Film is a medium that by its very nature has virtually limitless possibilities for self expression. With it, a filmmaker can tell any story, no matter how fantastic or bizarre. And normally, that's a good thing. After all, where would we be without the bold experimentation of pioneering auteurs like George Melies or DW Griffith? But as with anything, it's possible to have too much of a good thing, and some experimental filmmakers have begun to abuse the privilege of having an intensely creative medium with which to work. While some of the films on this list are strange, but still innovative and groundbreaking in a genuinely positive way, others are just painful. Just because something can be done doesn't mean that it necessarily should -- a number of the films on this list serve as a towering monument to that philosophy. In an attempt to break new ground and make a name for themselves as artists, many of the directors here have created a group of films that are so staggeringly pretentious and self-indulgent that they are practically unwatchable, unless being viewed with a sense of morbid curiosity. When people look at the entire genre of experimental film as nothing more than a bunch of sideshow freaks, we know who to blame.
10. Mothlight
Mothlight, to give it a little bit of credit, actually manages to be aesthetically interesting, which is more than we can say for most of the movies on this list. Essentially what is happening in this film is that the creator decided to take a bunch of dead moth bodies and painstakingly glue them onto celluloid, one by one, into different shapes and patterns. The result is a kaleidoscope effect, dead bugs creating pinwheels and fireworks on screen, brought back to life by the bright light of the film projector. Mothlight clocks in at only four minutes, making it probably one of the most easily watchable movies here. But regardless, it takes a special kind of person to think, "Hey, I should spend the next six months of my life collecting the bodies of dead insects so I can glue them to film. That'll be cool." At the very least, you have to appreciate the unparalleled craftsmanship that went into making this truly original film.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
