Blackmoor Vituperative

It’s that time again: Fantasmo Cult Explosion at the Chesapeake Central Library:

Coming July 1st – Chesapeake Central Library, 298 Cedar Road – Fantasmo Episode 4: The Films of Tobe Hooper

While the name Tobe Hooper may not be as familiar as those of George A. Romero, John Carpenter, or Wes Craven, he still ranks as one of the most influential horror directors of all-time. While the casual viewer will be familiar with his more prominent films, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist, Hooper was responsible for a number of innovative horror and sci-fi movies during the 1980’s. Although a string of high-profile box-office misfires eventually relegated this great director to working on straight-to-video obscurities, Team Fantasmo invites you to spend an evening discovering two of this underappreciated maverick’s finest epics! In addition to the spectacle of seeing two classic Hooper films on the big screen, Team Fantasmo is also pleased to welcome as guest host John Kenneth Muir. Mr. Muir is the author of THE definitive text on Tobe Hooper, Eaten Alive At A Chainsaw Massacre: The Films of Tobe Hooper.

The evening’s schedule is as follows:

7:00 p.m. – Meet the Author & Book Signing

7:30 p.m. – Author Talk

8:30 p.m. – The Funhouse (1981) – Team Fantasmo’s favorite Tobe Hooper film. Four teens decide to spend the night in a traveling carnival’s funhouse. Bad idea. This funhouse just happens to be inhabited by a deranged, mutant killer (isn’t that always the way). Hooper injects the 80’s slasher genre with a dose of creativity and atmosphere, creating one fun and unique rollercoaster of a movie! (Note: This film is Rated R and may be inappropriate for our younger Fantasmo fans).

10:30 p.m. – Invaders From Mars (1986) – Our second feature is a remake of the 1953 alien invasion classic . . . Tobe Hooper style. Featuring a great B-movie cast and top notch effects from John Dykstra (Star Wars) and Stan Winston (Jurassic Park), this update is non-stop action from beginning to end. Although it bombed at the box office in the wake of James Cameron’s Aliens, this underappreciated classic was meant for the big screen! Don’t miss this rare chance to see it as it was meant to be seen! Rated PG.

Be sure to join us for what promises to be a very special evening – if you attend one Fantasmo this year, make this that Fantasmo! See you on July 1st!