Reviews

Volker Schlöndorff's hallucinatory adaptation of Günter Grass' novel is a slow build. Like Apocalypse Now, with whom it shared the 1979 Palme D'Or at Cannes, it's an allegorical war movie with a trippy central conceit—three-year-old Oskar (David Bennent), disgusted by petty-bourgeois post-war Poland, refuses to mature into adulthood and instead opts for a surreal journey into the dark heart of Nazism. While his Danzig neighbourhood is consumed by Hitler frenzy, Oskar is subjected to Nazi dwarves, decapitated donkeys and suicide by raw eel overdose.

John Peel relives The Undertones' brief but brilliant career with the five founding members, friends, helpers and some great old clips. Describing the problems of success, the rift with Feargal Sharkey and the final split, the band defend their reformation with a new singer.

Big-voiced, deep soul belter. From Devon, obviously

Profound Celtic-inflected soundscapes from Dead Can Dance singer

Chicago's king of camp cool recovers from major head surgery to mess with everyone's brain

Late burst of speed from Motown in original album and/or 12-inch single form

A masterpiece of rap's golden age, now with second CD of extras

Disappointing supernatural tearjerker

Impressive British witchcraft yarn set in the 17th century. After a ploughman unearths a bizarre-looking skull, the local villagers all start growing fur and claws and conducting saucy rites out in the woods with teen temptress Linda Hayden. Murder and madness abound as the victims' body parts are used to bring an ancient demon back to life. A notch above Hammer.

Tough-guy maverick Sam Fuller's banned '60s moral melodramas resurface in all their bleak and bizarre glory