DR. CALIGARI (1989)
I doubt that it's considered canon, but for what it's worth, this is presented as a sequel to 1920's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. The sets are visually stimulating. And that's where the similarities end. The granddaughter of the original Caligari runs a mental asylum where she conducts controversial experiments on her patients. Our lead character begs the doctor to ameliorate his nympho-psycho wife, even though he doesn't trust her methods. If you told me that the term "art house" was coined to describe this flick, I would believe you. It's relentlessly weird. Abstract dialogue is delivered with a musical cadence, and taboo-exhausting special effects bring David Cronenberg to mind.
Why don't we go over some of the acts depicted? You've got your sodomy, your transgender incest, your pedophilia, your cannibalism, your plastic surgery fetishism and your scarecrow crotch fondling. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. It's fun trying to make sense out of the wanton imagery and innumerable metaphors. Dr. Caligari is one cult classic that lives up to its crackpot reputation. Smoke it if you can find it.
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