HALLOWE’EN
Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages
1 See one of these spine-chilling i lms... Sitting in a darkened room with a bunch of strangers, wilfully terrifying the crap out of yourself – scary cinema is never more frightfully fun than at Hallowe’en. As ever there’s an excellent selection of horror happenings going on around Scotland, from deadly drive-ins to ruthless re-issues and a cult foreign-language classic reworked with a gory live score. If we could take our couch with us to hide behind, we would. Park Circus, Wes Craven’s 1984 low-budget slasher movie, about a ITISON HALLOWEEN DRIVE-IN MOVIES bunch of small-town teens who are stalked and killed in their dreams by a disi gured serial killer with razor-tipped i ngers, as good as (GHOSTBUSTERS/HALLOWEEN) reinvented the horror movie genre, and introduced one of the most Roll-up and roll down your windows for hot dog, pizza and popcorn underwear-soilingly scary bad dudes Hollywood has ever seen. Oh, deliveries courtesy of Street Food Cartel, in-car trick-or-treating and and it features Johnny Depp in his big screen debut. possibly a visit from a certain elusive bogeyman, all while watching ■ General release, Sun 27–Thu 31 Oct. two bloodcurdling blockbusters on the world’s biggest outdoor movie screen. Early evening showings of the Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and NT LIVE: FRANKENSTEIN Harold Ramis-starring supernatural family comedy Ghostbusters will Join audiences across the country in watching special Hallowe’en precede more adult-friendly late-night dates with John Carpenter’s encore screenings of this critically acclaimed 2011 live theatre iconic Halloween, during which Michael Myers may or may not roam simulcast (pictured, below), as part of the National Theatre’s 50th Victoria Park looking for unwitting prey. Punch the central locking Anniversary celebrations. Directed by Danny Boyle and starring anyway just in case. Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating between the ■ Victoria Park, Glasgow, Thu 31 Oct–Sat 2 Nov. roles of Victor Frankenstein and his hideous creation who is hell-bent on getting even with its maker, this landmark theatrical / cinematic THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME event was hailed as one the i nest takes of all time on Mary Shelley’s The appropriately grand surrounds of Usher Hall will play host to perennially petrifying mythic fable. a Hallowe’en event with a gothic twist, as Carl Laemmle’s 1923 ■ General release, Thu 31 Oct. silent adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel is screened with live organ accompaniment from Donald Mackenzie. Directed by Wallace Worsley and starring Lon Chaney as the titular cathedral illustrious bell-ringer Quasimodo, take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame was groundbreaking in its day with its spectacular sets and make-up. Patrons are encouraged to come in themed fancy-dress, and there’ll be a fortune teller on hand for palmistry and tarot readings. ■ Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Thu 31 Oct. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET It’s spawned many sequels and spin-offs and even a dodgy reboot, but there’s only one original and best – or should that be worst? – Nightmare on Elm Street. Returned to cinemas nationwide for a few days only by Glasgow’s HÄXAN: WITCHCRAFT THROUGH THE AGES Where most Hallowe’en i lm events feature frighteners of a famous calibre, this production touring Scotland showcases an obscure gem of scary cinema – 1922 Swedish silent picture Häxan (or Witchcraft Through The Ages, to give it its full English title). Highly controversial in its day for its very graphic dramatisations of Satanic ritual, Benjamin Christensen’s masterpiece will be accompanied by a specially commissioned live score written and performed by Verity Susman of experimental indie-rock ensemble Electrelane. (Malcolm Jack) ■ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 1 Nov; DCA, Dundee, Sat 2 Nov; GFT, Glasgow, Sun 3 Nov.
this 16 THE LIST 17 Oct–14 Nov 2013