The Music Box Theatre in Chicago continues to show their support for the horror genre, each and every year. They still have their 24-hour marathon, taking place this year on Oct. 19th, which I hear is already sold out and they haven’t even finishing announcing the complete lineup!?!?! But they are once again celebrating the entire month of October with some amazing screenings. For the complete and updated list, just click HERE. But I wanted to highlight a few titles here.

On Oct. 1st, they are screening Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), celebrating its 50th anniversary. Now I know most horror fans have seen this film, mostly likely multiple times. But if you haven’t seen . . . I mean experienced this film on the big screen, then you haven’t really seen it. Sure, that may sound a little pompous, but seeing this on the huge screen in front of you just amplifies the terror coming off the screen. Especially once you get to the dinner sequence and going on from there. It came be understated how effective this movie can still be a half century later. I urge you to take this opportunity to see it the way it was meant to be seen and heard.

On Oct. 4th, they are screening Neil Marshall’s The Descent (2005). I’m not that claustrophobic, but this movie makes me damn close. Because a lot of this film takes place underground with very little light, seeing it on the big screen makes it even more impactful, since the characters might be crawling through a very tight space, you will still feel like the walls are closing in on you, even in the big theater. That is how good this film is.

Another film that is just over 5 decades old is Nicholas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, which will be screening on Oct. 27th. This is another powerful film, especially the opening, that will stay with you long after you leave. Filled with some incredible imagery and colors, this is quite a different kind of film, about grief and lost, but wrapped around some sort of mystery.

During this month-long celebration, they do have a few guest appearances. On Oct. 9th, writer R.L. Stine will be appearing for a special showing of the first episode of Goosebumps, Say Cheese and Die!, followed by an interview with Stine himself about his writings.

On Oct. 13th, Bobcat Goldthwait will be in attendance for a screening of his film Willow Creek (2013) for a post film Q&A.

And then on Oct. 18th, writer Ron Oliver will be attending a screening of Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987), that he wrote, as well as writing and directing the 3rd entry in that series. He will be doing a Q&A after the screening.