TCM Underground
TCM Underground is a weekly late-night cult film showcase airing on Turner Classic Movies. Developed by former TCM marketing director Eric Weber, it was originally hosted by industrial rock/heavy metal musician and independent filmmaker Rob Zombie. The movies were programmed by Eric Weber until 2007, when TCM programmer Millie De Chirico took over the role.
The series was launched in an attempt to attract more young viewers to Turner's older-skewing audience.[1] TCM began airing a new program titled Friday Night Spotlight and, in effect, TCM Underground was moved from its Friday time slot to Saturdays beginning April 6, 2013 (a TCM broadcast day runs from 6 am – 5:59 am EST the following day, making Underground, in fact, airing on Sunday), but as of March 10, 2018, the series has returned to its original Friday night time slot.[2] Promotional bumper material and opening credit sequences were created by Raygun.[3] The series is periodically pre-empted by special month-long or seasonal scheduling themes, such as February's "31 Days of Oscar" film series and the month-long "Summer Under the Stars".[4] When it does not conflict with a special theme, TCM Underground airs in its usual slot early on Saturday morning.
The cult films featured in TCM Underground belong to a number of genres, including but not limited to blaxploitation films (Coffy, Darktown Strutters, The Mack), horror, slasher, and giallo films (Let's Scare Jessica to Death, Black Christmas, Hatchet for the Honeymoon), and counterculture films (An American Hippie in Israel, Ciao! Manhattan, Blue Sunshine).
List of feature films in the TCM Underground block
- 13 Frightened Girls
- 13 Ghosts
- The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
- Abar, the First Black Superman
- ABBA: The Movie
- Absolute Beginners (film)
- Across 110th Street
- After Hours (film)
- ...All the Marbles
- Alex in Wonderland
- Alice, Sweet Alice
- Alien from L.A.
- All Night Long (1962 film)
- Alone in the Dark (1982 film)
- Alphabet City (film)
- An American Hippie in Israel
- Anatomy of a Psycho
- Another Son of Sam
- The Apple (1980 film)
- Assault on Precinct 13 (1976 film)
- Attack of the Crab Monsters
- The Awful Dr. Orloff
- The Baby (film)
- Baby Doll
- The Bad Seed (1956 film)
- Barbarella (film)
- Bayou (film)
- The Beast with Five Fingers
- Beat Street
- Belladonna of Sadness 5 March 2017[5]
- Below the Belt (film)
- Ben (1972 film)
- Berserk!
- The Beyond (film)
- Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
- Big Bad Mama
- The Big Cube
- The Big Doll House
- Billy the Kid vs. Dracula
- Black Belt Jones
- Black Caesar (film)
- Black Christmas (1974 film)
- Black Eye (film)
- Black Gunn
- Black Mama White Mama
- Black Moon (1975 film)
- The Black Sleep
- Blacula
- Blast of Silence
- Blood and Black Lace
- Blood Feast
- Blood Freak
- The Blood on Satan's Claw
- Bloody Birthday
- Blue Sunshine (film) 7 December 2013[6]
- Blue Velvet (film)
- Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
- Bone (1972 film)
- The Boogens
- Border Radio
- Born in Flames
- The Born Losers
- Boss Nigger
- Brainstorm (1983 film)
- Breakin'
- Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
- Brewster McCloud
- Bride of the Monster
- Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
- The Brood
- Brothers (1977 film)
- A Bucket of Blood
- Burn, Witch, Burn (film)
- Burnt Offerings (film)
- Bus Riley's Back in Town
- C.C. and Company
- Caged
- Caged Heat
- The Caller (1987 film)
- The Candy Snatchers
- Carnival Magic (film)
- The Cat o' Nine Tails
- Cat's Eye (1985 film)
- Chained for Life
- Cherry 2000
- Child Bride
- Children of the Damned
- The Chocolate War (film)
- Chopping Mall
- Christmas Evil
- The Church (1989 film)
- Ciao! Manhattan
- The City of the Dead (film)
- Class (film)
- Class of 1984
- Clay Pigeon (film)
- Cleopatra Jones
- Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold
- Coffy
- College Confidential (film)
- Coma (1978 film)
- The Conqueror Worm (film)
- Cookie (film)
- Cops and Robbers (1973 film)
- Corruption (1968 film)
- Corvette Summer
- Count Yorga, Vampire
- Countryman (film)
- Cover Me Babe
- Crawlspace (1986 film)
- Crazed Fruit
- The Crazies (1973 film)
- The Crazy World of Julius Vrooder
- Crumb (film)
- Curse of the Demon
- Darktown Strutters
- Daughter of Horror
- Daughters of Satan
- Dead Sleep
- The Dead Zone (film)
- Deadly Friend
- Death By Invitation 21 December 2013[6]
- Death Force
- Death Line
- Death Race 2000
- Death Watch
- Deathdream
- Deathsport
- The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
- The Decline of Western Civilization III
- Deep End (film)
- Dementia 13
- Derek (film)
- The Devil Rides Out (film)
- The Devil Within Her
- Die! Die! My Darling!
- Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
- Disco Godfather
- Dolemite
- The Doll Squad
- Dolls (1987 film)
- Don't Open the Door!
- Door-to-Door Maniac
- Dracula's Dog
- Dreamscape (1984 film)
- Dr. Blood's Coffin
- Dudes (film)
- Dusty and Sweets McGee
- Earth Girls Are Easy
- Eating Raoul
- Electra Glide in Blue
- Emma Mae
- Enter the Dragon
- Enter the Ninja
- Equinox (1970 film)
- Escape from New York
- Escort Girl (film)
- Evil Dead II
- The Exiles (1961 film)
- Exorcist II: The Heretic
- Experiment in Terror
- Eye of the Devil
- Eyes of a Stranger (1981 film)
- Eyes of Laura Mars
- Fame (1980 film)
- Fantastic Planet 5 March 2017
- The Fast and the Furious (1955 film)
- Fast-Walking
- Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
- The Fastest Guitar Alive
- The Fearless Vampire Killers
- The Fearmakers
- Final Exam (1981 film)
- Five on the Black Hand Side
- Flesh Merchant
- Fleshpot on 42nd Street
- The Fog
- Forced Vengeance
- The Foreigner (2003 film)
- The Fox (1967 film)
- Foxes (film)
- Foxy Brown (film)
- Frankenstein 1970
- Frankenstein Created Woman
- Freaked
- Freaks (1932 film)
- Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film
- Friday Foster (film)
- Fright (film)
- From Beyond (film)
- From the Life of the Marionettes
- The Full Treatment
- Funeral Parade of Roses
- Galaxy of Terror
- Games (film)
- The Gamma People
- Ganja and Hess
- The Garbage Pail Kids Movie
- Gator (film)
- Ghoulies
- The Giant Spider Invasion
- Girls on the Loose
- The Glory Stompers
- God Told Me To
- Grand Theft Auto (film)
- Greaser's Palace
- The Green Slime
- Grizzly (1976 film)
- Guru, the Mad Monk
- Gymkata
- The Hand (1981 film)
- Hard Ticket to Hawaii
- Hardcore (1979 film)
- The Harder They Come
- Hatchet for the Honeymoon
- The Haunting (1963 film)
- House (1977 film) aka Hausu, in September 2015[7]
- Häxan
- Head (film)
- Heavenly Bodies (film)
- Heavy Metal (film)
- He Knows You're Alone
- Hell Up in Harlem
- Hell's Angels '69
- Hercules (1983 film)
- Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (film)
- The Hidden (film)
- High-Ballin'
- Hit Man (1972 film)
- The Hitman
- Homicidal
- The Honeymoon Killers
- Horror Express
- Hot Rods to Hell
- The House by the Cemetery
- The House of Seven Corpses
- House of Usher (film)
- House of Women
- The Hunger (1983 film)
- The Hypnotic Eye
- I Bury the Living
- I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
- I Saw What You Did
- I Was a Teenage Zombie
- Ice Castles
- The Ice Pirates
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
- In Cold Blood (film)
- The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies
- Incubus (1966 film)
- The Iron Rose
- Island of Lost Souls (1932 film)
- It Lives Again
- It's Alive (1974 film)
- J.C. (film)
- Jennifer on My Mind
- Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
- Jigoku (film)
- The Kids Are Alright (film)
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space
- Kitten with a Whip
- Killer Party
- Kiss of the Tarantula
- Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains
- Lady Snowblood (film)
- Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance
- Lady Street Fighter
- Land of Doom
- The Last Dragon
- The Last Man on Earth (1964 film)
- The Lawnmower Man (film)
- The Legend of Billie Jean
- The Legend of Hell House
- The Legend of Lylah Clare
- Lemora
- Let's Kill Uncle
- Let's Scare Jessica to Death
- Lifeforce (film)
- Little Darlings
- The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
- Logan's Run (film)
- Lolita (1962 film)
- Love Affair, or the Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator
- Mac and Me
- Macabre (1958 film)
- Machine Gun McCain
- The Mack
- Macon County Line
- Made in U.S.A. (1987 film)
- Madhouse (1974 film)
- Making Mr. Right
- Man Is Not a Bird
- Maniac (1963 film)
- The Manitou
- Marihuana (film)
- Mark of the Vampire
- Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore
- Massacre Mafia Style
- Maximum Overdrive
- Melinda (film)
- Miami Connection
- Mixed Blood (film)
- Model Shop (film)
- Modern Girls
- Monster a Go-Go
- Motel Hell
- Mudhoney (film)
- The Mummy (1959 film)
- The Mummy's Shroud
- The Muthers
- Myra Breckinridge (film)
- Mystery Train
- Near Dark
- The New Gladiators
- New Year's Evil (film)
- Night of the Creeps
- Night of the Lepus
- Night of the Living Dead
- The Night of the Strangler
- Night School (1981 film)
- Night Train to Terror
- The Night Visitor
- Night Warning
- Night Watch (1973 film)
- Nightmare Honeymoon
- Ninja III: The Domination
- The Ninth Configuration
- Nothing Lasts Forever (film)
- Of Unknown Origin
- Orca (film)
- Outlaw Blues
- Over the Edge (film)
- The Pace That Kills (1935 film)
- The Pack (1977 film)
- The Panic in Needle Park
- Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
- Performance (film)
- Phantom of the Rue Morgue
- Phase IV
- Pipe Dreams (1976 film)
- Plan 9 from Outer Space
- Poltergeist (1982 film)
- Polyester (film)
- Poor Pretty Eddie
- Portrait of Jason
- Possession (1981 film)
- Pretty Poison (film)
- The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover
- Private Parts (1972 film)
- Private Property (1960 film)
- Psycho (1960 film)
- Psych-Out
- Psychomania
- The Psychopath
- Punk Vacation
- Putney Swope
- The Pyramid (1976 film)
- The Queen (1968 film)
- Queen of Blood
- Rabid (1977 film)
- Race with the Devil
- Rad (film)
- Rappin'
- Rat Pfink a Boo Boo
- Rattlers (film)
- Razorback (film)
- The Rebel Rousers
- Red Sonja
- Reefer Madness
- Remember My Name
- Repo Man (film)
- Repulsion (film)
- Return of the Street Fighter
- Return to Macon County
- Revenge of the Ninja
- Rich Kids (film)
- Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
- Roadgames
- The Road to Ruin (1934 film)
- The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy
- Roller Boogie
- The Sadist (film)
- Salt of the Earth (1954 film)
- Santa Claus (1959 film)
- Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
- Satanis
- Scanners
- Scary Movie (1991 film)
- Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
- Scream Blacula Scream
- Screaming Mimi (film)
- Secret Ceremony
- Sex Madness
- Shack Out on 101
- Shaft in Africa
- Shanks (film)
- She Freak
- Shock (1977 film)
- Shock Corridor
- Shoot First, Die Later
- The Shooting
- The Shout
- The Sid Saga
- The Silent Partner (1978 film)
- Sister Street Fighter
- Sisters (1973 film)
- Skidoo (film)
- The Slams
- The Slumber Party Massacre
- Smithereens (film)
- Snapshot (film)
- Some Call It Loving
- Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things
- Sonny Boy (1989 film)
- The Sorcerers
- Spider Baby
- Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
- Strait-Jacket
- Strange Behavior
- The Strangler
- The Street Fighter
- Stunt Rock
- Stunts (film)
- Suburbia (film)
- Sugar Hill (1974 film)
- The Super Cops
- Super Fly (1972 film)
- Superstition (1982 film)
- Suspiria
- Swamp Thing (film)
- The Swarm (film)
- Sweet Jesus, Preacherman
- The Swinger
- The Sword of Doom
- Symbiopsychotaxiplasm
- The Take (1974 film)
- Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981 film)
- The Tempest (1979 film)
- Tentacles (film)
- Ten Violent Women
- Terminal Island (film)
- The Terminal Man (film)
- The Terror (1963 film)
- The Terror of Tiny Town
- TerrorVision
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
- Thank God It's Friday (film)
- Them!
- They Came from Beyond Space
- They Live
- The Thing That Couldn't Die
- Thrashin' (film)
- Three the Hard Way (film)
- Times Square (1980 film)
- The Tingler
- Tokaido Yotsuya kaidan
- Tower of Evil
- The Town That Dreaded Sundown
- Trick Baby
- The Trip (1967 film)
- Trog
- Twice Upon a Time (1983 film)
- The Twilight People
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
- Two Thousand Maniacs!
- Two-Lane Blacktop
- The Twonky
- UHF (film)
- The Undertaker and His Pals
- Unholy Rollers
- The Unholy Three (1925 film)
- The Unknown (1927 film)
- The Vampire Bat
- Vanishing Point (1971 film)
- Venus in Furs (1969 Franco film)
- Vibes (film)
- Vigilante (film)
- The Visitor (1979 film)
- The Wages of Fear
- Watermelon Man (film)
- West of Zanzibar (1928 film)
- What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962 film)
- When a Stranger Calls (1979 film)
- White Lightning (1973 film)
- White Line Fever (film)
- Who's That Girl (1987 film)
- Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?
- Wicked, Wicked
- The Wicker Man (1973 film)
- Wigstock: The Movie
- Wild at Heart (film)
- Wild Guitar
- Wild in the Streets
- Wild Seed (film)
- Wild, Wild Planet
- Willard (1971 film)
- Willie Dynamite
- Witchboard
- The Witches (1966 film)
- Witchfinder General (film)
- Women's Prison (1955 film)
- The World's Greatest Sinner
- Xanadu (film)
- The Yakuza
- Zaat
- Zabriskie Point (film)
- Zardoz
- Zig Zag (1970 film)
- The Zodiac Killer (film)
- Zombies of Mora Tau
- Zotz!
List of short films (under 45 minutes) in the TCM Underground block
- Age 13
- The Alphabet (film)
- The Amputee
- Ask Me, Don't Tell Me
- The Assignation
- The Bottle and the Throttle
- Boys Beware
- Bridge from No Place
- Changing
- The Corvair in Action!
- Dating Do's and Don'ts
- A Day in the Death of Donny B
- Duck and Cover (film)
- Dumbland
- Flowers of Darkness
- Fragment of Seeking
- Gang Boy
- The Golden Years (1960 film)
- Good Eating Habits
- The Grandmother (1970 film)
- Holiday from Rules?
- The House in the Middle
- I Was a Teenage Serial Killer
- Keep Off the Grass
- LSD-25
- LSD: Insight or Insanity?
- Match Your Mood
- A Movable Feast (film)
- A Movable Scene
- Multiple SIDosis
- Narcotics: Pit of Despair
- On the Edge
- One Got Fat
- Picnic (1948 film)
- Perversion for Profit
- Premonition Following an Evil Deed
- The Relaxed Wife
- Right or Wrong (Making Moral Decisions)
- Shake Hands with Danger
- Signal 30
- Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times)
- Summer of '63
- Tear Gas in Law Enforcement
- The Terrible Truth
- The Trip Back
- Usher
- A Visit to Santa
- When You Grow Up
- Wild at the Wheel
- The Wonderful World of Tupperware
- The Wormwood Star
See also
- Midnight movie
- B movie
- MonsterVision (a similar programming block formerly aired on sister network TNT)
References
- Dempsey, John. "TCM digs deep for database". Variety. 2005-10-23. URL retrieved 2006-12-02.
- http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=6338
- "Raygun Goes Underground With Turner Classic Movies (TCM)". Yahoo! Finance. 2006-12-12. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- "TCM 2006-2007 Programming Slate". TCM Movie News. 2006-12-01. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
- https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-26/turner-classic-movies-lists-airing-of-belladonna-of-sadness-film-on-march-5/.112719
- https://web.archive.org/web/20140102182149/http://i.cdn.turner.com/v5cache/TCM/underground/full_schedule.png
- Smith, Richard (23 September 2015). "This week on TCM Underground: Hausu (1977) and The House of Seven Corpses (1974)". FilmStruck.