Revisiting Oingo Boingo–Scored Underground Cult Classic "Forbidden Zone" at Cinefamily

Gustavo TurnerArts

Anastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerCab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerCab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerCab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerVictory Variety Hour burlesque performers interpret the Elfman brothers' favorite old-school jamAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnera trained clown and percussionistAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerRichard Elfman's "Forbidden Zone" (1980); Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerThe Cinefamily audienceAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerThe Cinefamily audienceAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerRichard Elfman's "Forbidden Zone" (1980); Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerRichard ElfmanAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnermarshaled the audience into a cult frenzy that transported everyone to the glory day of the California art punk/New Wave scene.; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerRichard ElfmanAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turnermarshaled the audience into an cult frenzy that transported everyone to the glory day of the California art punk/New Wave scene.; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman and musician Ego Plum; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turner"Forbidden Zone" fans; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerRichard Elfman made time to take pictures and give autographs to the many "Forbidden Zone" fans in attendance.; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turner"Forbidden Zone" fans; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turner"Forbidden Zone" fans; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turner"Forbidden Zone" fans; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turner"Forbidden Zone" fans; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerRichard Elfman made time to take pictures and give autographs to the many "Forbidden Zone" fans in attendance.; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo TurnerThe Cinefamily organizers; Credit: Gustavo TurnerAnastasia Elfman dances in front of a teaser for "Forbidden Zone 2."; Credit: Gustavo Turner

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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