Fright Flicks
By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 24, 2005 5:34PM
After an unfortunate incident a couple years ago involving “pumpkin spice” punch and a too-easily-removed Superman costume, Chicagoist tends to avoid big Halloween parties. Instead, we hole up with a list of video horror
flicks the night before (All Hallow’s Eve Eve?). But there are a few cinematic options this week for those looking for a communal, fright night experience.
Doc Films at the University of Chicago is eschewing scary for sci-fi this week. Invaders from space rule with The Day The Earth Stood Still tonight at 7 PM and Kronos (a film that once again illustrates why mysterious asteroids are always to be avoided) at 7 PM on Halloween proper.
When we hear the words “independent horror film,” the last thing we’d think of would be Excalibur. But sure enough, they’re running The Blood Flood Part IV Film Festival there tonight from 7 to 10:30 PM. Tickets are $10-15. For those looking to get creeped for cheap, the Loews Cineplex at 600 North is hosting a free screening of The Exorcist this Thursday at 8 PM.
Though the Gene Siskel Film Center goes the modern route with Coppola’s version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on Saturday night, the Music Box gets all old-school, German expressionism on your ass with Nosferatu. It screens Saturday and Sunday at the not-so-scary time of 11:30 AM.
If you’re looking for midnight chills, the Music Box will serve up two helpings of the notorious Cannibal Holocaust on Friday and Saturday. It’s a film that’s banned in several countries. Why? Let’s just say there’s a reason you don’t see the “No animals were harmed in the making of this picture” message at the end. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Halloween weekend without men in fishnets, so the Music Box will also screen The Rocky Horror Picture show at the same time.