Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM
WHAMMY!, Los Angeles
*Every year we show exclusively shot-on-videotape works throughout September for something we call:* ***SOV SEPTEMBER****. Join us for this year's month-long exploration into the depths of some of the most under-appreciated margins of filmmaking. Usually no-budget, usually put together by small crews of friends (and family members, and neighbors), sometimes over-the-top gross, sometimes transgressive, and almost always like no other film you've ever seen - this series is for cinematically adventurous travelers only!* Dubbed “The Ed Wood of the 21st Century”, Des Plaines, Illinois based former marine and Golden Gloves boxer turned gonzo filmmaker David “The Rock” Nelson has been churning out his bizarre and mesmerizing brand of backyard monster movies for over 30 years. Often playing multiple onscreen roles simultaneously while utilizing local friends, his parents, and his girlfriend Janet Okulanis as his co-stars, “The Rock” has amassed a robust SOV filmography and persevered undaunted in the face nonexistent funds, unfavorable reviews, and outdated video equipment. Nelson’s work represents a singular viewing experience like no other: landing somewhere between the earnest monster romps of Paul Naschy and the eccentric video diaries of George Kuchar; where the filmmakers’ real life day to day activities and interactions sometimes outweigh the forwarding of the narrative. Equipped with dime store rubber fright masks and his camcorder, David “The Rock” Nelson has unapologetically crafted a legacy that remains an inspirational testament to the spirit of fulfilling your cinematic dreams at any cost. Over 4 1/2 years in the making and clocking in at a staggering 2 1/2 hour runtime, The Devil Ant from 1999 is considered by many to be Nelson's magnum opus and mission statement. When the sardine gobbling mad doctor (Nelson) and his absent minded assistant (also Nelson) dump a pail of nuclear waste into the nearby water supply, an ordinary ant (Nelson’s infamous dime store rubber toy) is transformed into an unstoppable, marauding menace! With Detective Rock (Nelson again) not-so hot on the trail, the radioactive ant (as well as David’s probing camcorder) wreaks havoc on the streets, restaurants, and horror conventions of Illinois as Nelson brazenly flings his rubber ant at unsuspecting civilians, exasperated friends and family members, and confused convention attendees and celebrities. Featuring “appearances” by cult film luminaries including Forest J. Ackerman, Roger Corman, Fred Olen Ray, Bill Hinzman, Conrad Brooks, John Russo, Carl J. Sukenick, and even former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton!! (Saturn's Core) **dir. David "The Rock" Nelson, 1999***United States, digital projection*136 min ## SATURDAY, 9/127:30 DOORS8:00 SCREENING ## $10 general admission. ***Basic*** *&* ***Microcinephile*** *members, please log-in to your account at checkout for your discounts to apply*.* Don't have a membership? Get one* *[here](https://shop.whammyanalog.com/pages/get-a-membership)*. Courtesy of [Saturn's Core Audio & Video](https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collections/saturns-core), a New Jersey based home video label devoted to releasing underground oddities and shot on video cinema on VHS, and now, blu-ray discs! In partnership with OCN Distribution, Saturn's Core will exhume forgotten or under-seen genre cinema from the 80s and 90s, with an emphasis on SOV horror features. *****Whammy!*** *is located at* **1***2***00 N Alvarado St***, near the intersection of Sunset & Alvarado and in between Tierra Mia Coffee and Manly & Sons Barbershop. Street parking only, please* ***do not park*** ***in the library parking lot****, as your vehicle will get locked in when the library closes. The corner of Sunset & Alvarado is served by 3 major bus lines*, the** 2, the ***4****, and the* ***93.***