About Something Weird LLC
The Very Best in Exploitation Cinema from the 1930s-70s Since 1990!
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Something Weird! Way Out and Wacky Celluloid Wonders from the Vault! There's Something Weird for Everyone!
Something Weird Video was founded in Seattle Washington by the late great Mike Vraney (1957-2014), a life-long movie fan and pop cultural pioneer. In the early 1990s, Mike had the idea to find and release as many lost low budget films as he could, focusing on Cult Movies, Sexploitation Cinema, Seventies Sleaze, Roadshow Rarities, Nudie Cuties, and Burlesque; as well a Horror and Drive-In classics. He began his legendary quest and would go on to find tens of thousands of original and rare 16mm and 35mm film elements which were then transferred and released on home video. Over the years, Mike was able to obtain the films of such celebrated exploiteers as David F. Friedman, Harry Novak, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Doris Wishman, Joe Sarno, Michael and Roberta Findlay, William Grefé, Barry Mahon and countless others. He also became the king of short subject compilations, putting together hundreds of hours of nudie arcade loops, campy educational flicks, movie trailers and intermissions, and assorted vintage Americana. With the help and involvement of numerous like-minded colleagues over the years - including former creative partner, Frank Henenlotter, and film mogul, Jimmy Maslon - SWV became one of the world's most beloved and influential video companies out there, providing a template for the many boutique labels who would come to follow. Something Weird made a point to stay true to the nostalgic and sleazy feeling of a grindhouse theatre on Main Street USA. Our past VHS and DVD releases reflected the times the movies were made and we used original ad and poster art whenever possible. Lurid and garish colors amped up with gave our products that special Something Weird look. Eye candy inside and out!
Sadly, Mike Vraney passed away in 2014, and since then his widow / business partner, Lisa Petrucci, has continued to keep Something Weird's legacy alive and going strong by partnering with a number of other independent video companies and film archives including AGFA (American Genre Film Archive), Vinegar Syndrome, Severin Films, Distribpix / Mélusine, Kino Lorber, Alternative Cinema / Pop Cinema / Film Media, Mondo Macabro / American Arcana, byNWR.com, UCLA Film and Television Archives, and The Burlesque Hall of Fame on new film restorations for theatrical and Blu-ray releases. SWV classics are currently streaming by paid subscription on Night Flight Plus and Cultpix channels. The Something Weird YouTube Channel offers hundreds of free videos to watch from our archive. SWV has also branched out into the world of music, working with Modern Harmonic / Sundazed Music on new, (in many cases) unheard record movie soundtracks. There's also SW branded tee shirts available from Pallbearer Press. And stay tuned for many more exciting projects in the pipeline including books from Something Weird Press.
In 2024, SWV decided to end our in-house DVD-R manufacturing and discontinued the digital Downloads to focus more on creative endeavors, film restoration and Blu-ray releases. The home video market has changed considerably since SWV started in 1990 and the company is adapting with the times. In 2025, the company, Something Weird LLC, was created and we launched this brand new retail website featuring the latest partner Blu-rays, DVDs, record album soundtracks, old SWV catalogs and ephemera. We will be adding more new products in the months and years to come, so stay tuned!
Thanks for over 35 years of your patronage, enthusiasm and support! We will keep on keeping on! Something Weird Forever!