Coscarelli Comes to Music Box

Don CoscarelliPhans of director Don Coscarelli take note! This true independent filmmaker will be coming to Chicago’s Music Box Theatre to celebrate the release of his autobiography, True Indie: Life and Death in Filmmaking, as well as a screening of his film Bubba Ho-Tep (2002).

His book gives us story after story of working in the filmmaking industry, but still able to remain independent and not be sucked into the evil world of Hollywood, one thing that I’ve always admired about him. He would continue to turn out very unique and unusual films, always creating entertaining pictures, from his Phantasm series, to the dark and strange comedies Bubba Ho-Tep and John Dies at the End, Coscarelli continues to shine as a truly independent and dedicated craftsman to the industry. And we get to read about all those stories in his book, which we can only imagine how many good ones he has to tell. Such as having his own office on Universal Studios’ lot while he was still in his teens, or where he almost drowns actress Catherine Keener, to setting his face on fire during the making of Phantasm, to even meeting and working with heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio.

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Universal Horrors at the Music Box Theatre

Invisible Man

Because our September and October wasn’t filling up already, the Music Box has decided to screen some of the Universal classics in their Universal Horror: A Matinee Series, starting at 11:30am on each weekend listed below. Plus the fact that these are all being screened from 35mm prints! Now is your chance to see some of these essential titles from our horror history but on the big screen like they were meant to be seen! Here’s the schedule for this series:

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Music Box of Horrors Announces First Titles and Guests!

MusicBoxofHorrorslogo 2018Even though it is still 3 months away, its never too early to start to get ready for this year’s Music Box of Horrors! And from the guests and titles they have announced today, it looks to be another killer time! Advance tickets are now on sale for ONLY $25! That’s a little more than a $1 an hour of some great horror entertainment! This price will last until Sept. 1st, then they go up to $30. Then the day of the event, they will be $35. So why wait and maybe chance the event selling out? Oh yeah…did I mention that these films listed below are all from 35mm prints. No DCP, DVD, or Blu-ray projection for these, but actual film prints. Need some more reasons to get your ticket now? Just keep reading.

To celebrate the 30 year anniversary, not only will they be screening the original Child’s Play (1988), but screenwriter Don Mancini will be attending! Mancini has not only been the writer on all the sequels, but has directed the last 3 entries in the series. With the original movie filmed in Chicago, what a way to celebrate this anniversary.

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Greetings from Castle Rock!

castle rock

Ever since the publication of Stephen King’s 1979 novel, The Dead Zone, the fictional town of Castle Rock would become a staple in a lot of King’s later stories. Now with Hulu, King, and J.J. Abrams creating a new series based on this little strange town, it seems the perfect time to celebrate the different stories that have a connection with it. And now thanks to the Music Box Theatre and Consequence of Sound podcast, Chicago area fans will have a chance to see 8 different films based on King’s work on the big screen.

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Cinepocalypse 2018 Announce First Feature!

Cinepocalypse 2018

Chicago’s own Music Box Theatre had already announced the return of Cinepocalypse, taking place from June 21st to June 28th, featuring over 50 features being screened! They have announced that Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson and screenwriter C. Robert Cargill have been slated to be the Co-Presidents of the 2018 Cinepocalypse Feature Film Jury!

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Rollin Screens at Music Box

fascination

The Music Box Theatre in Chicago just announced it’s next bunch of titles for their weekend midnight screenings and there were a few that caught my attention. They will be screening 3 different films from French director Jean Rollin! Now, I admit that I’m not a huge fan of all of his movies, he has made some that I do think are amazing. One of those films, Fascination (1979), is one of the three being screened, on March 30th & 31st! The other two films are Lips of Blood (1975), showing Mar. 2nd & 3rd, and The Iron Rose, showing Mar. 9th & 10th.

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Suspiria in 4K back at Music Box

Suspiria1

Last August at the Flashback Weekend, they had a special screening of the newly re-mastered 4K scan of Dario Argento’s Suspiria. It was an amazing experience, almost like seeing it again for the first time.

But now it is back again, screening this time at the Music Box Theatre. If you’ve never had the chance to catch this new 4K scan, I cannot recommend it enough. Not only does the print look amazing, the sound is just stunning. The soundtrack has been restored to the original quadraphonic mix, which means you hear it all around you. 

You may have seen Suspiria before. But you’ve never seen it on the big screen like this way before. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out.

It is screening at the midnight shows next weekend, Feb. 9th & 10th. For more information, head over to the Music Box Theatre’s website HERE.

Cinepocalypse 2018

Cinepocalypse banner

musicboxsignLast November, the Music Box Theatre in Chicago held the first Cinepocalypse Film Fest and it was a smashing success. So much so, that they have already announced the dates for this year’s festival. And even better, we don’t have to wait until November!

Mark your calendars because this year’s festival will take place from June 21st through June 28th, bringing another round of amazing horror films from around the world. Last November, we were there catch a rare screening on an Italian 35mm print of Dario Argento’s Suspiria with star Jessica Harper in attendance! We also got to see Housewifem the newest film from director Can Evrenol, which just blew me away.

So start making your plans to attend this year’s Cinepocalypse for another week of international horror!

2017 Year End Review: Final Thoughts and Misc. Memories

Like any passage of time, there are bound to be good memories and bad ones. I would like to think that focusing on the good is the best thing to do, or for the bad ones, try and learn from it and take something positive from it. For example, all the great talent we lost in the last year, be thankful that we still can revisit them any time want by just popping in that DVD or Blu-ray.

After years of trying to get a screening of Mariano Baino’s Dark Waters in Chicago, it finally happened when it was part of the Music Box of Horrors. It had a good reception and writer/director Baino was there to experience the film’s very first screening in the Midwest! Thanks again to Will Morris getting it included in the lineup and Ryan at the Music Box for making it happen. And of course to Mariano and the wonderful Coralina for coming out, making this event even more special. It really was a highlight of my year.

Music Box Memories

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Wild Beasts Midnight Screening at Music Box!

wildbeastsWhat a time to be alive!

Sure, our President is probably going to cause WWIII any day now, but if he can hold off until at least the end of January, I’ll be able to catch Franco Prosperi’s Wild Beasts (1984) at a midnight screening at the Music Box Theatre! Now if you’ve never seen this little film before, boy are you in for a treat. Though, a little warning though, if you’re a card-carrying member of PETA, you might want to miss this one. They say no animals were killed in this film, but I’d beg to differ, not to mention I’d make a bet that a stuntman or two might have turned up missing!

I’m usually not one for these mondo-type of films, and there are a few parts in here that are hard for me to watch, but the rest of the film is just so damn crazy, I’m amazed it ever got made! I mean, when is the last time you see a pack of elephants attack an airport! Or a cheetah chasing a lady in a convertible down a city street? This film is a perfect example of Italian exploitation cinema. And to be able to see this on the big screen? Wow.

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