When Encore (part of the Starz family of stations) was carried in Time Warner’s basic cable package, I thought it was one of the best networks ever. I stopped getting it a couple years ago, and every once in a while I’m reminded of how cool it was.

Encore’s new documentary, “Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream,” is premiering at Cannes. It sounds like a great piece. Here’s what their press release has to say:

“Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream” focuses on the phenomenon of 1970’s cult films, and the major continuing influence they have had on pop culture and modern society. The special, based on the book of the same name by noted film scholar and documentary filmmaker Stuart Samuels (who produces and directs), is set to air on Encore August 5th at midnight. Appearing in the documentary are directors John Waters (“Pink Flamingos”), David Lynch (“Eraserhead”), George Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”), A. Jodorowsky (“El Topo”), Perry Henzell (“The Harder They Come”), Richard O’Brien (creator and star of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), noted author and film critic Roger Ebert, and Rocky Horror producer Lou Adler, among others.

In addition to their great series on directors, Encore also ran an outstanding doc about editing recently. I managed to get a copy of that, so maybe I’ll be able to swing this Midnight Movie one, too.

Updated to add:
Check out my review of Midnight Movies.
Enter the Midnight Movies Contest.

  1. Thanks for the props on our “Midnight Movies” doc, as well as good things to say about our other shows on Encore.

    Let me have your address and we’ll send you a copy.

    Best –
    Steve Belgard
    Starz Entertainment Group