I’ve always appreciated the honesty of horror films.
As a genre, horror tends to wear its heart – freshly ripped from the chest of some unfortunate soul – on its sleeve. I mean, it’s right there in the name – horror. These are films designed to elicit a particular response from the audience. Don’t get me wrong, some horror films can be wonderfully complex, subversive to the extreme and provide film students with no end of essay topics. When it comes to creating a pure horror film however, the only thing that matters is how much of gibbering mess you can leave the viewer.
There’s no better time to exhume some horror classics than Halloween, and, if you’re feeling particularly brave, there’re no shortage of special one-off screenings taking place. I trawled through the grim house of terror that is the internet to find the best events taking place and ordered them into a handy guide, which you’ll find below – because true horror is knowing the uncontrollable urge to format everything into a neat, reader-friendly list.
What’s on?
The Little Reliance Cinema presents Beetlejuice and Juan of the Dead
When?
Wednesday 29 October (Beetlejuice) and Thursday 30 October (Juan of the Dead)
Where?
The Reliance, Leeds City Centre
The grim details:
To kick off, we got a double bill of comic horror in the form of Tim Burton’s twisted fairy tale Beetlejuice and ‘Cuba’s greatest zombie film’ Juan of the Dead.
Featuring an amazing turn by Michael Keaton as the titular ‘bio-exorcist’, Beetlejuice showcases Tim Burton at his best. Although the majority of the film is set within a single location, the writing is such that the brief glimpses we’re given into the wider spiritual world, along the strict rules that the characters must abide by, create a film which is both unhinged and yet strangely believable. For £28 you also get to enjoy a three course meal along with the screening. I’ve not eaten there myself but my more financially sensible friends are full of praise.
I managed to catch Juan of the Dead at LIFF a while back and absolutely fell in love with it. A zom-com in the same vein as Shaun of the Dead, it echoes that film’s theme of slackers versus the apocalypse, while still managing to put its own stamp on the genre, and it has won audience and critics’ awards the world over. No special meal offer with this one, I imagine due to copious amounts of flesh eating that’ll be on the screen.
Find out more – http://www.the-reliance.co.uk/cinema
What’s on?
The Light Film Club presents Twilight
When?
Thursday 30 October
Where?
The Light, Leeds city centre
The grim details:
I’ll be honest; this one isn’t my cup of tea. I love being scared as much as the next horror fan, but the idea of being trapped in a cinema filled with ‘twi-hards’ is too much even for me.
It’s hard to deny the love that exists for this franchise though, and, for those who count themselves amongst its devoted fan base, it’s not a bad offer. £10 gets you ticket to the film and a meal at Zizzi (for the record, I have eaten there) and there’s even a fancy dress competition taking place.
Highly recommended for any members of ‘Team Edward’ or ‘Team Jacob’, unfortunately my custom-made ‘Team Mark’ t-shirts are yet to take off.
Find out more – http://www.thelightleeds.co.uk/film-club/
What’s on?
Sneaky Experience presents The Exorcist (Director’s Cut), Halloween (1978), Monsters, Inc. and The Blair Witch Project
When?
Friday 31 October (The Exorcist (Director’s Cut), Saturday 1 November (Halloween, 1978) and Sunday 2 November (Monsters, Inc. and The Blair Witch Project)
Where?
Kirkstall Abbey
The grim details:
It seems like a week can’t go by without a Sneaky Experience finding its way into my calendar. Halloween is an occasion which could’ve been custom-made with Sneaky in mind and this year they’re not messing around, hosting a triple bill consisting of some the most terrifying, acclaimed and controversial horror films of all time (and Monster, Inc.)
First off they’re showing the director’s cut of The Exorcist, a film which resulted in a 13 year-old Mark having to sleep with all the lights in the house on for a week and seriously considering becoming a catholic purely for reasons of self-preservation.
Next up is 1978’s Halloween by one of my all-time favourite directors at his no-budget best – John Carpenter. This is a film series that suffered the familiar fate of being watered down by lack-lustre sequels and a reboot which traded atmosphere and style for shock tactics. The original has lost none of its potency however, and is always worth a re-watch.
Then we’ve got the film, which, for better or worse, kicked off the found-footage style – The Blair Witch Project. A masterful example of how to make the most of what you’ve got available, The Blair Witch Project served as a poignant reminder that it’s not always what you show on screen that’s truly scary, but what you keep hidden.
Finally, there’s the slightly more family-friendly option of Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. This is a film which, similar to the ones above, left me a broken sobbing mess, although in this case it was due to an eruption of emotions that I thought I’d carefully separated from my cynical adult-self.
The films are all being screened at Kirkstall Abbey, a perfect setting for Halloween and a location which has proved itself as a great venue for film viewings many times over. In addition, expect the usual Sneaky Experience excitement, such as street food, a licensed bar and fancy dress, along with some special All-Hallows entertainment including a very special ghost tour!
Find out more – http://sneakyexperience.co.uk/category/events/
What’s on?
Secret Cinema All-day Halloween Special
When?
Friday 31 October
Where?
Crowd of Favours, Leeds City Centre
The grim details:
Here’s a personal tale of terror for you. A few weeks ago, I arrived home to discover that I had run out of gin. I had plenty of tonic, but not a drop of mother’s ruin. It’s an experience that still chills me today.
Thankfully, this is something that’s unlikely to happen at Crowd of Favours’ Secret Cinema this Halloween. The films being shown are a carefully guarded secret, known only to the revered ‘Keepers of the Gin’ who work behind the bar. Having communicated with them via a mixture of Ouija and Twitter, however, I have discerned that the free event will be taking place throughout the day and night of Halloween in their basement area and will include free popcorn, which, while not sounding particularly sinister, may well be cursed.
Find out more – http://www.crowdoffavours.co.uk/whatson.php
What’s on?
Ghostbusters and Halloween Buffet
When?
Friday 31 October
Where?
Yorkshire Museum, York
The grim details:
If you want to see something truly scary, then check out the comments section of any article about the recently announced Ghostbusters sequel/reboot. Nothing escalates an argument quicker than a project combining an element of entertainment traditionally perceived as part of nerd/geek culture and the inclusion of women. Hopefully the finished film will be able to emerge from this relatively unscathed and be judged on its own merits, but in the meantime, there’re always the originals to fall back on.
This Halloween, Yorkshire Museum will be screening the first Ghostbusters, a masterpiece of ‘80s filmmaking, and serving a Halloween buffet alongside it. I’m not too sure what a Halloween buffet would consist of, but I’d be bitterly disappointed if they didn’t serve any ghoul-ash! Anyone with me? Sigh…
Find out more – http://www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk/whats-on/events/film-night-ghostbusters-and-halloween-buffet/
What’s on?
Ilkley Film Festival presents Suspiria with live score by Goblin
When?
Sunday 2 November
Where?
King’s Hall, Ilkley
The grim details:
This, is a pretty special one.
It’s hard to describe Suspiria to someone who’s never seen it, although I think one critic did well when they described it as “the closest a filmmaker has come to capturing a nightmare on film.”
It’s a disturbing, sensual, and fascinating film to experience and managed to achieve the often difficult task of resonating with both critics and mainstream audiences. It seems that the film manages to speak to some dark part of the psyche that exists within us all.
The director, Dario Argento, uses every tool in the filmmaker’s arsenal to terrify the audience: from violent set-pieces, which are near impossible to look away from despite their graphic content, to a set-design and colour palette which draws the viewer further and further in Argento’s twisted vision.
All of this is set to, and heightened by, the prog-rock soundtrack provided by Goblin, who, for this special screening, will be travelling from Italy to perform the entire score live. A perfect way to spend the last day of the Halloween weekend and something which no film fan should miss out on.
Find out more – http://www.ilkleyfilmfestival.co.uk/events/event/suspiria-live-score-goblin/