George Kuchar

Directing·Aug 31, 1942·New York, New York

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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.

Film	Credit
KKuchar-esque2024 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
That Woman2018 · Barbara Walters	Barbara Walters
Oh Hi Anne2017 · Himself	Himself
((ir)reverence2013 · Actor	Actor
Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton2013 · Self	Self
Bloodrape2011 · Grandpa	Grandpa
The Butchered Beefcake2011 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Empire of Evil2011 · Director	Director
HotSpell2011 · Director	Director
Eat My Makeup!2010 · Actor	Actor
Vintage Visits2010 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
The Nutrient Express2010 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Tummy Ache Times2010 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Calorie Cottage2010 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Delectable Destinations2010 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Webtide2010 · Himself, Director	Himself, Director
Lingo of the Lost2010 · Director	Director
Room 6662010 · Director	Director
Zealots of the Zinc Zone2010 · Director	Director
Nibbles2010 · Director	Director
Jewel of Jeopardy2010 · Director	Director
It Came from Kuchar2009 · Self	Self
Zombies of Zanzibar2009 · Director	Director
Maggots and Men2009 · Actor	Actor
Why Are You Weird?2009 · Professor	Professor
Vault of Vapors2009 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
The Hairy Horror2009 · Himself, Director	Himself, Director
The Unmentionables2009 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Jamboree Journey2009 · Director	Director
Mellow Magic2009 · Director	Director
Art Space2009 · Director	Director
Burrito Bay2009 · Director	Director
Acid Redux2009 · Director	Director
Celebrity Casino2009 · Director	Director
Libido Lagoon2009 · Director	Director
Solstice2009 · Director	Director
3 Stories About Evil2008 · Actor	Actor
Portrait of Genie2008 · Himself, Director	Himself, Director
Coven of the Heathenites2008 · Self, Director	Self, Director
Orphans of the Cosmos2008 · Director	Director
X MASS2008 · Director	Director
The Crypt of Frankenstein2008 · Director	Director
Atrium of the Omni-Orb2008 · Director	Director
FlashBulb Alley2008 · Director	Director
Spectral Delivery2008 · Director	Director
Pictographic Piles2008 · Director	Director
Eye on the Sky2008 · Director	Director
JJanuary Jubilee2008 · Director	Director