Valentine’s Day Viewing with ARROW

Valentine’s Day often conjures images of candlelit dinners, roses, and heart-shaped chocolates. But what if your taste veers away from the traditional, embracing the peculiar and the profound? The ARROW streaming service emerges as a sanctuary for movie lovers with a passion for the unconventional, offering a treasure trove of films that defy the usual romantic narratives. From Japanese horror classics and intense psychodramas to German extreme cinema and pitch-black American comedies, ARROW curates a selection that promises a Valentine’s Day of unorthodox adventures in love.

Heathers: Love in a Social Minefield

At the heart of the 1988 high school black comedy Heathers is a tale that kicks against the clichés of teen love and societal cliques. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater deliver career-defining performances as Veronica and J.D., two teenagers who navigate the treacherous waters of high school popularity and romance with a dark twist. The film satirizes the teen genre through its sharp, witty script and a plot that escalates from disdain for the in-crowd to a diabolical scheme to upend the school’s social order. The most romantic moment, arguably, is when J.D. wins Veronica over with the oddly sweet proposal, “Our love is God, let’s go get a Slushie.” This moment encapsulates the film’s dark humor and unique take on love and complicity.

Why it’s a Valentine’s Must-Watch: Heathers spins the typical high school romance on its head, blending dark comedy and thriller elements into a tale of unconventional love amidst social warfare. It’s the perfect pick for those who fancy a love story that dances on the edge of societal norms, where rebellion and romance collide.

Highlight of Romance: The quirky charm of J.D.’s approach to romance, exemplified by his iconic invitation to Veronica, “Let’s make our love godly with a Slushie,” captures the essence of their unconventional relationship and the darkly comedic tone of their love story.

Crash: The Collision of Desire and Destruction

David Cronenberg’s Crash, adapted from J.G. Ballard’s novel, explores a provocative and controversial premise: a subculture of individuals who derive sexual pleasure from car accidents. This 1996 film blurs the lines between pain, pleasure, and affection in a startling examination of human desire. The story revolves around James Ballard (James Spader) and Dr. Helen Remington (Holly Hunter), who, after surviving a violent crash, embark on an exploratory journey of their newfound fetish. The most romantic—or perhaps, the most intense—moment is their initial post-accident encounter, marking the beginning of a bizarre yet deeply compelling relationship.

Why it’s a Valentine’s Must-Watch: Crash takes the concept of love and attraction to uncharted territories, making it ideal for those intrigued by the complexities and darker facets of human desire. This film is a deep dive into how tragedy can spark an unconventional and controversial romance, challenging viewers’ perceptions of love.

Highlight of Romance: The initial encounter between James Ballard and Dr. Helen Remington, set against the aftermath of a catastrophic car crash, ignites a controversial affair that explores the depths of their complex desires, marking the beginning of their uniquely twisted love story.

Audition: A Tale of Love and Suspicion

Takashi Miike’s Audition (1999) delves into the horror of romantic pursuit gone awry. Ryo Ishibashi plays Shigeharu Aoyama, a widower who longs to fill the void left by his late wife. The film masterfully uses the structure of a romantic pursuit to lure its audience into a false sense of security before veering into a nightmarish exploration of obsession and deceit. The scene where Aoyama meets Asami (Eihi Shiina) for the first time is charged with a tension that belies the horror to come, making their initial interaction one of the film’s most hauntingly romantic moments.

Why it’s a Valentine’s Must-Watch: Audition presents a gripping narrative that starts as a seemingly innocent quest for love, making it perfect for viewers fascinated by the psychological depths of romantic pursuit. This film is a poignant reminder of love’s unpredictability and the potential darkness lurking beneath the surface of attraction.

Highlight of Romance: The film’s portrayal of love at first sight during a staged audition captures the initial spark of romance between Aoyama and Asami, setting the stage for a relationship that unfolds with suspense and intrigue, highlighting the complexities of seeking love after loss.

Nekromantik: Love Beyond Death

Nekromantik (1987), directed by Jörg Buttgereit, is perhaps the most unconventional and shocking film on this list. The German extreme horror film challenges every conceivable norm by presenting a love story that includes a corpse as part of a couple’s romantic life. Rob (Bernd Daktari Lorenz) and Betty (Beatrice Manowski) find their love rekindled through their shared necrophilic desires, culminating in a disturbing yet oddly poignant ménage à trois. This film pushes the boundaries of what love can mean, exploring themes of desire, mortality, and the ultimate search for connection.

Why it’s a Valentine’s Must-Watch: For those who delight in exploring love’s most forbidden boundaries, Nekromantik offers a narrative that defies all conventional expectations. This film is a testament to the lengths some will go to keep the flame of passion alive, no matter how unconventional the methods.

Highlight of Romance: The film reaches its romantic zenith in a macabre yet strangely touching moment when Rob and Betty share their love with an inanimate third, a bold exploration of desire and affection that challenges the very notion of romantic normalcy.

Dinner in America: Anarchy in Love

In Dinner in America (2020), director Adam Rehmeier crafts a punk-rock romance for the ages. Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs star as Simon and Patty, an anarchistic punk rocker and a naive, eccentric girl who find in each other the acceptance and love they’ve been craving. Their relationship, kick-started by a chance encounter while Simon is on the run from the law, blossoms into a testament to the power of finding one’s counterpart in the most unexpected of people. The moment Patty decides to protect Simon from the authorities marks the beginning of a rebellious, heartwarming bond that challenges societal norms and expectations.

Why it’s a Valentine’s Must-Watch: Dinner in America is an anthem to the misfits and rebels, making it the ideal Valentine’s viewing for those who find beauty in chaos and love in unexpected places. This film celebrates the unlikely love story between two outliers, proving that romance can flourish in the most unconventional circumstances.

Highlight of Romance: The moment Patty decides to protect Simon from the law marks the inception of their wild and heartfelt journey, a testament to the unpredictable nature of love and the bonds formed in the face of adversity, embodying the film’s spirited take on romance.

Love in All Its Forms

This Valentine’s Day, ARROW invites you to explore the multifaceted nature of love through films that celebrate its complexity, pain, and unconventional beauty. Whether it’s the darkly comedic twists of Heathers, the controversial desires of Crash, the chilling suspense of Audition, the taboo-breaking Nekromantik, or the anarchic charm of Dinner in America, these films offer a unique perspective on what it means to love and be loved. So, let’s raise a glass to the oddities of love, to the stories that dare to depict its less conventional side, and to a Valentine’s Day filled with the unexpected joys of cinema’s most daring explorations of the heart.

All the films mentioned are available to stream on ARROW