Calendar: May 8-14, 2026
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday/Saturday on C-U Blogfidential and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.
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THE BLOGFIDENTIAL TELETYPE | Film News You Can Use, C-U
What we’re seeing on our beat this week … Looks like it’s time to spin on some unfinished business that is inspired by last week’s Teletype, where we discussed both indie horror in our east central Illinois orbit as well as what we might now term “elevated film production” as defined by the business being conducted recently out of Rantoul, in our next pair of blog-on-the-street sessions. Let’s go with the horror first …
The headline is past for the theatrical premiere of Horror Dadz Productions’ latest found-footage tale, NIGHT TERROR, at the restored Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston, but neither that project or its locally-based co-director, Joshua Brucker, are finished with the thrills. Just prior to the shows held on April 24-26, the Horror Dadz collective revealed that Terror Films had acquired the US distribution rights to NIGHT TERROR, which was made in the Watseka area with a cast primarily culled from the immediate region along with the core team, including fellow Horror Dad and co-director Hunter Nino, and Brucker is actively looking for auditions and locations for his next Iroquois County opus, NO WITNESSES, which is scheduled to be shot in late July and August. You can inquire about the film by writing to HorrorDadz [dot] Josh [at] gmail [dot] com and read more about NIGHT TERROR in this recent piece by Bloody Disgusting …
A pair of talents and teams west of I-57 are also in the groove with their latest endeavors. HorrorFix Films of Springfield has been gearing up to make MANGLED: THE SHELBYVILLE TORTURE TAPES and has recently announced casting on Facebook for what apparently is a summer/fall shoot; Ash Hamilton, Chanell Hamilton, and Stephen Taylor reunite for the scares following FINAL DAYS: TALES FROM THE END TIMES, which is in the Terror Films catalog as well, and the debut episode of an audio drama, Dislocated. Last month, Ash also taped an interview for the latest “sensations of being human” documentary from Silver Compass Studios of Decatur, titled WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? Director Ben Harl has enlisted the Boo Crew Haunted House in Rochester as its thematic epicenter for exploring the concept of fear in all aspects of past and modern life; other early discussions have included Troy Taylor of the American Oddities Museum in Alton and Jackie Chin of ZPR Live Media in Ohio, with production expected to extend through the Halloween season. This piece follows the self-explanatory AFTERLIFE …
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Media outlets in the Jacksonville area have been priming the area communities for the imminent start of HOLLER, which we first mentioned last year and is set to begin shooting on Saturday, May 30, and continue through mid-June. The latest is this Muddy River TV appearance by directors and writers Devin Smock and Samuel Watkins, who are producing their debut indie feature under the Subterranean Sound & Vision handle and have been announcing a cast via Facebook including leads Rick Jensen and Teagan Ealey as well as Joe Rosing, David Sanchez, Mercedes DeSilva, Devon Lovell, Dave Krostal, Clayton Summers, Hanna Williams, and Chris Parker. In the spirit of an “end of the world with zombies” that forms the basis for HOLLER, a fundraiser will be held on Sunday, May 17, starting at 4 p.m. at the Illinois Theater in Jacksonville that will feature two of the defining titles in the subgenre, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, co-sponsored by Subterranean and Pizza Records …
Finally, we invoke “books” at our own peril as one particular leatherbound scamp is making a return in the multimedia world of Chase & Shep, the stoner personae of local podcasters and musicians Chase Todd and Aaron Sheppard. Apart from Todd’s involvement in the upcoming Camp Nostalgia Studios online show, THE SMALL AND TALL BOOK CLUB, the dudes and friends are currently filming their newest offbeat comic romp, CHASE & SHEP FUCK SHIT UP, and you can bet on “El Libro de Los Muertos” being a catalyst of mayhem when the shit hits, beginning on October 3, for the fans and curious onlookers alike … and that’s what we can reveal for today. Always remember – this is not just movies, it’s our lives.
CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History
30 Years Ago … Friday, May 10, 1996: Warner Bros. releases the action film TWISTER, directed by Jan de Bont and starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, which becomes the second highest grossing release of that year in the United States and Canada after INDEPENDENCE DAY. Many communities across the nation probably did not feel so enthusiastic about the movie because, less than a month before on the evening of Friday, April 19, an extremely volatile storm system produced dozens of tornadoes in the central Midwest and the South. More than 30 funnel clouds were reported in Illinois alone and two of the strongest, rated at the “F3” category, caused serious damage in southwest Urbana and nearly destroyed the small town of Ogden. Amazingly, the only person killed in those Champaign County incidents was a Missouri woman traveling on I-74 near Ogden, according to a CNN report at the time. A chronological chart of the unfolding weather disaster from that night can be found on Wikipedia, an illustrated analysis of why the storm behaved as it did can be reviewed in this report filed by the UIUC Department of Atmospheric Sciences, a compilation of police and storm chaser video that depicts the tornadoes and aftermath can be viewed at The News-Gazette, and storm-by-storm information can be studied at The Tornado History Project, an on-line database of confirmed sightings in the United States that was designed and maintained by Joshua Lietz of Urbana. In the present, dearest readers should refresh themselves on tornado safety every spring by consulting the National Weather Service and other trusted agencies; those who take the “it’s only a movie” tack can look forward to the annual booking of TWISTER at the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in of nearby Hoopeston. [R] [Rev. 5/8/26]
LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
Chambana Film Society* presents Savoy Lumierè 2026* post-show feat. “Identities: Jewish American” short film program (5/8, 7 p.m.) Information
@ Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, UIUC, Urbana, IL
College of Media at Illinois presents the 2026 MACS Student Showcase * (5/9, 7 p.m.) Information
NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area
@ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL
BILLIE EILISH ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ THE TOUR – LIVE IN 3D (concert film), MORTAL KOMBAT II, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, ANIMAL FARM* (animation), THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2, HOKUM, MICHAEL, PROJECT HAIL MARY, THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation) (5/8 on), THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME – THE MOVIE: TEARS OF THE AZURE SEA* (animé; in Japanese with English sub) (5/8-5/12), “Relive the Horror” series feat. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (5/8, 8 p.m.), Fan Faves: CRAZY RICH ASIANS* (5/8-5/14), AMC “Screen Unseen” (mystery movie) (5/11, 7 p.m.), OBSESSION sneak preview (5/13, 7 p.m.), TOP GUN 40th anniversary (5/13-5/14), TOP GUN: MAVERICK (re-release) (5/13 on), IN THE GREY, IS GOD IS (5/14 on) *single screenings daily
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
BILLIE EILISH ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ THE TOUR – LIVE IN 3D (concert film), MORTAL KOMBAT II, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, ANIMAL FARM (animation), DEEP WATER, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2, THE DRAMA, HOKUM, HOPPERS (animation), LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY, MICHAEL, ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE*, PROJECT HAIL MARY, THE STORY OF EVERYTHING (documentary), THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (animation), THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME – THE MOVIE: TEARS OF THE AZURE SEA* (animé) (in Japanese with English sub or English dub) (5/8 on), UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland, more (mixed martial arts) (5/9, 8 p.m., simulcast), THE WIZARD OF OZ (5/9, 11:30 a.m., 2 & 7 p.m.; 5/10, 12:15, 3 & 7 p.m.; 5/13, 7 p.m.), FRIED GREEN TOMATOES 35th anniversary (5/10, 3 & 7 p.m.; 5/13, 7 p.m.) *single screenings daily
Events featuring locally produced movies are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” listings appear after the jump!
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NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond
@ The Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL
Vermilion County ROSC presents ROADS TO RECOVERY* docuseries by Center Street Productions w/discussion (5/14, 5 p.m., free)
@ The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in, Gibson City, IL
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 (Screen 1), MAMMA MIA! (Screen 2) (5/8-5/9), THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 (Screen 1), FRIED GREEN TOMATOES 35th anniversary (Screen 2) (5/10)
@ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL
THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (5/8-5/10, 5/14 on)
@ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL
Alfred Hitchcock: NORTH BY NORTHWEST (5/8, 7 p.m.), ROPE (5/9, 3 p.m.), REAR WINDOW (5/9, 7 p.m.), SPELLBOUND (5/10, 3 p.m.), and SHADOW OF A DOUBT (5/10, 7 p.m.)
@ Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, IL
Film Society of the Giant Screen Theater presents “Art of Film: American Realism” curated by A. S. Hamrah feat. THE BLING RING (5/8, 5/10)
@ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 (5/8-5/9)
@ The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL
MORTAL KOMBAT II, LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY (Screen 1), MICHAEL, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 (Screen 2) (5/8-5/9)
COMING SOON | Area-wide Events
5/16
Halloran Family Foundation presents
FischerFest* “Big Stories, Short Films”
@ Fischer Theatre, Danville, IL, 3-10 p.m., free
9/7-9/17
44th Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
@ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema + Chicago Filmmakers, Chicago, IL
COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area
Chambana Film Society presents “Savoy Lumierè 2026 post-screenings”
@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL
5/15: “Identities: The Soul of Black Folk” short film program w/discussion (7 p.m.), 5/22: TIGHT & NERDY (documentary) w/burlesque performance, MAYBE IT’S THIS short film preview (7 p.m.)
Film Society presents “Art of Film: American Realism” curated by A. S. Hamrah
@ Giant Screen Theater, Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, IL
5/15, 5/17: BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD; 5/22, 5/24: BLESS THEIR LITTLE HEARTS; 5/29, 5/31: HUSTLE; 6/12, 6/14: DANCER IN THE DARK; 6/19, 6/21: STROSZEK; 6/26, 6/28: KAJILLIONAIRE; 7/3, 7/5: LEAVE NO TRACE
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Compiled by Jason Pankoke.
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“Calendar du C-U”
© 2026 Jason Pankoke/C-U Blogfidential
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