“BAR TRASH is the best cinema experience in London. Impeccable vibes, brilliant hosting, programming fascinating things the likes of which you’ve never seen!” (Audience Review)
Spectacle beyond your wildest imagination!
The history of cinema is a delirious tale of wild experimentation, technological advances, improbable ballyhoo, and in-theatre gimmicks. Pungent aromas, costumed stooges, stage hypnotists, midnight screenings, immersive sound, wider screens, cheap liquor, and live music have all been deployed to keep audiences coming back for more.
SCREAM FOR YOUR LIVES! — the 13th sensational season of “London’s most fun and informative film night” (@mactingz) — celebrates the plucky pioneers who dared thrust film into the fourth dimension and is our full-throated BAR TRASH tribute to the greatest cinema showman of all, William Castle (featured image).
Step inside as queer film fanatic TOKEN HOMO attempts to recreate some of cinema’s forgotten illusions — including 5 rarely performed William Castle gimmicks! — taking you on a magical mystery tour into a lost world of movie magic where the screenings are never silent.
Warning for the sensitive: some programmes may contain sudden noises, shocks AND screams…
COMING SOON!
SCREAM FOR YOUR LIVES! takes place every Wednesday at Genesis Cinema from 20 May to 12 August and every Sunday at Finsbury Park Picturehouse and Beer Merchants Tap from 17 May to 16 August.
Opening night (20 May at Genesis Cinema) is a special presentation of William Castle’s 13 GHOSTS (1960) when TOKEN HOMO will attempt a diy recreation of Castle’s classic gimmick ‘Illusion-O!’ where every member of the audience will receive a FREE ghost viewer but only those brave enough will actually see the ghosts in ‘ectoplasmic colour!’ … Our season prologue LES DIABOLIQUES (17 May at Finsbury Park) is the film that inspired Castle to ‘scare the pants off America’, and our epilogue, ROSEMARY’S BABY (16 August at Beer Merchants Tap), was Castle’s last big role of the movie dice, remortgaging his house (again!) to secure film rights before Ira Levin’s blockbuster novel was even published.
Full season announced on opening night.
/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50+ fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for updates. More info at tokenhomo.com ///