Staff Picks<\/h2>\n
After a summer that hung around well past curfew, we\u2019re finally in the spooky season \u2014 and local indie moviehouses have no shortage of scary movies to enliven these quickly darkening nights. Here\u2019s a sample of what\u2019s on offer around town. Boo!<\/p>\n
The Beacon<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019ve seen the Japanese horror classic \u201cRing<\/strong>\u201d (way scarier than the American remake), you remember how the idea of a haunted VHS tape somehow seemed terrifying. The Beacon screens it Oct. 10, as a double feature with another J-horror classic, \u201cJu-On: The Grudge<\/strong>.\u201d For vampire connoisseurs, Nicolas Cage chews the scenery (and, the story goes, actual cockroaches<\/a>) in \u201cVampire\u2019s Kiss<\/strong>\u201d (Oct. 18, 22, 23) and Bill Paxton plays a rockabilly vamp in Kathryn Bigelow\u2019s \u201cNear Dark<\/strong>\u201d (Oct. 24, 25, 28). Robert Wise\u2019s 1963 horror classic \u201cThe Haunting<\/strong>,\u201d based on Shirley Jackson\u2019s Gothic ghost story \u201cThe Haunting of Hill House,\u201d screens Oct. 26-27, and a group of 12-year-olds must save their town from a gaggle of monsters led by Count Dracula in the 1980s cult favorite \u201cThe Monster Squad<\/strong>,\u201d screening Oct. 26 and 30.<\/p>\n 4405 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle; 206-420-7328,\u00a0<\/em>thebeacon.film<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Celebrating its 20th<\/sup> anniversary this year, the friendly Central District food-and-drink theater has plenty of scary fare for the month. \u201cBeetlejuice<\/strong>\u201d scuttles in Oct. 3-8, in a double feature with the 1996 truck-stop-vampire flick \u201cFrom Dusk till Dawn<\/strong>,\u201d featuring an early starring role for George Clooney. More vampires arrive the following week: The 1931 horror classic \u201cDracula<\/strong>,\u201d starring Bela Lugosi, runs with \u201cThe Lost Boys<\/strong>\u201d Oct. 10-14. \u201cPoltergeist<\/strong>\u201d shares the screen with the very strange Japanese horror movie<\/a> \u201cHouse<\/strong>,\u201d Oct. 17-21.<\/p>\n 1411 21<\/em>st<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Ave., Seattle; 206-328-3230,\u00a0<\/em>central-cinema.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The Grand Illusion is still looking for a permanent home in the University District, but that won\u2019t stop this longtime nonprofit from presenting its annual All Monsters Attack! series, an October tradition for nearly 20 years. Among the offerings: \u201cFrankenhooker<\/strong>\u201d (celebrating its 35th<\/sup> anniversary, and yes, it\u2019s about exactly what you think it is) on Oct. 2; the classic 1955 French thriller \u201cDiabolique<\/strong>\u201d on Oct. 6; David Cronenberg\u2019s \u201cVideodrome: Director\u2019s Cut<\/strong>\u201d on Oct. 8; James Whale’s \u201cBride of Frankenstein<\/strong>\u201d (celebrating its 90th<\/sup> birthday!) on Oct. 14; “Ghost Almanac<\/strong>,” a collection of classic horror clips with live soundtrack on Oct. 12; and Park Chan-wook\u2019s \u201cLady Vengeance<\/strong>,\u201d the final film in the director\u2019s \u201cVengeance Trilogy,\u201d screening in 35mm on Oct. 19 and 20. Locations include Northwest Film Forum, Here-After (a 21-and-older venue), SIFF Film Center and Central Cinema.<\/p>\n Multiple locations in Seattle; see grandillusioncinema.org<\/a> for details<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cScarecrowber,\u201d presented with Scarecrow Video, is a series of five 1960s-’70s horror films from around the world, chosen and introduced by Scarecrow staffers. Among the selections: \u201cThe Abominable Dr. Phibes<\/strong>\u201d from the U.K., about a doctor bent on revenge (Oct. 7); \u201cTombs of the Blind Dead<\/strong>,\u201d from Spain (Oct. 9); the Federico Fellini adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe tale, \u201cToby Dammit<\/strong>\u201d (Oct. 14); the Japanese extraterrestrial adventure \u201cGoke, Body Snatcher from Hell<\/strong>\u201d (Oct. 23); and, from the Czech Republic, \u201cValerie and Her Week of Wonders<\/strong>\u201d (Oct. 28). All screen at SIFF Cinema Uptown, and half the ticket price goes to support Scarecrow Video.<\/p>\n The Blaxploitation classic \u201cBlacula<\/strong>\u201d swoops onto SIFF screens Oct. 9, and \u201cThe Rocky Horror Picture Show<\/strong>,\u201d in a special event featuring live pole dancing, burlesque and drag, plays Oct. 25, 26 and 31; all at SIFF Film Center. (Fans of “Rocky Horror” should note that the film will have a special 50th anniversary screening at the Paramount on Oct. 28, with star Barry Bostwick in attendance; see stgpresents.org<\/a> for more information.) And the Uptown celebrates the holiday with \u201cCollide-O-Scope Halloween<\/strong>,\u201d a collection of found footage and oddball video, complete with prize drawings \u2014 only on Oct. 31. Trick or treat!<\/p>\nCentral Cinema<\/h3>\n
Grand Illusion Cinema<\/h3>\n
SIFF<\/h3>\n