What is The Eclectic Screening Room?
This website is a continuation of the so-named film zine that published from 2001 to 2012, offering reviews and articles of films that existed beyond the multiplex. It focuses on cult movies, independent-underground-experimental films, plus interesting, overlooked and unusual pieces of cinema culture from yesteryear.
ESR (as it’s commonly known) printed 25 issues and three monographs. Some issues would be devoted entirely to one theme, such as noir, or educational films. We will resume the print run in the future. For now, our priority is to increase our web presence. This site includes pieces from the original print run by talented authors who have generously allowed their work live again online, plus anything of mine that isn’t too embarrassing. (And if any of our contributors are reading this, come back any time!)
New and previously unpublished reviews will continue to be added, so check back soon! Be sure to sign up for our newsletter (to your right, on big enough screens) to receive updates of new reviews, articles and other things ESR-related.
That’s great, but what is The Eclectic Screening Room, exactly?
Okay well, ESR is all about: film noir, 70s American Renaissance, 60s counterculture, foreign-language cinema, experimental-underground films, matinee movies, quirky indies, drive-in all-nighters, midnight cult weirdness, VHS collecting, the late late movie, and because we’re Canadian, a generous dollop of CanCon. All this and more is represented here. ESR is not just a place, it’s a state of mind. Whether you’re new to the ESR universe, or a fan from the original print run, welcome! We hope you enjoy taking the trip with us.
For comments, submissions, or if interested in knowing more, check out our contact page.
All my very best,
Greg Woods
Editor-Publisher
September 2025