I recently watched the BFI documentary on the BBC's Moviedrome series. For those unfamiliar with it, Moviedrome was a television programme running from 1988 to 2000 that presented an eclectic selection of cult films to a wider audience. While not every feature appealed to me, it did broaden my knowledge of film. This was largely due to Moviedrome’s original host Alex Cox’s candid and informal introductions offering unique perspectives on films I wouldn't have otherwise known about. Cox provided valuable insights which were equivalent to film school for someone like myself.
Two observations I made after viewing the documentary: Mark Cousins's try-hard persona will always make him a disappointing replacement for Alex Cox — I cannot fault him for presenting both versions of The Killers, alongside The Warriors and La Haine as a double bill, though; and, we really need Moviedrome returning to our screens instead of twenty-six years worth of unbearable BBC dramas and docs made for wine-sozzled Guardianistas.
Here are some films that haven’t been shown before; a mix of old and modern favourites, that really need to be given the Moviedrome treatment, if it ever did miraculously come back just for one season:
The perfect cherry on top would be if another notable director with an appreciation for cult genre movies such as Edgar Wright were to present them.