The Best of IndieWire After Dark: ‘Any Which Way You Can,’ ‘The Dressmaker,’ and More Midnight Movies
What do a pregnant Arnold Schwarzenegger, a pansexual soccer himbo, a horny orangutan (with a dubious grasp on consent), and the impeccably dressed mean girls from “Jawbreaker” have in common? In addition to being our dream blunt rotation, they’re the sort of cinematic heroes you could only find hanging out together at IndieWire After Dark.
Our weekly midnight movie series — exploring the funkiest fringe cinema from any time or place in film — was made for weirdo cinephiles who can’t bear to sit through another “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Every Friday night at 9:30 p.m. ET, we take a feature-length beat to discuss an unapologetically bold movie falling through the cracks in the streaming age. From boundary-pushing new works to insane misfires of yesteryear, this rewatch club exists to remind genre obsessives everywhere that, yes, there is always, always, always something you haven’t seen before.
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The idea of a “midnight film” is still cool but anachronistic. It’s ripped from back when the movie monoculture drew a sharper distinction between what was and wasn’t acceptable storytelling for mainstream society. The omnipresence of streaming and the democratization of social media means weird art is now exponentially more accessible (even if the MPA does still rule with iron ratings). But market saturation means paralysis of choice — and that makes a thriving counterculture as important and hungry as ever.
In its first year, IndieWire After Dark explored the community of midnight movie-going through a pen pal-like recommendation series. Nine staff editors and writers contributed to a whopping 67 recommendations, ranging from under-appreciated animated movies and a wacky Bollywood musical to several incest comedies and an oddly sweet faux snuff film. A revolving door of streaming platforms helped us highlight cinematic oddities that were unapologetically worth preserving — even as many ran the risk of vanishing from the internet. The call-and-response format also let us get into spoilers: a sometimes essential tool for convincing less gonzo audiences to give your taste in midnight madness a chance.
Our definition of fringe cinema encompasses a variety of genres, from masterful avant-garde works made by arthouse directors to bloated studio disasters some execs would prefer forgotten. Starting in September 2024, IndieWire After Dark is pivoting its programming to focus on monthly themes that will help us hone in on specific subgenres and subjects. We’re still getting into spoilers in the second half, and, as always, every selection swings for the metaphoric fences. Some achieve their goals, and others miss gloriously, but every title embraces the idea that filmmaking is an art form that deserves to be experimental and, when warranted, extreme.
Keep reading for our 13 best midnight movie recommendations, carefully ranked but not really comparable. Then, follow the fun week-t0-week — either as appointment viewing (again, that’s Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET!) or as a casual streaming guide for whenever you’ve got the time. For IndieWire After Dark members, it’s always midnight somewhere.
With editorial contributions by Christian Zilko, Wilson Chapman, Proma Khosla, and Mark Peikert.
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