The Alamo Drafthouse has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the greatest movie theaters in the history of mankind…or at least the history of movie theaters. With their signature events, ample food and drink selection, and strict no-talking policy, they make obsolete all tawdry multiplexes and completely redefine the movie-going experience. Here’s what they’re up to this week!
Thursday October 13th
Shaun of the Dead Quote-Along
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
“Now you can quote along with all of your favorite British-accented zombie fighters as The Action Pack presents the Shaun of the Dead Quote-Along. We’ll have all of our favorite lines subtitled karaoke-style so that they pop up on the screen in white seconds before the character says the line, then highlights in yellow along with the dialog so we can all yell out, “She’s so DRUNK!” when Shaun and Ed first discover the zombie in their backyard. PLUS! We’ve ordered a full crate of inflatable cricket bats from England so that every time Shaun whacks a zombie to make a break for it, you can live out that excitement in the theater. Whack the person next to you and get whacked right back. Use your brains! Your delicious, scrumptious brains…”—Henri Mazza via Drafthouse.com
SxSW Presents: Where Soldiers Come From
Alamo South Lamar 7:00pm
“From a snowy small town in Northern Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan and back, Where Soldiers Come From follows the four-year journey of childhood friends and their town, forever changed by a faraway war. A documentary about growing up, Where Soldiers Come From is an intimate look at the young men who fight our wars and their town. Returning to her hometown, Austin documentarian Heather Courtney gains extraordinary access following these young men as they grow and change from teenagers stuck in their town, to 23-year-old veterans facing the struggles of returning home.” –Drafthouse.com
The Thing (1982)
Alamo Village 9:50pm
One of the greatest horror films every made, John Carpenter’s terrifying remake of The Thing from Another World is a powerful, character-driven nightmare. The constant paranoia of not knowing if the person next to them is really human is what drives the suspense and Rob Bottin’s stellar practical effects are out of this world. Seeing this film on the big screen is the perfect Halloween appetizer.
Michael Jackson Sing-Along
Alamo Ritz 10:00pm
“MJ may be gone, but his legend is eternal. This was our very first music video Sing-Along ever, and it’s still one of the best. Because, as we know, Michael didn’t make music videos, he made short films. Say, say, say what you want, but we’ll be getting our Thriller on, asking Annie if she’s okay, and rocking with you all night. If you’ve never been to one of The Action Pack’s Sing-Alongs before, this is the show to get started with. We’ll have a moonwalking contest before the show, select members of every audience will get flashlights to shine around the room every time Michael lights up a piece of sidewalk during ‘Billie Jean,’ and when they dance under the water from the fire hydrant during ‘The Way You Make Me Feel,’ we’ll make you feel the spray But be warned, Sing-Alongs aren’t just sitting in the theater and cozily watching your favorite artists’ videos. In the past, the audience has been known to stand up and leave their seat behind entirely, and always seem to wannabe starting something. And we never stop ‘em.”—Henri Mazza via Drafthouse.com
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: If you were already planning on seeing the prequel to The Thing, which hits theaters on Friday, it would be a great idea to brush up on the original with the Drafthouse’s big screen presentation. Plus, it’s The Thing, do you really need an excuse to revisit?
Friday October 14th
Master Pancake: Highlander
Alamo Ritz (thru 10/15) 7:00pm; 10:00pm
“Come on out and watch as Master Pancake decapitates one of the most awesomely bad movies of all time: Highlander (1986). Starring Christopher Lambert as the title character: an immortal Scottish swordsman who for no good reason speaks with a French accent. Co-starring Sean Connery as a Spaniard who inexplicably talks with a thick Scottish accent, and Clancy Brown as a scary giant called The Kurgan. With a ridiculous plot involving 16th-century Scotland, 1980s New York, a group of demi-gods called The Immortals, and a competition for supreme omnipotence called The Gathering, this movie has it all. Plus a great mid-‘80s fantasy vibe, sweet training montages, a soundtrack by Queen, and more beheadings than the French revolution! Comedians for this show include John Erler and special guests Owen Egerton and Scott Chester.”—Master Pancake’s John Erler via Drafthouse.com
The Late Show: The Shining
Alamo Ritz 10:30pm
“Just in time for Halloween, we’re showing the greatest horror film ever made. Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece about the Torrance family, holed up for the winter as the caretakers of the Overlook Hotel, is intense, stunning, and downright scary! It’s full of now-classic horror film moments, from ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY to “Heeere's Johnny!,” REDRUM, and those creepy twins, but it never feels clichéd or outplayed; it’s the kind of horror movie that ages well, the terrifying imagery and sounds only becoming stronger as the years go by. Starring Jack Nicholson from back when he was actually crazy, Shelley Duvall as the svelte wife with a baseball bat, and Scatman Crothers as Dick Hallorann, the Shining mentor for little Danny/Tony.”—Drafhouse.com
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: Not only is The Shining a classic, and not only is the Drafthouse giving you the unique opportunity to see it in 35mm, but there will also be drink specials at the Ritz locations on Red Rum cocktails. See if that doesn’t give you an extra shine.
Saturday October 15th
SxSW Presents: Where Soldiers Come From
Alamo Ritz 3:00pm
The Late Show: The Shining
Alamo Ritz 11:30pm
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Alamo Ritz 11:55pm
Thrill to all the cheap laughs, cheap women, and cheap production values of one of the world’s premier bad movies. Watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show in-and-of-itself is an event, but it takes on a whole new life when witnessed within the walls of The Alamo Village with loads of audience participation, dressed-up patrons, and general wickedness that has become a vital component to the film’s meteoritic rise to cult film legend.
Sleepaway Camp
Alamo South Lamar 11:55pm
“We're presenting an incredibly rare 35mm screening of the most twisted camp classic in the books: the original Sleepaway Camp! The single greatest horror movie of all time (no shit), the shock ending of this mind-strangling wrecking ball of adolescent stab-lust will send you screaming to the grave! Be there or beheaded!”—Drafthouse.com
Sunday October 16th
Austin Humane Society Film Festival
Alamo South Lamar Noon
“You are invited to join AHS patrons for an afternoon of entertainment that will support the Austin Humane Society’s efforts to foster animals victimized by the Central Texas wildfires. Hosted by Austin filmmaker Tom Stuart, the event will combine a film festival and a fundraiser into one benefit for AHS. Currently, the humane society is working tirelessly to treat burned animals and to reunite lost pets with their Bastrop families. Your generous contributions give them the ability to provide aid to these animals and, in return, you deserve gratitude for your support. As a token of appreciation, you will be entertained with a festival of fantastic short films, from hysterical comedies to provocative dramas, all produced by Texan filmmakers. Also, for those over 21, a free glass of wine will be included as a ticket perk. Following the festival, AHS will give a presentation highlighting their goals within the community. Donations to the humane society will be greatly appreciated. See you there!”—Drafthouse.com
Cine Las Americas: Octubre
Alamo Village 1:30pm
“The opaque and solitary life of a small time pawnbroker is affected when a baby suddenly appears, basket and all, in his apartment. His rancid vanity is disrupted, his solitary bitterness menaced at the edge of a transformation, and as much as he investigates the child’s precedence at the brothel he frequents, tries unsuccessfully to rid himself of the baby, or avoids getting comfortable with his neighbor after hiring her to look after the child; a gray habit of loneliness and isolation begins to crack down. The remote possibility of another life peeks in, among ghosts from the past and a present oppressive and absurd. Miracles happen to those who wish for them… and see them through.”—Eugenio, Cine Las Americas via Drafthouse.com
Fellini, Jazz, & Co
Alamo South Lamar 1:30pm
“FELLINI, JAZZ, & CO is the next installment in our series featuring great performances of the Berliner Philharmoniker (after July’s fantastic evening with soprano Renée Fleming). Here we’ll see the famous orchestra do some of the most compelling music written in the 20th century. First up is Dmitri Shostakovich’s Suite No. 2 for Jazz Orchestra, the amazing and epic piece most remembered as the theme to the Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut. This is one not to be missed. Next up is Nino Rota’s La Strada Suite, an arrangement of the music from Fellini’s classic film. This is followed up by two of three pieces from Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Trilogy: Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome. Beautiful pieces, all. You’ll be able to see one of the greatest orchestras in the world performing this music in glorious HD video and audio – what a delight!”—Drafthouse.com
SxSW Presents: The Catechism Cataclysm
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
“Father Billy (played by Eastbound & Down’s Steve Little), a young priest, is forced to take a sabbatical by his superiors when he is discovered telling inappropriate parables to his flock. Billy tracks down his high-school idol Robbie, who begrudgingly agrees to a canoe trip. On the water, the two men reminisce about Billy's days as the keyboardist in a Christian band and Robbie's as a guitarist for a metal band. When night approaches, they realize they have lost their way - and that's when things get weird. “—SXSW via Drafthouse.com
TV at the Alamo: AMC’s The Walking Dead
Alamo South Lamar, Lake Creek, & Village 9:00pm
“Season One of The Walking Dead established the series as yet another top-notch program from AMC right along with Breaking Bad and that other one with Christina Hendricks. The show has already taken huge U-Turns from the plot of the graphic novels and proved that it is capable of making its own compelling and exciting character-driven storylines, so the anticipation of season 2’s upcoming 13 episodes is huge. Where will they go next?! Come watch it with your fellow zombie fans in the fortified safety of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.”—John Gross via Drafthouse.com
Big Screen Classics: The Shining
Alamo Ritz 9:15pm
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: If you are a big softy for animals, like we are, please consider attending the Austin Humane Society Film Festival. Not only are they a great cause in general, but currently they are working tirelessly to help pets and pet owners recover from the devastating Bastrop fires.
Monday October 17th
Big Screen Classics: The Shining
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
Music Monday: Swell Season
Alamo Ritz 9:45pm
“In 2008, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova captivated audiences and earned two Academy Awards for their musical collaboration in the film Once, which reached $10 million at the box office and grew their popularity and fan base by tens of thousands in North America and throughout the world. As their fictional romance blurred with reality, they fell in love, recorded an album, and embarked on a world tour. Fueled by two years of exhilaration, performance, and psychological turmoil, The Swell Season is much more than a music documentary. It is a volatile and intimate portrait of a romance that fractures in the face of life on the road and personal tragedy. As Glen and Marketa's relationship unhinges, ultimately music prevails as their enduring connection.”—Drafthouse.com
The Big Lebowski Quote-Along
Alamo South Lamar 10:00pm
If you love the Cohen Brothers’ tribute to shiftless losers with mad bowling skills and penchants for Creedence Clearwater Revival, this is the place to be. All your favorite one-liners from The Dude will flash across the screen to prompt your collective vocal worship of this masterful comedy.
SxSW Catechism Cataclysm
Alamo South Lamar (thru 10/20) 10:00pm
Tuesday October 18th
Girlie Night: Splash
Alamo Ritz 7:00pm
“Sure, everyone loves Ariel, with her big red hair and tiny purple shell bra. But in my mind, no Disney underwater vixen can compete with Daryl Hannah in Splash. From the moment I laid my seven-year-old eyes on her crimped blonde hair and cool red tail, I knew I wanted to grow up and be a mermaid. It's easy to see why an adorably young Tom Hanks falls in love with her! I mean, not only does Madison have major life-saving skills, she also learned English from watching TV, eats lobsters whole and has a totally healthy body image. Basically, she's awesome, and to this day, I'm sad I never found a college where I could major in How to Be a Mermaid. Complementing Daryl Hannah and Tom Hank's totally charming performances is the legendary John Candy, whose wardrobe alone should have been nominated for an Academy Award. (It wasn't, but the screenplay was!) I guarantee that we'll pack six fun-filled days worth of magic into this month's Girlie Night, so join us as we screech along with Madison, boo Dr. Kornbluth and squee ourselves silly under the sea. Anyone have a crimper I can borrow?”—Drafthouse.com
AFS Essential Cinema: The Music Lovers
Alamo South Lamar 7:00pm
“Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s angst-ridden life as a closeted gay in czarist Russia is given the full Ken Russell treatment, with vertiginous scenes exploding like the brilliant man’s most emotional music. ssell’s non-stop, relentless visualization of the famous rock opera will leave you gasping for breath.”—Drafthouse.com
The Red Black and Blonde
Alamo South Lamar 7:30pm
“God $ave the Red Black and Blonde is the story about four Texas women from Austin who try to rob a convenience store located in West Texas. After a night of arguing and debauchery, will they be ready for their mission in the morning? Cruise in badass style with these badass Texas Women in their 1975 Impala and see where the Texas trail takes them. The film stars Emmy Robbin, Sara Hoots, Kasey Stevens and Ruby Leigh Young with Joy Lola Scott and Trenton Rostedt. It was written and directed by Dan Jimenez and was shot in Austin Texas.”—Drafthouse.com
Terror Tuesday: Anguish
Alamo Ritz 10:10pm
“Easily among the 1980s’ most criminally overlooked horror treasures! A perpetual avalanche of unexpected shocks and shifts and stabs, Anguish was too damn good to be rightfully appreciated in its day. But now that mankind has reached its evolutionary apex, we can finally fully absorb this brazenly ambitious creation. To tell you anything about the plot of Anguish would endanger its plentiful fright-film magic and remove layers of surprise from a brilliantly constructed slash opera, so instead, we’ll just mention that it’s a career-best performance from the late, wee horror icon Zelda Rubinstein! Mz. Rubinstein’s well-known role in Poltergeist made her an undisputed terror icon, but when she visited the Alamo, she herself said that Anguish - where she’s the psychotic hypnotist mother of a madman (Oscar nominee Michael Lerner) - was one of her favorite films, and for reasons we can’t reveal here, it’s crucial that it be seen in a theater. Tonight, we pay a very sincere tribute to a dearly departed little master of the big screen!”—Zack Carlson via Drafthouse.com
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: One of the best things about the Alamo Drafthouse is their unwavering support of local filmmakers. You won’t get the chance to see local production God $ave the Red Black and Blonde at any other theater. Come show your support for local filmmakers and enjoy a raucous good time in the spirit of classic grindhouse fare.
Wednesday October 19th
Shaun of the Dead Quote-Along
Alamo Lake Creek 7:00pm
They Wear No Clothes: Elysia, Valley of the Nude, & They Wear No Clothes!
Alamo Ritz 7:30pm
“Through some bizarre loophole set forth by warring concepts of indecency, free speech, and man’s desire to see women naked (any way they can), the nudist camp film was born. In brief spurts in the 1930s, 1950s, and the early 1960s, exploitation filmmakers chose to set their films in nudist camps, telling love stories or family dramas while the characters would, naturally, be exposed for the camera to see. Generally harmless and desexualized to the highest degree they could be, these nudist camp movies are an odd artifact from a period of prudery and the sneaky producers who tried to dodge it. We present the classic in the genre, and the first major title, Elysia, Valley of the Nude (1934). Narratively about a reporter sent to investigate a nudist camp, this picture purports to be a political argument for the benefits of sunbathing and the unashamed lifestyle. A totally silly endeavor, full of beautiful young men and women running around completely bare. Played with the short They Wear No Clothes! (1941), a tongue-in-cheek documentary about the nudist movement that sheds its journalistic integrity.”—Daniel Metz via Drafthouse.com
Action Pack Presents: Last Action Hero w/Austin O’Brien Live
Alamo South Lamar 8:00pm
“Danny Madigan is a young action movie fan (HEY! Me too!) and one fateful night when he goes to see a sneak preview of the latest installment of his favorite movie series (JACK SLATER!) where his best friend Nick, the projectionist, bestows upon him an allegedly magical ticket (I want a best friend who owns and runs his own theater!). Soon after the celluloid starts turning, Danny finds himself transported INTO the movie where he gets to inhabit the place where his idol lives and the good guys always win (I've wished this would happen so many times)...that is until Jack Slater's antagonist gets a hold of the magical ticket and finds a way out into the real world. A synopsis does not do this movie justice because, frankly, I'm not certain there is a word in existence that describes the sheer level of awesomosetry that this film operates on. So, the fact that The Action Pack is showing it should be reason enough to celebrate, but we decided we were going to handle this film the only way we know how...which is to go completely overboard with it! Not only are we handing out caps and guns for everyone to shoot along with at the screen during the endless barrage of gun fights, but we're also packing our pyro kits with a dangerous amount of black powder to deliver a live pyrotechnic show during the film's explosive moments. Oh, and did we mention DANNY MADIGAN himself, Mr. Austin O'brien, will be there for our intro and Q&A?! Grab some (non-magical) tickets because even if you haven't watched this movie since it came out in 1993, it looks like Leo ‘The Fart’ is gonna pass gas one more time.”—Drafthouse.com
Weird Wednesday: Kill & Kill Again
Alamo Ritz 9:45pm
“Monumental follow-up to the brain-leeching martial-arts non-classic Kill or Be Killed. This time elfin ass-kicker James Ryan plays a roving international problem solver with superpowers and an endless supply of clever one-liners. There's another karate-obsessed supervillain who's organizing another tournament of death. And once again Ryan must assemble a team of colorful characters to defeat the madman the only way he understands, using the same kind of slow, clumsy, exceptionally ungraceful karate that made the first film's action sequences so edge-of-your-seat unexciting. Fortunately, what Kill and Kill Again lacks in genuine excitement it makes up for in laughter. Like when the statuesque blonde ‘martial artist’ Kandy Kane explains that her father was kidnapped because he had developed a potato-based fuel so powerful that ‘one year's crop could provide enough gasoline to drive every car in the world to the moon.’ A very special experience. Don't miss unless you're in the habit of missing unmissable stuff.”—Lars Nilsen via Drafthouse.com
Alamo Survivor’s Tip: Last Action Hero is one of the most underrated action films ever made. Yes, it’s cheesy and silly. But it also takes some really clever jabs at its own genre that go largely unnoticed. Plus, you can ask Austin O’Brien all about his experiences working with Arnold Schwarzenegger on this cult classic.
Houston
Graveyard Shift: Monster Squad & Night of the Creeps
10/15 7:30pm
The epic horror series of the Houston outlets, The Graveyard Shift, is throwing one hell of a tribute to director Fred Dekker with a pair of cult classics that owe their DVD/Blu-ray releases to the Alamo. Monster Squad and Night of the Creeps are two fantastic, long unsung horror films that distribution companies were only finally willing to roll the dice on after seeing the ravenously warm reception they received at Drafthouse screenings. Please enjoy these films as they return again to the Alamo; you will not be disappointed.
TV at the Alamo: AMC’s The Walking Dead
10/16 9:00pm
Only at the Alamo: Anime
10/17-10/18 7:30pm
The Alamo Drafthouse provides a welcome haven for fans of Japanese animation. Samurai swords must unfortunately be checked at the door.
Michael Jackson Sing-Along
10/19 7:30pm
Graveyard Shift: The Thing
10/13 9:00pm
Grease Sing-Along
10/15 7:30pm
If you love the 50s, if the idea of poodle skirts and jukeboxes really revs your engine, then why not come together like rama lama lama and ding a de dinga a dong and sing along with your favorite moments from this musical smash hit? Complimentary combs and candy cigarettes will complete the illusion that you've traveled back in time to the 50s…as represented in the 70s.
Big Screen Classics: The Exorcist
10/16 6:35pm
If you would like to be forever terrified of little girls, pea soup, and Catholics, do we have a classic horror film for you! The Exorcist earns every bit of its reputation and it is unsurprising that it still scares the frock out of modern audiences. What is surprising is that Warner Brothers was able to get away with making this film in the 1970s. Let’s just say we didn’t think what possessed young Regan did with that crucifix would fly with censors at the time. Come enjoy this benchmark horror classic on the big screen once again. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Houston Film Critics Society.
TV at the Alamo: AMC’s The Walking Dead
10/16 9:00pm
TV at the Alamo: Glee
10/18 7:00pm
“Man you guys are CRAZY about this show! We’ve tried to feed your obsession with a few Glee Sing-Alongs (that sell-out every single time) but that just wasn’t enough! So we caved and now we’ll be showing every new episode of the season where you can get giddy with your fellow Gleeks weekly. So start practicing your Schuester dance moves, warm up your vocal chords to out-sing Rachel, and get fabulous like Kurt, ‘cause we’re bringing the Glee.”—Drafthouse.com
San Antonio
The Thing (1982)
10/13 7:30pm; 10:30pm
TV at the Alamo: AMC’s The Walking Dead
10/16 9:00pm
Only at the Alamo: Anime
10/17 7:30pm
TV at the Alamo: Doctor Who
10/19 7:30pm
“The Doctor and Rory will race through the galaxy to find Amy Pond. This is the episode where much is revealed and you may need a kleenex for the final scenes. We will conclude the evening with ‘Let's Kill Hitler.’ Free admission but you need to get a ticket from the box office to secure your seat.”—Drafthouse.com
Michael Jackson Sing-Along
10/16 5:30pm; 8:30pm
Big Screen Classics: The Shining
10/19 7:00pm; 10:30pm
Michael Jackson Sing-Along
10/18 7:00pm
Ghostbusters
10/13 7:00pm
“Zip up your brown jump suit, strap on your Proton Pack, get in your white hearse/ambulance, and head to the Drafthouse because we have a treat for you: Starting this Thursday, and on every Thursday until Halloween, we'll be showing Ivan Reitman's 1984 classic Ghostbusters, starring the great comedy triumvirate Billy Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis. This is a limited re-release, for a limited time only. As awesome as that is all on its own, of course we thought "What can we do to make this more awesome?" The answer: SLIMER PIZZA and GHOSTBUSTERS S'MORES on special at every show, created by Alamo Executive Chef John Bullington!”—Chase Whale via Drafthouse.com
The Goonies
10/13 9:00pm
“Mikey Walsh and Brandon Walsh are brothers whose family is preparing to move because developers want to build a golf course in the place of their neighborhood -- unless enough money is raised to stop the construction of the golf course, and that's quite doubtful. But when Mikey stumbles upon a treasure map of the famed ‘One-Eyed’ Willy's hidden fortune, Mikey, Brandon, and their friends Lawrence ‘Chunk’ Cohen, Clark ‘Mouth’ Devereaux, Andrea ‘Andy’ Carmichael, Stefanie ‘Stef’ Steinbrenner, and Richard ‘Data’ Wang, calling themselves The Goonies, set out on a quest to find the treasure in hopes of saving their neighborhood. The treasure is in a cavern, but the entrance to the cavern is under the house of evil thief Mama Fratelli and her sons Jake Fratelli, Francis Fratelli, and the severely disfigured Lotney ‘Sloth’ Fratelli.”—Drafthouse.com
