Fans of ridiculous schlock, this is your week. On Thursday, May 6, Burning Moon Video — the former video store, now a promoter of all things tastelessly awesome — will present a screening of Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky at the Plaza. As far as martial arts action goes, this one is particularly insane, featuring some of the most ridiculous gore ever caught onscreen. Set in prison, the film features sorta-innocent inmate Ricky (Fan Siu Wong) using his mysterious “breath control” kung-fu technique to punch his way through a series of ridiculous rivals. And when I say “through,” that’s exactly what I mean — his fists lead to popped-out eyeballs, disembowelment and fractured skulls, all in a style more over-the-top than Peter Jackson at his most extreme. If a blend of Bruce Lee and Troma is what you’re after, look no further.

The blood and guts actually start earlier in the week, though, with Freddy Kruger’s (hopefully) glorious return to the screen. Ignoring Freddy vs. Jason (which was actually pretty alright), the subconscious killer’s last movie outing, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, was a career high, putting a darker spin on one of horror’s most light-hearted killers. There’s every reason to be cynical about the new one, from the presence of producer Michael Bay to director Samuel Bayer’s music-video resume, but with Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen’s Rorschach) as the gloved one, this Nightmare on Elm Street at least has potential. Unfortunately, it opens after press time, so you’ll have to find out for yourself if it’s any good this Friday, April 30 (check listings).

The original Nightmare was Johnny Depp’s screen debut, but while he won’t be seen in the remake, he’ll still be in Calgary theatres with When You’re Strange, a documentary about the hippie movement’s original bad boys, The Doors. If you missed it when it screened at the Calgary Underground Film Festival, now’s your chance to catch up on rare footage of a band that has become one of the most divisive in the classic rock canon. Strange opens Friday, April 30 at the Plaza.

Lastly, another film that’s come to Calgary before but is well worth seeking out, Prom Night in Mississippi plays the Plaza on Sunday, May 2. The Canadian-helmed documentary is a look at the 2008 Charleston, Mississipi senior prom — the first racially integrated prom in the city’s history.