Killer Hair [Special Screenings, Oct. 18-25]

Samson et Dalila. Photo by Vincent Peters for the Met Live in HD

Ouija: Origin of Evil. The Thursday Matinee film series, whose theme this month is “New Horror Classics,” continues with Mike Flanagan’s 2016 mystery-horror thriller. In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother (Elizabeth Reaser) unwittingly invites evil into her home by adding a new stunt to bolster her sŽance scam business. You are invited to wittingly bring snacks and beverages to this screening, but including booze will unleash unspeakable evil. Fullerton Public Library, Osborne Auditorium, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., Oct. 18, 1 p.m. Free.

MFKZ. GKIDS and Fathom Events present the U.S. cinema debut of the collaboration between French comic artist Guillaume “Run” Renard, Japanese animation house Studio 4¡C and these American actors whose voices are heard in the English-dubbed version: Michael Chiklis (The Shield), Giancarlo Espositio (Breaking Bad), Dascha Polanco (Orange Is the New Black), RZA (The Man With the Iron Fists) and Danny Trejo (Machete). After a scooter accident in a neo-urban hell, young Angelino (Tay Lee) experiences migraines, strange hallucinations and fits of rage-inspired superpowers. That leads him to discover he is half-human, half-supernatural alien (of the taking-over-the-planet variety). The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Oct. 18, 2, 4, 6 & 8 p.m. $7-$10.

Anime Club. Such animes as Bleach, Naruto, My Hero Academia, Attack On Titan and Sword Art Online are streamed, and premium prizes from Crunchyroll are doled out during this program aimed at ages 13-17. Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Ave., Cypress, (714) 826-0350. Thurs., Oct. 18, 4 p.m. Free.

Coco. The 2017 computer-animated Disney Pixar hit is about a 12-year-old (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) who is sent to the Land of the Dead. He will remain there forever unless he can return to the Land of the Living before the Day of the Dead ends. Fullerton Public Library, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. Free.

OC Film Fiesta. Media Arts Santa Ana’s ninth-annual event includes music, parties and other special events at various Santa Ana, Buena Park and Orange locations, as well as, of course, documentaries, narrative features and short films. The Fiesta opens Thurs., Oct. 18, with Christopher Glenn Cannon’s 2017 horror film The House That the Devil Built, which is about a ghost-hunting team with a reality show being contracted to explore a haunted theater in the Midwest. That’s followed by Humberto Hinojosa Ozcariz’s award-winning 2017 Mexican road picture Camino a Marte (Road to Mars), which has two women driving through Baja California, where they meet a strange man who claims to be from another planet. The festival continues Fri., Oct. 19, with a free outdoor screening of A Taxi Driver, where a down-on-his-luck cabbie in Seoul, South Korea, takes a foreign journalist to Gwangju, and they arrive to a city under seige (7 p.m.). Another free outdoor screening on Fri., Oct. 26, brings Macario, a 1960 Mexican Día de los Muertos classic about a poor, hungry peasant who meets three apparitions on the Day of the Dead, which will end with him on the way to riches—and under suspicion. Sat., Oct. 27, lineup: The Good the Bad the Weird (11 a.m.), Jee-woon Kim’s 2008 western about two outlaws and a bounty hunter being pursued in 1940s Manchuria; Equal Means Equal (2 p.m.), Kamala Lopez’s 2016 documentary about how the U.S. Constitution holds down women; Flavor of Life (4 p.m.) with special guest Pepe Serna, who stars in Rajesh Golla’s dramedy as a chef trying to save his restaurant; El Incidente (The Incident) (6 p.m.), Isaac Ezban’s 2014 Mexican sci-fi thriller with two parallel stories about people trapped in illogical endless spaces; and Roma (8 p.m.), Alfonso Cuaron’s new drama that follows a year in the life of a middle class Mexico City family in the early 1970s. Sun., Oct. 28 (final day!): Challah Rising in the Desert (1:30 p.m.), Isaac Artenstein’s new documentary celebrating the history and people of New Mexico’s Jewish community; The Best of Philip K. Dick Festival, short films from the late sci-fi/dystopian legend (and Orange County resident) (3:15 p.m.); This Taco Truck Kills Fascists with special guest Jose Torres Tama, the performance artist who is the subject of director Rodrigo Dorfman’s new documentary’s making its West Coast premiere (7:30 p.m.). Opening Night at Santa Ana College, Phillips Hall Theatre, 1454-1592 N. Bristol St., Santa Ana; www.ocfilmfiesta.org. Thurs., Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. $3-$10. Parking, $2. Free outdoor screenings at The Source OC, first floor Step Plaza, 6940 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, (714) 521-8858. Fri., Oct. 19 and 26, 7 p.m. Free. Oct. 27 lineup at AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288. Oct. 28 lineup at Santa Ana High School, 520 W. Walnut St., Santa Ana. $3-$10 per screening unless otherwise indicated. Festival passes $75 or two for $125.

Elvira’s Movie Macabre: House On Haunted Hill. Creepy cocktails, raffles with peculiar prizes and more spooky surprises are promised during Los Angeles Arts Society’s first Haunted House Party, which opens with live music by New Evil. Then comes the Elvira’s Movie Macabre television episode with William Castle’s 1959 chiller starring horror icon Vincent Price. He plays a millionaire who offers five people $10,000 if they spend the night with him and his wife in their spooky house. Presented with “Emergo!” The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Oct. 18, 7 p.m. $13.

More Than Funny. The new comedy special by Michael Jr., who has performed on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live, was made before a live audience. Besides delivering standup, he’ll share three real-life stories that are said to be inspiring and motivating. AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, 2457 Park Ave., Tustin, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (800) 967-1932; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, 26701 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium East 12, 155 W. Birch St., Brea, (714) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium West 10, 255 W. Birch St., Brea, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, 65 Fortune Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, 7501 E. Carson, Long Beach, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Thurs., Oct. 18, 7 p.m. $12.50.

Silent Spooky Night. The speakeasy, which one enters with a password and through a phone booth, and Long Beach Heritage Museum continue their semi-regular screenings of silent films that this time are Halloween-tinged: The Haunted Castle, The Infernal Cauldron, The Fall of the House of Usher, Edison’s 1910 Frankenstein and The Silly Symphonies’ The Skeleton Dance. Fine spirits and Roxanne’s delightful hors d’ouerves are served. The Exhibition Room-Long Beach Craft Cocktails, 1117 E. Wardlow Rd., Long Beach, (562) 826-2940; www.theexhibitionroom.com. Thurs., Oct. 18, 8 p.m. $40.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Given all the splatter flicks that have come out since the 1974 release of Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece (splatterspiece?), you’d be forgiven for forgetting or being unaware of how unique The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was at the time. It’s inspired by the Ed Gein murders, by the way, and you’ll be treated to a new 4K restoration. The Frida Cinema, thefridacinema.org. Fri.-Sun., 2:30, 5, 7 & 9 p.m. $7-$10.

The Met Live in HD: Samson et Dalila. Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna, who were last seen together by Live in HD audiences in Bizet’s Carmen in 2010, sing the title roles of Saint-Saëns’ biblical epic, which is presented in French with English subtitles. AMC Marina Pacifica, 6346 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, (562) 430-8790; AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at The District, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, (800) 967-1932; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, 99 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach, (562) 435-5754; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium West 10, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, 26602 Towne Center Dr., Foothill Ranch, (949) 588-9402; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16, 9741 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Sat., 9:55 a.m. (live); Wed., 1 & 6 p.m. (taped encore; no early Tustin show). $18-$24.

The Nightmare Before Christmas. Curl up on the beach for a Halloween party and Tim Burton’s animated musical about Halloweentown’s beloved pumpkin king Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon, but sung by Danny Elfman) becoming bored with frightening people. Then he stumbles upon bright and happy Christmastown, which gives him a new lease on life. Beachfront Cinema at Huntington State Beach, Tower 5, Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; beachfrontcinema.com. Sat., gates open for air show, 11 a.m.; screening, 6:30 p.m. $9.99-$19.99.

1945. Photo by Lenke Szilagyi/Menemsha Films

1945. In Ferenc Török’s excellent drama, two strangers arrive at the railway station outside a Hungarian village at 11 a.m. on Aug. 12, 1945. That day was supposed to end with a joyous wedding celebration, but instead, it is capped by tragedy. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435. Sat., 11 a.m. $8.50-$11.50.

The Road to Edmond. In David Trotter’s spiritual comedy, suburban Denver youth pastor Cleo (Nathanael Welch) is forced to take a two-week break by his church’s board of elders, which is suspicious over his genuine support for a teenage girl. So Cleo hits the road for Edmond, Oklahoma, but along the way, he meets up with a man (Tripp Fuller, who wrote the screenplay with Trotter) and his dead father. Triangle Square Cinemas, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, (949) 650-4300. Sat., 6 p.m. $15.

Suburban Nightmares: A Horror Shorts Film Festival. At this first-time event, terrifying short films created by professional independent filmmakers are presented, with proceeds going to the Mission Viejo Film Festival. Do you know what’s really terrifying? Screening Dead Hearts, Heartless, Invaders, Luna, Peek A Boo, The Quiet Room, Teddy Bears Are for Lovers, 20 Hz, and Two Birds in a funeral home! VB&B Productions, which is presenting what it hopes will become an event with partner Decayed Brigade, warns that those flicks are intended for mature audiences and that seating is limited, so you should snag tickets ASAP. Fairhaven Memorial Services, 27856 Center Dr., Mission Viejo; www.suburbannightmaresfilmfest.com. Sat., 7:30 p.m. $10.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In anticipation of the stage musical’s Jan. 19-Feb. 16, 2019, run, the Costa Mesa theater company presents the 2007 Oscar-winning Tim Burton film, which was inspired by the earlier Broadway show. (Whoa . . . the layers!) Johnny Depp plays mild-mannered London barber Benjamin Barker, who is framed by an evil judge (Alan Richman) and sent to prison. After Barker’s release 15 years later, he takes the name Sweeney Todd and takes his razor to unlucky customers as revenge. The Frida Cinema, thefridacinema.org. Sat., 8 p.m. $7-$10.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The pioneering midnight movie starts with the car of sweethearts Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon) breaking down near the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry). The transvestite scientist’s home also hosts a rocking biker (Meat Loaf), a creepy butler (Richard O’Brien) and assorted freaks, including a hunk of beefcake named “Rocky.” Live shadow-cast troupe K.A.O.S. performs in Santa Ana, while it’s Midnight Insanity in Long Beach. Art Theatre, (562) 438-5435. Sat., 11:55 p.m. $8.50-$11.50.

Top Gun. Before Top Gun: Maverick hits theaters in 2020, go out on the beach and watch live aerial acrobatics during the day and Tony Scott’s 1986 air action-drama come dark. Macho students of an elite U.S. fighter pilot school compete to be best in the class, including ol’ Maverick himself (Tom Cruise), who is also after the heart of a teacher (Kelly McGillis). Beachfront Cinema at Huntington State Beach, Tower 5; beachfrontcinema.com. Sun., gates open for air show, noon; screening, 6:30 p.m. $9.99-$19.99.

Twilight 10th Anniversary. Has it really been a decade since all that Team Edward and Team Jacob crap was out there? See the 2008 flick, based on Stephanie Meyer’s New York Times best-sellers, which starts with Bella (Kristen Stewart) moving to a small Washington town, where her heart and world collide with secret vampire Edward’s (Robert Pattinson). Director Catherine Hardwicke gives a special introduction, a sneak peak of Twilight Tour . . . 10 Years Later is shown, and commemorative posters are given out. AMC Fullerton 20, 1001 S. Lemon St., Fullerton, (714) 992-6962; AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at The District, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, (800) 967-1932; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, (562) 435-5754; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Big Newport 6, 300 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium West 10, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, (949) 588-9402; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Market Place Stadium, 13782 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Sun. & Tues., 2 & 7 p.m. $12.50.

The Changeling. In Peter Medak’s 1980 horror flick, George C. Scott plays a composer who grieves for his recently deceased family by staying in a secluded historical mansion, where he is haunted by a specter. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon., 2, 5 & 7 p.m.; Wed., 5 & 7:30 p.m. $7-$10.

Friday the 13th. Counselors ignore locals’ warnings of Crystal Lake’s history of murders and set up a summer camp where, one by one, young people start disappearing. Director Sean S. Cunningham’s low-budget slasher flick of 1980 spawned a remake, 10 sequels and this refrain muttered under one’s breath while closely following anyone at night in the pitch-black wilderness: “Kill, kill, kill . . .” Directors Cut Cinema at Regency Rancho Niguel, 25471 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-0446. Tues., 7:30 p.m. $8.

Night of the Living Dead. Photo courtesy Image Ten

Night of the Living Dead. A disparate group of folks take refuge in an abandoned house to avoid flesh eaters roaming the countryside in George Romero’s original, über-influential, 1968 zombie flick. Prior to the horror master’s death in 2017, he worked with the film’s sound engineer, Gary Streiner, to restore and remaster the movie in 4K Ultra HD from the original camera negative. That’s what you’ll see, in addition to a new behind-the-scenes look at the making of this iconic film that invented the “zombie apocalypse.” AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, (800) 967-1932; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, (562) 435-5754; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Brea Stadium West 10, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, (949) 588-9402; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Wed.-Thurs., Oct. 25, 7 & 10 p.m. $12.50.

The Exorcist. William Friedkin’s 1973 horror masterpiece was adapted from William Peter Blatty’s best-seller. Sweet 12-year-old Regan (Linda Blair) begins exhibiting strange behavior that is soon accompanied by strange events in her Washington, D.C., house. Her actress mother Chris (Ellen Burstyn) seeks help from a medical doctor, a psychiatrist and eventually Roman Catholic priests who suspect demonic possession is the cause. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.

It Comes at Night. The Thursday Matinee film series’ “New Horror Classics” month ends with Trey Edwards Shults’ 2017 horror mystery. Two families must share a home and an uneasy alliance to keep apocalyptic evil outside. True horror may come from within, however. Fullerton Public Library, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., Oct. 25, 1 p.m. Free.

Bombs Away Live! Death Spa. It’s the same show twice! First, watch Michael Fischa’s 1989 horror flick about gruesome deaths at the hip Los Angeles Starbody Health Spa. Then, see and hear the Bombs Away podcast hosts rip the B-movie and take audience questions. Next comes Frida’s first Halloween party, with the moviehouse decorated to resemble the spa from the film. A costume contest, special refreshments and swag for sale are included. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Oct. 25, 8 p.m. $15.

One Reply to “Killer Hair [Special Screenings, Oct. 18-25]”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *