Sex, Blood and Rock and Roll

Lots of fun to be had later this month at the Music Box Theatre, under the auspices of Rusty Nails and the Movieside Film Festival! Mark your calendars for the 25th-26th and the 29th!

BLOOD

For 24 hours beginning at Noon on Saturday the 25th, the 4th Annual Music Box Massacre will be showering cinematic tricks and treats upon the good little boys and ghouls, who are encouraged as always to come in costume, bring sleeping bags, pillows, etc.

Special guests include the legendary Clive Barker, who will be presenting his Midnight Meat Train (gotta love that title, which sounds like it could also be filed under the "sex" category as well).

Being a crusty fusty, I'm looking forward to the oldies, and when I say oldies I am truly talking "old school" as in Boris Karloff as deranged butler Morgan in James Whale's 1932 classic The Old Dark House, and from 1920, John Barrymore as the titular Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde, with live organ accompaniment!

Perhaps most of all I am especially excited about the opportunity to see Georges Franju's Eyes Without a Face. I should be publically flagellated for not having seen this yet, but hopefully seeing this on the big screen will be due penance (guess who grew up Catholic)?

Throw in Mario Bava's Black Sunday, Peter Jackson's over-the-top Dead Alive, Brian de Palma's cult oddity The Phantom of the Paradise, Texas Chainsaw knock-off Pieces, and a 9:30 A.M. screening (screaming?) of The Exorcist and you've got yourself a heapin' helpin' o' fright!

SEX

On Wednesday the 29th at 8:00, the lovely Tura Satana will be in person to present Russ Meyer's notorious exploitation classic, Faster, Pussycat! Kill Kill! (Also file under blood, but we all know what the main attraction is here, folks- after all, it IS Russ Meyer).

And hey! The Chicago queen of burlesque, Michelle L'amour, will be doing her thing before the film, so stock up on your Jujubes early and don't get caught waiting in line at the concession stand with your, uh, money in your hand.

ROCK AND ROLL

But wait, there's more! Also on Wednesday before the feature, in the interest of full disclosure I am proud to tell you that one of my old short films, Pure, Unadulterated Rock and Roll, will also be showing. It features my mom on the way to her first (and only) Ramones show, back in '94, explaining her fondness for their "down and out" rock and roll, a love seemingly at odds with her suburban persona. Watch and find out what Marky Ramone thinks of all this when she winds up backstage!

I'm not sure what my mom would think about being on the same bill with a Russ Meyer movie and a burlesque performance, but she'll be in Ohio and won't have to know about that part of it, right? RIGHT???

Also don't miss the afterparty at Liar's Club (free with ticket stub), featuring a KISS costume party judged by Tura herself!

More info for all of the above, including how and where to buy advance tickets, can be found on the Music Box website.

-Dan Mucha