Ready or Not, Disney’s El Capitan goes Hard R on Halloween horror

We expect Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to celebrate the Halloween season with screenings of Tim Burtons’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, along with one or two other films such as Hocus Pocus or Coco. But this year they are providing a month-long series of screenings that include not only family-friendly titles but a couple of Hard-R fright films as well.

Things kick off this week with a four-day run of Hocus Pocus, followed by week-long presentations of Edward Scissorhands and Frankenweenie, and winding up with a two-week engagement of The Nightmare Before Christmas (given the “4D” treatment, which includes a 3D presentation of the film enhanced with live in-theatre effects such as snowfall).

What’s unexpected, maybe even shocked, is that sandwiched in between these spooky but not exactly terrifying films are screenings of The Hills Have Eyes (2006 version) and Ready or Not (pictured at top). The former is sort of a standard issue remake (spend a little more money and ramp up the violence), but Ready or Not is a real gem, a satirical gorefest that predated the mainstream trend of films trashing the rich (Knives Out, The Menu, etc). It’s well worth seeing on a big screen with an appreciative audience, topping our list of this Halloween’s must-see screenings.

Check out the complete schedule below:

• Hocus Pocus. September 30 to October 03, screening at 10am, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm.
• The Hills Have Eyes. October 5 at 10pm
• Edward Scissorhands. October 11-17 at 10am, 4pm & 9:55pm on Friday; at 10am & 4pm on Saturday; at 1pm & 7pm on Sundays & weekdays.
• Frankenweenie. October 11-17 at 1pm on Friday & Saturday, 10am & 4pm on Sunday & weekdays
• Ready or Not. October 19 at 7pm
• The Nightmare Before Christmas in 4D. October 18-31 at 9:30am, noon, 2:30pm, 7:30pm, 10pm most days (hours vary; check theatre website)

El Capitan is located at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, 90028. Get more information at the official website: elcapitantheatre.com.

Find more scary screeenings in October on our page devoted to Halloween Cinema.