{"id":309223,"date":"2025-10-16T23:03:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T23:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/309223\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T23:03:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T23:03:16","slug":"scary-movie-screenings-around-philly-to-get-you-into-the-spooky-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/309223\/","title":{"rendered":"Scary movie screenings around Philly to get you into the spooky spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hold on to your silver bullets, torches and wooden stakes, Philadelphia!\u00a0<\/p>\n

As Halloween approaches, we\u2019ve compiled a list of scary movie screenings around the city \u2014 including vintage cult classics, as well as fresh independent horrors. After all, sometimes it\u2019s better to go through jump scares in a public, group setting. The movies in this roundup span from 1947 to today.<\/p>\n

From truly gory horrors to complex paranormal romances, our list has a wide range of spooky films for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.
Where: Cherry Street Pier<\/p>\n

The Cherry Street Pier is hosting two Halloween movie nights. The first on Oct. 17 is all about vintage monsters. It kicks off with two short films that are both over a century old: \u201cFrankenstein\u201d (1910) and \u201cThe Haunted Castle\u201d (1896). The night is then followed up by the feature classic \u201cGremlins\u201d \u2014 an \u201880s comedy horror about cute and fuzzy creatures that turn into creepy, killer gremlins when they eat after midnight. If only these guys knew about intermittent fasting!<\/p>\n

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When: Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.
Where: Monster Vegan<\/p>\n

Monster Vegan is hosting a series of film screenings this month. The first is \u201cTrick or Treat,\u201d directed by Charles Martin Smith. The film follows Eddie, a teen who loves heavy metal and gets haunted by the ghost of his favorite rock star. The supernatural headbanging slasher features fun performances from rock legends Gene Simmons and the late Ozzy Osbourne.<\/p>\n

When: Friday, Oct. 17, at 9 p.m.
Where: Monster Vegan<\/p>\n

The name of this movie says it all. Monster Vegan\u2019s Friday double feature continues with \u201cHack-O-Lantern,\u201d a gory slasher surrounding a family and an evil satanic cult. Throughout the film, a cloaked figure stalks and picks people off one by one in truly bloody fashion. But who is the killer? Watch and find out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Friday, Oct. 17, at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10:30 p.m.
Where: Film Society East<\/p>\n

The 34th Philadelphia Film Festival<\/a> presents, \u201cThe Plague,\u201d a body horror surrounding toxic masculinity and bullying. According to the festival, it\u2019s a story about a kid named Ben, who\u2019s just trying to make new friends at a water polo summer camp in 2003. But when teasing begins about a mysterious \u201cplague\u201d that infects anyone who touches a boy named Eli (the group nerd). Ben begins to question if it\u2019s real or fake \u2014 especially when his own strange symptoms start to set in.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Friday, Oct. 17, at 10 p.m.
Where: Landmark Ritz 5<\/p>\n

Calling all \u201cRocky Horror\u201d fans, it\u2019s officially time to do the \u201cTime Warp\u201d again. Tim Curry plays everyone\u2019s favorite \u201csweet transvestite from Transylvania,\u201d Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who entertains a milquetoast couple Brad and Janet at his strange and sexually charged mansion. The subversive cult classic is full of sing-along music and chaos, and there will also be a live performance where a shadow cast plays along.<\/p>\n

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When: Saturday, Oct. 18, at 9:30 p.m. and Friday Oct. 24, at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Film Society Bourse<\/p>\n

If \u201cThe Ring\u201d taught us anything, it\u2019s that sometimes finding a videotape is just bad news. \u201cMan Finds Tape\u201d is part of the Philly Film Festival lineup. According to the festival, the plot follows a man who uncovers surveillance video that captures a murder on tape. He recruits his filmmaker sister, as he tries to uncover the mystery behind the footage. From there, things begin to unravel and it becomes clear they\u2019ve signed up for more than they bargained for.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.
Where: Landmark Ritz 5<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t you hate it when you\u2019re researching in the Antarctic and you accidentally unearth a 100,000-year-old evil alien? Well, that\u2019s exactly what happens to Kurt Russell in \u201cThe Thing.\u201d This movie, from director John Carpenter, has a truly bananas-looking monster that can shape-shift into its victims. The researchers just need to figure out who\u2019s who to get out alive.<\/p>\n

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When: Sunday, Oct. 19, at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 26, at 12:45 p.m.
Where: Film Society Bourse<\/p>\n

Ever wanted to film your own low-budget horror movie? After watching this film, you might think twice. \u201cDemon Lover Diary\u201d is a 1980 documentary from filmmakers Joel DeMott, Jeff Kreines and Mark Rance. The crew follows two amateurs making a regional horror flick, who are grossly incompetent. The film is included in the line up for the Philadelphia Film Festival in homage to DeMott, who passed away earlier this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 2, 4:15, and 7 p.m.
Where:\u00a0 Landmark Ritz 5<\/p>\n

Tim Burton is one of the all-time greats when it comes to spooky movies. His version of \u201cSleepy Hollow\u201d centers around police constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), who is investigating a series of beheadings around the Hudson River Valley. Rumor has it, the killer is a ghostly headless horseman who was decapitated during the Revolutionary War and is in search of his long-lost head.<\/p>\n

When: Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 \u202fp.m.
Where: Ambler Theater<\/p>\n

Just because a movie is supernatural, doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t also have a little romance. This vintage film follows Lucy Muir, who rents an old cottage, only to realize it\u2019s already occupied by a ghost. Luckily, this ghost is played by the suave and goateed actor Rex Harrison. Throughout the film, Lucy navigates romantic entanglements \u2014 both living and paranormal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"YouTube<\/p>\n

When: Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6:30\u202fp.m.
Where: Ambler Theater<\/p>\n

David Cronenberg\u2019s famous body horror, \u201cThe Fly,\u201d continues to be one of the grossest classics to date. This terrifying thriller, starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, is a remake of the 1950s Vincent Price film. The plot surrounds a scientist who accidently fuses his DNA with a fly\u2019s in an attempt to create a teleportation machine. The result? One very scary Goldblum. After the screening there will be an afterparty with trivia hosted by Forest & Main Brewing Company<\/a> at their pub down the street. Keep your movie ticket stub for $5 drafts all night.<\/p>\n

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When: Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.
Where: Monster Vegan<\/p>\n

Monster Vegan\u2019s second week of horror screenings begins with \u201cNight of the Living Dead.\u201d This cinematic adventure isn\u2019t just the iconic film that\u2019s credited for kicking off the zombie movie craze, it\u2019s also a Pennsylvania-based horror! The plot follows a group of people who hunker down in a rural farmhouse to hide from flesh-eating animated corpses outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Friday, October 24, at 7 p.m.
Where: Cherry Street Pier<\/p>\n

For its second spooky movie night, Cherry Street Pier is leaning into a haunted house vibe. Before the feature you can check out two historic short adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe\u2019s work, \u201cThe Tell-Tale Heart\u201d (1941) and \u201cThe Fall of the House of Usher\u201d (1928). Then it\u2019s \u201cHouse on Haunted Hill\u201d time (not to be confused with \u201cThe Haunting of Hill House<\/a>\u201d and \u201cThe House at Haunted Hill<\/a>\u201d). The plot follows strangers who are invited to a haunted mansion and given a handsome reward \u2014 that is \u2026 if they can survive the night!\u00a0<\/p>\n

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When: Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.
Where: Monster Vegan<\/p>\n

When: Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m. and Monday. Oct. 27, at 7 p.m.
Where: Landmark Ritz 5<\/p>\n

\u201cCandyman\u201d is a racial thriller, revolving around the 1800s legend of a Black man, who fell in love with a white woman and was brutally murdered. (A mob cut his hand off, covered him in honey and he was stung to death by bees.) In modern-day Chicago, he returns as the Candyman \u2014 a murderous spirit who appears when his name is chanted five times in a mirror. The film, which has had a lasting legacy, was given a sequel in 2021 with Jordan Peele as a producer. Both Monster Vegan<\/a> and the Landmark<\/a> are holding separate screenings.<\/p>\n

When: Friday, Oct. 24, at 9 p.m.
Where: Monster Vegan<\/p>\n

\u201cJeepers Creepers\u201d is the last film in Monster Vegan\u2019s cult-horror lineup. The film stars Justin Long and Gina Phillips, who play siblings driving through the Florida countryside for a spring break trip, when they encounter a strange figure in a large trench coat. To say the least, things get increasingly violent and spooky from there.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 2 and 7 p.m.
Where: Landmark Ritz 5<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ring\u201d is all about a creepy videotape that curses whoever watches it to die in exactly one week. The film\u2019s protagonist, journalist Rachel Keller, investigates the mysterious deaths of teenagers who watched the video. However, when she skeptically checks it out herself, she begins experiencing strange paranormal activity. Good thing we at Billy Penn only watch PBS.<\/p>\n

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When: Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Film Society East<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Film Society is showing two screenings of \u201cLabyrinth\u201d for Halloween. The film stars the one and only David Bowie as The Goblin King. A young girl named Sarah must go into a magical realm \u2014 filled with Jim Henson\u2019s fantastical muppets \u2014 and solve an intricate maze in order to save her baby brother. To make things more fun, Thursday\u2019s screening is a 21-and-older BYOB night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m.
Where: Film Society East<\/p>\n

From one maze to another, the PFS is also showing screenings of Guillermo del Toro\u2019s masterpiece \u201cPan\u2019s Labyrinth.\u201d The film is set five years after the Spanish Civil War, and once again a young girl finds herself stuck in a fantastical maze. The creatures in this film are top notch, as the movie won Oscars for Best Makeup, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction. The iconic monster with eyes on his hands still haunts our dreams. Again, Thursday is BYOB and you must be over 21 to attend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"YouTube<\/p>\n

When: Friday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.
Where: Film Society East<\/p>\n

\u201cThirst\u201d is a twisted comedy and erotic thriller from South Korean director Park Chan-wook. The plot follows a Catholic priest who participates in a medical trial to try and cure a deadly virus. Unfortunately, he accidentally receives a transfusion of vampire blood. The priest then has to navigate his new-found thirst for human blood \u2014 and despite his vow of chastity \u2014 strong vampire sexual desires. Such is vampire life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When: Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.
Where: Film Society Center<\/p>\n

If you thought Billy Zane was scary in \u201cTitanic,\u201d wait until you see him in \u201cDemon Knight.\u201d The actor plays an evil demon (disguised in human form, of course), who is trying to destroy humanity. When demon Billy infiltrates a group of people in a boarding house in New Mexico, things get gory. The spooky comedy is filled with campy horror makeup and even features a young Jada Pinkett Smith.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hold on to your silver bullets, torches and wooden stakes, Philadelphia!\u00a0 As Halloween approaches, we\u2019ve compiled a list…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":309224,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5132],"tags":[5229,156309,156310,156311,66906,156312,54,116693,100552,156313,156314,156315,156316,30395,1448,156317,2830,1311,96274,138305,156318,156319,99585,98048,156320,156321,43883,105256,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-309223","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-philadelphia","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-candyman","10":"tag-demon-knight","11":"tag-demon-lover-diary","12":"tag-gremlins","13":"tag-hack-o-lantern","14":"tag-horror","15":"tag-horror-films","16":"tag-horror-movies","17":"tag-house-on-haunted-hill","18":"tag-jeepers-creepers","19":"tag-labyrinth","20":"tag-man-finds-tape","21":"tag-night-of-the-living-dead","22":"tag-pa","23":"tag-pans-labyrinth","24":"tag-pennsylvania","25":"tag-philadelphia","26":"tag-scary-movies","27":"tag-sleepy-hollow","28":"tag-the-fly","29":"tag-the-ghost-and-mrs-muir","30":"tag-the-plague","31":"tag-the-ring","32":"tag-the-rocky-horror-picture-show","33":"tag-the-thing","34":"tag-thirst","35":"tag-trick-or-treat","36":"tag-united-states","37":"tag-united-states-of-america","38":"tag-unitedstates","39":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","40":"tag-us","41":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309223"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309223\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/309224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}