Five Unconventional Movies for Easter

Just think of this as the Many Feelings of Easter. Is it Good or not? Tragic or uplifting? It strikes me as a slightly confused time anyway. Why not try something a bit unusual?

No cutesy bunnies here; I’m no fan of eggs; I burned myself out on sweets long ago . . . but movies? They’re a whole other thing entirely.

So in the spirit of alternative celebrations — say a Festivus in Spring — I suggest the following five selections to enjoy an unconventional Easter. No humourless historical epics, but plenty of resurrection, reincarnation, revelation, and redemption.

Have yourself a spooky, weepy, sappy, and hilarious time!

The Dead Zone (1983) on 2012/08/09

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“David Cronenberg directs this series of connected tales involving a small town English teacher, John Smith, whose traffic accident costs him five years, his health, his job, a relationship, and his former religious faith.”
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Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001)
by Hacker Renders on 2012/10/06
by Grushenka Geusebach on 2010/08/25

“An outrageous, riotous, certifiable film shot entirely in the quiet, unassuming city of Ottawa…”

“…but, if you’re devout and have no sense of humour, you’d best give it a miss.”

Groundhog Day (1993) on 2010/03/21

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“It seems appropriate that a tale so concerned with repetition should find acclaim only after multiple viewings in the years following its release. Many call it a comedy, but I’m not sure it is, at least not in the way most people intend that label. It has its humorous aspects, but darkly so, and works mostly within the conventions of a fantasy.”

Jesus of Montreal (1989) on 2011/07/16

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“Jesus of Montreal won over this skeptic. It taught me something, entertained, and transcended itself in the process. Though I’m no one’s idea of religious, in this case ‘true believer’ applies.”
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Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) on 2010/12/05

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“It tells the story of Brian Cohen of Nazareth (Graham Chapman), who lives chafing under the reign of Romans in AD 33 Jerusalem. More than biography, comedy, or an historical fiction, it offers real and timeless insight into the human condition, with particular regard to religiosity. Plus it happens to be hilarious.”