Join us as our friends at VAALA present a very special screening of Daydreamers, the brand new, highly-stylized, and extremely dramatic Vietnamese vampire film. from director Timothy Linh Bui. And as an added bonus, stick around after the screening for an in-person Q&A with the director himself!
Saigon, present day. Vampires, once predators of the night, are all but extinct. The few who remain cling to a desperate truce to not kill. But in the shadows, a brother’s thirst awakens, igniting a dark desire that will pit him against his own kind, shattering the fragile peace and plunging the city into a bloody new era.
Thank you to our friends at Dark Star Pictures for setting us up with this awesome screening!
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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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Our Page To Screen series takes a trip into a fantastical world of magic, love, and self-discovery with Howl’s Moving Castle, the acclaimed Studio Ghibli masterpiece, screening in its star-studded dubbed version.
The film follows Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer), a young woman who is mysteriously transformed into an elderly woman by a wicked witch’s curse. Seeking refuge, Sophie stumbles upon the magical, ever-moving castle of Howl (voiced by Christian Bale), a reclusive wizard with a troubled past. As Sophie and Howl grow closer, they must confront not only the forces of war that threaten their world but also the personal battles that keep them from fully embracing their own potential.
With its masterful animation, imaginative world-building, and an all-star voice cast, Howl’s Moving Castle weaves themes of transformation, courage, and love into an unforgettable cinematic experience.
This film will be dubbed in the English language to add a level of accessibility for younger audiences and to showcase the fan-favorite voice casting throughout.
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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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Our 4/20 Weekend takes a colorful turn as we presented the oft-maligned 2003 live-action version of The Cat In The Hat!
During a rainy day, and while their mother is out, Conrad and Sally, and their pet fish, are visited by the mischievous Cat in the Hat. Fun soon turns to mayhem, and the siblings must figure out how to rid themselves of the maniacal Cat.
Directed by Bo Welch (Production Designer on Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands) and shot by Emmanuel Lubezki (Children Of Men, Gravity, The Revenant, The Tree Of Life, Birdman), The Cat In The Hat was largely panned by critics upon its release despite its all-star cast, with many criticizing the film for not capturing the magic and whimsy of Dr. Seuss’s original story. But as we all know, cats have nine lives, and we’re willing to try to give it one more!
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Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents special 40th anniversary screenings of the cult classic Vampire Hunter D!
In the year 12,090 AD, technology and the supernatural have overtaken the world, leaving the land desolate and despotic. The remnants of humanity are scattered into small communities and live in fear of vampires who compose the ruling Nobility. When Count Magnus Lee tastes the blood of Doris Lang, she is forcibly chosen to be his next wife. In an effort to escape her ill-gotten fate, she hires a mysterious vampire hunter known only as D, who comes from a peculiar lineage.
This screening will be presented dubbed in English.
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Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents special 40th anniversary screenings of the cult classic Vampire Hunter D!
In the year 12,090 AD, technology and the supernatural have overtaken the world, leaving the land desolate and despotic. The remnants of humanity are scattered into small communities and live in fear of vampires who compose the ruling Nobility. When Count Magnus Lee tastes the blood of Doris Lang, she is forcibly chosen to be his next wife. In an effort to escape her ill-gotten fate, she hires a mysterious vampire hunter known only as D, who comes from a peculiar lineage.
This screening will be presented in its original Japanese language with English subtitles.
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Get ready for one of the wildest cinematic experiences of your life as we present some encore screenings of Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 1977 surrealist masterpiece Hausu (aka House).
The story follows a group of schoolgirls headed to a haunted house for summer vacation, only for things to go from weird to…weirder. From floating pianos to killer stuffed animals, the film is an explosion of colors and chaos.
Join us for this Japanese cult classic (and certified Frida Cinema Favorite) that has become legendary for its bizarre special effects, haunting visuals, and wacky storytelling. It needs to be seen (on the big screen) to be believed.
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Altered Innocence invades The Frida Cinema for an early sneak peek screening of their new movie Queens Of Drama!
An outrageous lesbian pop musical satire inspired by the pop frenzy of the early 2000s, Queens Of Drama charts the rise and fall of new star Mimi Madamour and her passionate, rage-fueled love affair with punk icon Billie Kohler. Over the course of half a century we follow these drama queens as they top the charts and set sail on the course of mad queer love.
Featuring an iconic cast, including Asia Argento and Alma Jodorowsky, and containing hit songs like ‘Don’t Touch’ by Yelle and ‘Fisted to the Heart’, this film vividly dissects the turbulence of toxic relationships—whether between fans and their idols or within passionate queer love affairs. Director Alexis Langlois brings his trademark glittercore pop-punk aesthetic to create a vibrant, unforgettable spectacle of music and passion.
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The Frida Cinema’s In Defense Of… series for March circles all the way back to our Executive Director, Logan Crow, as he selects the 1992 Brad Pitt live action/cartoon hybrid Cool World!
A bizarre accident lands Frank Harris in Cool World, a realm of cartoons. Years later, cartoonist Jack Deebs, who’s been drawing Cool World, crosses over as well. He sets his lustful sights on animated femme fatale Holli Would, but she’s got plans of her own to become real, and it’s up to Frank to stop her.
Directed by legendary animator Ralph Bakshi, the film’s poor reception, coupled with its confusing narrative and mismatched tone, contributed to it being a major dud in the box office. While it has since gained a cult following (Logan included), general audiences still continue to reject it…until now!
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