Join us on Tuesday, April 15th at 7:30PM, as we once again partner with the nationwide Science on Screen® program to present The Devil’s Backbone, Guillermo Del Toro’s chilling ghost story from 2001. And make sure to stick around after the screening for a pre-recorded 21 minute presentation on the Neurobiology of Horror Movies by Dr. Lauri Nummenmaa!
ABOUT THE FILM
Spain, 1939. In the last days of the Spanish Civil War, the young Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucía orphanage, where he will make friends and enemies as he follows the quiet footsteps of a mysterious presence eager for revenge.
ABOUT DR. LAURI NUMMENMAA AND THE PRESENTATION
Ever wondered what happens in your brain when you watch a horror movie? Dr. Lauri Nummenmaa will explore the neurobiology of fear, explaining how filmmakers use techniques like vicarious simulation and unpredictability to create a chilling experience. We’ll uncover the scientific reasons behind our paradoxical love of horror and how it allows us to explore dangerous situations from the comfort of a movie theater.
Dr. Lauri Nummenmaa leads the Human Emotion Systems laboratory at the Turku PET Centre and Department of Psychology, University of Turku in Finland. He earned his PhD in neurocognitive mechanisms of social attention from the University of Turku and conducted postdoctoral research at the MRC CBU in Cambridge, UK. Dr. Nummenmaa has published over 150 scientific articles on the brain basis of emotions and social cognition and his research focuses on the neural mechanisms of human emotions and social interaction using various neuroimaging and behavioral techniques.
ABOUT SCIENCE ON SCREEN
Science on Screen® is an initiative of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with major support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and their grant initiative brings science to cinemas nationwide. The Coolidge Corner Theatre’s series has enhanced film and scientific literacy with this popular program, which launched at the Coolidge in 2005 in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and its pioneering nationwide film program. Since 2011, Sloan has awarded the Coolidge over $4 million to develop and administer Science on Screen programs around the US through partnerships with other nonprofits. The Coolidge has in turn awarded 393 grants totaling over $2.5 million to 121 film and science-focused organizations in 44 states (plus Washington, DC) across the country. Learn more at scienceonscreen.org.
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RENDEZVOUS is back at The Frida Cinema presenting a Spanish exploitation double-feature with writer/director M.B. Montes in-person!
First up is Sexion Continua, as Martanuelle invites you to revel in her most depraved tales. This film describes, with rawness and realism, the lowest human perversions. Dare to question your moral principles. DARING! SHOCKING! RAVISHING!
“John Villain is the connecting link that develops this feature film, narrated in different episodes with the common thread of eroticism and sensuality, whose dramatic structure revolves around the biography of a strange diva…MARTANUELLE!”
— Followed by —
Whirlpool (a.k.a. Remolino) from director Jose Ramon Larraz!
One of the most neglected genre filmmakers of his generation, José Ramón Larraz (Vampyres) finally receives his due with this new 2K restoration. Larraz’s debut feature — the hitherto ultra-rare horror-thriller Whirlpool — stars Swinging London era fashion model Vivian Neves as Tulia, an ingenue invited to a photographer’s secluded country home for what’s supposed to be a weekend retreat, but transpires to be anything but. This one’s full of classic warped touches: the perverse young Englishman harboring a dark secret, an equally perverse aunt, velvety interiors and voyeurism!
Plus: Merch table, trailer show, and RENDEZVOUS DJs before and during intermission!
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Join us at The Frida Cinema for a special run of Selena, celebrating the legendary life and music of Selena Quintanilla in honor of her birthday on April 16th.
Directed by Gregory Nava, Selena tells the story of the Queen of Tejano music, from her early years growing up in Texas to her rise to stardom and tragic, untimely death. The film beautifully portrays Selena’s determination, talent, and her unwavering connection to her family, particularly her father (Edward James Olmos), who pushed her to reach her full potential.
Jennifer Lopez’s powerful portrayal of Selena earned her critical acclaim, and the film remains a heartfelt tribute to the artist’s legacy. Selena is more than just a biopic; it’s a celebration of her music, her influence on Latin culture, and the indelible mark she left on the world.
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Don’t miss Scarecrow as part of our ongoing Gene Hackman tribute! This lesser-known gem, directed by Jerry Schatzberg, is a raw, emotional road drama that explores the unlikely friendship between two drifters searching for meaning in their lives.
In Scarecrow, Gene Hackman stars as Max, a tough but tender ex-convict, who teams up with Francis (Al Pacino), a free-spirited, idealistic man just out of prison. Together, they embark on a cross-country journey in hopes of rebuilding their lives, but their partnership is complicated by their personal demons and the harsh realities they face along the way. The film delves deep into themes of loneliness, redemption, and the search for identity, offering a powerful portrayal of two men caught between their pasts and their hopes for a better future.
Hackman and Pacino’s performances are nothing short of stunning, each bringing vulnerability and authenticity to their roles. Hackman’s portrayal of Max is a brilliant mixture of toughness and sensitivity, a role that is often overshadowed by his more famous performances but remains one of his finest.
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Celebrate the thrilling tension of Crimson Tide on its 30th anniversary, screening at The Frida Cinema as part of our Gene Hackman tribute! And as an added bonus, there will be an introduction and post-screening book signing by Jason Bailey, author of the new biography Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend out on 4/29 via Abrams Press!
The film takes place aboard the USS Alabama, a nuclear submarine during a tense international crisis. When the captain (Gene Hackman) and his executive officer (Denzel Washington) clash over the proper response to a potentially catastrophic situation, the battle for control of the ship escalates into a gripping psychological duel. With the fate of the world at stake, each decision becomes a matter of life or death. This high-stakes submarine drama, directed by the amazing Tony Scott, remains one of the most riveting military thrillers of all time.
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David Cronenberg delivers an entirely new take on body horror, reinventing the game yet again with his new film The Shrouds. This dramatic sci-fi thriller is a reflective stunner that combines the maestro’s signature body horror with profound elder-statesman reflection. Entering his 80s, Cronenberg (The Fly, Dead Ringers, History of Violence) continues to find new ways to innovate what can be done with bodies in cinema, losing none of his edge while demonstrating a true sense of empathy; the result is a film that astonishes while also being his most accessible film since Eastern Promises.
In an eerie, deceptively placid near-future, a techno-entrepreneur named Karsh (Vincent Cassel) has developed a new software that will allow the bereaved to bear witness to the gradual decay of loved ones dead and buried in the earth. While Karsh is still reeling from the loss of his wife (Diane Kruger) from cancer—and falling into a peculiar sexual relationship with his wife’s sister (also Kruger)—a spate of vandalized graves utilizing his “shroud” technology begins to put his enterprise at risk, leading him to uncover a potentially vast conspiracy.
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IFC Films presents the thrilling true story of an audacious game show gambit with The Luckiest Man in America, a gripping drama that delves into the life of Michael Larson, who in 1984 exploited the patterns of CBS’s “Press Your Luck” to win a fortune. Starring Paul Walter Hauser as Michael Larson, the film portrays Larson’s transformation from an unemployed ice cream truck driver to a national sensation.
Directed by Samir Oliveros, The Luckiest Man in America features a stellar ensemble cast, including Walton Goggins, Maisie Williams, Haley Bennett, and Johnny Knoxville.
Critics have lauded the film for its engaging narrative and stellar performances. Christian Zilko of IndieWire commented, “A delightfully sleazy ensemble thriller that goes down easy in 90 minutes—and yet another reminder that Hauser is one of his generation’s most interesting movie stars.”
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Our Hallucinations series for April dives directly into the second film of the Lone Wolf And Cub series as we present Lone Wolf And Cub: Baby Cart At The River Styx!
In this exploitation-cinema classic, which took the action and graphic violence of the Lone Wolf and Cub series to delirious new heights, Itto Ogami and Daigoro continue their quest for vengeance through meifumado, the spiritual way of “demons and damnation,” pursued constantly by the Shadow Yagyu clan and the shogun’s spies.
Hosted by Polygon’s editor-in-chief Chris Plante, Hallucinations is a monthly event that spotlights movies that challenge our expectations of story, style, and “good taste”. Plante will introduce each film with some behind-the-scenes history and critical context. With Hallucinations, The Frida Cinema wants to build a communal space for lovers of Weird Cinema. We invite guests to bond over films that change what we expect from the medium, the world, and themselves. So come early, stay late, make friends, and watch something strange, surprising, or just shamelessly sick.
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Our 21st Century Cult series takes a walk on the sardonic side with Ghost World, a sharp, offbeat coming-of-age comedy that perfectly captures the awkwardness and disillusionment of post-high school life.
The film follows Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), two cynical teenagers who, after graduating from high school, struggle to find their place in a world they no longer feel a part of. As they drift apart, Enid forms an unlikely friendship with Seymour (Steve Buscemi), a lonely, middle-aged record collector whose life is as offbeat and awkward as hers. As the film explores their evolving relationships, it paints a poignant portrait of the tension between the comfort of nostalgia and the uncertainty of moving forward.
Based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, Ghost World is a witty and deeply introspective film that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt out of sync with the world around them.
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Our first Volunteer Of The Month screening of April comes from Quinn, as they have chosen the haunting beauty of time and loss with David Lowery’s A Ghost Story from 2017.
The film follows a recently deceased ghost (Casey Affleck), draped in a simple white sheet, as he silently observes his wife (Rooney Mara) navigating life without him. Set in a secluded house, the ghost remains stuck in a liminal space, watching time unfold in unexpected ways, while grappling with his own inability to connect with the world around him.
Director David Lowery’s lyrical and meditative approach to storytelling transforms A Ghost Story into an introspective exploration of the impermanence of life and the eternal nature of memory. With its slow pace, breathtaking visuals, and an evocative score, the film has been highly influential across all genres.
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