‘Time Warp Drive-in’ returns with packed lineup
Pam Grier, Ferris Bueller, Flash Gordon and Howard the Duck.
Those are among the colorful personalities who will cavort across a screen at Memphis’ last remaining outdoor cinema as the popular “Time Warp Drive-in” series begins its sixth season at Malco’s Summer Quartet Drive-in, 5310 Summer.
Although spring and summer are the ideal seasons for drive-in moviegoing, the monthly Saturday night series runs year-round: It begins Feb. 16 with a double feature showcasing the talents of Pam Grier, the queen of so-called “blaxploitation” cinema, and concludes Dec. 14 with the Christmas comedy “Elf.”
Devoted to cult and classic cinema, the series’ success has surprised everyone except perhaps Black Lodge Video founder Matt Martin and local filmmaker Mike Mccarthy, the movie-mad scientists who in 2014 cooked up the “Time Warp” concept and convinced Malco that dusk-to-dawn marathons of “throwback” cinema could find an audience.
They were right: Some weekends, the “Time Warp” films outdraw whatever new studio would-be blockbusters are booked onto the other three drive-in screens.
“We have a great fan base in this city,” said Martin (who said he hopes to reopen Black Lodge — rejiggered as a video store, micro-cinema and performance venue — in its new Crosstown location by April).
Martin said that this year for the first time he solicited requests from social media and “Time Warp” attendees about the series schedule. “The overwhelming response was people wanted a John Hughes night, and I was like, ‘I feel that,’ ” Martin said. As a result, “Time Warp” on April 20 will host a triple feature of 1980s teen movies from the late writer-director.
In addition, “The most requested movie we’ve ever had is ‘The Monster Squad,’ ” Martin said. That’s why the 1987 horror-comedy in which a gang of kids tangle with Dracula, the Frankenstein monster, a werewolf, a mummy and a “Black Lagoon”-esque creature will screen Oct. 19.
As always, admission is $10 per person, and shows start at dusk. Shorts, vintage concession-stand ads, trailers and other examples of cinematic ephemera will screen between movies, and live bands will perform before the movies begin during warm-weather months.
Here is the complete 2019 “Time Warp Drive-in” schedule:
❚ Feb. 16 — Soul Cinema 6: Nobody
Messes With Pam Grier! A Tribute to an Icon.quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown” (1997) and “Coffy” (1973).
March 16 — Back to Back to the Future: The Complete Journey. “Back to the Future” (1985), “Back to the Future Part II” (1989), “Back to the Future Part III” (1990).
April 20 — Don’t You Forget About Me: The Teen Film Universe of John Hughes. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” (1986), “The Breakfast Club” (1985), “Weird Science” (1985).
May 18 — Dreams & Magic Forever: The 1990s Fantasy Film. “Jumanji” (1995), “Hook” (1991), “Small Soldiers” (1998).
June 22 — Strange Vibes: A Mindmelting World of Disturbing Animation. “Heavy Metal” (1981), “A Scanner Darkly” (2006), “Paprika” (2006).
July 20 — Return of the Worst Movies Ever: Studies in Deliciously Awful Cinema. “Howard the Duck” (1986), “Mac and Me” (1988), “Showgirls” (1983), “Samurai Cop” (1991), “They Saved Hitler’s Brain” (1968).
Aug. 17 — Futurecool: The Campy, Outrageous Charm of the 1980s Space Opera. “Flash Gordon” (1980), “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982), “Masters of the Universe” (1987).
Sept. 21 — Women in Arms! “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991), “Tank Girl” (1995), “Scream” (1996).
Oct. 19 — Shocktober 6. “Ghostbusters” (1984), “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986), “The Monster Squad” (1987), “Clue” (1985).
Nov. 9 — Monsters, Gods and Mortals: The Genius of FX Master Ray Harryhause. “Clash of the Titans” (1981), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963).
Dec. 14 — Strange Christmas 6. “Elf ” (2003), “Scrooged” (1988).
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