Whether defined by the carnivalesque excesses of Troma studios (The Toxic Avenger), the arthouse erotica of Radley Metzger and Doris Wishman, or the narrative experimentations of Abel Ferrara, Melvin Van Peebles, Jack Smith, or Harmony Korine, underground cinema has achieved an important position within American film culture. Often defined as "cult" and "exploitation" or "alternative" and "independent," the American underground retains separate strategies of production and exhibition from the cinematic mainstream, while its sexual and cinematic representations differ from the...

Thisaccessible guide takes cult cinema fanatics and academics alike through the 100 most memorable films, showcasing such diverse hits as The Sound of Music, Edward Scissorhands, and The Gods Must Be Crazy. This guide does not limit readers to cinematic favorites of the general public alone, but instead explores the worlds of such cult sub-genres as Italian cannibal movies and Japanese anime. Including vivid photos of unforgettable scenes, this Screen Guide brings to life the success behind some of the biggest movies of our time.