It’s that time again! Come on down to Spectacle Theater for the TWELFTH (!!) EDITION of our annual SHRIEK SHOW MARATHON!
From noon through midnight, we’ll present a smattering of our favorite hidden gems of horror movies, ranging from high budget ghost stories to the cheapest SOV slasher garbage you’ve ever seen. Think of it like a transcontinental multi-decade 14 hour Blood Brunch session, curated for maximum brain shreddage.
Starting SATURDAY, 10/14 at NOON – miss it if you dare!!!!
APPROXIMATE START TIMES:
MOVIE 1 – 12PM
MOVIE 2 – 2PM
MOVIE 3 – 3:45PM
MOVIE 4 – 5:30PM
MOVIE 5 – 6:45PM
MOVIE 6 – 8:00PM
MOVIE 7 – 10PM
MOVIE 8 – MIDNIGHT
Trailer and hints below! Day passes $25 / individual screenings $5 each
12:00 PM
XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXX XXXX XXXXXXXX
dir. XX XXXXXX, XXXX XXXX, 1989
China. 93 min.
In Cantonese with English subtitles.
We kick off with our gentlest selection of the day, a rare big budget mainland Chinese horror film that has the energy of a Saturday morning cartoon (and some rudimentary effects that, lord help me, managed to spook this jaded programmer!).
Set during the production of a film, a sound engineer and lead actress stumble on the ghost of a murdered girl while recording foley in a suitably abandoned mansion. Features the cutest ghost you’ve ever seen, an action montage of sound equipment being assembled, and a rousing MIDI rendition of Also sprach Zarathustra.
2:00 PM
XXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
dir. XXXX XXXXXX, 1983
United States. 82 min.
In English.
Next up, a recently unearthed gem directed by one of Fassbinder’s protege’s.
Follows a small town that’s been cursed since they burned witches at the stake in the 1700s. When three modern women move to town, the delicate balance is upset, and buried resentments come to the surface.
An early 80s film with a surprisingly progressive POV, and a delicious tale of supernatural revenge – bit of a slow burn but features some great practical effects and a few notable face melts, as well as a supporting turn by one of the greatest character actors to have ever lived.
3:45 PM
XXXXXXXX
dir. XXXX XXXXXX, 2005
United States. 94 min.
In English.
Our third offering of the day is an underseen late career high point from one of horror’s most celebrated auteurs.
The synopsis is about as stock as it comes – family moves to new place to start over (this time a mortuary in a small town in California), spooky things start happening – and it may start a little rough, but once it gets cooking, it’s a funhouse ride for the ages set in the industrial rot of America in decline.
Full of disgusting splatter effects, jump scares galore, unhinged performances, and a killer ending. Not to be missed!
5:30 PM
XXXXX XXXXXX
dir. XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
Japan. 54 min.
In Japanese with English subtitles.
Our fourth film of the day is a short one, clocking in at just under an hour, but it manages to pack in quite a bit in its limited runtime.
The plot loosely follows two photographers investigating rumors of paranormal phenomenon in a forest when one of them is ‘infected’ by a mythical woodland creature, bringing it home to his unsuspecting wife…
Lands somewhere between a live action anime and the tiki doll segment of Trilogy of Terror, and packs more gore and squirms into 54 minutes than some movies twice its length.
6:45 PM
XXXX XXXXX
dir. XXXX XXXXX XXXX, 1992
United States. 70 min.
In English
It’s almost dark, and it’s time for our first sleazo SOV of the day – one of over a dozen films by this no-budget slauteur (sorry).
This film takes place over the course of one night – it’s the last day of high school, and local punching bag and universally hated nerd Jimmy is about to get pranked hard. Shortly after recovering, Jimmy, a chemistry wizard, whips himself up a rage-potion that gives him telekinetic powers (naturally), and starts murdering his tormentors one by one.
Starring the oldest high schoolers you’ve ever seen + featuring some hilarious and inventive home brew kills, plus a hilarious “twist” ending and a killer lo-fi metal soundtrack tying the whole thing together.
8:00 PM
XXXXXXXXXXXX
dir. XXXXX X XXXXXXXX, 1982
Canada. 85 min.
In English
Regular Spectacle attendees may recognize our sixth film of the night from the Blood Brunch trailer – a Canadian video-nasty set in New England, where a hot young reverend (played by a notable 70s soap opera star) and his family move into an abandoned historic house with a bad history to keep it from being demolished after two local kids are killed in a delightfully gruesome cold open.
Featuring a surprisingly high body count and fantastic effects, as well as a great Goblin-aping score, this is an underrated gem. Fun fact, it was such a hit on video in the UK that it went on to be released theatrically there 2 years later under a different title!
10:00 PM
XXXXXXXX: XXX XXXXXX XXXXX
dir. XXXX XXXXXXXXX, 1997
Germany. 106 min.
In German with English Subtitles
Seven features in – reality is a long forgotten dream. The outside world is a myth. There is only the shrieking and the show of shrieks.
A splatter masterpiece by one of the best no-budget gorehounds ever to have lived. Easily the highest body count of the night by several orders of magnitude, the plot loosely follows a dysfunctional family and their teenage son who’s having strange dreams. The teen soon digs up a strange book and potion in his garden, awakening a demon and an army of the undead in the process.
MIDNIGHT
XX XXXX XXXX XXXXX
dir. XXXXX XXXXXX, 1999
United States. 77 min.
In English
We’ve done it. We’ve made it through seven films. There is only one, the final reckoning, our midnight special.
While this final flick can’t hope to hold a candle to the bloodshed of the 10pm, it more than earns its keep in pure gusto and go-for-broke DIY energy.
A New England shot-on-mini-DV gem featuring vampires, angels, demons, incredible t-shirts and the best possum appearance in cinema history. Think FROM DUSK TIL DAWN made with the budget and enthusiasm level of a backyard wrestling video (the new blu-ray release features an archival blooper reel titled “scenes that hurt”), unhinged lore drops, and some of the best and most inventive gore no-money can buy.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, SHRIEKERS!!!!