Local cinephile institution Cinefamily screened what might very well be Los Angeles' greatest underground cult movie, Richard Elfman's “Forbidden Zone,” on Saturday, March 19, as part of its can't-be-missed series “Underground USA: Indie Cinema of the '80s.” The director — part of the Elfman entertainment family that includes soundtrack composer brother Danny and daughter-in-law actress Jenna — was at hand to present the 2008 colorized version of his surreal 1980 masterpiece. He brought along (literally) a parade of wacky costumed characters, old-timey singers and buxom beauties doing burlesque to a video presentation of his pitch to get funding for the long-awaited sequel. The pre-movie floor show included Elfman's wife, Anastasia, Victory Variety Hour burlesque performers and the Radioactive Chicken Heads. Elfman, a trained clown and percussionist, marshaled the audience into an cult frenzy that transported everyone to the glory day of California art punk/New Wave icons such as Gary Panter, Pee-wee Herman, early Matt Groening and the Elfmans' legendary Mystical Knights of Oingo Boingo. All photos by Gustavo Turner (Instagram: @gustavoturner).
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