This documentary centers on six transgressive movies that defied the mainstream and achieved enduring cult status through midnight screenings at special revival theaters: "El Topo," "Night of the Living Dead," "Pink Flamingos," "The Harder They Fall," "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and "Eraserhead." George Romero admits that "Night of the Living Dead" was made as an angry response to the failure of the revolution attempted by people in the 1960's, John Waters happily discusses making movies with his friends and the shooting of the poodle poop eating scene in "Pink Flamingos," Richard O'Brien points out that "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was a box office flop when it was first released in theaters, and David Lynch reveals that "Eraserhead" was inspired by industrial Philadelphia. Moreover, producer Lou Adler notes that it's the audience instead of the director who make a movie a cult film. In addition, this documentary covers how the social upheavals of the 1960's and early 1970's influenced indie filmmakers to go against the grain and critique and/or satirize the status quo, the popularity of marijuana smoking with midnight movie audiences, and how the invention of the VCR killed the midnight movie phenomenon. Essential viewing for cult cinema fans.
