Fright Night
Some people might tell you to stay at home and lock your doors on Halloween – but that’s not quite how we roll. The real world is terrifying enough as it is, so all you can do is lean into it.
On the scariest night (or in this case, weekend) of the year, you’re better off seeking refuge in a dark room full of terrifying people at one of many, many horrifically good screenings of horror films, old and new, all over the country. Here’s 10 of the very best to consider this weekend.
Manchester: Kill List
Where: HOME
When: Saturday October 30, 8.30PM
We’ve been big fans of Ben Wheatley since the very start – Kill List was released just one year after the British filmmaker shared his debut with the world, and 10 years on, it still rules.
HOME in Manchester knows this, and so is inviting Wheatley, alongside stars Neil Maskell and Michael Smiley, to chat about the film after this very special screening on Saturday night. Tickets here.
Dundee: Lamb
Where: Dundee Contemporary Arts
When: Sunday October 31, 8.50PM
When A24 tells you to go and support the lamb, you go and support the lamb. While most of us will have to wait until next year before getting to grips with this trippy, silly, sweet horror about, well, a lamb, Scots can dig in this weekend. Book now or feel very baaad about missing out.
London: The Shining
Where: Prince Charles Cinema
When: Sunday October 31, 8.30PM
Sometimes you really do just need a trip to the Overlook to sort you out. Stanley Kubrick’s classic hardly needs an introduction, but with Spencer just around the corner and some pretty strange parallels being drawn, there’s never been a better time to revisit The Shining. Tell Johnny I said hi. Book at your own peril.
Brighton: Blade
Where: Odeon Brighton
When: Sunday October 31, 10PM
Before Marvel swoop in with their remake (hello Mahershala), make sure you were there for the Blade that first made history. Wesley Snipes leads a vampire movie unlike any other – and is undoubtedly one of the only people we’d deliberately choose a 10PM screening for. See you there?
Chelmsford: Hocus Pocus
Where: Everyman Chelmsford
When: Saturday October 30, 1.15PM
Sometimes it’s just quite nice when a scary film doesn’t have to be scary at all. Don’t burn me at the stake for this, there’s a reason we keep revisiting Hocus Pocus, but isn’t it nice when horror can just be quite fun? And very camp? Anyway, bring the whole family to Everyman for this one.
Nottingham: Carrie
Where: Broadway Cinema
When: Sunday October 31, 9PM
They can remake it as many times as they want, the original Carrie will always remain on the throne as the undefeated scream queen. Brian De Palma’s take on Stephen King’s 1974 novel gave Sissy Spacek the role of a lifetime, and a twisted icon for complicated little girls everywhere. Thanks go to Broadway for their programming genius.
Durham: Scream
Where: Gala Durham
When: Saturday October 30, 8.30PM
It’s the best thing to do during the most terrifying times, right? Scream will never lose its place, and there’s nothing quite like that very first time you see Drew Barrymore (with her chic little bob) and feeling your stomach drop as her grisly end comes for her. Always a treat – Gala Durham know this better than anyone.
Glasgow: Raw
Where: Glasgow Film Theatre
When: Friday October 29, 8.40PM
I think we’ve made it pretty clear just how wildly excited we are for Julia Ducournau’s Titane, but if you’re not quite there yet – Glasgow Film Theatre’s screening of the rockstar filmmaker’s first feature Raw is coming this weekend. Not one to enjoy on any empty stomach.
Birmingham: The Exorcist
Where: Vue Birmingham
When: Saturday October 30, 8.45PM
Another one with a remake? Another one with a remake. Get in while you can, before Blumhouse rewrite history, to enjoy William Friedkin’s iconic hellride of demonic possession and exorcism. A very chill time in a very nice place, courtesy of Vue Birmingham.
Cardiff: Audition
Where: Chapter Cardiff
When: Sunday October 31, 8.20PM
One of the finest female-led horror films we have, Audition sees Eihi Shiina let loose as the mysterious Asami in Takashi Miike’s gut-punch of a movie. Absolutely do not take a date to this one, but trust in Chapter all the same.
Online: Censor
Where: Everywhere! Digitally via MUBI
When: Sunday October 31, 7PM
Because we are here to make sure everyone has a happy Halloween, we had to include an at-home option too.
Our kind friends at MUBI are hosting a virtual watch party of Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor, which will start at 7PM after an Instagram Live conversation between the filmmaker and Terri White. No tricks here, treats for everybody.
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