I have been a theater, music, and film lover as long as I can remember. 

However, lately, I’ve become mostly a very unapologetic film buff, and I’ve watched all or part of movies that many people wouldn’t touch with a barge pole:  up to and including, say, films like “Weasels Rip My Flesh” and “Ankle Biters.”  It’s important to know, though that movies don’t at all have to be big mega-budget Hollywood numbers to be deeply and seriously enjoyable.

If you restrain yourself to only watching things that come out of Mainstream Hollywood, you’ll be missing a great deal.  Mainstream Hollywood is, by nature, a least a bit cautious. They (usually, anyway) tend to cater to the lowest common denominator. You see, they are constrained by a need to make a profit. And when even a “small” Hollywood budget is in the tens of millions, that’s a lot of putting average people in theaters that they have to worry about.

The good news is, though, that you don’t only have to watch what mainstream studios and distributors are offering. There are a number of really excellent, innovative independent film producers out there. I’m going to touch on only a few… perhaps commentors can offer some more.

One of my latest favorites (in terms of a production ”house,”) is Isle of Man Films. I have seen a few of the films they’ve put out in recent years, and without exception, they are interesting, well-done, and worth seeing. Notably, and at the top of mind, there’s “Severance” (produced there in 2004) and “The Deaths Of Ian Stone,” (produced probably in 2007) but Isle of Man is one of many of the worthwhile smaller production houses.

Then, for those of you who are comfortable with life on the seamier (often much seamier) side, there’s Troma; this film house in NY has been producing crazy, low-budget films for 30 years now. (One of their best known may be “The Toxic Avenger.” I recently saw “Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead” which was a true, unadulterated, definitely sick hoot.)

So… what indie houses do you enjoy? Is there one near where you live? I have heard a lot about “Bollywood” film (from India) but haven’t seen a title from there yet.

What’s the worst movie you ever saw? Was it a mainstream release?

Support independent film, music and art if and when you get the chance. The sensibility you save may be your own!