Dusk Till Dawn: Things
Horror marathons with a theme.
Welcome to a new month of our (fictional) horror movie marathons.
Past marathons have been about people and places, so this time around, we're programming our marathon all about things! That's right, we're covering all aspects of the noun. These movie titles include some sort of thing, object, item. Weird idea for a marathon? Sure. But when you see some Carpenter, Hooper, and King flash across that screen, you won't be complaining.
As always, titles are a secret until they start playing. And we're screening everything on 35mm, unless otherwise noted.
7:00p-8:30p: The Severed Arm (1973)
Trapped in a cave, five men cut the arm off of another companion in order to ward off starvation. After they are saved, their victim seeks revenge on them one by one.
trailers: Severed Ties (1992), 127 Hours (2024)
I'm not exactly sure how much I like The Severed Arm, but I'm willing to give it another chance with you all. I think it'll be a nice start to our marathon because it's not in-your-face and we're just getting started. Aside from a fun prologue, this '70s slow burn doesn't get going until the end. It'll ease us into everything.
8:35p-10:15p: Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her two daughters add a new stunt to bolster their séance scam business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When the youngest daughter is overtaken by the merciless spirit, this small family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side.
trailers: The Legend of Hell House (1973), 1408 (2007)
I like the idea of putting this Mike Flanagan movie in this slot for a few reasons. The first reason is because, although it's less than a decade old, it's a '60s period piece, shot and made to look like chillers of the time. I'm sure we can only play it DCP, but it comes complete with fake cigarette burns to play the part.
I don't mess with Ouija boards. My mom said she spoke to my grandfather one time and asked if I wanted to try. Nope. Let the man rest. Plus, the hotel where Ouija boards were invented is now a 7-Eleven. Fun fact, in my first Baltimore apartment, it was my local 7-Eleven...
10:20p-12:10a: The Thing (1982)
In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon unfrozen, the form-changing creature wreaks havoc, creates terror… and becomes one of them.
trailers: The Thing from Another World (1951), The Thing (2011)
People are going to hear that the theme of this marathon is "things" and buy a ticket hoping that we play The Thing. I won't disappoint, largely for my own selfish reasons of wanting to see this one on the big screen. It's one of John Carpenter's best and it's absolutely perfect for the primetime slot. Many folks will file out after this one and...honestly...good for them. It's getting dark now, both literally and figuratively...
12:15a-1:50a: Toolbox Murders (2004)
Young couple Steve and Nell move into a once fashionable but now decaying apartment block in Hollywood, and soon realise that a number of young residents have met unusually violent deaths. Before long, Nell makes some disturbing discoveries about the building’s manager and her fellow tenants.
trailers: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Body Bags (1993)
The next two movies are not for the weak-willed.
Let's follow up one Master of Horror with another, going from John Carpenter to Tobe Hooper. It's the midnight movie slot and we could've played one of his Texas Chainsaw movies or perhaps his Carpenter collaboration Body Bags, but we're gonna go nasty because it's officially late enough to be tomorrow. Toolbox Murders is late-era Hooper, but the man still had it. It's violent, it's brutal, it's creatively nasty.
Remember that apartment I mentioned earlier? I kept thinking about it when I watched this...
1:55a-3:25a: The Coffee Table (2022)
Jesus and María are a couple going through a difficult time in their relationship. Nevertheless, they have just become parents. To shape their new life, they decide to buy a new coffee table. A decision that will change their existence.
trailers: Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Odd Couple (1968)
This isn't technically a horror movie, but it is, without a doubt, the most messed up thing we will watch all night. If you're one of the unlucky few awake at 2:30 in the morning, this movie will scar you. It's best not to know anything about it going in so I'll shut up, but even this one will be too much for horror fans.
3:30a-4:50a: Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977)
At the edge of a grand estate, near a crumbling old mansion lies a strange stone building with just a single room. In the room there lies a bed. Born of demonic power, the bed seeks the flesh, blood and life essence of unwary travelers… Three pretty girls arrive on vacation, searching for a place to spend the night. Instead, they tumble into nightmares – and the cruel, insatiable hunger of the Bed!
trailers: Pieces (1982), A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
We need a palate cleanser after those last two movies, so let's relax a little with one of horror's best so-bad-it's-great movies. This will perk us up a bit as we try to laugh to keep from crying. This movie delivers on its title promise and it's as awesome as you hope. But don't worry, we're gonna turn it right back around with our final film...
4:55a-7:05a: The Mist (2007)
After a violent storm, a dense cloud of mist envelops a small Maine town, trapping artist David Drayton and his five-year-old son in a local grocery store with other people. They soon discover that the mist conceals deadly horrors that threaten their lives, and worse, their sanity.
trailers: Creepshow 2 (1987), The Faculty (1998)
Marathon programmers think a lot about the final image that audiences will leave the theater with. We gave the people want they wanted with The Thing and we've been torturing them ever since, so we might as well end with one of the most haunting final scenes in horror cinema. I revisited the movie recently for our podcast and found it just as effective as I did when I first saw it. There will be people who never come back after the way they've been treated tonight...
Oh! And we're watching the black-and-white version. We don't have any B&W in this marathon and again, selfishly, I just want to see it.
See you next month - hopefully!
Credit: Each plot synopsis comes from Letterboxd via TMDb.
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