<\/p>\n
Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday-Sunday on <\/em>C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong> and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n THE BLOGFIDENTIAL TELETYPE | Film News You Can Use, C-U<\/strong><\/p>\n Just like with practically anything involving the movies of Champaign, Urbana<\/strong>, and the cities beyond these days, we have to go looking for our Halloween<\/strong> thrills since we simply don\u2019t get costumed visitors here at the house on the edge of an American small town and refrain from marking our territory with frightful decoration as a beacon to draw the kiddies or grown-up revelers. In the course of doing so, we have found a handful of delights to drop in your virtual goodie bags, dearest readers, that we hope you will cozy up to as October expires and daytime hours diminish. Our parameter is we\u2019re sharing things not<\/em> from the ranks of the horror-heavy efforts that have been dominating our filmmaking scene as of late.<\/p>\n Central Illinois<\/strong> is<\/em> the strange and unusual in the fall. WTVP-TV<\/strong>, the PBS<\/strong> affiliate in Peoria<\/strong>, premiered the half-hour special HAUNTED HEARTLAND<\/strong> on Thursday, October 29<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, in which storyteller Brian \u201cFox\u201d Ellis<\/strong> introduces us to a quartet of tales that contextualize the ghosts of history past at a handful of locations in Peoria as well as Kemp Hall<\/strong> on the Illinois Wesleyan University<\/strong> campus in Bloomington<\/strong>. Coincidentally making the social media rounds is a no-budget, analog equivalent titled HAUNTED INDIANA<\/strong> that first aired in October 1981 on WTTV-TV<\/strong>, a formerly independent station in Bloomington, Indiana<\/strong>; co-creator Steve White<\/strong> and numerous folks who saw it originally have left comments at the YouTube<\/strong> upload<\/a><\/span> and, honestly, it\u2019s a bit heartwarming and gratifying to read. Not to be excluded from the spooky, C-U is part and parcel to a fresh retelling of odd occurrences that have befallen the Natural History Building<\/strong> on the University of Illinois<\/strong> main quad, written by Jake Keister<\/strong> of the School of Earth, Society & Environment<\/strong> and posted today, October 30<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, which hinge on the author seeking out an explanation for a walled-in, upper floor doorway that would open to nothing were there a door still in place. The findings also involve an encounter with the Mummy, Ted Johnson<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, rumored to have haunted the NHB halls a generation ago.<\/p>\n Shudder to think we\u2019d not make mention of the last gasps for All Hallow\u2019s Eve fare. Several venues in the area got into the Transylvanian act this year and the final presentation of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW<\/strong> will be at the Virginia Theatre<\/strong> in Champaign tomorrow, October 31<\/strong>, but it is sold out. The impressive first round of \u201cShocktober<\/strong>\u201d screenings, chosen by Paul Young<\/strong> and friends for Film-Fanatic.Club<\/strong>, will also come to a close tomorrow with a 10:30 p.m.<\/strong> showing of the A24<\/strong> hit THE WITCH<\/strong> at The Literary<\/strong> a mere two blocks away. On Sunday, November 1, 4 p.m.<\/strong>, at the Phoenix Savoy 16<\/strong> is the concluding selection of \u201cDoctoberFest<\/strong>\u201d from Chambana Film Society<\/strong>, TIME WARP<\/strong>, which is about a drag and queer ROCKY<\/strong> shadow cast being recruited in conservative Wyoming<\/strong>. And, down south in the St. Louis<\/strong> region, the Lincoln Theatre<\/strong> of Belleville<\/strong> will host on Saturday afternoon the half-century-later premiere of DISINTER<\/strong>, an amateur short film begun in the Seventies by then-teenagers Keith Howard<\/strong> and Patrick Voss<\/strong>, who recently exhumed its Super 8 bones and completed it with the help of Belleville\u2019s Nathan Domescik<\/strong>; NPR<\/strong> affiliate St. Louis Public Radio<\/strong> and contributor Chad Davis<\/strong> report on its revival<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n With all that said, it\u2019s dark and cool outside as we finalize this and, eek<\/em>, we\u2019ve actually heard a throaty owl on our property over the last few days. We think the best thing to do is to not party, not scare, not imbibe, and not overdo it on sweets. It\u2019s time to turn over a newly red, orange, or yellow leaf and raise our hopes, eyebrows, and blood pressure the old-fashioned way \u2026 by watching movies regularly from this point forward like we used to do, and not just the creepy choices. Ciao<\/em> for now…<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CONFIDENTIAL ALMANAC | Dates in Film Culture History<\/strong><\/p>\n 20 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Saturday, October 28, 2006:<\/em> Opteryx Press<\/strong> of Champaign<\/strong> hosts a \u201cMICRO-FILM Movie Show<\/strong>\u201d of low-budget horror cinema for Halloween<\/strong> including DRAWING BLOOD<\/strong>, directed by the Wolinski Brothers<\/strong>, and SEX MACHINE<\/strong>, directed by Christopher Sharpe<\/strong>, in the upper level of Mike \u2018n Molly\u2019s<\/strong> in downtown Champaign. This is their fourth screening of the year<\/a><\/span> at the popular bar, all curated and hosted by editor\/publisher Jason Pankoke<\/strong>, and also the last standalone MF<\/span><\/strong> event to date. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n 110 Years Ago<\/strong> \u2026 Friday, October 27, 1916:<\/em> Proclaimed to be one of the grandest playhouses in Illinois<\/strong> and designed by local architectural firm Aschauer & Waggoner<\/strong> as a completely fireproof structure, the Lincoln Square Theater<\/strong>\u00a0opens for business in downtown Decatur<\/strong> and hosts a standing-room-only crowd that enjoys a touring production of the Broadway<\/strong> comedy, Hit-the-Trail-Holiday<\/span><\/strong>, as recounted in Lincoln Square Theatre<\/strong><\/span> by Jasper P. DeVidal<\/strong>. Although constructed to include a roomy backstage area, orchestra pit, and pitch-perfect acoustics for live performances, the Lincoln Square would be retrofit in the coming months to accommodate motion pictures. Managers eventually added a projection booth in June 1917 and played their first films, THE CALL OF HER PEOPLE<\/strong> and THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER<\/strong>, the next month, following with the installation of a pipe organ in January 1919. [R]<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Literary, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Shake It Up Cocktail Lounge & Eatery, Bloomington, IL<\/strong> @ WEFT 90.1 FM, Champaign, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Courtyard Caf\u00e9, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong> @ The Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL<\/strong> Events featuring locally produced movies or organized by local groups are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional \u201cNow Playing\u201d and \u201cComing Soon\u201d listings appear after the jump!<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | The Cities Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n @ The Lorraine Theatre, Hoopeston, IL<\/strong> @ The Normal Theater, Normal, IL<\/strong> @ The Princess Theatre, Leroy, IL<\/strong> The Route 66 Drive-in Theater, Springfield, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Midwest<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Firehouse Cinema, Chicago Filmmakers, Chicago, IL<\/strong> @ The Hi-Pointe Theatre, etc., St. Louis, MO<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMING SOON | Area-wide Events<\/strong><\/p>\n 11\/8<\/strong> 11\/13<\/strong> 11\/20-11\/22<\/strong> 12\/7<\/strong> 3\/25, 2027<\/strong> 4\/8-4\/11, 2027<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n COMMUNITY & CAMPUS SERIES | Champaign-Urbana area<\/strong><\/p>\n UPDATE! Chambana Film Society screenings<\/strong>
\nFilm-Fanatic.Club, etc., present \u201cShocktober Horror Film Festival\u201d feat. THE WITCH (10\/31, 10:30 p.m.) | Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nChambana Film Society presents \u201c2026 DoctoberFest\u201d feat. TIME WARP (11\/1, 4 p.m.) | Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n\u201cB-Movie Bingo\u201d hosted by Paul A. Brooks* feat. IF LOOKS COULD KILL, NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE (11\/5, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFrame Noise\u201d film music program hosted by Przemek (11\/4, 7-8 p.m.) Streaming<\/a><\/span> | Archive<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nAADARSHA KUTUMBAM \u2013 HOUSE NO. 47 (in Telugu with English sub), BREEDER, CHRISTMAS AT THE KRINGLES, FJORD, THE MONGOOSE, THE MOSQUITO BOWL, CLAYFACE, KLARA AND THE SUN, OTHER MOMMY, RESIDENT EVIL, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY*, STREET FIGHTER, WHALEFALL, WICKER, WILDWOOD (animation), YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING (documentary) (10\/30 on), Fan Faves: THE CROW (1994) (10\/30-10:31, 8 p.m.), AMC \u201cScreen Unseen\u201d (mystery movie) (11\/2, 7 p.m.), RAMAYANA (in Hindi with English sub) (11\/4 on), THE CAT IN THE HAT (animation), DRUMMER BOY (faith film), GODZILLA MINUS ZERO (in Japanese with English sub), JIMMY (11\/5 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nAADARSHA KUTUMBAM \u2013 HOUSE NO. 47* (in Telugu with English sub), CHRISTMAS AT THE KRINGLES, EVEREST: THE OTHER SIDE (documentary), THE MONGOOSE, THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK, PAGING HEZBOLLAH (documentary), CLAYFACE, OTHER MOMMY, PRIMETIME, RESIDENT EVIL, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, STREET FIGHTER, A TALENT FOR MURDER*, WHALEFALL, WICKER, WILDWOOD (animation), YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING (documentary) (10\/30 on), ONCE UPON A TIME \u2026 IN HOLLYWOOD (re-release) (IMAX) (10\/30-11\/2), SCREAM (1996) (10\/31, 4:30 & 7 p.m.), HALLOWEEN (1978) (10\/31, 7 & 9:45 p.m.), THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (11\/1, 3 & 7 p.m.; 11\/4, 7 p.m.), GODZILLA MINUS ZERO \u201cGodzilla Day\u201d sneak preview (11\/3, 12, 3, 6 & 9 p.m.; IMAX), RAMAYANA (in Hindi with English sub) (11\/4 on), THE CAT IN THE HAT (animation), GODZILLA MINUS ZERO (in Japanese with English sub), JIMMY, WILD HORSE NINE (11\/5 on) *single screenings daily<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cFall 2026 Weekend Films\u201d feat. COCO (animation) (10\/31-11\/1, 7 p.m.; free w\/i-card)<\/p>\n
\nMix 94.5 & Rewind 92.5 present THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW w\/shadow cast (10\/31, doors 7:30 p.m., event 8:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nOTHER MOMMY (10\/30-11\/1), SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (11\/4), THE CAT IN THE HAT (animation) (11\/5 on)<\/p>\n
\nHOCUS POCUS (10\/30, 7 p.m.; 10\/31 1 p.m.), GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) (10\/30, 9:30 p.m.; 10\/31, 7 p.m.), BEETLEJUICE (10\/31, 4 p.m.), THE LOST BOYS (10\/31, 9:30 p.m.), IDIOCRACY (11\/1, 7 p.m.), DEAD POETS SOCIETY (11\/3, 7 p.m.), \u201cSummer of Bond \u2026 in November\u201d feat. CASINO ROYALE (11\/4, 7 p.m.), QUANTUM OF SOLACE (11\/5, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nVERITY (10\/30-11\/1)<\/p>\n
\nClosed for the season.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nREADING THE WORLD (documentary) (10\/30, 7 p.m., in Portuguese with English sub)<\/p>\n
\nCinema St. Louis presents 35th Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (11\/5-11\/15) | Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nFilm-Fanatic.Club* presents
\nSHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS moderated by Sam Veremchuk
\n@ Pizzeria Antica, Champaign, IL, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
\nInter-Pygmalion* presents
\nDavid Cross
\n@ The City Center, Champaign, IL, 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n25th anniversary Route 66 Film Festival*
\n@ Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL<\/p>\n
\nAn evening with Peter Billingsly
\nfeat. screening of A CHRISTMAS STORY
\n@ Prairie Home Alliance Theater, Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL, 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cJohn Cleese: Still Not Dead (Yet)\u201d
\nfeat. screening of MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
\n@ Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n37th Onion City Experimental Film Festival
\n@ Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse, Chicago, IL<\/p>\n
\n@ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL, 7 p.m.<\/strong>
\nTAKE ME HOME (11\/6), MOUSE (11\/13), CHRONOVISOR (11\/20), WINTER HYMNS (12\/4), HEN (12\/11), Documentary Short Films (12\/27), Public Domain Day (1\/1\/27) | Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n