Over the years, though, I’ve come across some cultural expressions of the season that actually make me feel something enjoyable. This is usually due to creating a subversion of holiday conventions and expected emotional responses - “Twisted Xmas” stories and the like. But some productions just feel good to me. Which is why the Black Box Movie Night is kicking off December screenings with this gem:
Our main feature is just too sweet and nostalgic to keep a secret - we're playing Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas, the folksy, 1977 Jim Henson TV Christmas special, nominated for multiple Emmy Awards and still leaving viewers with a happy glow each year. This screening will be accompanied by a few mystery short films that round out the vibe, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7pm in the CSPS Black Box Theatre (1103 3rd St. SE) on the ground floor. Admission is FREE, and there will be some drinks and snacks for sale at our popup bar.
Oh, and hey! A couple days after that, on Friday, Dec. 19, 7pm our art homies at Tree of Liminality (1301 3rd St. SE) are screening some fascinating stuff as part of their Artists in Film series! Well worth checking out, it coincides with their current Fluxus-themed exhibit.
And then: On Friday, Dec. 26, we’ve got the Black Box reserved for the whole damn day and night if we want it! My idea for this night is to play as many of my favorite messed-up holiday movies as I can get away with. Who’s down for a Nightmare After Christmas movie marathon? Or an all-nighter for that matter? I don’t know what sort of response to expect, but maybe I’ll just be down at CSPS Hall by 3pm, waiting so see who shows up when, and figure out what to play on the spot. But since we’ve started to abandon the Mystery Movie concept and are doing more overt disclosure of the films, and since I love making lists so much, here’s some flicks I’ve been thinking could be fun to play (in order of release for no reason):
Santa Claus (1959, by K. Gordon Murray, the grindhouse studio of kiddie matinees, weirder than you’d think)
Blast of Silence (1961 B&W film noir shot in the real city of New York, set between Xmas and NYE, so grim as to be almost comical)
Christmas Evil (rediscovered 1980 Xmas psycho/slasher cult classic)
Night of the Comet (1984 “Valley Girls meet zombies” goof-fest starring Catherine Mary Stuart, and also brings back Mary Woronov & Robert Beltran from Eating Raoul!)
Brazil (1985 dystopian surrealist masterpiece, director's cut by the legend Terry Gilliam)
...and yeah yeah, Die Hard came out in ’85 too, it’s a Crassmess Classic that you’ve probably seen several times already, but yeah. Great stuff.
...but what about One Magic Christmas, the 1985 emotionally-bullying Disney trainwreck starring Mary Steenburgen & Harry Dean Stanton? This movie ain’t right at all.
Dia de la Bestia (1995, Spain, by Alex de la Iglesias, the same director as our Halloween mystery movie - absolutely nuts, essential viewing)
Rare Exports (2010, from Finland, and in the gonzo Scandinavian tradition of doing utterly literal retellings of old folk tales)
All is Bright (2013 depresso-comedy starring the Pauls Giamatti and Rudd, and Sally Hawkins)
Silent Night (2021, British “too soon?” Covid-referent apocalyptic black comedy)
...plus some twisted short films that will remain a mystery. And hey, that’s just the stuff that I might show - you got some Holiday Sneer that people need to see? Bring it!
Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll probably add edits to this post later.
Seeya somewhere soon!
Support Love & Good People; practice self-expression.
Plant the seeds and they will grow.
- Charlie Delta
