Scare up some fun
Celebrate Halloween with horror film festivals, special showings
October is all about Halloween, and folks are celebrating way before the 31st. One of the best ways to get into the spirit is with one — or more — of the movie marathons and special screenings in the area. From vintage horror to modern-day scares, these film fests will get your holiday mood on terror-firma.
First up, George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” rewrote the monster genre 50 years ago, and you can use your tasty brains tomorrow and Thursday to check out the newly restored and remastered version of the classic presented by Fathom Events. It’s slated for the Regal Fenway Stadium, AMC Assembly Row, Revere Showcase Cinemas, Regal Solomon Pond and Patriot Place. For tickets and times, go to FathomEvents.com.
Prom night memories last forever: At least the ones from “Carrie” do. Relive the scariest school dance ever with a 7 p.m. Thursday screening of “Carrie,” starring Sissy Spacek, at the Capitol Theatre in Arlington (capitoltheatreusa.com).
It’s just a jump to the left: More kitschy than creepy, but still perfect for Halloween, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be shown in all its campy glory at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Somerville Theatre. There will be a live pre-show and shadowcast by the Teseracte Players before Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick spot that light over at the Frankenstein place. Remember your toast. somervilletheatrecom.
Every witch way: Salem is launching its own horror film festival this Halloween weekend. The Witch City Horror Film Festival, hosted by CinemaSalem, starts Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. In between there are 16 films, including a documentary, two shorts programs and the headliner fea-
ture “Long Lost,” directed by Erik Bloomquist. The eclectic lineup — ranging from body horror to psychological thrillers — reflects the fest’s mission to celebrate local and regional indie horror flicks and filmmakers. For more info and tickets, go to cinemasalem.com.
What better movie to see on Halloween than “Halloween”? The Coolidge Corner Theatre is making it a double feature on Oct. 31 with John Carpenter’s original, starring Jamie Lee Curtis as poor Laurie Strode, and “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.” The Coolidge gets a jump on the holiday with its Halloween Horror Marathon starting Saturday at midnight. It’s 12 straight hours of aliens, space monsters and other things you don’t want to see landing in the backyard. It starts with the 1953 “War of the Worlds,” followed by Ridley Scott’s “Alien.” Five other films follow, but titles won’t be revealed until they hit the screen. One thing’s for sure: They don’t come in peace. There’s also a cosmic costume contest, music by thereminist Jon Bernhardt and more. coolidge.org.
A gingerbread house, it ain’t: Come dressed as your fave horror movie villain on Oct. 31 for the 9:30 p.m. showing of “The Cabin in the Woods” at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square — you’ll blend in onscreen and off. This scary/funny horror homage features the slasher flick stereotype: Friends come upon an isolated cabin and are stalked by a family of freaks. But there’s something larger, and creepier, behind the scenes. Isn’t there always? brattlefilm.org.