HALLOWEEN HORROR

PARANORMAN

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before Halloween, three fabulously scary programs: a double feature of restored 3D horror movies presented in-person by Bob Furmanek of the 3-D Film Archive; a 35mm screening of Kathryn Bigelow’s 80s Western-Vampire mashup Near Dark; and a family-friendly matinee of Laika’s stop-motion thrill-ride Paranorman (also part of our Chicago Film Society series).

  • Fri., Oct. 25 | 7:00 PM
    4070 Vilas Hall

The Gill Man from Creature from the Black Lagoon is back! After being taken into captivity and escaping from his tank at the aquarium, the Creature is hunted down by a sympathetic scientist (Agar). 3D auteur Arnold loads the action with numerous striking underwater effects, recently restored by 3-D Film Archive. Revenge of the Creature also marks the big screen debut of Clint Eastwood, who plays a goofy lab assistant. After the screening, a discussion of the restoration with 3-D Film Archive founder Bob Furmanek.

  • Fri., Oct. 25 | 9:00 PM
    4070 Vilas Hall

A scientist creates a deadly parasite that attaches to his stomach. He and his female companion (Moore, in her first leading role) must find a way to destroy it while also battling rednecks and an evil government agent. The gooey, slimy creatures drop right from the ceiling and into your lap with the help of startling 3D effects, restored by 3-D Film Archive. Bob Furmanek, the Archive’s founder, will introduce this screening.

  • Sat., Oct. 26 | 7:00 PM
    4070 Vilas Hall

Bigelow’s fresh take on the vampire genre mixes and matches an atmospheric summer romance with ultra-violent set pieces to great effect. Decades before the Twilight franchise drained the lifeblood out of the concept, Near Dark cast the extremely photogenic Pasdar and Jenny Wright as a star-crossed couple - he’s a cowboy, she’s a vampire - and their love means being forced to choose between life or undeath, between his family or hers. Since her family consists of a good chunk of the cast of Aliens (including Paxton at his all-time greasiest/nastiest) sparks and blood are bound to fly. Filled with images both horrifying and gorgeous and propelled by a lush Tangerine Dream score, Near Dark was an early career highlight for Bigelow. (BR)

  • Sun., Oct. 27 | 2:00 PM
    Chazen

In the troubled small town of Blithe Hollow, young Norman Babcock has developed a, shall we say, sixth sense that allows him to communicate with the dead. Norman, teamed with a small group of friends, sets out to face ghosts and zombies in order to lift a centuries-old curse on his village. Stop-motion animation studio Laika followed-up their debut feature hit Coraline with this equally spooky and funny visual feast. Preceded by Betty Boop in the Fleischer Studios classic Minnie the Moocher (1932, 8 min.).