Category: Movie theater news

Two to One: The New Comedy Hitting UK Theaters This May

Sandra Hüller stars in the heist comedy Two to One. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Heist comedies blend the thrill of elaborate adventures with sharp humor, making them a favorite among movie lovers. These films captivate audiences with clever schemes and unexpected twists, all wrapped in a lighthearted tone. The balance between tension and comedy—watching a team of misfits outwit authorities or rival thieves keeps viewers engaged while delivering laughs. Classics like Ocean’s Eleven and The Italian Job showcase stylish execution, witty banter, and satisfying payoffs. The genre’s mix of high stakes and humor makes for endlessly entertaining, feel-good storytelling that invites audiences to root for the underdogs.

London, UK: Tull Stories is delighted to announce that Natja Brunckhorst’s Two To One (Zwei zu eins) will be hitting UK cinemas from May 2nd after its UK Premiere at Glasgow Film Festival. (Strike Media, 2025)

A light-hearted ensemble comedy about friendship, community, love, and capitalism, Natja Brunckhorst’s Two To One is set in the long, hot East German summer of 1990.

Maren, Robert and Volker have known and loved each other since childhood. In the final weeks before reunification and with Germany about to change forever, the trio stumble across a fortune in soon-to-be-worthless East German currency, left to rot in Government storage.

With just days to work out what to do with this unexpected windfall before it becomes useless, the three assemble the friends and neighbours living in their crumbling apartment block and together hatch an elaborate plan to exchange the cash for goods – outwitting the incoming Westerners and their capitalism before time runs out.

But can a community previously living under strict socialist values handle this sudden wealth…?

Two To One had its World Premiere opening Munich Film Festival, where Screen Daily said it was a “comedy with heart.” It features stand-out performances from Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest, Toni Erdmann), Max Riemelt (Berlin Syndrome, Sense8,) and Ronald Zehrfeld (Phoenix, Barbara).

Distributed By: Tull Stories
Theatrical Release: May 2nd 2025
Short Synopsis: As German reunification looms in the summer of 1990 three close friends in Socialist East Germany hatch an elaborate plan to make a fortune when they find a bunker full of soon-to-be-worthless currency. With the help of their friends and neighbours they tackle progress and capitalism head-on.
Directed By: Natja Brunckhorst
Cast: Sandra Hüller, Max Riemelt, Ronald Zehrfeld, Ursula Werner, Peter Kurth, Martin Brambach and Kathrin Wehlisch
Run Time: 116 minutes

Upcoming events at EVO Cinemas

EVO Entertainment Group will be hosting several events in May. Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.

For anyone who misses watching cartoons in his/her pajamas, EVO Entertainment is hosting an Adult PJ Party featuring a special screening of the beloved animated film Spirited Away on May 4, 2022 at 7p.m. at select EVO locations. The screening will be accompanied by a specialty munchie menu featuring Hot Cheetos Chicken Tenders, the Dagwood Burger, Philly Cheese Tater Tots, and Buffalo Chicken Tacos, so guests are encouraged to wear their comfiest pajamas and stuff their faces during this flashback film. Screenings will take place at EVO’s Schertz, Kyle, Belterra Village, and Springtown locations at 7p.m. Tickets for these one-night-only screenings are on sale now and can be purchased here. (EVO Entertainment Group, 2022)

In Spirited Away, during her family’s move to the suburbs, a sullen 10 year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts. Guests are invited to join in her adventure during these limited-time showings.

This May, EVO Entertainment Group also celebrates community caretakers with free movie screenings for teachers and nurses during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 – May 6, 2022) and National Nurses Week (May 9 – 12, 2022). Teachers will be required to show proof of a school ID and nurses will be required to show proof of a medical ID at time of purchase. This complimentary offer is redeemable in-story only at the box office or concierge counter.

Additionally, in honor of Mother’s Day (May 8, 2022) EVO Entertainment Group is providing a $10 bonus card with the purchase of a $50 digital gift card purchased between May 1 – May 8, 2022. Digital gift cards are redeemable at any EVO Entertainment location. Only (1) $10 gift card will be awarded for each increment of $50 purchased in gift cards, up to $500. Guests are limited to the purchase of (5) gift cards per customer, per day.

Free Screenings for Teacher Appreciation Week – May 2 – May 5, 2022
Free Screenings for National Nurses Week – May 9 – May 12, 2022
Mother’s Day Gift Card BOGO – May 1 – May 8, 2022

The Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week offers are valid for all EVO Entertainment and ShowBiz locations. Digital gift cards are redeemable at all EVO Entertainment locations.

Studio restrictions will apply to the Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week offers; free screenings cannot be applied to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness screenings. Only one free ticket per person per day with valid ID may be redeemed. VIP Pods are not included in this offer. EVX and SDX are included in this promotion.

EVO Entertainment Group® is an Austin based out-of-home entertainment operator comprised of a number of innovative brands including EVO® Entertainment, EVO® Cinemas, and EVO® Concerts. Since its launch in 2014, EVO® has gained a reputation as a leader in innovation, as well as one of the fastest growing independent cinema circuits in the country. EVO® Entertainment Group currently employs over 1,000 team members and entertains nearly 3 million guests annually.

Celebrate National Popcorn Day with free popcorn at EVO Entertainment

National Popcorn Day is Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Photo: google

EVO Entertainment is celebrating National Popcorn Day by giving away free popcorn on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at all EVO locations in Texas (with the exception of Fritztown). Guests can snag their complimentary popcorn during standard hours of operation before catching films like Spider-Man: No Way Home or while enjoying EVO’s state-of-the-art gaming centers. Quantities are limited to one regular-sized bag per customer with no bottomless refills and the purchase of a movie ticket is not required. (EVO Entertainment, 2022)

EVO Entertainment Group is an Austin based out-of-home entertainment operator made up from several innovative brands including EVO Entertainment, EVO Cinemas, and EVO Concerts. Since its launch in 2014, EVO has gained a reputation as a leader in innovation, as well as one of the fastest growing independent cinema circuits in the country.

Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.

Salt in My Soul documentary: a rare look into life of Mallory Smith

Mallory Smith in Will Battersby’s Salt in My Soul. Photo: Giant Pictures, used with permission.

Powerful documentary Salt in My Soul will be released theatrically in New York (Cinema Village) and Los Angeles (Laemmle Royal) on January 21 followed by the VOD Release in the US, Canada, and UK & Ireland and key territories worldwide on January 25. (Giant Pictures, 2021)

A Feature Documentary Film by Will Battersby
Run time: 96 Minutes (USA- Feature Documentary)

VOD Platforms: 

US- Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft/Xbox, Vudu
Canada- Apple TV/ITunes, Microsoft/Xbox
UK- Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft/Xbox
Ireland- Apple TV/iTunes, Google Play

Cable Platforms: 

US- InDemand TVOD (Comcast, Spectrum, Cox), DirectTV/AT&T and more 

Based on the bestselling posthumously published memoir of the same name, Salt in My Soul is a documentary and classic coming of age story about a young woman figuring out how to live while dying. Mallory Smith was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of three. In her twenty five-year battle with the deadly disease, she carved out a life that most of us do not come close to. Using Mallory’s posthumously published 2500-page secret diaries, hundreds of hours of newly discovered footage, and audio recordings, the film offers Mallory as the narrator of her own extraordinary chronicle.

Following her realization at age nine that she would die young, Mallory secretly began to record her inner thoughts in her diary while throwing herself at life: friendships in elementary school, lovers and sports teams in high school, the little travel her disease would allow. She attended college and explored the wider world, one that was just beyond her grasp. She became a devoted environmentalist, seeing a startling and vivid metaphor for her declining health in the destruction of our world. Her father feverishly researched treatment options, desperate that the death sentence be commuted. Her mother obsessively helped her to live, cooking to maintain her weight and create community, raising money for research, and teaching her to prioritize relationships over all else. Mallory fought. And she wrote – about her fears, her loves, her pain, her depression, her hopes, and gave a voice to the many millions who struggle with invisible or visible illness. In Mallory’s final days, her father uncovered a long-forgotten treatment that is now changing the world of medicine. Heartbreakingly, it came too late to save his daughter.

Mallory was a young woman who lived with illness her whole life, who suffered immeasurably but who always found the will to live happy. Her story is a testament to enduring parental love and determination and the healing power of memoir as medicine, inspiring all of us to live life as fully as possible in the face of the challenges we all face. 

“Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life,” by Mallory Smith, is a powerful, intimate, and inspiring portrait of a brave young woman living with chronic illness. Mallory understood that patient voices need to be amplified in order to improve healthcare, that the intersection of human behavior and nature is critical to environmental sustainability, and that love and friendship give life meaning. As Mallory’s body deteriorated, she sharpened her mind, crystalized her thinking, and honed her writing skills. In her 2500 pages of private journal entries, she created poetry out of prosaic experiences. Beautifully written, provocative, and peppered with insights, “Salt in My Soul” reminds us to follow Mallory’s mantra and “Live Happy.”  

Giant Pictures is a leading digital distributor that is committed to empowering filmmakers to own their distribution. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, we work directly with rights owners to distribute movies and TV shows to VOD and streaming platforms in North America and worldwide. Our content partners range from first-time filmmakers to award-winning independent producers, as well as notable studios Alamo Drafthouse Films, Abramorama Selects, Participant, Tribeca Enterprises, Utopia Distribution, and XYZ Films. A division of Giant Interactive, the award-winning digital media and technology services company, we distribute across 45+ platforms, including AppleTV, Netflix, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Peacock. 

EVO Entertainment Group acquires ShowBiz Cinemas

The acquisition establishes EVO Entertainment Group as largest operator of cinema-entertainment centers in the country. Photo: EVO Entertainment Group

EVO Entertainment Group (“EVO”) and ShowBiz Cinemas (“ShowBiz”), two leading innovators in motion picture entertainment, announced this week that they have closed a transaction under which EVO has acquired 100% of the stock of Showbiz Cinemas in an all-cash deal. (EVO Entertainment Group, 2022)

“Today is a monumental moment for our company and our industry. This transaction establishes EVO as the country’s largest operator of cinema-entertainment centers and paves the way for accelerated progress and innovation within a new era of cinema.” – Mitch Roberts, Founder and CEO of EVO Entertainment Group and 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree.

Kevin Mitchell, CEO & Founder of Showbiz Cinemas, along with Mitch Roberts represent multiple generations in the cinema business. Their pioneering of cinema entertainment centers has been a smashing success. Kevin Mitchell reflected, “It is a wonderful time to entrust the company I started to a fourth-generation motion picture exhibitor and family member, because Showbiz Cinemas just had an all-time record-breaking holiday season! I am confident that Mitch’s leadership and Marbella’s capital strength will ensure a long and successful run for Showbiz, and I now look forward to exploring new ventures both in and out of the entertainment industry.”

The combined enterprise will provide dynamic and multi-faceted entertainment experiences to over eight million patrons annually in 16 venues with 148 screens, 108 bowling lanes, 9 full-service restaurants & bars, a 3,000-capacity live music venue, and over 30,000 combined square feet of gaming and attractions across four states, including Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. EVO’s expansion will continue into 2022 with additional venues currently under construction and expected to open in the coming months. The acquisition marks the first major move in the partnership between EVO and Marbella Interests, the Austin, Texas-based family office of Formentera Partners founder and former Parsley Energy founder and CEO, Bryan Sheffield.

EVO Entertainment Group is an Austin based out-of-home entertainment operator made up from several innovative brands including EVO Entertainment, EVO Cinemas, and EVO Concerts. Since its launch in 2014, EVO has gained a reputation as a leader in innovation, as well as one of the fastest growing independent cinema circuits in the country.

Founded in 2007 by exhibition industry veteran Kevin Mitchell, ShowBiz Cinemas is an independently owned and operated entertainment operator offering bowling, movies, games, food, and more across nine entertainment venues with 89 screens and 70 bowling lanes across Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Wyoming.

EVO Entertainment’s superhero event

EVO Entertainment Group is celebrating the blockbuster Spiderman: No Way Home with a special superhero themed event. Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.

EVO Entertainment Group is bringing everyone’s favorite heroes, both on and off the screen, to celebrate the highly-anticipated blockbuster Spiderman: No Way Home. Spider-Man, Little Spider Gwen, Little Miles Morales, Iron Man and Hawkeye characters will appear in-costume at EVO Entertainment Kyle Crossing on Friday, December 17, 2021 from 7p.m. to 9p.m. and EVO Entertainment Schertz on Saturday, December 18, 2011 from 5:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. (EVO Entertainment Group, 2021)

EVO Entertainment is partnering with non-profit Cap’s Crusaders to bring these classic Marvel characters to life and give guests the chance to be a hero themselves. To take a snapshot with their friendly neighborhood heroes, guests are encouraged to bring a new or gently used children’s toy, book, or donation to benefit local children’s hospitals and shelters. Of course, photos can still be captured without a donation. So grab your popcorn, camera and web shooters and head to EVO Entertainment to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

For those still looking for the perfect last minute gift this holiday season, EVO Entertainment is offering a Buy $50, Get $10 digital gift card for purchase to guests starting today, December 16, 2021. This offer is available through Friday, December 24, 2021 and terms and conditions of purchase may be found below. Guests can visit EVO Cinemas to purchase a $50 digital gift card and get their $10 bonus. Each card is redeemable at any EVO location so guests can experience unlimited excitement in EVO’s state-of-the-art gaming centers. Once players are done riding the Virtual Rabbids VR Coaster and fighting off the alien invaders in HALO: Fireteam Raven, they can head to any redemption shop and claim their prize. 

Terms and conditions: *Order must be placed between 12/16/21 at 12a.m. CT through 12/24/21 at 11:59p.m. CT. Valid online only. One (1) $10 gift card will be awarded for each increment of $50 purchased in gift cards, up to $500. Limit of five (5) gift cards per customer, per day. Qualifying purchases will receive gift card via email within three hours of purchase. The gift card is redeemable at any EVO location. Promotion only eligible within the United States. Not valid on previous purchases. No backorders or substitutions.

Halloween events and specials in San Antonio

The fan-favorite Pumpkin Spiked Milkshake is back this month at EVO Entertainment this month. Photo: EVO Entertainment, used with permission.

This Halloween season, some San Antonio businesses are offering special events, specials, recipes, and more to help San Antonians celebrate the spooky season. (San Antonio Museum of Art, Taco Cabana, EVO Entertainment, Bakery Lorraine, Twang 2021)

San Antonio Museum of Art
Families can enjoy the San Antonio Museum of Art in a new way by trick-or-treating throughout the museum on Sunday, October 31 from 10a.m. – 5p.m. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes as they explore the museum’s galleries. Swords, scepters, weapons, wands, and full-face masks will not be permitted.

Taco Cabana
This Halloween season, Taco Cabana is celebrating with the return of its popular Bean and Cheese taco coupon booklets. For a limited time and while supplies last, guests can purchase the booklets for $2 each at any Taco Cabana location. Each booklet will include five coupons for a free TC classic Bean and Cheese taco, and the $2 donation from each booklet sold will directly benefit local food banks. Offer is valid until October 31 and coupons are redeemable through November 30, 2021.

EVO Entertainment
Austin, Schertz, New Braunfels and San Marcos locations
On Saturday, October 30, families can check out “Pumpkins & Popcorn” at EVO locations featuring a specialty screening of Scoob! at 11a.m. Tickets to the event include a wooden pumpkin, painting and decorating supplies, and a popcorn and candy snack bag. Limited tickets are available for purchase here.

Kyle, Schertz and San Marcos locations
On Wednesday, October 20 EVO’s Kyle, Schertz and Springtown locations will host the annual Drunken Pumpkin Parties. Guests will each get a large pumpkin, carving tools and stencils, a snack bag and hidden prizes while they enjoy a screening of the Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus. This event is 18+ and costumes are encouraged. Tickets are available here.

Throughout the month of October, select EVO locations will also be serving themed cocktails perfect for spooky season. “The Symbiote” is a strawberry margarita with a black salted rim created in honor of the highly-anticipated film Venom: Let There Be Carnage and will be available through October 31. The fan-favorite Pumpkin Spiked Milkshake is also making a return this fall, made with vodka and Baileys Pumpkin Spiced Irish Cream. A non-alcoholic version of the milkshake is also available.

Bakery Lorraine
Beginning Thursday, October 28 and through the end of the month, Bakery Lorraine will be offering a special Halloween menu at both Austin and San Antonio locations. The menu will include a black cat tart for $6 made of chocolate mousse with a vanilla filling, a lemon mummy tart for $6 made of lemon curd topped with meringue and two chocolate chips for the mummy’s eyes, a chocolate caramel tart for $6 made of a caramel filling topped with chocolate ganache, a phantom of opera cake slice for $6 layered with pumpkin spice sponge cake and buttercream topped in a rich dark chocolate glaze, a voodoo doll gingerbread cookie for $5 made of gingerbread cookie dipped in a rich dark chocolate, and a ghost moon pie for $5 made of homemade graham cookies with a honey marshmallow filling dipped in a white chocolate. 

Twang
In the spirit of celebrating Halloween on October 31, family-owned salts and seasonings company, Twang, has a themed cocktail to enjoy at home using their Twang-A-Rita Nectarberry. The cocktail is appropriately named Witch’s Brew and is composed of 2 oz. cinnamon liqueur, 3/4 pomegranate syrup, 3oz. apple cider, and topped with champagne for a single serving. If wanting to celebrate with a bigger group, their punch recipe is composed of 16 oz. cinnamon liqueur, 6oz. pomegranate syrup, 24oz. apple cider, and 1 full 750ml bottle of champagne. Recipe courtesy of  Aaron Peña, Owner of Amor Eterno and Squeezebox in San Antonio, Texas.

Bakery Lorraine’s ghost moon pie and voodoo doll gingerbread cookie. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

Movie review: Demigod

Demigod is coming to theaters and On Demand on Friday, October 15, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Just in time for the Halloween season, Demigod, starring Rachel Nichols, Jeremy London, and Elena Sanchez opens nationwide in theaters and On Demand on Friday, October 15, 2021. Upon the death of her grandfather, a woman and her husband return to her birthplace in Germany’s Black Forest, only to find a terrifying secret awaits them. Directed by Miles Doleac. (Demigod, 2021)

After her grandfather dies, Robin (Rachel Nichols) and her husband Leo (Yohance Myles) travel to Germany to return to her childhood home in the Black Forest. She grew up there surrounded by the wonders of the forest and has memories of spending time with her grandfather. The more time she spends there, the clearer those memories become and they are not all pleasant ones. Soon after, a group of local witches captures the couple and they, along with other captured locals, become part of an ancient hunting ritual meant to appease Cernunnos. Cernunnos was an ancient Celtic god who represented nature, flora and fauna, and fertility. He is frequently depicted in Celtic art wearing stag antlers or horns and usually a torc around his neck.

Demigod is a horror movie composed mostly of suspenseful horror instead of the type of horror that scares people and haunts them after the movie is over. The Black Forest is the perfect location for this type of dark movie that centers around witches, a demigod, and winter solstice rituals. It also provides excellent cinematography that envelops the action and makes it come alive. Cernunnos’ dark red eyes stand out against the bleak background for dramatic purposes. Having a group of people struggling to survive reveals the strength of the human survival instinct and how far they are willing to go to protect a loved one. Prepare for a plot twist at the end.

Overall, Demigod is entertaining, suspenseful, and at times creepy. The violence is not too graphic, which might otherwise turn off more sensitive viewers. At only an hour and a half long, the story is short and to the point. There is some German dialogue with subtitles.

Digital platforms: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Xbox/Microsoft, Comcast/Xfinity, and more.
Demigod, 2021
1 hr. 35 min.

*The author received an opportunity to pre-screen this movie for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Cernunnos. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The Call: The Uncut Experience coming to theaters for special Halloween event

Back by popular demand, The Call: The Uncut Experience returns to theaters for one night only, just in time for Halloween. Photo: google

On Monday, Cinedigm and Fathom Events announced that The Call is coming back to the big screen with an extended, uncut edition just in time for Halloween. The Call: The Uncut Experience will be in 700 movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, October 27 at 7p.m. local time. After the movie, there will also be a pre-recorded Q&A interview with Emmy® Award-winning director Timothy Woodward Jr. about the making of the movie and a future sequel. Visit Fathom Events online for a complete list of theater locations and to purchase tickets. (The Call: The Uncut Experience, 2021)

From the creator of Final Destination, The Call stars horror icons Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell. Shaye is best known for her role of Elise Rainier from the worldwide box office hit franchise Insidious. She has also starred in a variety of horror films, including The Grudge, Ouija, The Final Wish, and Showtime’s Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Bell is best known for his role in the Saw franchise playing the terrifying John “Jigsaw” Kramer in all eight movies. The spine-tingling tale also stars Chester Rushing (Stranger Things), Erin Sanders (Big Time Rush), Mike Manning (Teen Wolf) and Judd Lormand (SEAL Team).

Strong word of mouth helped The Call become one of the top-performing horror films of 2020. It was a hit with both audiences and critics alike with MovieWeb calling it, “A chilling tale of revenge and the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season as we head into October” and Dread Central saying, “From credits to the final frame, The Call leaves a lasting impact, an almost congenital terror that’s certain to break your heart and scare you senseless.”

SYNOPSIS: From the creator of Final Destination, Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell star in this terrifying tale of death from the fall of 1987. After a tragic accident, a group of small-town friends must survive the night in the home of a sinister couple. One by one, their worst nightmares quickly become reality as they enter the realm of The Call.

“Being able to bring The Call back into theaters just in time for Halloween is an incredible opportunity,” said Woodward Jr. “From directing genre icons like Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell to re-creating the ‘80s and developing this fantastical horror dreamscape, I’m excited to share some great stories with theatergoers.”

“There’s nothing quite like the visceral experience of watching a horror film with fellow genre fans on the big screen,” said Yolanda Macias, Chief Content Officer, Cinedigm. “It’s scarily perfect timing to bring The Call back into theaters for Halloween with this new Uncut Experience. The additional scenes and Timothy’s interview will keep fans asking for a sequel.”

Directed by Timothy Woodward Jr., The Call: The Uncut Experience was written by Patrick Stibbs and produced by Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick, Patrick Stibbs, Zebulun Huling, Gina Rugolo and Randy J. Goodwin. Executive producers include Nicolas Chartier, Jonathan Deckter, Matthew Helderman, Joe Listhaus, Drew Ryce, James Shavick, Kirk Shaw and Luke Taylor. Co-producers are James Cullen Bressack and Chaysen Beacham.

The Call: The Uncut Experience. Photo: Fathom Events, used with permission.

Circle Drive-In to host first annual Blood-O-Rama Shock Festival

The first annual Blood-O-Rama Shock Festival will take place on October 22, 2021 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Photo: Circle Drive-In, used with permission.

Calling all horror movie fans and drive-in movie enthusiasts. The Frankenstein Monster from 1971’s cult classic Dracula vs Frankenstein will be returning from the dead after a 50-year rest, courtesy of makeup effects artist Roy Knyrim of Sota FX Studio. The man-made monster will be making a live appearance as Sam Sherman’s Retro Road Show Drive-In Tour returns to the State of Pennsylvania with two back-to-back screenings of the Al Adamson cult classics, Dracula vs Frankenstein (1971) and Brain of Blood (1971). Both films will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary, on October 22, 2021 as part of the First Annual Blood-o-Rama Shock Festival at the Circle Drive-In in Scranton, PA. (Circle Drive-In, 2021)

Gates open at 4p.m. for this special event which will feature a local community blood drive and an opportunity to see the resurrected Frankenstein’s monster before the sun sets. The film festival begins at 6p.m. The night will also feature two other blood-soaked movies, The Mad Doctor of Blood Island and Beast of Blood, during the evening’s film program, as well as an opportunity to experience the Circle Drive-In’s spooky Halloween haunt, The Circle of Screams. Do not be surprised if another creature, The Beast of Blood, shows up to meet and greet fans during the evening’s drive-in festivities with free Zombie swizzle sticks. In addition, the first 100 cars that arrive at the drive-in will receive a free “Drac Pack,” which includes a plastic Dracula ring and plastic vampire fangs. (Note: One “Drac Pack” per car.)

The idea for the Circle Drive-In’s Blood-o-Rama Shock Festival, the drive-in blood drive and blood themed movie event was based on producer/distributor Sam Sherman’s packaging and marketing campaigns for Hemisphere Pictures during the early 1970s, entitled The Chiller Carnival of Blood and the Blood-O-Rama Shock Festival. A number of the films Mr. Sherman worked on emphasized the word “Blood” in the title to lure “blood-thirsty” horror and gore fans to seek the films out at their local theatre or drive-in. Some of the film campaigns and titles Sherman worked on include Blood Creature, The Blood Drinkers, Brides of Blood, Blood of Dracula’s Castle, Horror of the Blood Monsters, Hell’s Blood Devils, and Blood of Ghastly Horror. In fact, it was Mr. Sherman who was the brains behind the classic drive-in campaign and audience-participation gimmick called “The Oath of Green Blood” for the Tiki creature feature, The Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968), which is part of the festival. Mr. Sherman, a drive-in movie pioneer, just completed his memoir “When Dracula Met Frankenstein,” (Murania Press) which will be available in limited supply at the Circle Drive-In.

Circle Drive-In Theatre has continually been running since September 10, 1949, making it one of the longest running drive-ins in America. The Circle Drive-In Theater operates from the spring to fall each year, showing first-run features and retro classics.

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First Annual Blood-O-Rama Shock Festival