The entire film is rotoscoped animation (i.e. animation over the top of live footage, completely covering). However, it’s not the usual rotoscope job: instead of having one team of animators do the whole thing, each scene is animated by a different set of artists, with no attempt made to keep the visual style consistent.
Plot-wise, it’s apparently plotless on first viewing. It’s just a series of rambling philosophical discussions, of the sort that would be familiar to anyone who’s had a 3am conversation while affected by psychedelics.
However, there is a plot, but you’re unlikely to spot it on the first viewing. On the second you should get it, but you might want a third as well.
I was about to mention both “Black Moon” and “Waking Life”.
I’m having a hard time thinking of anything weirder than “El Topo” and “Holy Mountain”, those two would easily take the top two spots on any “10 Weirdest Movies” list, I could see “Black Moon” coming in third.
I went to a double feature of “El Topo” and “Holy Mountain” once, and during the break between films I had to leave-- my mind was sufficiently blown that I just had to go for a walk and clear my head.
Oh, yes… “Holy mountain”. That’s a really weird one. If that was the first movie, I can really understand why you just paused by walking away. " El topo" never seen, so maybe the other way around also goes.
But for me, black moon is totally weird, but does not leave a bad feeling, only kind of wondering and de-attached. But I won’t be able to see another movie for days.
“Holy Mountain” is more-or-less the sequel to “El Topo” (I’ve heard people call it the sequel, but I don’t think Jodorowsky considers it such), both movies are long stream-of-consciousness dream sequences with stunning visuals and a really amorphous/tenuous plot.
“Slacker” is actually a pretty weird movie, in terms of plot and editing, but because the scenes are all so normal by themselves I don’t think it weirds people out as much.
Fellini’s “Satyricon” comes to mind also, though I’m not a fan of it (tiring and long, even for Fellini.)
I haven’t seen “Jacob’s Ladder” since it came out but that is another weird one, particularly so for a Hollywood movie.
There is a movie on youtube that the director/producer made available for free called “41” that is actually pretty good for a low-budget production, a time travel movie that is constantly folding back on itself.
“Putney Swope” and “Greaser’s Palace” can be added to the long list too.
Oh hey I just remembered one.
The J-Horror film Hausu
Really this is just over the top cray cray with more blood spray than a slasher film.
This movie will warp your brain but in a good way.
Probably a thing to see with and without a ‘smoke’.