10 Movies That Worked Despite Their Absurd Premise

With Charlie Kaufman penning the script and Spike Jonze taking on directing duties, it comes as no surprise that Being John Malkovich is a surreal masterpiece. Helmed by two filmmakers known for their high-concept yet deeply intimate output, this was always likely to be a hit and always likely to be a bit strange.

The movie tells the story of a puppeteer named Craig Schwartz, played by John Cusack. Shortly after taking a job as a file clerk, he stumbles upon a hidden tunnel in the building. This tunnel, of course, happens to be a portal that leads directly into the consciousness of real-world actor, John Malkovich. What takes place following this is a mind-bending series of events that would be near-impossible to coherently retell.

From monetising the discovery for public use to a 'Malkovich-ception' sequence in which the actor enters his own mind to be met with legions of John Malkovich's, the film takes the concept and runs with it, introducing new ideas at a break-neck pace. During all of this, it never leaves its characters behind and instead manages to be tragic, heartfelt, funny and utterly mind-boggling. There's not much more you can ask for from a cinema experience.