With theaters closed across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's not only the releases of new movies that are affected, but the retrospective screenings of old favorites as well. Thankfully, to bring cinematic comfort to those stuck at home, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is kicking off the “Alamo-At-Home” initiative with Virtual Cinema versions of their Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday programming.
The first Virtual Cinema Terror Tuesday screening will be 1982's Centipede Horror on March 31st, and the online edition of Weird Wednesday launching on April 8th with a 4K restoration of Godmonster of Indian Flats.
Tickets are $7.75 apiece and include a 1-week streaming window. Viewers can sign up for the screenings Centipede Horror screening here. Virtual Cinema attendees can also enjoy discussions of each week's film at BirthMoviesDeath.com.
From the Press Release: Austin, TX --- March 30, 2020 --- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is providing fans new ways to support and celebrate their local theaters. The Austin-based cinema-eatery has launched an “Alamo-At-Home” initiative, including the exciting Virtual Cinema return of its longest-running programming series, Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday, plus new t-shirt designs drawn from its most iconic Don’t Talk PSA and home versions of its most sought-after recipe.
“The entire reason Karrie and I built theaters in the first place was to bring people together in a celebration of film,” says Tim League, Alamo Drafthouse founder and CEO. “Our theaters are currently closed, but that doesn’t have to mean our communities have to remain shuttered as well. We intend to hunker down, weather this storm and reemerge on the other side. Until then, we’ll continue to work to share the movies we love with this community, and find ways to support each other.”
Virtual Cinema
Last week Alamo Drafthouse announced it would begin offering “Virtual Cinema” options to guests, an initiative led by distributors like Kino Lorber, Film Movement, and Magnolia Pictures to allow independent theaters to digitally offer new films to their guests. Thanks to the American Genre Film Archive, AGFA, Alamo Drafthouse’s signature cinephile series Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday are entering the Virtual Cinema space with online screenings featuring pre-show content, introductions, and discussions conducted on Alamo Drafthouse’s content and editorial website, BirthMoviesDeath.com.
"Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday aren't just film series- they're communities, and even though our theater doors are currently closed, it's vital that we continue to foster these communities, because they are truly the heart of the Alamo Drafthouse,” says Sarah Pitre, Senior Director of Programming and Promotions.
The first title chosen is Terror Tuesday’s CENTIPEDE HORROR, the 1982 Hong Kong horror classic by director Keith Li. Never released legitimately on home video in the United States, the Virtual Cinema screening uses a recent 2K preservation drawn from the only 35mm film print in existence. The screening goes live beginning at 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central / 5pm Pacific on Tuesday, March 31st at vimeo.com/ondemand/ttcentipede. Tickets are on sale now for $7.75 and support AGFA and Alamo Drafthouse.
Weird Wednesday’s first Virtual Cinema title is a 4K restoration of GODMONSTER OF INDIAN FLATS, the story of an eight-foot-tall toxic sheep monster that blows up gas stations, smashes crooked politicians, and terrorizes stoners. The screening is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8th.
Alamo-at-Home programming for Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday will continue weekly, alternating between the two series. Follow Alamo Drafthouse on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on film titles.
Seven additional Virtual Cinema titles are also available now at drafthouse.com, including Academy Award nominee CORPUS CHRISTI, The Band documentary ONCE WERE BROTHERS, and Brazilian Weird Western BACURAU. To view the full list and purchase tickets, visit drafthouse.com/news/introducing-virtual-cinema-at-alamo-drafthouse