[Festered]

What do you get when you mix HOF linebacker Ray Nitschke, ex- Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, bodacious stripper Carol Doda, Kubrick hipster Timothy Carey , Italo-comedian Vito Scotti, ex-boxing champ Sonny Liston, the great Frank Zappa, a 50 foot tall oily- haired Victor Mature, comedienne Teri Garr and the Monkees?

You get Head (1968)(no pun intended)

Throw in bits with Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Bob Rafelson(the director), Rona Barrett(gossip hag) and Toni Basil(Oh Mickey your so fine…) and old film clips with Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth, Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, and Ronald Reagan for, easily, one of the most surreal films of the 60s.

As light-pop a band as The Monkees are, this film has a lot of dark overtones to it(including a suicide scene accompanied by the band’s “Whale” song). It definitely sends it’s protagonists up at all opportunities(Zappa tells them "Your music is awfully white!" and Davey Jones sings about his tranny dad). You really never know which direction this movie is going to turn. It also may have some of the best music the band ever made.

And then, of course, there’s Victor Mature, who was experiencing a revival of interest in his career, and sent himself up at all opportunities(see After the Fox).

This is director Bob Rafelson's first feature length film which he co-wrote with Nicholson. The film tanked on initial release, but has slowly grown a devout following ever since. If you haven't seen it, check it out. It does not disappoint in the weird department.