Certainly not for all tastes, Richard Elfman’s delirious and highly surreal little gem is one of the few cult classics to actually live up to its reputation. The loosely structured “narrative” concerns a household of rejects, who one by one, find a doorway in their basement that whisks them off to the 6th Dimension--a far out world of frog headed butlers, topless maids, human chandeliers, and various other misfits, all of whom are lorded over by a sex crazed midget.

In many ways, this film suggests an episode of Looney Tunes as directed by Jean Cocteau. The rich black and white photography, play with human forms, use of simple camera tricks, and childlike painted sets all add to making this an assured and confident piece of filmmaking. To top it all off, the film takes the form of a series of episodic musical numbers harking back to early vaudeville, 1930’s musicals, and Bettie Page stag films, each perfectly rendered by Danny Elfman and the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo (rocking out in all their 80’s glory). If you are a fan of Midnight Movies like Eraserhead and Rocky Horror Picture Show, or if you appreciate the throwback playfulness of a contemporary like Guy Maddin, then this is the movie for you. Highly recommended!
 

Adam Lemke