Cinestudio Fright Nights

No scary movie is as scary as when it is seen in a dark theater on a larger than life screen! Cinestudio invites the entire movie-loving community to join us ( if you dare) at the rare screening of the 4K 50^th Anniversary print of the ultimate British cult favorite. After receiving an anonymous letter about a missing 12-year-old girl, devout Christian and dedicated cop Neil Howie (Woodward) travels to one of those remote, austerely beautiful Scottish islands to investigate. But the islanders are far from friendly, caring little for his badge or religion — for the imperious laird of the isle Lord Summerisle (Lee) and his fanatical followers worship only the pagan deities of the past — and those gods demand a sacrifice. Fearing the very worst, Howie is forced to do battle with the islanders’ bewildering misdirection. Can he save her – and himself – from becoming a human sacrifice to the merciless whims of Celtic deities, long-denied their place in the firmament? “A movie that’ll burn its way into your unconscious and give you nightmares for many years to come.” – Jamie Russell, BBC.com

The influential first film by Dario Argento inspired the 1960s and 70s Italian genre known as giallo, spawning hundreds of mystery/thrillers sharing essential elements. In a strange city, a man or woman witnesses a murder – but can not identify the killer. Solving the mystery is paramount, woven together with psychological horror, eroticism, and stylized scenes of violence. It opens as an American writer named Tony, who is visiting Rome watches helplessly as a murderer in a black cape brutally attacks a woman. She survives and assists Tony and his girlfriend Julie as they begin a dangerous, suspenseful search for the serial killer through the dark alleyways of Rome. The best of its kind, and how could it not be with daring cinematography by three-time Academy Award winner Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now) and the moody, alluring soundtrack by Ennio Morricone (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly). “This dazzling debut is downright scary.” – Kevin Turan, Los Angeles.

“Their crime was against Nature. Nature found them guilty.” –tagline of The Long Weekend. In hopes of saving their shaky marriage, Peter and Nancy go to an idyllic beach in the North of Australia, populated only by creatures of the woods, sky, and the sea. On the way there, we witness their casual disregard for the pristine natural surroundings, as they accidentally spark a small fire, and hit a kangaroo with their car. Their inability to come together and their environmentally toxic behavior (breaking an eagle egg, shooting birds, strewing garbage everywhere) only ramps up the suspense. When Nature does fight back, it’s not with monsters, but ordinary creatures: a pissed-off badger, a mournful dugong (an over-hunted Australian sea mammal), and even Cricket, their formerly docile dog. Don’t miss this overlooked classic of 70s’ Ozploitation, terrifyingly even more relevant today.

Cinestudio’s Fright Night invites you to enter the world of Japan’s Toho Studios. We’re not talking about their legitimate masterpieces (Seven Samurai, Ikiru, or even Gojira (aka Godzilla). For true thrills, Vampire Doll is the perfect jumping off place. The first of a trilogy about blood-sucking dwellers of the dark would inspire a new generation of horror, from Ju-On: The Grudge to Audition and Ringu. Vampire Doll begins when a young man goes missing after visiting his girlfriend’s isolated country home. His sister and her boyfriend trace him to the creepy mansion, but their curiosity turns to pure terror when they uncover a macabre family history. Best of all is the intense performance of Kayo Matsuo as the Doll, whose may just have a good reason for her unquenchable lust for blood We cannot guarantee that nightmares will not trouble your sleep.

“The biggest holy grail of all folk horror films.”
— Nathaniel Thompson, MONDO DIGITAL

Cinestudio Fright Nights are becoming the hot place to spend Friday nights for friends, couples, and fans of horror films rarely seen on the silver screen. Before The Blair Witch Project or The Witch, there was Eyes of Fire, a surreal thriller set in the 1750 New England wilderness. A shady preacher (Will) is nearly lynched for his liaisons with a married woman (Eloise) and Leah, who may or may not be a witch. When the preacher and his odd crew of followers look for a new place to start a settlement, the Shawnee warn them not to go into a valley haunted by Indigenous spirits. Ignoring their advice, the group claims the valley, but are soon terrified by pagan visions and highly unusual deaths. In a pitched battle between the spirits of the past and the settlers, can Leah’s magical witchery rescue the innocent and send the demons (human or nor) into the inferno of Hell? “ambitious, atmospheric indie feature is an offbeat treat for horror obscurantists!” Dennis Harvey, San Francisco Bay Guardian.