Friday Night Frights
Around the world, only a smattering of the best horror films come out in theaters, and gobs of great gore go softly into the night, never to be screamed at on the silver screen. In the past, Cinefamily has reserved just the month of October as an excuse to make merry in the macabre and delight in an onslaught of slaughter; and once All Hallow’s Eve has come and gone, our poor patrons must lurch back to their bloodless daily lives, secretly wishing that the terrifying times never need end. Well, fear not, for now every month is horrific at the Cinefamily! Midnight is the witching hour, and every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, Friday Night Frights brings you the finest cuts in upcoming horror and gruesome genre cinema, as well as devious picks from the repertory crypt, all with guests galore.
Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (cast/crew reunion screening!)
NOTE: This screening will start at 12:15AM, rather than the typical Friday Night Frights midnight start time.
Truly one of the zaniest and most wildly entertaining installments of any horror franchise EVER! In the grand tradition of later horror sequels (in which the mayhem relocates to some far-flung locale like outer space, da hood or the Big Apple), James D.R. Hickox’s Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest deliciously mutates Stephen King’s original story and brings the murderous culty whelps to the urban jungle of 90′s Chicago; child actor Daniel Cerny delivers an awesomely creepy performance as the pious Eli, who isn’t going to let the obstacles of city life get in the way of his harvesting of a corn demon to reap unholy vengeance on this mild, midwestern Sodom and Gomorrah. On top of that, his adoptive uncle just happens to be caught in the web of an…international corn conspiracy? Kernel for kernel, you can’t beat Urban Harvest‘s audacity or insanity — and, you’re in for a truly unique theatrical experience, as our Friday Night Frights screening marks the straight-to-video COTC3’s first theatrical screening in…possibly ever! Come stalk next to “He who walks behind the rows” for the most terrrifying, corntastic event of this harvest season! Director James D.R. Hickox, cinematographer Gerry Lively, writer Dode Levenson, Daniel Cerny (“Eli”) and Jim Metzler (“William”) will all be here to introduce the film!
Dir. James D.R. Hickox, 1995, HD presentation, 92 min.
Watch Cinefamily’s original trailer for “Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest”!
Kill List (2/3, 11:59pm)
The most wickedly vibrant genre film to emerge out of England in years, Kill List is a tour de excessive force that deftly blends Wicker Man-style occult freakiness with pulse-pounding gangland realism. Leading a cast full of breakout performances, Neil Maskell plays an increasingly bombastic and completely terrifying contract killer who comes out of an early retirement at the promise of a big payoff — handed to him by an organization more ominous than any such group of characters ever seen in the pantheon of gangster movies. Throughout this constantly morphing cinematic melange, director Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace) injects scalding fresh blood by diving into a dizzyingly unpredictable succession of genres, from nuanced marriage drama to heat attack-inducing horror, all seamlessly stitched together with the visual and sonic flair of a true auteur. Whether you worship at the altar of art house or the church of the midnight mass, Kill List will make you a convert.
Dir. Ben Wheatley, 2011, 35mm, 95 min.
Watch the trailer for “Kill List”!
Crawlspace (director in person!)
Equalling his turns in Woyczek or Aguirre: The Wrath of God for pure moment-by-moment mania, Klaus Kinski gives one of his career-defining performances as the uber-creepy Dr. Karl Guenther in the 1986 voyeur-tastic freakout Crawlspace! The film concerns an apartment building run by our madman Klaus, and the impossibly accommodating labyrinth of air ducts that allow the good doctor to spy on his tenants. No one can ooze creepiness like Kinski, and director David Schmoeller wisely milks this super-power for all it’s worth. The film is a loving and effective tribute to Psycho with a few nice twists up its sleeve, a fun ‘80s vibe, and a great score by regular De Palma collaborator Pino Donaggio. Plus, there isn’t a moment when Kinski’s face is onscreen that won’t make your skin crawl — with delight! Director David Schomeller will be at the Cinefamily for a Q&A after the film!
Dir. David Schomeller, 1986, 35mm, 80 min.
Watch Cinefamily’s original trailer for “Crawlspace”!
New Year's Evil
Blaze Sullivan is having a doozy of a stressful New Year’s Eve: the hip punk rock TV show she hosts, “Hollywood Hotline,” is doing a live broadcast; her son is whacked out of his gourd on drugs; and, a creepazoid ID’ing himself only as “Evil” keeps calling into her show to inform her that he’s killing “naughty girls” at midnight for each of the four time zones! Unique to the post-Halloween slasher boom in that it utilizes neither the Ten Little Indians unseen-killer gimmick nor the masked monster approach, New Year’s Evil is a perfect example of the ‘80s holiday-centric horror film. As well, Kip Niven gives a memorable performance as our handsome Ted Bundy-esque psychopath, Roz Kelly (“Pinky Tuscadero” from Happy Days) is our bizarre elder heroine, and the film’s portrayal of the “badass” punk scene is a hoot! To quote the punk-in-film encyclopedia “Destroy All Movies”: “If [all] that doesn’t sound like a goddamn masterpiece to you, then what are you living for?”
Dir. Emmett Alston, 1980, 35mm, 90 min.
Watch the trailer for “New Year’s Evil”!
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
When setting out to make the sequel to the scuzzy, visceral and wildly original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre — a film so incredible that pretty much nothing could compete with it — director Tobe Hooper made the bold choice of making the comedic subtext of the first film the overt text, resulting in this colorful, legendary ‘80s slice of satirical Americana written by fellow Texan filmmaking legend L.M. Kit Carson. In a film that shares more kinship with funhouse splatter flicks like Evil Dead 2 and Dead Alive than its immediate predecessor, Hooper assembles a great cast with genre star-making turns from Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams (as the sexy heroine DJ Stretch) and original Chainsaw alum Jim Siedow, but the real casting coup is the inclusion of gonzo Dennis Hopper as the chainsaw-wielding sheriff gunning for revenge on Leatherface and his kin. Arguably the most fun and re-watchable of the franchise, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is a veritable feast of gags and gore. Besides, what more perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving can there be than with the cannibalistic First Family of Horror? Have a seat at the table — we’ve saved you a drumstick!
Dir. Tobe Hooper, 1986, 35mm, 89 min.
Watch the trailer for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2″!
The Beast Within (Phillipe Mora & Paul Clemens in person!)
The Hollywood machine was quick to find new and goopy ways to insert monsters inside of our bodies, in the wake of Alien — and, not content to make just another Alien knockoff, director Philippe Mora took the concept to a whole new level with the cult classic The Beast Within. It posits what we’ve all asked ourselves at one point or another: what would happen if I were raped by a monster? Equal parts possession movie, werewolf movie and grindhouse sleazefest, this early ‘80s gem is anchored by a strong cast featuring Ronny Cox, Bibi Besch and a fearless performance by beast spawn/lovelorn teen Paul Clemens. It also features some of the coolest monster make-up and transformation effects of the period: pulsating bladder and slimy latex that demands to be seen on the big screen, and will still make you squeamish nearly thirty years later. Satisfy your inner beast with us, Friday Night Frights-style! Schedules permitting, Philippe Mora and Paul Clemens will join us for a Q&A after the film!
Watch Cinefamily’s original trailer for “The Beast Within”!
The Oregonian (L.A. premiere, director in person!)
“Bold, impressionistic, possibly symbolic or maybe just nuts, The Oregonian follows a young woman (Lindsay Pulsipher of “True Blood”) as she wakes up from a car crash to find the world has gone horribly wrong. With its startling sound design and Reeder’s backwoods, David Lynch-esque world view, the film never the less fits comfortably within what seems to be one of the subtexts of Sundance films this year: ‘Am I crazy, or is this the apocalypse?’ ” — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
There is a place where the skies are wide and the forests are thick — to say nothing of completely strange. You can lose yourself forever in these woods. Here you’ll meet truckers with serious problems, and old women with unspeakable powers. You may even make a furry friend. Just be sure to stay quiet. Spend some time with a woman from Oregon, who is lost on the road and running away from her past. Now she has a chance to experience everything the grotesque Northwest has to offer, whether she likes it or not. If you are familiar with Calvin Lee Reeder’s surreal horror shorts Little Farm and The Rambler, then you know you are in for some thick atmosphere in The Oregonian. Reeder is a king of ambiance, using color and sound to creep you out as much as the sinister characters do. The moody, tense vibes will make you laugh, too. Come in, sit down, and get lost. Writer-director Calvin Reeder will be here for a Q&A after the film!
Dir. Calvin Reeder, 2011, HD presentation, 81 min.
Watch the trailer for “The Oregonian”!
The Gate (plus Q&A w/ director Tibor Takacs!)
From the golden era of cinema’s small horrible creatures (Gremlins, Ghoulies, Gary Coleman, etc.) comes The Gate, a film which remains just as genuinely spooky and cool as from when it first primed your childhood nightmares! In his feature debut, Stephen Dorff plays a precocious kiddie who accidentally unleashes the gate to Hades in his Spielbergian suburban backyard. Exploring the same haunting, hallucinatory territory of Phantasm or the original Evil Dead, and containing a very large number of indelible freaky images, The Gate is special due to its comittment to unsettle you; not satisfied with merely presenting a torrent of demonic little homunculi (portrayed incredibly by actors in suits rendered tiny and hellish through forced-perspective and other camera tricks), director Tibor Takács also turns up the moody burn to a fever pitch, and doesn’t skimp on the legitimate, non-kid-friendly scares. Also, it is a well established fact that any movie that uses a Satanic Heavy Metal record as a plot device is awesome. Don’t be late…for The Gate! Director Tibor Takács will join us via Skype for a Q&A before the film!
Dir. Tibor Takacs, 1987, 35mm, 85 min.
Watch Friday Night Frights’ trailer for “The Gate”!
Clive Barker's "Nightbreed"
Nightbreed is a rare breed indeed, the sort of gleeful, kitchen sink monster movie you just don’t see made nowadays. Directed by Clive Barker and adapted from his own novel “Cabal”, Nightbreed tells the tale of a rock n’ roll rebel (played by a brooding Craig Sheffer) who may or may not be guilty of a string of brutal murders, and who also happens upon a literal underground society of monsters. Did we mention that David Cronenberg plays his therapist in a deliciously perverse, scene-stealing performance? Hijinx and an onslaught of good old-fashioned latex creature make-ups ensue, and the results are unhinged, dizzying and never, ever dull. The film was Barker’s follow-up to his seminal Hellraiser, but it was sorely neglected at the time of its release in 1990. Now you have a chance to rectify that gross injustice by seeing it as it was meant to be seen — in a dark room full of like-minded, questionable weirdos! Come join us in Midian, where the monsters live!
Dir. Clive Barker, 1990, 35mm, 102 min.
Watch our trailer for “Nightbreed”!
Candyman (director Bernard Rose in person!)
Be it a horde of zombies, or one particularly large mutated lizard, the source of terror in a horror film with an urban setting generally requires a large volume of monster(s) to be effective — but the Big City has its fringes too, often hidden in plain sight. Therein lies the simple genius of Bernard Rose’s urban ghost tale Candyman, which takes the seeds of Clive Barker’s Lovecraftian short story “The Forbidden” and bears horrifying fruit by transplanting it to inner-city Chicago. Rose turns the infamous Cabrini–Green housing project into a world just as removed, mysterious and steeped in folklore as any backwoods or Old World village, as grad student Virginia Madsen’s investigation into a local boogeyman known as The Candyman (Tony Todd, in a chilling, career-defining performance) plays just as much on our dread of the supernatural as it does on our societal dread of the ghetto. With the help of composer Philip Glass, Rose crafts one of the most frightening and overtly artistic mainstream horror films of the modern era, by turns equally Gothic, romantic and bloodily baroque. Come summon the Candyman with us as he was meant to be summoned: on the big screen! “Sweets to the Sweet…” Bernard Rose will be here in person for a Q&A after the film!
Dir. Bernard Rose, 1992, 35mm, 99 min.
Watch our trailer for “Candyman”!
The Kindred (director Jeffrey Obrow in person!)
The golden age of practical horror movie FX had a relatively brief but gloriously bladder-pulsating run starting in the late ‘70s until the early ‘90s, when the CGI revolution quickly transformed the entire cinema landscape. Produced during the heart of this era, the vastly underseen The Kindred deserves a second life, for not only does its shocking transformation effects match those of An American Werewolf In London, The Thing and The Howling — but its crazed original plot is a rarity for a film produced during the endless ‘80s slasher sequel goldrush. The story concerns John, whose mother is a renowned scientist. On her deathbed, John’s mother instructs him to destroy all her lab notes, before accidentally blurting out that he has a brother. Naturally, John and some friends venture to his mother’s lab, wholly unprepared for what they’ll find. In addition to its fantastic grisly grue, The Kindred also features two Oscar-winning actors: A Streetcar Named Desire‘s Kim Hunter and that great chewer of scenery, Rod Steiger! Schedule permitting, co-director Jeffrey Obrow will be here for a Q&A after the film!
Dirs. Jeffrey Obrow & Stephen Carpenter, 1987, 35mm, 91 min.
Watch the trailer for “The Kindred”!
Alligator
If the animal attack genre has a Holy Trinity — then Jaws is God, Orca is Christ and Alligator is the Holy Ghost. This masterwork (scripted by John Sayles!) takes the urban myth of the “alligator flushed into the sewer” and follows it to its natural payoff — namely, a giant alligator rampaging through Chicago. But what makes this film stand tall among its peers is a central performance by Robert Forster as the down-on-his-luck-cop-obsessed-with-his-hair-loss who just so happens to be the guy to go mano-y-gator with the scaly antagonist. Director Lewis Teague shows some real ingenuity in making the real-life gator look huge; it’s the kind of clever trickery that is so sorely lacking in today’s era of crummy CGI SyFy Channel creature quickies. Best of all, Alligator’s chock full of rampaging fun — there’s a scene involving a child and a swimming pool that you won’t soon forget — and a heartfelt sincerity that elevates it to the status of timeless creature classic. Later, Alligator!
Dir. Lewis Teague, 1980, 35mm, 89 min.
Watch the trailer for “Alligator”!
CINEFAMILY SENIOR PROM: Carrie + Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
Corsage? Check. Streamers? Check. Tiara? Check. The wild anticipation that tonight might be the night you finally get to third base? Absolutely — ‘cause it’s prom time!!!! Calling all geeks, jocks, princesses, and weirdos: whether prom is one of your most cherished memories, or whether you were too busy getting high/studying/making out/crying to go in the first place — now is your chance to do it again (or for the first time), but ten times better! With booze and friends! Bring your high school sweetie, a gaggle of girlfriends, or roll stag to the first annual Cinefamily Senior Prom! Have some punch (hope no one spiked it!), get your prom photos taken with your BFFs, scarf down some Pazzo Gelato and — let’s not forget — dance the night away in-between our two prom-themed horror features, with DJ Tuna on the decks!. Make it a night to remember! Here’s the lineup:
Carrie – 8:00pm
The ultimate high school horror film, Brian De Palma’s adaptation of Stephen King’s first novel Carrie proved to be a rare perfect blend of story and artistic vision. De Palma really pulls off a balancing act here, deftly juggling comedy, melodrama and horrific hysteria, making it seem effortless all the while. He’s at the top of his camera spinning, split-screen lovin’ game here — the climactic pig-blood prom freakout will forever remain an iconic moment in the pantheon of horror. The cast is also stellar, led by young, hot Sissy Spacek, batshit crazy Piper Laurie, and rounded out by strong turns from Nancy Allen, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley and a pre-fame John Travolta. If you’ve never seen this masterpiece on the big screen, now’s your chance! If you miss this one — they’re all going to laugh at you!
Dir. Brian de Palma, 1976, 35mm, 98 min.
Senior Prom Dance Party – 10:00pm
After Carrie, the front row couches slide to the side, and the dance party begins, with DJ Tuna spinning tunes deep into the night!
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II – midnight-ish
Wisely departing from the slasher angle of the original 1980 Prom Night — which, by 1987, was essentially the product of a different era — Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II forges its own territory — by shamelessly aping A Nightmare On Elm Street via Carrie! The results are wildly entertaining without veering into the almost-inevitable camp direction that most horror films would soon head; veteran Canuck director Bruce Pittman knows what he’s going for and achieves it with style. The story follows the resurrected ghost of ‘50s psychic/prom queen/slut Mary Lou, as she possesses a hapless ‘80s teen girl in order to reap revenge on those who wronged her decades ago. The film has its tongue planted firmly in cheek as evidenced by character names like Henenlotter and Carpenter, and it has no trouble keeping the gory good times going — and if that’s not enough, it also features a wacko performance from perennial ‘80s horror hanger-on Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Scanners). This is one prom you don’t want to skip!
Dir. Bruce Pittman, 1987, 35mm, 97 min.
Watch our trailer for the Cinefamily Senior Prom!
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (brand-new HD restoration!)
Would you believe us if we told you there was a time, not so long ago, when broadcast television produced great and scary original horror films? It’s true; Friday Night Frights would never lie to you! To prove it, we’re screening the landmark 1973 movie-of-the-week chiller Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, about a young woman who inherits her recently deceased grandmother’s house, only to discover that the old place has a nasty pest problem: disturbing, murderous miniature demons who only show their hideous, twisted visages at night. This truly creepy slice of classic telly stars Kim Darby (from the original True Grit), and marks one of the final performances from workhorse character actor/Preston Sturges regular William Demarest (The Lady Eve, Sullivan’s Travels). Though the film was released theatrically in Europe under the name Nightmare, presenting it on the big screen is a wonderful and rare treat that only enhances the film’s sense of itchy dread — plus, we’ll be screening Warner Brothers’ brand-new HD restoration. So come gasp, shriek and soak in the vintage terror before the Guillermo del Toro-produced studio remake of Don’t Be Afraid… hits theaters this summer!
Dir. John Newland, 1973, DigiBeta, 74 min. (Re-mastered archival video [from the long-lost camera negative] courtesy of the Warner Archive Collection)
Watch our trailer for “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark”!
Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Jason Voorhees clearly never received Dr. Suess’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” as a gift growing up, because — despite surviving a supposed drowning, then being partially killed thrice, and officially killed thrice more — over the course of seven films the guy never left Crystal Lake. Hell, by contrast, after only six entries the Leprechaun had gone to L.A., Vegas, outer space, and tha Hood (twice) — which is why the glorious Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan is such a silly inevitable treat, for the big guy is practically burstin’ to get out! Not only does VIII feature the most offable cast of expendables yet, but it also contains some of the most insane and ridiculous kills of the entire franchise (rooftop boxing practice, anyone?) Come kick back with us on Friday, May 13th as we revel in pure hockey-masked absurdity and destruction with one of our fave Jason sequels — plus, come early for a pre-show montage of every single previous Friday the 13th kill!
Dir. Rob Hedden, 1989, 35mm, 100 min.
Watch our trailer for “Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan”!
FREE SNEAK PREVIEW: Stake Land
Like the undead lovechild of Zombieland and The Road, fest sensation Stake Land is the perfect antidote for the emo-teen vampires of Twilight. These vamps don’t sparkle like couture in the sunlight, and they sure as hell don’t want you to love them — they’re dirty, scary bloodsuckers who’ve become the dominant predators in a post-apocalyptic hell. And it seems vampires aren’t the worst thing out there, as our band of travelers (rounded out by genre favorite Danielle Harris and Kelly “Top Gun” McGillis) run afoul of a religious cult with nefarious designs of their own. Like all good horror yarns, what makes Stake Land special is the characters and the situations, and the film delivers with strong performances and unexpected twists. It all translates into a rockin’ good time for anyone who has ever loved Mad Max, but wished there were more vampires in it!
Dir. Jim Mickle, 2010, 98 min.
Watch the trailer for “Stake Land”!
Body Parts (20th Anniversary screening, director Eric Red in person!)
Cinema’s long-standing fascination with limbs that rebel against their owners dates all the way back to the ‘20s, with The Hands of Orlac — but Eric Red (creator of The Hitcher and Near Dark) flat-out perfected the formula with Body Parts, a white-knuckle manic thriller woefully underseen upon its release in the horror-challenged early ‘90s, but densely ripe for rediscovery. Jeff Fahey plays a scientist who loses his arm in an auto accident, only to get a replacement “part” from a deceased (you guessed it!) serial killer. What makes Red’s take on the idea stand out is the masterful way he ratchets up the tension; the guy knows how to styishly tighten the screws ‘til the wood is stripped, never letting up. Add to that one of the all-time astounding car chase setpieces, as well as Fahey’s crazed, inspired performance (which could honestly give Jack Nicholson’s turn in The Shining a run for its money), and you have yourself a bonafide hidden treasure. Writer/director Eric Red will be here at the Cinefamily for a Q&A after the film!
Dir. Eric Red, 1991, 35mm, 88 min.
Watch the trailer for “Body Parts”!
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (Chiodo Brothers in person!)
The Chiodo Brothers trio are masters of the wondrous and sadly fading art of special effects puppetry. Their handiwork (pun intended!) has spanned decades, from the toothy fur balls in the Critters franchise to the gun-toting, epically vomiting marionettes in Team America: World Police — and in 1988, the planets aligned to let the brothers pool their collective creativity/borderline madness into their own feature film. The result: the dementedly hilarious gonzo classic Killer Klowns From Outer Space, about a sinister race of ugly-as-hell alien clowns hellbent on harvesting lipsmackin’, delicious humans. Effortlessly tapping into the freaky-funny nature of clowns, the Chiodos offer up a sideshow of loony danger with balloon animal guard dogs, deadly fun houses, human ventriloquist dummies, flesh-eating cotton candy, a pitch-perfect teeter-tottering theme song by The Dickies — and Animal House’s John Vernon doing what he does best: grumbling about punk kids! The Chiodo Brothers will be here in person for a Q&A after the film!
Dir. Stephen Chiodo, 1988, 35mm, 88 min.
Watch the trailer for “Killer Klowns From Outer Space”!
