SPAGHETTI SHOCKERS PART II
SATURDAY | NOVEMBER 25 | 12PM -11PM
PHILADELPHIA FILM CENTER | 1412 CHESTNUT STREET
Exhumed Films and Philadelphia Film Society are serving up a second helping of horror for the gory gourmand: SPAGHETTI SHOCKERS PART II is an all-day buffet of Italian horror rarities! See five seldom-screened screamers in their original, unedited versions, with most titles projected from original Italian language 35MM prints. As an added bonus, we will be joined by a special guest: actress Silvia Collatina will be making a rare U.S. appearance to discuss her experiences as a child performer working in the realm of Italian horror. Silvia will introduce HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY and THE GREAT ALLIGATOR, and will answer audience questions during a mid-marathon Q & A. All this, plus classic horror trailers, cool prize giveaways, and amazing merch for sale in the lobby. SPAGHETTI SHOCKERS PART II is a Euro-Horror fan’s dream come true–don’t miss it!
$45 General Admission | $40 Member
TENEBRAE
DARIO ARGENTO | 1982 | 101 MIN | ITALIAN W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES | 35MM
TENEBRAE is another masterpiece from Italian horror maestro Dario Argento, who released a string of iconic thrillers throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The story concerns an American author (Anthony Franciosa) who finds himself embroiled in a series of gruesome murders that mimic scenes from his own crime novel. As the body count rises, the line between fiction and reality becomes increasingly blurred, leading to a mind-bending exploration of the twisted human psyche. Argento’s signature style is on full display here, with vibrant colors, intricate camera work, and a haunting score composed by progressive-rock powerhouse (and frequent Argento collaborators) Goblin. TENEBRAE is a cinematic tour de force that takes audiences on a harrowing journey through a maze of suspicion, deception, and death.
THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY
LUCIO FULCI | 1981 |87 MIN | ENGLISH | 35MM
Lucio Fulci, the “Italian Godfather of Gore,” completed his loosely connected “Gates of Hell” trilogy (which also includes CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD and THE BEYOND) with THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY, a gothic, gruesome tale of supernatural terror and psychological unease. The movie follows the Boyle family as they move into a seemingly idyllic New England home with a dark history concealed within its walls. As they settle into their new residence, the Boyles encounter a hidden basement that holds sinister secrets and a mysterious young girl (Silvia Collatina) who warns that the family faces great danger from an undying evil. Full of Lovecraftian dread and the surrealist “nightmare logic” common to many Fulci films, THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY is an undisputed Euro-Horror favorite.
THE GREAT ALLIGATOR
SERGIO MARTINO | 1979 |89 MIN | ITALIAN W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES | 35MM
If there’s one thing Italian genre filmmakers know how to do, it is to completely rip off successful American movies and create bastardized remakes for European audiences. In the wake (har har) of 1975’s blockbuster JAWS, Italy produced countless knock-offs of the killer shark classic, including 1979’s THE GREAT ALLIGATOR. Directed by genre legend Sergio Martino (TORSO, SLAVE OF THE CANNIBAL GOD), THE GREAT ALLIGATOR tells a familiar tale of nature run amok: a grand hotel opening on a remote island becomes a nightmarish ordeal when a massive alligator, believed by the indigenous population to be a vengeful deity, embarks on a bloody rampage. As the luxurious celebration descends into chaos, a diverse group of guests and staff (including Mel Ferrer, Catherine Bach, and Silvia Collatina) find themselves trapped on the island, struggling to survive the reptilian terror. THE GREAT ALLIGATOR is a fun creature feature, replete with over-the-top action, suspenseful moments, and questionable special effects, making it a cult classic among B-movie enthusiasts.
THE SWEET BODY OF DEBORAH
ROMOLO GUERRIERI | 1969 |95 MIN | ENGLISH | 35MM
This rarely screened, early giallo stars Caroll Baker (BABY DOLL, Umberto Lenzi’s PARANOIA) and Jean Sorel (A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN, ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER) in a tawdry tale of sex and suspicion. Baker and Sorel play Deborah and Marcel, a pair of young, mod newlyweds who return to Marcel’s European hometown for their honeymoon. However, when Marcel’s former lover turns up dead from an apparent suicide, some in town accuse the young man of being responsible for her demise. Thus begins Deborah’s dilemma: does she take her new husband at his word that he is not a killer, or does she believe those who say he is a seductive psychopath? Full of twists and turns, shocks and surprises, THE SWEET BODY OF DEBORAH is a clever erotic thriller that is worthy of rediscovery.
DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE
MICHELE SOAVI | 1994 | 105 MIN | ITALIAN W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES | 35MM
Released outside of Italy under the more common title CEMETERY MAN, DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE is a surrealist horror comedy that works as both a spoof of and a loving homage to Italian zombie cinema. Directed by Argento protege Michele Soavi (STAGE FRIGHT, THE CHURCH), DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE stars Rupert Everett as Francesco Dellamorte, a cemetery caretaker tasked with re-burying the dead who inexplicably rise from their graves seven days after burial. As he navigates this strange and gory responsibility, Francesco falls for a beautiful, mysterious woman (Anna Falchi) who may just be a figment of his own warped imagination. Soon, Francesco begins to question his sanity, as he is increasingly unable to tell the difference between reality and unreality, between the living and the dead. Often described as the first “zombie art film,” DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE challenges conventional genre boundaries while offering a thought-provoking commentary on mortality, love, and the absurdity of existence.
No Refunds or Exchanges, all sales are final.
Individual Films not available; admission only via Spaghetti Shocker Marathon.