LITTLE ROCK — I love Halloween.
Not for trick or treating or the grim decor, but because of the movies. You can count on at least three or four decent attempts by Hollywood to place its “scariest” stuff in theaters around Halloween.
TV is also rife with horror-movie programming. I dare you to flip the channel without landing on John Carpenter’s Halloween or a Friday the 13th marathon. I don’t know about you, but I plan on seeing a scary movie in a theater this weekend, and I thought I’d share some friendly advice.
I’ll admit it, I’m a nerd — not a horror nerd as such or a video-game nerd necessarily — but I am a horror-videogame nerd and I’m really excited about the new Silent Hill sequel. I’ll spare you all the gory details but I’m hoping for a thrilling, atmospheric, surreal survivor horror film with lots of practical special effects and makeup. I’ve read that there’s only one computer-generated shot in the film, so things may be looking up in this world of awful CG copouts on movie monster.
I also know there will probably be lots and lots of teenagers in the theater. I’m a bit of a theater snob and require a quiet theater for the best moviegoing experience. A weekend horror movie at a big theater is not a recipe for a quiet screening.
I’ve got nothing against teenagers (we’ve all been there), but teens like to talk. If you’re watching a PG-13 or R-rated horror film you’re going to be surrounded by teenagers, and for some reason horror films inspire lots of talking. Maybe it’s to release the tension or appear cooler than everyone who’s trying to enjoy the movie, but you will invariably get talk-backs at the screen, rampant whispering, giggling and screaming. Hey that’s part of the fun, right?
Maybe, but if you want to avoid such raucousness, here are some tips:
First, pay attention to theater traffic. Think of primetime TV, between 7 and 10 p.m. That’s when the theater will be filled to capacity. Watching a scary movie at 6 p.m. might not get you into the mood to be frightened but you’ll avoid big crowds. Shows at 11 p.m. and later aren’t as crowded and there are usually fewer young people in the crowd, but be careful — you might find yourself sitting behind a group of 20-something stoners who think they’re as funny as the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys.
Where you sit is also important. For the best view, you want to be center-center, but if, during the previews, you are sitting next to a talkative bunch, find a new seat. The mild embarrassment caused by stepping over people is worth the hour and a half of relative quiet you will get by moving.
On the other hand, if you want to go to the movies on Halloween without worrying about the plot so much, just go and try to have fun with the crowd experience instead of letting it get to you.
I’m a shusher — a firm believer in telling people to be quiet if they are obnoxiously talking in a theater. This is difficult if you are alone and could result in a fight if your talker is ready to show off. Strength in numbers can come in handy. Sometimes it’s better to go to a horror screening with a group of friends who can stand beside you as you put your finger to your lips and give an unruly patron the stink-eye. A row of 12 stink-eyes is hard to argue with.
Levi Agee is a programmer for the Little Rock Film Festival. E-mail him at:
MovieStyle, Pages 37 on 10/26/2012