Oh, Halloween: a time for sweets, costumes and watching people get murdered. Sure, Boston has haunted tours and pumpkin-flavored pub crawls,
but the horror of this holiday comes from the morbid fantasies of filmmakers.
SHUDDER FEST @ SOMERVILLE THEATRE
This weekend-long horror fest will kick cute little Casper to the curb. Friday’s nightmare-inspiring films include I Am A Ghost, American Mary, and Murder University. I Am A Ghost’s freaky female, Emily, haunts and is haunted. Spontaneous violence and silly scare tactics aren’t needed here—this film chills to the bone. While I Am A Ghost disturbs viewers with situational scares, American Mary and Murder University go for blood and violence. Saturday features a spooky slew of short films: Terror In Short, followed by the horror-romance Video Diary of a Lost Girl.
[Fri 10.26.12-Sat 10.27.12. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq., Somerville. 7pm/R/$9 G.A. @Svilletheatre. somervilletheatreonline.com]
HALLOWEEN HORROR MOVIE MARATHON @ COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE
For their 12th Annual Halloween Horror Movie Marathon, the Coolidge brings us six 35mm films, the Betsi Feathers Burlesque Troupe, local laidback metal band Dream Warrior and more. Features include the 1973 original, The Exorcist, one of the most indisputably disturbing horror films of all time. Also playing is 1982’s The Thing, the original model for extraterrestrial terror films. Set in Antarctica, it’s about a parasitic alien that infiltrates a research group by taking on their appearances and inducing paranoia.
[Sat 10.27.12. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. midnight/R/$15 double feature, $20 full festival. @thecoolidge. coolidge.org]
HAUNTED HOUSE OF PANCAKES @ THE BRATTLE THEATRE
If all the horrors leave you hungry, the Haunted House of Pancakes at Brattle presents a series of short films and videos, many of which are pancake-inspired. Presented by the International Pancake Film Festival, this event premieres some horrifying hotcakes. Complimentary stack o’jacks provided.
[Tue 10.30.12. Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge. 7pm/all ages/$10. @BrattleTheatre. brattlefilm.org]
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW @ AMC BOSTON COMMON
Pancake films not your bag? The Full Body Cast has you covered! Head downtown to see the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. Do the time warp, sing along and watch as Doctor Frank-N-Furter brings his creation, Rocky Horror, to life. A live performance of RHPS is an experience not to pass up.
[Saturdays. AMC Boston Common, 175 Tremont St., Boston. 11:30pm/17+/$12. fullbodycast.org]
HALLOWEEN EVENTS @ THE BRATTLE THEATRE
If you’re more the classic horror type, don’t miss the original vampire film, Nosferatu, playing on Halloween night. True Blood, this ain’t: Nosferatu will be a shock with his pointy ears, beady eyes and cue-ball head. Also playing, one of the best horror films of 2012: the Joss Whedon-produced, Cabin in the Woods. Reminiscent of the old Evil Dead and Friday the 13thdays, this movie is a must-see. Don’t research it, don’t let the online trailers spoil it for you, just go.
[Tue 10.30.12-Wed 10.31.12. Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge. times vary/ratings vary/$9.75. @BrattleTheatre. brattlefilm.org]
