Halloween heats up

Halloween is really heating up during the first full week of October, with an abundance of horror film screenings, festivals, personal appearances, and haunted attractions opening. Here is our pick of the most exciting events in and around Los Angeles.

SCREENINGS:

Two new movies are opening nationwide on Friday: QUARANTINE and CITY OF EMBERS. The latter (about some kids living in an underground civilization who want to find theri way to the surface) looks rather week, but QUARANTINE has potential – it’s based on a well regarded Spanish film called [REC], about a television crew that stumbles upon an apartment full of zombies.

Screamfest’s annual horror film festival launches on Friday, October 10 at Grauman’s Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. THe opening night film is TRICK ‘R’ TREAT, directred by Thomas Dougherty. The night before, director Dougherty will attending a siging at Dark Delicacies book store in Burbank (you can find info about Dark Delicacies on our Book Stores page).

Cinefamily’s month-long horror film fest at the Silent Movie Theatre cotntinues with screnings of the Japanese classic KURONEKO, plus a George Romero double bill of SEASON OF THE WITCH and THE CRAZIES.

Dandelion Wine: A Tribute to Ray Bradbury offers a chance to meet the author in person. The American Cinematheque will screen SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES on Friday and a double bill of MOBY DICK and THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS on Saturday. The author will be present on both days at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica (info available on our Theatres page).

HAUNTS:

FEARPLEX – a relatively new haunt from the people who bring you Spooky House – opens on Friday. We haven’t been to this one, but we’ll check it out and let you know.

MOLAR MANOR – an excellent haunt that we discovered last year – opens for business this Halloween on Saturday.