- Born
- Died
- Place
George Kuchar
George Kuchar (August 31, 1942 – September 6, 2011) and his twin brother Mike began making films as teenagers in the 1950s, with 8mm film being their weapon of choice. After shocking their local amateur filmmaking club with their over-the-top stories of lust and angst, they became stars of the NYC underground scene in the 1960s, befriending the likes of Jonas Mekas and Jack Smith. Always working with the constraints of minuscule budgets and nonprofessional actors, the Kuchar’s inspiration comes from classic Hollywood melodrama. Their cheaply made pictures, rather than being held back by lack of funds, blossomed in the shackles of poverty; the garish colors of the cheap makeup and sets were perfectly complemented by the bold color range afforded by Kodachrome reversal stock. The wild (and sometimes the inverse of wild) acting, use of stock music, lack of synch sound, hyperbolic narration, and primitive special effects all combined to make tiny gems unlike anything seen before or since. The Kuchars are cited as major influences by such filmmakers as John Waters, Todd Solondz, and David Lynch.
As director
Kuchar-esque
Empire of Evil
The Butchered Beefcake
HotSpell
Lingo of the Lost
Room 666
Vintage Visits
The Nutrient Express
Tummy Ache Times
Calorie Cottage
Delectable Destinations
Webtide
Zealots of the Zinc Zone
Nibbles
Jewel of Jeopardy
Vault of Vapors
Jamboree Journey
The Unmentionables
Mellow Magic
Art Space
Burrito Bay
Acid Redux
Celebrity Casino
The Hairy Horror
Libido Lagoon
Zombies of Zanzibar
Solstice
Orphans of the Cosmos
X MASS
The Crypt of Frankenstein
As actor
That Woman
Oh Hi Anne
(ir)reverence
Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton
The Butchered Beefcake
Bloodrape
Vintage Visits
The Nutrient Express
Tummy Ache Times
Calorie Cottage
Delectable Destinations
Eat My Makeup!
Webtide
Vault of Vapors
It Came from Kuchar
The Hairy Horror
Maggots and Men
Why Are You Weird?
The Unmentionables
3 Stories About Evil
Portrait of Genie
Coven of the Heathenites
365 Day Project
Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis
Water Sports
Cinemaville
Hitchcocked!
Meet The Kuchar Brothers
Tomorrow Always Comes
George Kuchar: An Interview