That’s right Halloweeners, it’s already time for another edition of Spectacle’s storied SHRIEK SHOW MARATHON ! For the 13th almost-consecutive year in a row, we bring you ~12 hours of gut-bursting brain-splattering genre madness from around the world.
This year we’re bringing you seven (7) mystery-titles from noon-through-midnight – expect roughly 15-30 minute breaks between titles, give or take.
BYO seat cushions + barf bags, sickos !
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 – NOON THROUGH ~1:30AM
12PM – XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
dir. XXXXXXXX XXXXX, 1972
In Italian with English subtitles
95 min.
We kick off the Shriek Show proceedings with this gothic Italian gem that follows a group of hippies who stumble across a black mass ritual at a seemingly abandoned castle in the countryside, featuring killer synths and paint-red blood.
2PM – XX. XXXXX, XX. XXXX
dir. XXXXXXX XXXXX, 1976
In English
85 min.
Our second film of the ‘thon is an overlooked blaxploitation classic that should be mentioned in the same breath as Blacula (even if the title is a misnomer of its protagonist). To say more would give it away, but it’s worth noting that, despite some of the campy trappings, this film offers a dour look at how awful America was and continues to be.
4PM – XXXXXXX
dir. XXXXXX XXXX, 1987
In Japanese with English subtitles
52 min
Our 4pm feature is a visceral blast of cyberpunk splattercore from Japan – packs an insane amount into an under 60 minute runtime, has the energy and narrative density of a live action OVA – real sicko shit! And the sun’s not even down yet!
6:00PM – XXX XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
dir. XXXXXX XXXXXX, 1980
In English
95 min.
One of the most legendary and underseen horror films of the 80s – shot on super 8mm for a reported budget of $500 by a then-teenager, this thing packs a wild amount of ambition and guts into its not so modest runtime packed with tropes and references and wild accents from a place that shall not be named lest we reveal the title.
8:00PM – XXXX XXXXXXXXX
dir. XXXXXX XXXXXXXX, 1979
In Spanish with English subtitles.
86 min.
The most legitimately scary film of the day is up next – steeped in steadily building dread, this Mexican horror film from the late 70s is full of surprises, not to mention a knockout of an ending. Not to be missed.
10:00PM – XXXX XX XXX XXXXX
dir. XXXXXXX X. XXXX, 1991
78 min.
In English.
Filmed in the dusty outskirts and suburbs of Las Vegas, our 10pm feature feels like a sneakily ultra-gory after school special. The setup is simple – two kids dig up a gargoyle statue (while cutting school, no less) – a strange man appears and tells them to leave it because it contains ‘the essence of evil’, so they bring it home.
A perfect garbage gem in a sea of bland SOV offerings from the dustbin of the 90s. Do not miss this!
WARNING : BRIEF MOMENTS OF STROBE EFFECTS
MIDNIGHT – XXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX
dir. XXXX XXXXXXX, XXXX XXXXXXX, 2000
In English
70 min.
Closing out the marathon, we have an early aughts entry from one of the most prolific no-budget filmmaking duos in SOV history.
A famous horror novelist with writer’s block rents a haunted house while seeking inspiration for his newest novel – a psychotic blast of dream-fueled chaos ensues, as the filmmakers use this conceit to throw everything and the kitchen sink at the digital wall.
If this doesn’t clear out what’s left of your cranium, nothing will.
