Off The Marquee

One of my favorite Tucson events is the annual Scream-O-Rama at the Loft. The program always incorporates an awesome mix of classics and schlockier fare. The big screen really brings horror to life, and a good mix of gore standards and b-movie films brings a full scope of appreciation to the genre. Every year The Loft puts together a flawless program, and this year is no different.

Some highlights for me over the years include dozing in and out during Rob Zombie’s House of a 1000 Corpses while waiting for a 5:00AM screening of Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond. I liked House of a 1000 Corpses, but I am convinced now that it is best watched on a big screen while sleeping through it. At times, the extremely loud parts jolted me awake. It makes for a truly neurotic movie going experience. 

Another favorite moment was hearing someone yell “camel toe” during one of the school scenes in Susperia. I have seen Susperia in the theater three times and someone has yelled “camel toe” two of those times in two completely different cities. Unless the heckler moved here with me, it’s a pretty amazing co-incidence. 

Pieces (1982) is a good slasher film made during the great early 80s rush to make a slasher film. Fright Night (1985) is one of the better attempts to make vampire drama modern and funny. Hellraiser (1987)  is always worth re-visiting. I am unfamiliar with City of the Walking Dead (1980), but one great thing about Scream-O-Rama is they have great taste in Italian horror fare. I’m sure it’s worth the overnight haul.  

The highlight for me will be seeing John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) on the big screen again.

The Thing (1982) 
There are circles that call this the best remake of all time. The original movie is a simple story of scientists stationed at an Arctic research facility who come upon a mysterious crash site buried under ice. After digging it up, strange things start happening around the base.  Soon, the entire team is in danger of being killed by an undefined alien suspect, and the team has nowhere to run. While the stories for both versions are essentially the same, The Thing from Another World (1951) played successfully on the horror principal that what you can’t see can be as scary as what you can see. John Carpenter threw that idea out the window with an array of on set special effects creating a gory mystery of an alien entity turning characters against one another and body parts against characters. Kurt Russell stars in the third of his four-movie stint as Carpenter’s hero; four movies should constitute the argument for a dream team of Carpenter/Russell. Wilford Brimley makes an uncharacteristic appearance in this claustrophobic sci-fi adventure.  The Thing suffered at the box office in the wake of E.T. (1982), a time when the public was clamoring for cuter aliens for their kids to fall in love with. This ain’t your daddy’s The Thing(eeeewwww), and it ain’t for kids.

There are usually loads of trailers and short films between movies as well. That element can be the best part as it revives nostalgic feelings of being in the theater as a kid and not knowing what to expect. Some of the wonder of going to the theater cannot be reproduced at home no matter how hard electronics manufacturers try to convince us to stay at home. There is some magic left in the old screen, and nothing beats facing the morning after a full night of horror movies. 

The Loft Cinema
3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ
www.loftcinema.com
Off the Marquee is a forum for reviewing and promoting overlooked classics, cult movie screenings, second-run viewing opportunities, and independent film. If you have anything in that vein you would like to share or promote, I would be psyched to hear about it.
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www.billupsallen.com