31 Nights of Terror is shrieking into the Chi-Town Movies Drive-In on October 1.
It’s official: 2020 is cursed. But Chicago’s 90-year-old independent cinema, Music Box Theatre, is making the most of it with a treat for horror fanatics. Throughout the entirety of October, the theatre will be overtaking the Chi-Town Movies Drive-In with a 31 Nights of Terror drive-in series!
With this year being a complete horror show, it’s redeeming to know that there are still many beloved independent businesses in the Windy City that are still going strong. For 90 years, the Music Box Theatre has fascinated Chicago with the best, worst, and most bizarre in arthouse cinema. At the onset of the pandemic, the theatre had to shutter its doors. For the next few months, Music Box broadcasted nightly features for Virtual Cinema to provide eager cinephiles with their movie fix until reopening at limited capacities in early July.
Every year, the theatre holds a 24-hour movie marathon showcasing non-stop spine-chilling, gut-wrenching, nightmare-causing horror features. Due to the pandemic, the theatre has had to change gears.
“This fall the Music Box of Horrors will transform from a 24 hour movie marathon into 31 Nights of Terror at the Drive-in,” Music Box wrote on their Instagram Page. “From October 1st- 31st, the Music Box of Horrors will take over the Chi-Town Movies Drive for late shows and double features every night.”
Today, the theatre released their terrific lineup, slated as such:
10/01 – Possessor (2020)
10/02 – Blacula (1972) and Blade 2 (2002)
10/03 – Alien (1979) and Galaxy of Terror (1981)
10/04 – The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986)
10/05 – The Host (2006)
10/06 – Return of the Living Dead (1985)
10/07 – Re-Animator feat. Stuart Gordon Tribute Video
10/08 – Attack the Block (2011)
10/09 – Nightbreed (1990 Director’s Cut) and Def by Temptation (1990)
10/10 – The Omen (1976) and Cathy’s Curse (1977)
10/11 – Psycho III (1986)
10/12 – The Mortuary Collection (2020) feat. Q&A from director Ryan Spindell
10/13 – La Llorona (1933) and La Llorona (2020)
10/14 – Silver Bullet (1985) – Presented by The Losers’ Club: A Stephen King Podcast
10/15 – Secret Screening (2020)
10/16 – Evilspeak (1981) and Ice Cream Man (1995)
10/17 – Friday the 13th (1980) and Srigala (1981)
10/18 – Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)
10/19 – Jennifer’s Body (2009) feat. Q&A w/ director Karyn Kusama
10/20 – Grizzly II: Revenge (1983)
10/21 – Dead of Night (1945)
10/22 – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
10/23 – Black Magic 2 (1976) and Evil Cat (1987)
10/24 – Carrie (1976) and Jennifer (1978)
10/25 – Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) – Presented by Halloweenies: A Horror Podcast
10/26 – Final Destination (2000)
10/27 – The Being (1983)
10/28 – Bones (2001)
10/29 – The Stylist (2020) feat. Q&A from director Jill Gevargizian
10/30 – Black Christmas (1974) and Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker (1991)
10/31 – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Mahakaal (1994)
Throughout the programming, the theatre will host double features every Friday and Saturday night, which will be reserved for Grindhouse and “Rip-off” films — which feature beloved originals followed by their comedically-bad ripoffs i.e. Carrie (1976) vs. Jennifer (1978) — accordingly. Additionally, late-night screening will be hosted from Sunday through Thursday, with Sundays being reserved for sequels.
“With mind-melting visuals and high body counts, this year’s lineup is perfectly in line with the Music Box’s eclectic taste in horror offerings and events,” the theatre wrote on their website. “a combination of audience favorites and rarely screened titles, specialized intros, pre-show content, filmmaker Q&As, nightly trivia with fantastic prizes, and of course, some surprises. Every element will be presented safely & responsibly in the Drive-In setting.”
With the circumstances as they are, Music Box will take precautionary and safety measures to ensure that everything is safe for the drive-in setting. On September 3, the theatre plans to unveil its curated list of films to scare your socks off.
Tickets run $30 per car for a single feature, $40 per car for double feature.
In the meantime, the Music Box Theatre is regularly screening features at their cinema on N Southport Avenue. [Featured image: @elevatedfilmschicago]