Define a Cult Film.

Easy, a film - regardless of how it was released or when, or why, that has a strong fallowing for whatever reason. This includes films like Lord of the Rings, which is in essence a cult film, same as Star Wars, or maybe even Terminator. There is no limit to “a cult” film, because any film can have 9 million fans, or just 60 people.

I love them, I love the idea that a film as obscure as Begotten can gain a cult fallowing, even the highly controversial I Spit On your Grave (Day of the Woman), has a cult fallowing. Even television shows have cult followings, just look at the show Daria, a small animated spin-off to Beavis and Butthead, gained a large cult fallowing when it was aired, there are even petitions to get the series officially out on DVD rather then bootlegs. Same with shows like Family Guy, Serenity and Futurama, whom all had such a strong fan appeal to gain either the show back on air, or a film (s) released theatrically or even on DVD.

Now when you hear the word Cult, you might get scared and think to yourself “that’s something to stay away from!” but it really isn’t. Chances are, the films you love the most maybe a cult film, you can never tell how many people will flock to a certain film. So it’s nothing to fear, unless you go digging for cult films and pick up Pink Flamingos or Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which either film could put off some of the outsider film-fans who want to peak into the “seedy” world of cult films.

Some movies like Mystery Men or Billy Madison or even Cinderella (yes, the Disney film) are cult films. And it surprises me that people neglect to see it that way. I think maybe because of the stark contrast between a “mainstream” film and a “underground” film. Both are radically different from each other. And both have their fans but they both have their devotee’s.

So what is the point I am working to? None, it’s 12:21 AM, I am bored - Listening to the Flaming Lips and feeling like writing something I give a damn about. Right now and several minutes ago it is Stanley Kubrick and Cult Films. I think someone, whom ever reads this dribble will get a kick out of the fact that I am stating that any film in this world has the potential to become a cult film, however small or however big it actually is. If there are die-hard fans, then it is a cult film.

But to argue with myself for a moment, A Cult Film is a Cult Film, because it is not mainstream and is underground and is seen as a cult rather then a group or “Fanboys” or whatever you want to call them. Which I agree with also, so basically I just destroyed what I mentioned above. Go figure…

- Andrew.