Halloween is just around the corner, and here in Manchester, spooky season starts early. Along with the beloved inflatable monsters and pumpkin lanterns that turn up every year, one of the city’s favourite independent cinemas is getting in on the action. Last year at Cultplex saw the birth of STAB, a weekend long celebration of horror movies, and it was such a wild success that they’re doing it all again.
This time, it won’t just be a weekend worth of Halloween treats but a whole month of some of cinema’s best horrific output. Kicking off with a Scream marathon on October 1, things continue to get scarier, climaxing with a double bill of Monster Squad (1987) and An American Werewolf In London (1981) on Halloween night.
As well as the four Scream movies screening as part of the STAB-A-THON all-dayer, there are more classic horror films coming to Cultplex this October including the BBC’s documentary-style, nuclear holocaust freak-out Threads (1984). There’s old school VHS favourites like Phantasm (1979) and Nightbreed (1990), as well as the little seen but much loved The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974) – bit of hometown glory for your undead fantasies.
Werewolves are also getting a look in, with modern classic Ginger Snaps (2000), playing puberty for big scares, alongside the classic An American Werewolf in London. Don’t worry though, if it’s zombies you’re after for your late night frights then you’re in for a real treat as Cultplex turns out the lights for a Surprise Zombie All-Nighter.
Starting at 10pm on October 28 and running until the wee hours of Sunday morning, will you be able to survive an onslaught of zombie films hand-picked by Cultplex’s obsessive programmers? Expect the unexpected and an incredible amount of zombie-filled fun – a must for any horror and zombie nerd!
Alongside these classics of spooky cinema, Cultplex also have some of the new breed of horror, both with a vintage feel as they show the Suspiria (2018) and a special late night screening of viral sensation Skinamarink (2022).
No matter what sort of horror flick you’re into, Cultplex has got you covered. There’s the lighter side of scary with the likes of Michael Keaton’s “ghost with the most” Beetlejuice (1988), while Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) will no doubt lead to arguments about whether or not it’s classed as a Halloween film or not. Cultplex will also have a visit from Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) and call upon The Monster Squad (1987) for more classic 80s kids fare.
Not only are there films galore (and full of gore) but there will also be a few special STAB events thrown in for good measure, with regular Cultplex favourites Quiz Show and MAGL (renamed Maghoul) getting a Halloween makeover, and A Lovely Time’s Simpsons Pub Quiz Down With Homework will be focusing exclusively on the Treehouse of Horror episodes. Plus there’s a special Halloween edition of comedy short film night Adult Film Club which is sure to be full of hilarious grot.
Caro Ferretti, Cultplex manager, said: “We’ve put together a mammoth season of the best horror movies we could muster, we’re sure horror fans across the north of England be will attending in their droves and they can be safe in the knowledge that there will be plenty more spooky surprises on the nights, this is not an ordinary cinema! Snap your tickets up if you don’t want to miss out”.
Full listings are below:
You can snap up said tickets here for the entire STAB season at Cultplex, if you dare!