The Ross Theater’s “Fright Fest” Returns with The Thing, Bubba Ho-Tep, Night of the Living Dead, and More

In Satoshi Kon’s debut feature, which adapted Yoshikazu Takeuchi’s novel, pop star Mima leaves her group in order to become a movie star. However, movie stardom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when Mima finds herself being stalked by a deranged fan. Filled with mind-bending twists and haunting visuals, Perfect Blue is a Hitchcockian thriller about fame and fandom that’s only become more relevant in our celebrity-obsessed culture. (Buy Tickets)

Bong Joon-ho’s The Host works on multiple levels (read my review). As a monster movie, it’s filled with thrills as a horrific creature threatens the people living alongside South Korea’s Han River. But it also works as a political satire, making pointed critiques of South Korean politics and society as well as the American military. And to top it all off, it’s hilarious… if you like your humor dark and absurd. Upon its release in 2006, The Host became a box office sensation in South Korea and received widespread acclaim around the world, even from North Korea (due to its criticism of the United States). (Buy Tickets)

In this stop-motion film by LAIKA Studios (Coraline, Corpse Bride), young Norman Babcock possesses the uncanny ability to see ghosts — a bizarre talent that has ostracized him from family members and schoolmates alike. But that same talent might just come in handy when his hometown is threatened by a zombie apocalypse. (Buy Tickets)

In this remake of the 1958 film, a scientist working on teleportation accidentally merges his DNA with that of a fly, and starts to mutate into a bizarre hybrid. Filled with body horror and solid performances from Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, David Cronenberg’s sci-fi/horror film became an instant classic upon its release in 1986. (Buy Tickets)

A group of American researchers in Antarctica are faced with an impossible situation when they attempt to contain and destroy an alien organism that can absorb and assimiliate other lifeforms. Directed by John Carpenter, who was riding high on the success of Escape from New York and Halloween, The Thing features groundbreaking special effects and a cast that includes Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, and Keith David. (Buy Tickets)

In this bizarre and controversial psychodrama from Polish filmmaker Andrzej Żuławski, a couple undergoing a divorce begin to experience all manner of bizarre phenomena, including doppelgängers and alien creatures. The film was quickly banned in the UK and released in the U.S. in a heavily edited version. Nevertheless, it achieved cult status, with one scholar calling it “one of the most enigmatic and uncompromising horror movies in the history of cinema.” (Buy Tickets)

Justine has been a vegetarian her entire life, but when she eats meat for the first time as part of a bizarre hazing ritual at her school, she discovers a newfound craving for meat. And in particular, raw human flesh. Julia Ducournau’s film was widely praised when it premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, but also generated controversy for its brutally graphic content. (Buy Tickets)

Roger Corman’s name is usually associated with cheesy “B” movies like Attack of the Crab Monsters and She Gods of Shark Reef. But in the early ’60s, Corman directed a series of lavish horror films based on the writings of Edgar Allen Poe. Released in 1961, The Pit and the Pendulum was the second of these movies, and stars the great Vincent Price as a man who believes that he’s haunted by his wife’s ghost. (Buy Tickets)

Everyone knows that Elvis Presley died in 1977. But Bubba Ho-Tep presupposes that he’s actually been living in a Texas nursing home all these years, along with a Black man who believes he’s John F. Kennedy. And it’s up to them to stop an ancient Egyptian mummy from devouring the souls of their neighbors. Bruce Campbell gives a performance for the ages as the regret-filled King of Rock and Roll who gets one final shot at being a hero. Although its premise is ridiculous on paper, Bubba Ho-Tep is a pitch-perfect blend of dark humor, horror, and pathos (read our review). (Buy Tickets)

Rusty Cundieff directed this 1995 horror comedy anthology of four urban-themed shorts exploring issues affecting the African-American community, including racism and police violence. Featuring a wide array of actors, including Clarence Williams III, David Alan Grier, Corbin Bernsen, and Rosalind Cash, the film received mixed reviews, but also inspired several sequels. (Buy Tickets)

Originally released in 1964, Mario Bava’s sordid tale about fashion models being murdered by a masked assailant has since come to be considered one of the first giallo films. Giallo films are known for their lurid visuals and blend of horror, slasher, thriller, and psychological genres. Initially dismissed upon its release, Blood and Black Lace has experienced a modern reevaluation, and influenced the likes of Martin Scorsese and Pedro Almodóvar. (Buy Tickets)

Although not as well-known as The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Suspiria, Dario Argento’s Deep Red is no less beloved by horror and giallo fans. David Hemmings stars as a musician attempting to investigate a series of murders, only to get caught up in the local folklore — and of course, land in the killer’s sights, himself. Deep Red was Argento’s first collaboration with Italian progressive rock band Goblin, who would go on to score several more of his films. (Buy Tickets)

This seemed like the most unlikely adaptation, but The Addams Family is actually quite a delightful little cult comedy, due in large part to the film’s casting. Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston are perfect as Gomez and Morticia Addams, but Christina Ricci’s deadpan portrayal of Wednesday Addams steals the show. Behind the scenes, The Addams Family was quite a difficult production, hampered by illness, technical issues, and studio gaffes. But you’d never know that from the film’s manic energy. (Buy Tickets)

Written and directed by Mohammad Reza Aslani, Chess in the Wind was only screened once in Iran before the 1979 revolution, and was assumed to be lost forever. But after the original negatives were discovered in a junk shop in 2014, Aslani’s film, in which a noble family’s squabble over their inheritance results in murder, was restored and re-released to widespread acclaim. On a nerdy sidenote, Chess in the Wind was the film debut of The Expanse’s Shohreh Aghdashloo. (Buy Tickets)

Crimson Peak is Guillermo del Toro’s love letter to gothic horror. After a young woman marries an English inventor and moves into his family’s dilapidated estate, she’s soon beset by nightmares and ghostly visions that raise questions about her new husband. The film, which stars Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, and Tom Hiddleston, was praised by many critics, and received plaudits from no less an authority than Stephen King. (Buy Tickets)

Arguably the best example of German Expressionist cinema, and one of the very first horror films, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari tells the story of an insane hypnotist who commits murders with the help of a sleepwalking man under his control. Caligari has inspired all manner of debate since its release in 1920 concerning its themes of sanity, insanity, violence, and conformity. Its shocking and vivid design and unconventional storytelling also influenced countless other films, including Nosferatu, Metropolis, and Dracula. Features live musical accompaniment by The Anvil Orchestra. (Buy Tickets)

A man takes a job at a mental institution in order to be close to his wife, who is a patient. But as the stress of their situation increases, the man’s grasp on reality slowly begins to slip. Produced by the Shinkankakuha, a Japanese avant-garde collective influenced by German expressionist cinema, Teinosuke Kinugasa’s A Page of Madness was considered lost for nearly five decades until he discovered a partial copy in his warehouse. Features live musical accompaniment by The Anvil Orchestra. (Buy Tickets)

Based on a novel by J.B. Priestley, James Whale’s The Old Dark House follows several hapless travelers caught in a storm who seek refuge in the remote country home of an eccentric family. Starring Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton, and Lilian Bond, The Old Dark House is an early horror comedy that has since become a cult favorite and inspired The Rocky Horror Picture Show. (Buy Tickets)

George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead might not have been the first zombie movie, but it’s arguably the first movie that comes to mind when somebody mentions the undead. Blending genuine scares with social commentary that’s as relevant today as it was back in 1968, Romero’s movie serves as the template for all modern zombie flicks. (Buy Tickets)

After she survives a terrible car accident, Mary Henry moves to Salt Lake City to work as a church organist. But upon arriving at her new home, she’s beset by strange and terrifying visions. Is she losing her mind, or is something more sinister going on? Although it was largely overlooked when it was originally released in 1962, Carnival of Souls has since come to be regarded as a horror classic. (Buy Tickets)

Creature from the Black Lagoon was inspired by Amazon myths about creatures that are part man, part fish. When an expedition to the Amazon encounters one such creature, their mission becomes increasingly dangerous when the creature takes a liking to expedition’s sole female. Filmed in 3D, Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of the most iconic monster movies of all time. (Buy Tickets)

In this classic Hitchcock thriller starring Grace Kelly, a man plots the perfect way to kill his adulterous wife in order to inherit her fortune. When his intricate plan falls apart, however, he must devise more schemes to stay one step ahead of the law. Based on Frederick Knott’s successful play, Dial M for Murder is considered one of the greatest thrillers and mysteries of all time. (Buy Tickets)