Midway Drive-In Screams Halloween II

In case that title didn’t make sense, it was just me trying to be witty! But the Midway Drive-in will be screening two classic modern horror films next Saturday, July 15th, on their huge 90ft screen!

The original Scream (1996), the one that started the whole resurgence of horror films in the ’90s, will start approximately 8:45pm. Following it will be Halloween II (1981), the real sequel to Carpenter’s original classic feature. Okay, while some might not enjoy it, and yes, it pales in comparison to the original, but I’ve always been a fan of this and still think it is a fun horror flick. Click HERE to get the Midway’s website for all the details.

The Midway is screening these two films in a little pre-promotion of the upcoming Flashback Weekend convention, taking place in Rosemont, IL from Aug. 4th to the 6th. At the show, they will be having 4 guests from the original Scream, Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowan, Jamie Kennedy, and Lee Waddell, and from Halloween II, they will have Dick Warlock, Lance Guest, Leo Rossi, and Alan Howarth. Not to mention reunions for Child’s Play 2, John Carpenter’s Christine, Terrifier 1 & 2, and many more amazing guests like Joe Bob Briggs & Darcy the Mail Girl! Just click HERE to see the latest updates!

Drive-In Super Monster Rama

They have released the lineup for this fall’s Drive-In Super Monster Rama at the Riverside Drive-in in Vandergrift, PA, taking place Sept. 22nd and 23rd. If this wasn’t so damn far away, I would be there. Such an amazing lineup both night, getting to see some classic titles that were meant for the drive-in! For more details, head over to the Riverside Drive-in website HERE.

King on Screen Documentary

Hitting select theaters on Aug. 11th, and then On Demand and Blu-ray on Sept. 8th, is director Daphné Baiwir’s film King On Screen, which takes a look at the different films and series that have been based on the works of writer Stephen King. More than 50 directors have adapted King’s work, in more than 80 films and series, which makes him the most adapted author alive in the world. While mostly known for his horrific tales, there are some out there that are not in that genre, showing just how talented of a storyteller King is.

This new documentary talks to those that have directed or worked on those adaptations, giving us possible answers to why his work is so important and popular. You’ll hear from such names as Frank Darabont, Mick Garris, Mike Flanagan, Tom Holland, Amy Irving, Vincenzo Natali, Greg Nicotero, Mark L. Lester, André Øvredal, Dee Wallace, Lewis Teague, Tim Curry, James Caan, and many more.

To whet your appetite, here is the trailer.

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein 75th Anniversary Screening

If you’re in the Chicago area tomorrow evening, June 20th, there will be a screening of one of the last, true great Universal Monster Films from the classic era, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). Sure, it is a comedy, but it still remains one of the best from that decade and still brings plenty of chills, as well as laughs.

The event starts at 6pm at the Sulzer Regional Library, with an introduction by Aaron Christensen (Horror 101 with Dr. AC) with a Q&A to follow. For all the details of this event, just click HERE.

Praise for the Music Box Theatre

As I near my 6th decade on this planet, most of that being an obsessive horror fan, it’s really easy to slip into the grumpy old man mode these days, telling younger horror fans to get off my lawn. Even conventions are nowhere near what they used to be, with more about paying for overpriced autographs and collecting toys than caring about the actual movies themselves.

See how easy that was?

But the other night, I witnessed something that made this grinch of a horror fan’s withered heart grow 3 times in size.

The Music Box Theatre in Chicago is a place I’ve been going to for over 30 years, mainly for midnight screenings but also to some of their film series they’ve done over the years. Back in the ‘90s when I would go to something like a midnight screening of Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond (1981) or Toshiharu Ikeda’s Evil Dead Trap (1988), there’d be maybe 10 people there, and most of them snickering during the screening.

Continue reading

House on Haunted Hill at the Music Box!

This Wednesday and Thursday, June 7th & 8th, not only do you have the chance to see William Castle’s 1959 classic film starring Vincent Price, but you’ll get to experience EMERGO!!! Just like Castle did when the film first premiered, you’ll see the terror come right off the screen! Plus, it is from a 35mm print!

If you’ve never had a chance to see this (or any Castle film) on the big screen, then you are really missing out because in an audience setting, it really is a whole new experience. Also, Castle super-fan Matt Harding will have pieces of his William Castle collection on display! You don’t want to miss this event.

For all the info, head over the Music Box Theatre’s website HERE.

Music Box of Horrors 2023 Announced!

Chicago’s own Music Box Theatre has announced the date for this year’s 24-hour horror movie marathon, which will take place from noon Saturday, October 21st through noon on Sunday. We have missed this the last couple due to scheduling conflicts but this year we will be making our triumphant return!

They have just announced the first 3 features to be playing at this year’s marathon: James Cameron’s Piranha 2: The Spawning (1981), J.R. Bookwalter’s shot-on-video Ozone (1993), and Casper (1995), with plenty more to be announced.

You can already get your ticket by heading over the Music Box Theatre’s website by clicking HERE. If you order your ticket now, before October 20th, they are only $30 ($25 for Music Box Members). The day of the marathon, tickets will be $35 ($30 for members). But remember, last year the marathon sold out, so if you really want to go, then I would advise buying your ticket sooner than later.

Skyline Drive-In’s Super Monster Movie Fest

The Skyline Drive-in has announced the first 4 titles for this year’s Super Monster Movie Fest, taking place on August 25th & 26th. The theme this year is Frozen Frights, so the films will be taking place either during the winter, or something to do with the cold!

On Friday, they will be screening Krampus (2015) and the original The Thing from Another World (1951), and on Saturday, they will be screening the original The Invisible Man (1933) and John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982).

Continue reading

Robot Monster in 3-D!

Most fans of horror and sci-fi films, especially ones from the ’50s, know of the infamous film Robot Monster (1953), from director Phil Tucker, that stars the notorious Ro-Man, one of the most iconic monsters of that time. Yes, it is one that usually gets the laughs and snickers because it is basically a guy in a gorilla suit with a space helmet on. While this film is usually labeled as one of those “so bad it’s good” kind of films, I will stand by the fact that it is in fact a Turkey, but not by the standards of the Medveds and MST3K. By MY standards of what a Turkey is, which is that if it is entertaining, it can’t be considered a bad movie. While it may not be the most technically efficient, or well-made film, it surely is entertaining. Therefore, no matter how much you must try to calculate it, it CANNOT be qualified as a “bad” movie.

Continue reading

Euro Horror Shock Show!

I know we posted about this back in January, but with the show only 2 weeks away, we wanted to put this little reminder out in case you forgot. But in two weeks from tomorrow, thanks to the wonderful House of Monsters, you’ll have the chance to see TWO Paul Naschy flicks on the big screen, as well as two other great Euro horror titles. Just think about that for a minute . . . when was the last time you had a chance to see the Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy in a theater, filled with other like-minded horror fans?

Wait . . . not too familiar with Naschy? Then now is your chance to see two of his best films, The Hunchback of the Morgue (1973) and Mummy’s Revenge (1975).

Continue reading