Films about grand passions, whirlwind affairs and touching courtships are all well and good this Valentine’s Day, but what do you watch if you have more of an offbeat taste in cinema?
The ARROW streaming service includes a wealth of superb movies to fit the bill, including Japanese horror classics, intense psychodramas, German extreme cinema, and pitch black American comedies. Here are some choice titles from ARROW that will be perfect for a romantic night in, on the flip side…
HEATHERS
Ideal for February 14th because: The high school black comedy thriller Heathers, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater in career-making roles, is just your average sweet story of boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy suggests to girl they take down the school clique and a gang of snobby bullies all called Heather.
Most romantic moment: Slater’s character J.D really knows the way to a girl’s heart. Who can resist lines like: “Our love is God, let’s go get a Slushie”.
CRASH
Ideal for February 14th because: David Cronenberg’s controversial classic, starring James Spader, Holly Hunter and Debra Kara Unger, is based on J.G.Ballard’s infamous novel, about a group of people who get turned on by the raw energy of car wrecks. Love is… never having to put on your seatbelt.
Most romantic moment: Spader is involved in a terrible car crash with Hunter, one that kills her husband. After she gets out of hospital the pair of them start an affair, starting with a steamy session in, where else, a car?
AUDITION
Ideal for February 14th because: Ryo Ishibashi plays a widower who doesn’t think anyone can replace his beloved late wife – until he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman (Eihi Shiina). But something makes him hesitant to pursue her – is she too good to be true?
Most romantic moment: Ishibashi’s friend sets up a fake casting call at his production house, so that Ishibashi might meet a potential partner. It’s love at first sight when Shiina enters the room.
NEKROMANTIK
Ideal for February 14th because: Most people would bring their wife home a beautiful bunch of flowers, or maybe a box of chocolates, as a loving gesture. In the infamous German extreme horror film Nekromantik, a street cleaner (Bernd Daktari Lorenz) turns up with a corpse from a traffic accident for his wife (Beatrice Manowski) to enjoy.
Most romantic moment: Manowski and Lorenz have a ménage à trois with their new bedroom companion. Ain’t love grand?
DINNER IN AMERICA
Ideal for February 14th because: Kyle Gallner plays a reckless punk, and Emily Skeggs a socially awkward misfit – an unlikely pair of young lovers in the perfect romcom for the 21st century. It’s rude, crude and totally off the rails, yet still extremely heartwarming.
Most romantic moment: When Skeggs first sets eyes on Gallner, he is hiding from the cops on a fire escape. When asked by the cops if she’s seen anyone suspicious, she follows Gallner’s lead and keeps quiet. It’s the start of a beautiful relationship.
All the films above are available to stream on ARROW