With a bag of popcorn, some snacks, and a Coca-Cola, it feels like going back in time as the beginning credits start to show while a classic, creepy soundtrack begins.
Horror film and cult series fanatics gather on a Thursday evening in a private movie theater in the Roxy Stadium 14 Cinema in Santa Rosa. A small audience gets together and excitedly awaits for the classic late 80s film, “Pumpkinhead,” to screen.
Every other Thursday each month, the Roxy hosts their very own cult film series showing a double feature for a student-friendly price of $10. This month is “March Monster Madness” and is recommended for mature audiences for blood, guts, and gore. In the early 80s and 90s, the special effects were not as advanced and the acting was a little awkward at times, but overall these films are enjoyable and sure to make the audience laugh in between the tension and suspense. Although they are a bit cheesy compared to modern day horror or slasher films, these are known as the classics. For adults who were teens in the 80s, it’s an exciting feeling of nostalgia.
Those who love cult films know they are filled with countless funny moments that are remembered in movie history. According to the AMC Filmsite, a unique website with reviews and commentary on the best films in the country, “Cult films are usually strange, quirky, offbeat, eccentric, oddball, or surreal, with outrageous, weird, unique and cartoony characters or plots and garish sets. They are often considered controversial because they step outside standard narrative and technical conventions.”
The family-owned Roxy theater makes this unique film series a very special experience. Unlike seeing a recent release in a local theater, the Roxy’s Cult Film Series makes each film feel like a special showing. With no previews to start the movie, a program coordinator starts the event with an introduction and friendly conversation.
The audience members chimed in when the coordinator asked, “How many of you remember ‘Pumpkinhead’ or ‘Rawhead Rex?’” and, “Have any of you seen it in theaters?”
Most remember the films from their teenage days, but didn’t have the opportunity to see it on the big screen. For the younger generations and teenagers today, this is what makes it such an interesting event.
The Roxy cinema invites the ones who love to remember and those who have never experienced the classic days of the 80s films for this exciting horror series.
The Roxy Cult Horror Film Series runs every other Thursday through March 30, with a double feature starting at 7 p.m.
Mar. 16: St. Patrick’s Day Special Showing
- “Leprechaun” (1993) dir. Mark Jones
- “Troll” (1986) dir. John Carl Buechler
Mar. 30:
- “King Kong” (1976) dir. John Guillermin
- “Q” (1982) dir. Larry Cohen
