Meet Frank Henenlotter & See A ‘BASKET CASE’ Triple Feature In Chicago

Even though Destroy the Brain is based out of St. Louis and we love to share with our local readers what’s going on around town, we also know that some of you don’t live in the “Gateway to the West.”  As a result we do tend to cover horror and cult events outside of our hometown as well.  And this time, boy do we have a not to miss event if you can make it to the “Windy City.”  The weekend of March 8th and the 9th is a big one for genre fans living in Chicago.  If you tend to go on long movie binges without any sleep then you may want to check out the massive Sci-Fi Spectacular going on March 9th.  The mega movie marathon is happening all day at the Portage Theater and will include screenings of Matinee, Soylent Green, In The Mouth of Madness, Brain Damage, and Battle Royale (just to name a few).  However, the night before, Terror in the Aisles will be hosting director Frank Henenlotter and his Basket Case trilogy!  If you have never seen Basket Case you are missing out on one of the most delightfully bizarre films of the 80’s.  Henenlotter is a filmmaker who isn’t afraid to show you the grimy details – whether its a bloody massacre or the vile and seedy streets of New York.  As the film proves, love can sometimes be a messy and ugly thing, but in the case of Duane and his deformed brother, the world around them might be even more grotesque.

Tickets are $12 pre-sale at the door or only $5 if you are are attending the Sci-fi Spectacular the next day (which in itself is only $20 for a 24hr movie marathon that lets you come and go as you please!).  Doors open at 7 pm for the Baske Caset Triple Feature with trailers and short films to kick things off, and the first film will start at 7:30.  A Q&A with Henenlotter will conducted between the first and second films.  It should be noted that Henenlotter will also be attending the screening of Brain Damage the following day.  You can purchase tickets in advance for both events through Brown Paper Tickets.  As if it couldn’t get any better: Henenlotter will be taking photos with fans and signing autographs for FREE.

Similar to the Late Nite Grindhouse program Destroy the Brain hosts every month in St. Louis, The Portage Theater is a huge advocate of 35mm film and frequently shows prints of older films on a monthly basis.  To give you a taste of what they have coming up, on April 17 they are showing a rare print of This Island Earth and later that same month a print of Sam Peckinpah’s Convoy.  Keep up the great work Portage Theater!  It’s nice to know that the Hi-Pointe Theatre isn’t the only one in the midwest trying to exhibit actual film.

Source: Terror in the Aisles Facebook via Twitch Film