For more Halloween events, see the Halloween section of our calendars.
A slightly modernized version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show takes the stage at Progress Energy Center, from Oct. 28–31. Director Justin Smith says seeing the play is similar to seeing the film, with one main difference: “You can’t throw anything.” The good news: The catcalls are still allowed. Visit www.broadwayseriessouth.com.
Head to the Galaxy Cinema in Cary on Friday, Oct. 29, for a double dose of unearthed screams. First, at 7:30 p.m., is House, a 1977 Asian tale of schoolgirls versus ghosts that was only released in the U.S. this year (Galaxy representatives describe it as “Scooby-Doo as directed by Dario Argento”). It’s followed by Death Bed: The Bed That Eats, another 1977 lost gem about a bed that eats … people. It was only re-released a few years ago and was immediately immortalized by comedian Patton Oswalt in a routine where he points out that if this script can get made, most aspiring screenwriters should work through whatever doubts they have about their wonkiest ideas. Eight dollars gets you into the double feature; visit www.mygalaxycinema.com.
For an old-fashioned haunted house, trek out to Snow Camp for the Original Hollywood Horror Show (www.originalhollywoodhorrorshow.com), the Carolinas’ longest-running indoor horror attraction (it’s so Southern, Cheerwine is one of the corporate sponsors). The house features gore by veteran makeup and special effects man Dean Jones (Pirates of the Caribbean and TV’s Star Trek and The Shield). This year features a new attraction: “Sleepy Hollow: The Legend Lives On.” Have a good time … but watch your head.
Want to learn to write horror? Then take a trip to the Cameron Village Library on Saturday, Oct. 30 where paranormal-romance writer Jenna Black (Watchers in the Night, Glimmerglass) offers a crash course on reading and writing horror at 1 p.m. Visit www.jennablack.com or call 856-6703.
If you’re looking for a party on Saturday night, there are plenty of opportunities. Aficionados of B-movies can check out RTN 10’s monster movie host Ormon Grimsby’s House of Halloween Hullabaloo at Kings in downtown Raleigh, featuring music from Straight 8s, Atomic Mosquitos and The Tremors, along with B-movie clips, a costume contest and plenty of surprises that necessitate everyone getting a pair of 3-D glasses. Tickets are $12 in advance and $13 day of show; for more information, visit www.mcftv.com or call 268-6467.
On Halloween itself, you can drive out to the free Halloween Bash at the Michael Myers House in Hillsborough (see slideshow above). As profiled on our Artery blog last year, owner Kenny Caperton has painstakingly rebuilt the place to be identical to the white-masked killer’s abode from John Carpenter’s Halloween, and he celebrates the holiday accordingly. This year’s festivities include food and merchandise vendors, tours of the house for $5 and screenings of such films as Halloween H20, TrickR’ Treat and Judith, Caperton’s own Halloween tribute film. Those who tour the house will get to see the prop knife from Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake (which Caperton wields on the cover of this week’s issue), and there’s a raffle for such prizes as a Halloween photo signed by John Carpenter. Visit www.myershousenc.com.
And if you just want to stay home and hand out candy, you can always catch the premiere of the new AMC series The Walking Dead, based on Robert Kirkman’s series of comics, at 10 p.m. Billed as “the zombie movie that never ends,” it makes us wonder if AMC can do for zombies what it’s already done for 1960s ad execs and science teachers-turned-meth dealers. There’s a free big-screen showing of the pilot at the Galaxy Cinema, too; enjoy some popcorn with your end of the world.
