Die-hard scary movie enthusiasts can once again rejoice (or shudder, as the case may be) for the return of the Coolidge Corner Theatre’s 23rd edition of its annual Halloween Horror Marathon October 26 beginning at 11:30 p.m. Opening with all-timers like the original 1933 adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man and David Cronenberg’s 1986 remake of The Fly, this festival of fright continues with five more films featuring mad scientists and experiments gone amok. Meanwhile, over in Cambridge, Harvard Square’s Brattle Theatre marks the holiday with a special screening of Sam Raimi’s 1987 cringe-inducing Evil Dead II (pictured) on October 26 at 9:30 p.m. Both of these independent cinemas celebrate the spooky season throughout October as well by highlighting the work of two of the most inventive cult personalities of the 20th century film world. The Brattle presents works from throughout the career of low-budget movie director/producer Roger Corman October 11–24—including benchmarks like Little Shop of Horrors (October 11 at 6:30 & 9:30 p.m.), House of Usher (October 12 at 3 & 7 p.m.) and Martin Scorsese’s Boxcar Bertha (October 14 at 2 & 8 p.m.)—while the Coolidge presents the screen marvels of sensationalistic impresario William Castle from October 1–27—complete with original gimmicks like vibrating seats for the showing of 1959’s The Tingler (October 21 at 7 p.m.)—alongside flicks that were inspired by his artistry/hucksterism like Hitchcock’s Psycho and John Waters’ Polyester.
