An Invitation to Facets Fright School

Posted by Susan Doll on September 21, 2009

Frightschoolfacets If you are in the Chicago area during any weekend in October, please drop in for the third session of Night School at Facets Multi-Media. Facets’s unique take on the tried-and-true midnight movie idea is to make the experience an educational one. Each week, a staff member hosts the midnight movie, offering a brief lecture before the film and moderating a Q&A afterward. Without a doubt, the Facets staff is the company’s best asset, and those who have participated in Night School have proven it with their entertaining but informative introductions to the movies. Staff members express their unique personalities through their movie choices and through their introductions: Some offer entertaining behind-the-scenes information; others offer an academic-style lecture; still others combine their intros with a touch of performance art. Handouts on each movie are offered to patrons as they enter the theater, and a syllabus and reading list are provided to cover each session. And, we are not above bribing our audience, because each week we raffle off a DVD from the Facets label. All of this edification and amusement is available for the low, low cost of five dollars per screening.

For October, we expanded the series to both Friday and Saturday nights, and we are showing all horror films to celebrate the Halloween season. Facets Night School becomes Fright School for the month of October. The Halloween spirits were with us this year, because October 31 is on a Saturday, which means our series will conclude on the actual holiday. And, the Facets’ film-savvy staff has selected a diverse but highly entertaining selection of horror movies to present and talk about. Below is our ten-week session, complete with lecture titles so you can get a hint of the Night School style…that is, the Fright School style.

The Frightening Schedule:

Friday, October 2

“In the Beginning There Was Universal: The Establishment of the Hollywood Horror Genre”

Susan Doll presents the ultimate Universal horror classic, The Mummy (Karl Freund, 1932).

I SELECTED 'THE MUMMY' BECAUSE I LOVE KARL FREUND'S LIGHTING, AND YOU CAN'T HAVE A HORROR SERIES WITHOUT KARLOFF.

Saturday, October 3

“It’s All in Your Head: The Genius of Horror Producer Val Lewton”

Stephen Reginald presents the underrated, atmospheric chiller, Cat People (Jacques Tourneur, 1942).

Friday, October 9

“Hammer Time: Inside Britain’s House of Gothic Horror”

Phil Morehart presents the Hammer Films classic Curse of Frankenstein (Terence Fisher, 1957)

HAMMER FILMS' CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENRE WILL BE COVERED WITH THIS FILM.

Saturday, October 10

“Fulci’s Zombie: Brains or Entrails?”

Patrick Ogle presents the Italian zombie gore-fest, Zombie (Lucio Fulci, 1979).

Friday, October 16

“All of Them Witches: Rosemary vs. the Satanists”

Cary Jones Elza presents Polanski’s horror masterpiece Rosemary’s Baby (Roman Polanski, 1968).

FRANKLY, I THINK ALL KIDS ARE THE DEVIL, AND 'ROSEMARY'S BABY' JUST CONFIRMS IT.

Saturday, October 17

“Living the Mania: Rutger Hauer & The Hitcher’s Psychopathic Thrill Ride”

Amy J. Boyd presents the road-trip nightmare The Hitcher (Robert Harmon, 1986).

THE LOOK ON RUTGER HAUER'S CRAZED FACE IS THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT FOR 'THE HITCHER.'

Friday, October 23

“Nicolas Roeg’s Death in Venice”

Dan Mucha presents the disquieting supernatural thriller Don’t Look Now (Nicolas Roeg, 1973).

Saturday, October 24

“Ghosts of the Spanish Civil War: Guillermo del Toro’s Eerie Poetic Vision”

Michael Smith presents a creeper from the mind behind Pan’s Labyrinth, The Devil’s Backbone (Guillermo del Toro, 2001).

Friday, October 30

“(REC) & The European Union Horror Revolution”

Miguel Martinez presents the up-close-and-personal zombie freak-out from Spain, (REC) (Jaume Balagueró/Paco Plaza, 2007).

Saturday, October 31

“Heavy Haxan: Depictions of Satan on Screen”

Brian Elza and Bruce Neal present the Swedish silent film on witchcraft, Haxan (Benjamin Christensen, 1922), complete with an original heavy-metal score composed especially for the evening and performed live!

'HAXAN' WITH A METAL SCORE FOR HALLOWEEN.

The schedule is terrific mix of classics and modern horror and Hollywood and European horror. The hardest part was having only ten sessions, because so many classics and subgenres of horror had to be left out. It was fun debating the merits of certain styles and subgenres, and we were genuinely disappointed that we couldn’t make room for films like Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark, Herk Harvey’s Carnival of Souls (a personal favorite of mine), Bob Clark’s Black Christmas, and Herschell Gordon Lewis’s Blood Feast on the final schedule. The schedule is arranged chronologically to give patrons a sense of the genre’s evolution. The most exciting selection may be the closing one on Halloween night in which two talented staff members, Bruce Neal and Brian Elza, will offer an original metal-guitar score for the Danish silent film Haxan. Because it will be Halloween, we encourage patrons to dress up in costumes and soak up the atmosphere.

We have learned a great deal since launching the midnight movie series. Film lovers – whether diehard buffs of certain genres or those who prefer to see movies in the company of other people – like to talk intelligently about films, even at 2:00am in the morning. And, they like to be given facts, interpretations, and impressions that they can think about and respond to as opposed to the snarky opinionated discourse that currently passes for film reviewing. Most of our audience is young, but not all of it. Though the youthful viewers are not quite as young as the demographic so cherished by the current studios and their marketing teams, they are still the group targeted by ads and marketing campaigns. Yet, many young people are tired of the loud, empty blockbusters that the studios churn out and are seeking commercial movies that are more engaging.

Movies are meant to be seen with other people, especially horror films and comedies. The effectiveness of these genres is measured by audience reaction. And, the larger the crowd, the more impact the films of these genres will have on the individual. I invite everyone to attend Fright School to be shocked, frightened, disgusted, amused, or entertained by the movies as well as enlightened by the staff members serving as hosts.

And, Boo!

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11 Responses An Invitation to Facets Fright School

Posted By Phil : September 21, 2009 4:40 pm

Awesome post, Suzi. This should be the best Night School session yet!

Posted By debbe : September 21, 2009 7:52 pm

wish i lived in chicago…. i met the star of carnival of souls on several occasions. you should get her to come… she seemed frozen in time. breathy marilyn monroe voice. scarf over platinum hair. lots of pale pancake makeup. fabulous.

Posted By michaelgsmith : September 22, 2009 9:54 am

I am greatly looking forward to taking part in this madness.

Posted By moirafinnie : September 22, 2009 10:56 am

Gee, Suzi, I’m not sure I’d want to see Haxan on the big screen, much less with a heavy metal score. It sends shivers down my spine as it is. ;-)

I hope that your introduction of the still genuinely spooky movie, The Mummy (1932) allows you to explore the fascinating career and life of Zita Johann. She always sounded like a highly theatrical woman with a noteworthy streak of independence that must have puzzled and irked the studios a great deal,(she reportedly announced to Irving Thalberg that his movies were largely “rubbish”). I just wish she’d made more movies.

Once again, you’ve made me wish I lived nearer Chicago. I hope you’ll write a bit more about Facets’ upcoming calendar of events in the future.

Posted By myidolspencer : September 22, 2009 2:26 pm

Terrific article again to Suzie!

Though not exactly for this site, something that will likely be popping up everywhere movie-related is lists’ for the top of the past & rather mediocre decade-(2000-2010)

As of yet AFI has yet to indicate if such a poll will be conducted

It did one for the 1980′s & skipped the ’90′s de to another “100 Years Special” “100yrs…100 Laughs” “Some Like It Hot’ took 1st place

There is a theatre down here that still covers the midnight movie & can you believe “Rocky Horror Picture Show’ still sells out!
I’ve personally never been a fan-(except of *Susan Sarandon’s)

Thank you

Posted By myidolspencer : September 22, 2009 2:37 pm

& seeing this article-( prefer the regular phrases myself & not so much computer lingo as “thread” & especially “curser?”)

Anyway, this particular theatre doesn’t really-(unfortunately) focus on the fun thrillers/horror flix of the past?

“Bride of Frankenstein” “Psycho” “Night of the Hunter”-(a movie that is virtually impossible to see on a big screen anymore?)
“King Kong” (l933) & others

Most nowadays-(I know I sound like an old man at just 44)
basically want blood & guts, as opposed to Hitchcock

1987′s “The Hitcher” though not a great one, but Hauer is again a powerful villian-(i.e. “Blade Runner”)
was already ridiculously remade last yr & it’s a mess!

Actually I’m surprised they have not given “Rosemary’s Baby’ a make-over yet!?
Now that was a thinking person’s thriller

(TRIVIA: The bldg it was shot in “The Dakota Arms” is also the same that John Lennon lived-in & was returning to in 1980 when he was killed!
Plus, it was during it’s filming that Mia was served divorcement papers by a *”Chairman of the Board: Sinatra” attorney)

Thank You

Posted By Michael Metzger : September 24, 2009 8:10 pm

HI Suzi,
Quite a career you have going for yourself. I like the Facet Fright School. I will be out of town from 4 Oct. to 9 Oct. but will try and catch one or two the evenings when I return. Will have to look up Facets as I’m not familiar with it. Enjoyed reading your info and reviews. More later.
Michael

Posted By morlockjeff : September 28, 2009 9:28 pm

I wish I could teleport myself into the Haxan event on the the 31st. That is a favorite film of mine and it’s particularly intriguing with the William Burroughs commentary, one of the alternate versions offered on the Criterion disc. Even after 87 years the imagery in this film is still potent, creepy, nightmarish and funny-demented.

Posted By myidolspencer : September 30, 2009 9:41 am

(*OSCAR) Again to Suzie! I reckon’ you & some others reading this already know given most on “The Mt. Summit” of all online classic movie websites in TCM, that though it never ranked among the top 5 of “The Studio-System” circa 1925 to 1960) Universal-(est: 1909-(NOTE: Many may not know this 1 though, just for those fans out there-it’s always been in Burbank, same goes for: Warner Bros.-(est: 1924-)-(for my $dough$ still the best tour left in what was/is our favourite empire called “HOLLYWOODLAND!”), *Disney’s original “Dream Factory”-(1928-), CBS, NBC. Plus, whats known to the massses as “The Forest Lawn, cem.” that really gained fame or infamy due to the 1965 cult film “The Loved 0ne” (***1/2-out of 4) As opposed to whats also been dubbed as “The Disneyland of Graveyards”-(ironically even *Uncle Walt picked-it as well) in Glendale, CALIF.-(P.S. Meaning for us TCM-ITES’ literally, about 75% or more of it’s 24-7 coverage, the latter park-(a phrase I personally prefer) I’ve never visited the former though have been to the latter twice in my 44yrs to date & unlike either the studios & other famed “Tinsel-Town cemetaries” of which virtually go out of their way to even encourage fans to come and visit (books, brochure’s you name-it)-(i.e. “Hollywood Forever, cem’)-(the 1 that borders Paramount & old RKO) & tiny “Westwood, park” Glendale’s all up rolling hills 320 acre park & tends to even get more unfriendly to us fans, with each passing year-(P.S. & now especially with Michael Jackson-(l958-2009) strangely selecting it as opposed to the other 1 where many likely saw that huge tv coverage there, just prior to his entire entourage/family & such after a couple hours at the 1 located not too-far from “THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN”-(or did he?) Address being Hollywood Hills/Burbank & then they rushed over to “The Staples Center”-(still under construction when last there in late 05)
Thing is the legendary heavyweights inside it’s huge gothic “Great Maus.” *”The King: Gable”, Lombard, Harlow, *Selznick, *Thalberg, *Shearer, W.C. Fields, Chaney, Sr., Harold Lloyd-(of whom had 1 of the largest estate’s in all of B. Hills!) Red Skelton & Robert Young among others, were never known to be the late tragic entertainer’s Idols. However at the other cem. of which mostly modern era & tv stars’ chose as final resting place-(*B. Davis, Hope, Lucy, B. Keaton-(TRIVIA Talk of a dedicated fan, bulgy eyed comic: Marty Feldman wanted to be interred right next to his own Idol & was in 1982 at just 49!), Stan Laurel, *Laughton, The Nelson’s-(of which many still insist ol’ 0zzie still haunts the place?) & Raft-(N0TE TO TCM: Though never a great, let alone good actor: George Raft-(l895-l980) despite being in approx 80 flix has never even been a “STOTM?)
It’s actually the oldest of ‘em thats still alive & kicking. & from 1 of the least famed “Movie-Moguls” Carl Laemmle

Posted By myidolspencer : September 30, 2009 9:47 am

(NOTE: To readers,etc please figure me on above post, must continure & finish a wee-bit later.

& of course to suzie too!

THANX

Posted By myidolspencer : September 30, 2009 9:51 am

OOPS, the obvious word is (PLEASE FORGIVE) & will get back to ya’

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