101 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die

 101 CULT MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE

The problem and the river to cross when it comes to calling a book 101 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die is the defining of what constitutes a 'cult' movie. Who decides if a movie is a cult one or not? It's all subjective, of course, but ultimately it's the audience that creates that definition around a film rather than it being simply a label to apply. The one person excluded from the process is the director who on completion and delivery of a film can only wait and see what becomes of it. No director can intentionally set out to create a cult movie, no matter if the theme or the subject matter is obscure or the budget threadbare. If a movie does indeed fall within these parameters it doesn't automatically mean that it's cult. Just as easily it could mean it's simply puerile rubbish or indeed even brilliant - but never cult. 

The word 'cult' is mostly used as an accolade and imbues the thing on which the word is placed with a value beyond any established values of the mainstream. When it comes to movies, success is typically measured monetarily as in numbers at the box-office or increasingly nowadays the amount streamed. When a film becomes cult it means it's moved beyond financial considerations and is now being viewed from a different and somewhat more passionate perspective. A perspective though not necessarily of more value but arguably much longer lasting.

101 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die certainly contains a good selection of classic films though whether they could be called 'cult' is debatable. What is clear, however, is that it contains no surprises. Moreover, there are many films and some directors of films that are noticeably absent. Where, for instance, is Silent Running, the 1970s eco-sci-fi film featuring Bruce Dern? Point Blank featuring Lee Marvin? The Friends Of Eddie Coyle starring Robert Mitchum? Where is there mention of Bruce Lee and any of his films, or any of the many spaghetti cowboy films of the 60s and 70s? And if we're talking 'cult', where is Debbie Does Dallas or Deep Throat, even? Or are these not cult films as such?

It's apparent that when compiling this book there was an eye on its saleability and what would make it appealing to a wide readership. Who would want to buy it (apart from me, maybe?) if it was just full of art house movies like Andy Warhol's Blow Job, or Chris Marker's La Jetee? And are art house movies even cult movies anyway? Maybe it's just best not to ask too many questions and to just enjoy 101 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die for what it is? That being, essentially, a mini-coffee table-type book that's nice to read and pleasing to the eye. Nothing more and nothing less.

John Serpico