Using Saint Maud, the acclaimed new religious/psychological horror film from Rose Glass, as a jumping off point, we’re excited to feature this series of films that explore the dangers of faith – either too much or not enough. Psycho killers, Satanic possessions, biblical disasters, cult freakouts, witchcraft, even the Antichrist himself – this series has it all.
This series is presented in association with the Boston Underground Film Festival and A24 Films
A24 will release Saint Maud nationwide on Friday, April 10.
Tuesday, March 24 • Double Feature
FRAILTY
Starz or DirectTV with subscription; for rent elsewhere
2001 • dir Bill Paxton w/Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matt O’Leary, Jeremy Sumpter • 100 min • 35mm
The great character actor Bill Paxton’s directorial debut, FRAILTY features Paxton as a man who believes that he has been tasked by God to destroy demons on earth with the help of his two sons. Told in flashback while one of the grown sons (McConaughey) relates the story to an FBI agent (Boothe), this underrated thriller uses subjective storytelling to draw the viewer in while it sets up unexpected twists.
2006 • dir Hans-Christian Schmid w/Sandra Hüller, Burghart Klaussner, Imogen Kogge • 93 min • 35mm
Based on a tragic true story, REQUIEM features a transfixing performance from Sandra Hüller as a devout young woman with epilepsy. Despite outside influences, she holds fast to the belief that she is possessed by demons and seeks an exorcism rather than further medical assistance.
1976 • dir Richard Donner w/Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens • 111 min • DCP
Seeking to lessen his own pain, an American diplomat in Rome (Peck) secretly adopts an infant after his own dies at birth but he could hardly anticipate the horrors he has unleashed upon himself and the world. Hovering somewhere between Rosemary’s Baby and THE EXORCIST, this baroque film about the birth and rearing of the Antichrist features some of the most indelible death scenes in horror movie history.
1973 • dir William Friedkin w/Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, Jason Miller • 132 min • DCP
Widely lauded as one of the best and most frightening horror films of all time, THE EXORCIST 100% earns that reputation. It shreds your last nerve while relating the story of a desperate woman (Burstyn) whose daughter Regan (Blair) has been possessed by a powerful evil spirit. Often imitated but rarely matched, THE EXORCIST is a must see on the big screen.
2015 • dir Karyn Kusama w/Logan Marshall-Green, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Tammy Blanchard, Michiel Huisman, John Carroll Lynch • 100 min • DCP
During an increasingly disturbing dinner party at his former home, Will (Marshall-Green) confronts his tragic past while his ex-wife (Blanchard) and her new boyfriend extoll the virtues of the cult that they have joined.
2016 • dir Julia Ducournau w/Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella • 99 min • DCP
The dangers of suppressing carnal desires are explored in Julia Ducournau’s riveting art/gore film. Young Justine, a lifelong vegetarian, tastes raw meat for the first time as part of a hazing ritual during her first year at veterinarian school. Despite her disgust, this taste develops into a full-blown, uncontrollable lust to devour flesh – particularly human flesh.
Friday, March 20 • Double Feature
THE BLACKCOAT’S DAUGHTER
Netflix & Kanopy with subscription; for rent elsewhere
2015 • dir Osgood Perkins w/Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton • 93 min • DCP
Writer/director Osgood Perkins has quietly been making some of the most underrated horror films of the past few years, beginning with this understated thriller that echoes THE WITCH in its story of a young woman (Shipka) compelled by a demonic presence which may or may not be real.
2015 • dir Robert Eggers w/Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie • 92 min • DCP
Writer/director Robert Eggers drew directly from testimonies at actual witch trials to tell the story of a pious 17th century family who move into the wilderness – only to find that the Devil is alive not only in their minds but in the woods and animals that surround them.
1991 • dir Michael Tolkin w/Mimi Rogers, David Duchovny, Kimberly Cullum, Will Patton • 100 min • 35mm
Lead by a stunning performance from Mimi Rogers, THE RAPTURE follows Sharon, a lost soul who becomes a born again Christian as part of a sect that fervently believes that Judgement Day is at hand. After a tragic accident, however, she begins to doubt the benevolence of God and retreats to the desert with her daughter to await what she believes is inevitable… And then The Rapture happens. Writer/director Michael Tolkin boldly depicts the events of the Christian Apocalypse matter-of-factly which makes them all the more shocking and frightening.
1995 • dir Gregory Widen w/Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Adam Goldberg, Amanda Plummer, Viggo Mortensen • 98 min • 35mm
Bombastic, excessive, and absurd, THE PROPHECY follows a lapsed Catholic LAPD detective (Koteas) as he tries to make sense of the fact that an actual honest-to-God angel has appeared in his living room to warn him about an impending cataclysm. Accused of being “hard to swallow” and “too loopy” upon its release – as if a film about angels bringing the civil war in Heaven to Earth could be anything other than over the top – Gregory Widen’s film has since become a cult classic.
1976 • dir Alfred Sole w/Paula E. Sheppard, Linda Miller, Niles McMaster, Jane Lowry, Alphonso DeNoble, Brooke Shields • 107 min • 35mm
This bizarre cult film about a series of murders committed in the community of a New Jersey Catholic church features an intense, raw performance from Paula E. Sheppard as the troubled Alice. Alice might be the killer, but even if she isn’t, she’s a real piece of work – a teenage hellion who toys with her creepy landlord, tortures his cats, hates her sister, enjoys wearing weird masks, and basically makes her mother’s life a nightmare. Director Alfred Sole had previously only directed a porno and he keeps it cheap and sleazy for this remarkable Psycho-inspired slasher. To top it off, the grotesque landlord is played by Alphonso DeNoble, a weirdly charismatic non-actor discovered while working as a bouncer at the local gay bar.
A Little Faith Can Be a Dangerous Thing
Inspired by Saint Maud
VIRTUAL REPERTORY SERIES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 – TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020
Using Saint Maud, the acclaimed new religious/psychological horror film from Rose Glass, as a jumping off point, we’re excited to feature this series of films that explore the dangers of faith – either too much or not enough. Psycho killers, Satanic possessions, biblical disasters, cult freakouts, witchcraft, even the Antichrist himself – this series has it all.
This series is presented in association with the Boston Underground Film Festival and A24 Films
A24 will release Saint Maud nationwide on Friday, April 10.
Tuesday, March 24 • Double Feature
FRAILTY
Starz or DirectTV with subscription; for rent elsewhere
2001 • dir Bill Paxton w/Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matt O’Leary, Jeremy Sumpter • 100 min • 35mm
REQUIEM
For rent on Apple TV only
2006 • dir Hans-Christian Schmid w/Sandra Hüller, Burghart Klaussner, Imogen Kogge • 93 min • 35mm
Sunday, March 22 • Double Feature
THE OMEN
Starz with subscription; for rent elsewhere
1976 • dir Richard Donner w/Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens • 111 min • DCP
THE EXORCIST: EXTENDED DIRECTOR’S CUT
for rent only
1973 • dir William Friedkin w/Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, Jason Miller • 132 min • DCP
Saturday, March 21 • Double Feature
THE INVITATION
Netflix with subscription; for rent elsewhere
2015 • dir Karyn Kusama w/Logan Marshall-Green, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Tammy Blanchard, Michiel Huisman, John Carroll Lynch • 100 min • DCP
RAW
for rent only
2016 • dir Julia Ducournau w/Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella • 99 min • DCP
Friday, March 20 • Double Feature
THE BLACKCOAT’S DAUGHTER
Netflix & Kanopy with subscription; for rent elsewhere
2015 • dir Osgood Perkins w/Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton • 93 min • DCP
THE WITCH
Amazon, Netflix & Kanopy with subscription; for rent elsewhere
2015 • dir Robert Eggers w/Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie • 92 min • DCP
Thursday, March 19 • Double Feature
THE RAPTURE
Vudu (free with ads)
1991 • dir Michael Tolkin w/Mimi Rogers, David Duchovny, Kimberly Cullum, Will Patton • 100 min • 35mm
THE PROPHECY
AmazonPrime & Starz with subscription; Tubi with ads
1995 • dir Gregory Widen w/Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Adam Goldberg, Amanda Plummer, Viggo Mortensen • 98 min • 35mm
Wednesday, March 18
ALICE, SWEET ALICE
AmazonPrime & Kanopy with subscription; Tubi with ads.
1976 • dir Alfred Sole w/Paula E. Sheppard, Linda Miller, Niles McMaster, Jane Lowry, Alphonso DeNoble, Brooke Shields • 107 min • 35mm