Fright School Returns to Facets for the Halloween Season

Fright School, an offshoot of Facets’ Night School curated especially for the Halloween season, begins today, September 30, 2011. As part of Facets’ film-education agenda, Fright School offers special Friday and Saturday night midnight lectures on cult favorites followed by screenings of the films and post-screening discussions. From classic horror to blood-gorged exploitation favorites, all go under the microscope at the hands of our horror experts and scholars. 

 

As always, the presenters choose the films they are introducing. This time around, the presenters include some familiar faces, some newcomers, and some Night School favorites. Fresh from the Underground Multiplex, Lew Ojeda and Joseph R. Lewis launch Fright School 3 with a special event—an original production titled Sisters of No Mercy. Presented as an interactive film extravaganza that also includes live circus performers, musicians, dancers and actors, Sisters of No Mercy tells the story of the pious Holy Order of the Sisters of Mercy and how they turned to vengeance when an evil priest and his assistants wreak havoc on their order and the world. Lew and Joseph will also present a primer on the history of video remixing in creating new-style entertainment. The theme of the evening is purgatory so come early to consume hellish treats at our modest reception organized by our own cute little devil, Jenny Grist.

One of the delights of Fright School is the mix of horror films presented, revealing the breadth of the genre. This time, classic horror is represented by Stephen Reginald and Michael G. Smith: Stephen will discuss the contributions of Val Lewton to the genre through I Walked with a Zombie, while Michael introduces Universal Studio’s original haunted-house tale, The Old Dark House. Our women presenters will offer a girls’ view of contemporary horror as Lauren Whalen presents cult favorite Donnie Darko tomorrow night, and, next week, Catherine Clepper offers the surprisingly feminist Ginger Snaps. Chris Damen loves to shake things up at Fright School; last year, Chris knocked everyone’s socks off at Fright School by introducing Nekromantik. This year, he shakes hands with the devil by discussing his disciple, Anton LaVey. Chris will ruminate on LaVey’s influence on horror films, such as the film he’s presenting The Devil’s Rain. Katherine Rife and Mike McPadden push the envelope by offering historical contexts for the exploitation films I Drink Your Blood and Bloodsucking Freaks. They will make you understand that there is more to these movies than just….well, blood.

Joel Wicklund takes a different tack by offering a selection of horror shorts by some of the world’s most famous directors—Tim Burton, Federico Fellini, and David Lynch. And, Dominick Mayer wraps things up with a popular 1980s horror flick, The Frighteners, directed by Peter Jackson long before he was famous for The Lord of the Rings. Personally, I think Jackson should have stuck with horror and saved us all from endless hours of pointy-eared critters slogging across the countryside for reasons that escape me.

At the low cost of $5, Fright School 3 is still the best bargain of the season. When Night School originator Phil Morehart started the Fright School spinoff three years ago, there were few venues around town that offered horror film series on a regular basis. Now, there is a glut of them. We compete with these other horror programs and series, which is a concern for us. We are such a small operation that we can't afford to lose any part of our audience. Still, I welcome the attention these programs and series give to the horror film, a rich genre maligned by critics who are blinded each fall by Oscar bait. They don’t realize that Ginger Snaps or The Frighteners—or even Bloodsucking Freaks—tells us more about ourselves than any dull, talky historical drama about British royalty ever could.

As always, thanks to my gracious presenters who contribute their efforts and expertise for the love of the game. Find out more at: http://www.facets.org/pages/nightschool.php  

                                                                                                          --Susan Doll

                                                                                   

Sept. 30 

Lew Ojeda and Joseph R. Lewis Presents "The Sisters of No Mercy Premiere Party in Purgatory and The Art of Video Remixing"

Oct. 1

Lauren Whalen Presents “Be Your Teenage Dream Tonight: A Boy, a Bunny, and the End of the Mad World in Donnie Darko”

Oct. 7

Catherine Clepper Presents “Howling at the Moon: Blood Sisterhood in Ginger Snaps”

Oct. 8 

Mike McPadden Presents “An Orgy of Sick Minds: The Heritage of Bloodsucking Freaks”

Oct. 14

Katherine Rife Presents “The Worst Trip: Killer Hippies, Devil Worship, and Mansonsploitation in I Drink Your Blood"

Oct. 15

Stephen Reginald Presents “The Artistry of Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur in I Walked with a Zombie”

Oct. 21

Joel Wicklund Presents “Art House Auteurs Go A-Haunting!”

Oct. 22

Michael G. Smith "Universal (and Timeless) Horror: Rooting Around The Old Dark House”

Oct. 28

Chris Damen Presents “Shout Out to the Devil: Anton LaVey and Cinema”

Oct. 29

Dominick Mayer Presents “Universal Horror in the Late 20th: The Frighteners”