Halloween Horror Nights Thursday, October 28, 2010

Universal Studios Hollywood usually isn't that scary, unless it Crips versus Bloods night, but once a year the movieland tourist trap turns up the tension with its Halloween Horror Nights, a fiesta of the macabre transforming a walk in the theme park into an unholy vacation of the damned. As a separate ticketed event from the park's daytime admission, the nights of fright include five mazes and six "scare zones," which by name alone should keep any reasonable person away. But if you're inclined to "enjoy" such situations, feel free to thrill yourself and your loved ones to a horrific spectacle requiring "hundreds of gallons of movie blood per night." Mazes include A Nightmare on Elm Street: Never Sleep Again, Saw: Game On, Vampyre: Castle of the Undead, and more. Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City; daily thru Oct. 31; $59. halloweenhorrornights.com/hollywood/2010/. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, October 29, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 12:26 AM, ,

L.A. Haunted Hayride Sunday, October 24, 2010

How horrifying can a hayride be? Beyond your wildest nightmares if it's the L.A. Haunted Hayride, a back o' the wagon trip to damnation brought to you by the L.A. Parks Foundation. The trauma begins with a tractor-drawn tour through a forest of death, populated by, among other twisted tenants, "200-year-old children." The trauma continues with a Haunted Haymaze and a Haunted Carnival, finishing with an All Hallows' Eve sure to leave you scared stiff. Warning: "Do not smoke or light fire of any kind on the premises; no alcohol permitted; no metal objects; do not touch oak trees; do not touch or aggravate any wildlife; do not touch the actors; stay in the wagon at all times." Griffith Park, Old Zoo, 4730 Crystal Springs Ave., L.A.; nightly thru Oct. 31. $30-$1,275 (wagon of 40). losangeleshauntedhayride.com. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, October 29, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 11:28 PM, ,

Rocky Horror Live Tuesday, October 19, 2010

It's just a jump to the left and then a step to the right at The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live Tribute, celebrating 35 years of sweet transvestitism with Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito and Billy Idol onstage, along with TV celebs Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother), Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison (Glee) — hopefully all in drag. Promoted as a "hybrid musical event," the show combines scenes from the iconic midnight movie with live performances, culminating in a costume ball so fishneterrific you'll surely plead, "Touch-a touch-a touch-a touch me." Produced by Lou Adler, the man who brought the original British play stateside in 1974 (and the film's executive producer), the evening benefits the Painted Turtle, a hospital outreach program for ill children, part of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. Dammit, Janet! The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A; Thurs., Oct. 28, 8 p.m.; $50-$100. (800) 745-3000, livenation.com. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, October 22, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 1:40 AM, ,

The Blob Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Unlike the torpid pace of the 1958 original, 1988's remake of B-movie horror classic The Blob puts a slasher-flickish pep in its step as the amorphous mass from outer space devours helpless humans in all sorts of gruesome ways. (Sucked down a sink? Check.) Brian Posehn, of Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program, selected this oozy movie as his pick for this month's installment of Cinefamily's "Comedy Death-Ray" series, a celluloid spinoff of the legendary Tuesday night show at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Director Chuck Russell, despite helming the awesomest entry in the Nightmare on Elm Street series, 1987's Dream Warriors, leaves plenty to mock, from the state-of-the-'80s special effects to dialogue so cheesy you'll think Velveeta co-produced. Remember: "Terror ... has no shape." Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A.; Mon., Oct. 25, 8 p.m.; $14. (323) 655-2510, cinefamily.org. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, October 22, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 11:34 PM, ,

Angel City Jazz Fest Sunday, October 3, 2010

Jazz comes in assorted varieties, much like potato chips, and the Angel City Jazz Festival serves up a surfeit of flavors. The spread includes Wadada Leo Smith's visionary compositions at the Ford Amphitheatre; avant-garde innovator Henry Grimes at REDCAT; the postmodern instrumentals of Kneebody at the Ford; nontraditional experimenter John Abercrombie at the Musicians Institute; and the improvised inspirations of guitarist Nels Cline, drummer Alex Cline, and pianist Myra Melford, collaborating with chefs Paul Canales and Kelsey Bergstrom of Oliveto Restaurant, for a "Cookin' It Up" tasting at Japanese maid cafe Royal/T. Movies, too: Dirty Baby, at LACMA's Bing Theater, documents L.A. artist Ed Ruscha's "censor strip" paintings, and The Reach of Resonance, at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, profiles four musicians on global missions. Various venues around Los Angeles; Sat.-Mon., Oct. 2-4, & Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 7-9; complete schedule at angelcityjazz.com; festival pass $75. (323) 573-2110. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, October 1, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 9:12 PM, ,