and breathtaking locations from the film.
Source: El Paรญs


Guy Maddin

weird filmmakers Guy Maddin

Guy Maddin is a Canadian filmmaker thatโ€™s constant in his weirdness. His movies are often shot in black and white or have that vintage film vibe, giving them an old-timey feel even when theyโ€™re completely bizarre. “My Winnipeg” is a dreamy, half-documentary about his hometown thatโ€™s part history, part myth. “The Saddest Music in the World” features a contest where countries compete to see who can play the saddest music, and yes, itโ€™s as strange as it sounds.

Terry Gilliam

weird filmmakers Terry gilliam

Terry Gilliam, a former member of Monty Python, uses the same kind of absurd, dark humor MP is known for but he also uses fantastical elements. His visuals are often exaggerated and surreal, making each movie quite the experience. “Brazil,” for example, is a dystopian nightmare filled with bizarre bureaucratic chaos, while “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is a psychedelic trip into the heart of the American Dream gone wrong, youโ€™ll love it!

In the following video Director Terry Gilliam: โ€œWeโ€™re living in a time where irony is not recognized anymoreโ€ Very interesting to watch.

Gaspar Noรฉ

weird filmmakers Gaspar Noe

Gaspar Noรฉ isnโ€™t just weirdโ€”heโ€™s provocative, often to the point of being controversial. And his movies follow suit: they are infamous for their intense, graphic content and unsettling plots.

Noรฉ loves to mess with the viewerโ€™s mind using disorienting camera work and disturbing themes. “Irreversible” is a brutal, non-linear film that plays out in reverse, with some scenes that are nearly unbearable to watch. “Enter the Void” is a trippy, first-person journey through life, death, and everything in between, set against the neon lights of Tokyo.

Lars von Trier

weird filmmakers Lars von Trier

Lars von Trier is the master of pushing boundaries, often going to extremes to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche. His films are emotionally raw, and they often challenge the audience with their bleak, even nihilistic outlook on life.

“Antichrist” is a disturbing horror film that covers grief and madness, while “Melancholia” uses an apocalypse as a backdrop to explore depression and human relationships and it makes for a very weird storyline.

Takashi Miike

weird filmmakers Takashi Miike

Takashi Miike is as prolific as he is notoriously unpredictable. His work spans all kinds of genres, but heโ€™s best known for his ultra-violent and bizarre films. “Audition” starts as a slow-burn drama but takes a sharp turn into horror, with some of the most shocking scenes in cinema. “Ichi the Killer” is another extreme movie, blending gore, dark humor, and a twisted take on the crime genre.

Quentin Dupieux

Also known as Mr. Oizo in the music world, Quentin Dupieux brings his absurdist sense of humor into his filmmaking. His movies are often surreal, with plots that make you question reality. “Rubber” is about a sentient tire that rolls around the desert killing people with its mindโ€”yes, you read that right. “Deerskin” is another offbeat story about a man obsessed with his deerskin jacket, leading to increasingly bizarre situations.

Sion Sono

weird filmmakers Sion Sono

Sion Sono is another Japanese filmmaker who loves to blend genres, often mixing horror, drama, and surrealism. His movies are chaotic, colorful, and filled with dark humor. “Love Exposure” is a four-hour epic movie that combines religion and romance into a wild narrative, while “Red Post on Escher Street” is a fun movie, for a change, often being referred to as a love letter to cinema itself.

That was it, folks. Hope youโ€™ve got your fix of weird filmmakers and if you know of any others that would fit this list, donโ€™t keep them to yourself and share them in the comments. For more weird people that make movies go here.

Have a great one!

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