Transcription:
Films feature thrills, chills
By Anne Haddad
Ids Staff Writer
This weekend, it being Halloween and all, children will be going from house to house trick-or-treating, party-goers will be stumbling fro party to party in outrageous costumes, but best of all, masochistic horror-film buffs will be going from screen to screen trying to see how close fright can bring them to death.
Bloomington has a wide selection of Halloween movie treats. Among others, one can see John Carpenter’s Halloween, Halloween II and Halloween III: Season of the Witch in three different places in Bloomington.
Halloween, Halloween II and Halloween III: Season of the Witch: Carpenter’s first Halloween movie, and his last really scary film, will be shown at 8, 10, and midnight tonight and Saturday in Wright Quad Cafeteria. Admission is $2.
Poltergeist: Union Board Films is showing the Steven Spielberg-Produced (some say directed) film. The credits say the film was directed by Tobe Hooper (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”), but rumor has it Spielberg fired him and finished it himself. Don’t waste time over the controversy. The film is decidedly scary and the special effects, by Industrial Light and Magic, are decidedly effective. The film plays at 7, 9:30 and midnight tonight and Saturday in Whitenberger Auditorium. Admission is $1.50.
Arsenic and Old Lace: Another Union Board goodie, this film is set at Halloween, but you’ll be laughing too hard to be frightened. Frank Capra directed this screwball comedy about two well-meaning spinsters who poison lonely old men and bury them in their cellar. Gary Grant and Peter Lorre are at their comic best. It plays at 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday in Whittenberger for $1.50.
The Terrror: The Bloomington Film Society will present the Roger Corman production. Boris Karloff stars, and Jack Nicholson appears in one of his first films. This one was filmed in three days. It probably would have taken only two days, but Francis Ford Coppola was hired as associate producer. “The Terror” will show at 7 and 9 tonight at the Monroe County Public Library. Admission is $1.50.
Picnic at Hanging Rock: Although this film is set at Valentine’s Day, the film is a suspense thriller, but with a very unsatisfying ending, if it can be called an ending at all. Australian Peter Weir (read weird) directed the film about a group of Victorian schoolgirls who go on a tragi outing at Hanging Rock. The film is playing at the Video Saloon, 107 E. Seventh St., tonight and Saturday.
Nosferatu: The gem of the season is the Dennis James feature. No, Dennis James is not a classic horror film star. He will play the organ to this silent classic, directed by F.W. Murnau. The show will start at 8 p.m. Sunday at the IU Auditorium.
The Shining: The best example of how a terrifying novel can turn into a film that is often scary but more often funny is “The Shining.” Novelist Stephen King was pretty disgusted with the way director Stanley Kubrick inserted his own style of humor. I was quite entertained. To be shown at 7, 9, and 11 tonight and Saturday in Woodburn Hall, Room 101.
Creepshow: King is, however, sufficiently satisfied with the latest film exploiting his talents. He even stars in this one. George Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”) directed. The film is humorous, but this time comedy won’t dim the frights. I’ve only seen the previews, and I’ve been sleeping with the light on ever since. Only for the lionhearted, the film opens tonight at the Village Theatre, 1711 N. College Ave.
