El Topo, Pink Flamingos, The Harder They Come, Night Of The Living Dead, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Eraserhead all have one thing in common. Longevity. These are films that continue to be touchstones to the counter culture community more than 30 years after their introduction to and subsequent dismissal from the mainstream. How does that happen? How is a "cult film" created? Well, in the early 70's, if it played the midnight slot at the Elgin Theatre in NYC, that was a good start. This documentary tracks the fascinating history of the Midnight Movie from its beginning with El Topo, the cult avant-garde western from Chilean artist and author Alejandro Jodorowsky, to its fading days in the early eighties when the cinema megaplexes put the final nail in the coffin of this underground phenomenon. This documentary is a very thorough film, featuring interviews with all of the principals, including every director, many people involved with the distribution of underground film, and extensive interviews with the owner and creative director of the Elgin Theatre, the ground zero for this type of mania. It is fascinating to hear how these films so suddenly gained massive cult appeal to the extent that there were lines around the block for movies with, essentially, no plot. There are sad stories as well, like the story of John Lennon and how he inadvertently killed El Topo by suggesting that his friend try to distribute the film conventionally, El Topo failed within a week. There are also failure into success stories, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which was initially conceived and marketed like a mainstream film which sputtered and died miserably in that capacity only to find new and everlasting life on the national Midnight Movie circuit. There are places in the US where RHPS has played every weekend for over 30 years. It is a somewhat nostalgic glimpse into the world of underground film that barely exists anymore, with directors like John Waters and George Romero carting their films around in their trunks trying to get someone to play them, and often failing until the Elgin, or some other adventurous theatre decided to give them a chance. I love this documentary which not only allows us the opportunity to relive a grand and bygone era in underground film history, but also allows us a few tantalizing glimpses at these films through extensive clips, enough clips of the films to make you want to go and see each of them tonight! The DVD is excellent, and the bonus disc includes two cult films to enjoy. First is the 1930's anti-drug tract Reefer Madness, which is hilarious when looking at is 60 odd years down the road, and second is the public domain cash cow, Night Of The Living Dead, which is easily among the top 10 greatest horror films ever made and is the genesis of the modern zombie film. Brilliant work and a job well done on the part of the creators of this documentary. My highest recommendation!