Cinestudio’s Fright Night Series: Get Ready to Scream

Hannah Smith ’26

Executive Arts & Entertainment Editor

For the month of October, Cinestudio is bringing back their Fright Nights series, in which they present a selection of horror films that span across the globe and through time. This year, eight films will be flooding the screens and will certainly get you in the Halloween spirit. If you can’t make it to the theater, here are a few standouts that I would consider “must watches.”

“Killer Klowns from Outer Space” will be shown on Oct. 11. This film is set in a small town in which a spaceship crash lands and a group of alien circus clowns wreak havoc (hence the title). This film is completely ridiculous, but so much fun. As soon as the opening sequence begins and “Killer Klowns” by the Dickies starts playing, you know what you’re in for: 1980s insanity. The set design is truly astonishing and the special effects are very “of the time.” So long as you go into this movie with minimal expectations, you’ll be highly entertained! It’s a staple of the murderous clown genre, alongside “It” and “Terrifier.” If you’re not a fan of being scared but you still want to get in the Halloween spirit, this is a great film for you.

“Mandy” will be shown on Oct. 24 and 25. “Mandy” exceeded all of my expectations. This surrealist indie horror film stars Nicolas Cage as a vengeful husband seeking to kill a group of sadistic cultists after he and his wife’s safe haven is destroyed. This is Cage in his truest form: extreme chaos. The film’s editing style is beyond impressive, with a distinct color design similar to Dario Argento’s “Suspiria.” The makeup and special effects span from barely perceptible with the dilation of characters’ pupils to create an ominous feeling all the way to elaborate “Hellraiser-eque” monsters dripping with blood that are genuinely horrifying. Forewarning, “Mandy” is a very violent film and often goes beyond what I feel is necessary. However, it is one of my personal favorite additions to the Fright Night series and I strongly recommend at least giving it a chance, especially if you like independent horror films like “Hereditary” and “Barbarian.”

Lastly, “The Exorcist” will be screened on Oct. 30 and 31, the perfect film for Halloween night. “The Exorcist” is about a young girl who becomes possessed by a demon after messing around with an Ouija board. This is a must watch of the horror genre; it stands the test of time for its storytelling and special effects. “The Exorcist” is the blueprint for so many great horror films and seeing it on the big screen is the opportunity of a lifetime. Its pacing is a bit on the slow side and a few plotlines may feel unnecessary or dull in the moment, but it all comes together in the end for one of the greatest contributions to the horror genre of all time: the exorcism scene. I will say, this film might not be for you if you have a weak stomach.

Other than the three films listed above, the Fright Night series also includes “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle,” “The Addiction,” “Blood for Dracula,” “Phantom of the Paradise” and “Baxter.”