Movie screenings, midnight shows, movie marathons, and other interesting events that we think you should know about.
This last Saturday, we were at the Midway Drive-in, located in Dixon, IL, for their From Dusk-To-Dawn show, where they screened Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) from a 35mm print, then Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm (1979), Joe Dante’s Piranha (1978), and then ending the night (or morning) with Terror Train (1980). We’ve been coming to the Midway for well more than a decade, seeing so many incredible films there on their huge 90ft. screen. And yesterday was no different.
Continuing their film series at the Sideshow Gelato, next month they will be celebrating one of the best movie showmen ever to direct a film, William Castle. They will be screening 3 of his features on Wednesdays in October, all programmed by Matt Carr of the Music Box Theatre. Sideshow Gelato is located at 4819 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60625.
Oct. 2nd – House on Haunted Hill (1959) – presented in EMERGO!
Oct. 16th – Mr. Sardonicus (1961) – Presented with The Punishment Poll
Oct. 23rd – The Tingler (1959) – Presented in PERCEPTO
There are only 40 seats per show, so get there early! From 6pm to 7pm, there is a Social Hour with a Live DJ. Then at 7pm, there is a short feature and giveaways, then followed by a video intro by Drive-in Asylum, with the feature starting at 7:30pm.
For all the latest info, head over to Super-Horror-Rama’s Facebook page HERE.
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.
Continue readingWell . . . hopefully. In case you were wondering why no updates or much of anything from me over the last week is that coming back from the amazing weekend at the Skyline Drive-in and their annual Super Monster Movie Fest, when I got up Monday morning, I could feel a sore throat coming on. And it got worse. Though for sure I had a sinus infection and figured I’d stay home from work and just rest, hoping it would work its way through. Silly me. When it didn’t look like I was getting any better, I went to the doctors on Thursday, tested negative for Covid, no fever, and no sinus infection. “You just have a simple cold.” I’m still calling bullshit because I’ve never had a simple cold where it felt like my head was in a vice constantly. Again, why I have trust issues with doctors.
The Midway Drive-in has announced 3 out of the 4 titles for this year’s Dusk-to-Dawn Horrorfest, and it’s going to be another great night! Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie that started it all for Freddy Krueger, with A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). With this film, Wes Craven changed the game when it comes to the horror genre, for the 2nd time in his career, and wouldn’t be the last time either! Forget all the silly one-liners and comedic elements, the first is where we see Krueger the scariest! Come check it out and see why it is still as effective after all these years.
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Next month, on Friday the 13th, starting at noon, the Music Box Theatre will be holding a Friday the 13th marathon, screening the first 8 films, back-to-back! That even includes part 3 in 3-D!!! Doors open at 11am, and the first film starts at noon, going all the way until about 2am or so. There will be horror vendors, themed drinks in the lounge for the occasion, with trivia and prizes between each film! The price for all this madness is only $25! That’s a little over $3 per movie!
When I first heard about this event, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a vendor there or actually sit and watch all the films! But we’ll be at the HorrorHound Weekend in Cincinnati that weekend so we will not be able to attend in either capacity. But if you’re in town, and even the slightest Friday the 13th film, this is your chance to see the first 8 in the series on the big screen, like they were meant to be seen! Below are the times for the individual titles. For all the info, just click HERE to get to the theatre’s event page.
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Not sure exactly when I became aware of Fessenden’s work, but it was probably when my friend Aaron Christensen told me about his 1995 film Habit, which is a modern-day vampire tale. Fessenden wrote, directed, edited, and even stars in as the main character. It was a feature length film based on a previous short film he made back in 1982. It’s pretty tough to make modern-day vampire film work because it has been done so many times, but Habit does it perfectly.
From that point on, I was following his career, watching anything he directed. But like Roger Corman, there were a ton of young filmmakers coming out of Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix, such as Ti West and Jim Mickle, who have created some incredible features on their own. Every time I’ve seen an interview with Fessenden, he just seemed so down-to-earth, with no pretentions, but just has this overwhelming passion to make film. When he’s not directing or producing, he’s always popping up with little cameos in a ton of different films, from the independent ones to even big-budgeted ones.
But I’ve never had the chance to actually meet this legend. Until yesterday.
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The Super-Horror-Rama shows have now moved to the Sideshow Gelato for screenings on the last 3 Wednesday nights in July! Each of the films that will be shown do have some sort of connection to ice cream, even if it might be a little twisted!
Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17th, they will be screening Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm (1979), where we have the all-time, coolest guitar-playing, dwarf-killing ice cream man around, the one and only Reggie Bannister! There is a reason this film is still regarded as a classic.
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Next Tuesday, July 9th, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, join two Rondo Award-winning authors, Aaron Christensen and me, at the Sulzer Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library, for a new lecture on Horror Film soundtracks. From Psycho‘s shrieking strings to Halloween‘s creepy synths to The Omen‘s haunting choral chants, music in fright flicks can arguably be called the most effective special effect of all. We will explore the aural thrills and chills that have etched a permanent place in popular culture… and our nightmares.
For all the information, just click HERE. Hope to see you there.
This year’s Music Box of Horrors is taking place on Saturday, October 19th, giving fans another 24 hours of non-stop movies and madness! They have just announced first four titles that will be screening at this year’s marathon, and once again, they are starting out with some great titles.
The biggest title probably is Jaws (1975), which I know everyone has seen and probably multiple times. But how many times have you seen it on the big screen? With a packed audience?
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