Author: Trent

Are they great, terrible, or both? You figure it out. Links go to Netflix.

Over-sexed Rugsuckers from Mars. Naked aliens from Mars land on Earth and try to create a new species that is a cross between humans and vacuum cleaners. After mating with homeless man Vernon (Dick Monda), one vacuum becomes an unstoppable killer that strangles women and sucks their blood. Full of lowbrow humor, gross-out moments, silly special effects and plenty of violence, this low-budget film has gained notoriety as a cult classic.

Apocalypse Africa: Made in America. Journalist Del Walters’s documentary explores secret recordings, classified films and other archival evidence that suggest the United States’ involvement in the downfall of Africa, including genocidal wars in Darfur, Uganda and Rwanda. Through top-secret data, hidden documents and other sources obtained from government archives, this film reveals links between the destruction of Africa and those who influence American foreign policy

Faces of Death. Not for the faint of heart, the first film in the cult favorite and controversial “Faces of Death” series (which depicts supposedly authentic death scenes) features such grisly fare as an electric chair execution and the clubbing of baby seals. Other disturbing “deaths” include a monkey killed for its brain meat, a man setting himself on fire and cultists dining on human organs. No wonder why the film is banned in over 40 countries.

Lucha Libre: Life Behind the Mask. Get an inside look at the sport of lucha libre, also known as Mexican wrestling, in this documentary that explores the world of Mexico’s most popular spectator sport. Through the masked eyes of four luchadors in different stages of their careers, the film follows a 30-year veteran wrestler, a famous luchador’s son who carries on the tradition, a man at the beginning of his career and a young boy who aspires to enter the sport.

The Simpsons: Season 11. After a decade on the air, “The Simpsons” keeps on ticking, and Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa (Yeardley Smith) and Maggie are as animated as ever. In the show’s 11th season, Homer weighs in on Mel Gibson’s remake of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; Lisa helps her father keep his job as a food critic; and Bart is confined to a wheelchair after breaking his coccyx.

The Visitor. Widowed professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) discovers an immigrant couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira), squatting in his Manhattan flat and becomes wrapped up in their lives when Tarek is thrown into a detention center. A wonderful Hiam Abbass co-stars as Tarek’s mother, who forges an unlikely connection with Walter. Director Thomas McCarthy’s follow-up to his indie hit The Station Agent premiered at Sundance in 2008.