Tis the season… No, not Christmas just yet, but Halloween. Yes, now that we have entered October Halloween is approaching and what better way to celebrate the month of spooks and scares than with some good horror movies. MUBI, the award-winning global distributor, streaming service and production company is marking the spooky season with a curated collection of new and classic chills and thrills from some of the masters of the genre – including Dario Argento, David Cronenberg and Tobe Hooper – plus the UK streaming premiere of Lucile Hadžihalilović’s Earwig – and the return of Dine In Cinema: Profondo Argento a collaboration with BAO London.
The FLICK OR TREAT Collection includes: PROFONDO ARGENTO featuring five of Dario Argento’s greatest films, from his directorial debut The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) to his acclaimed masterpiece, Suspiria (1977). LOVE AND OTHER PARASITES celebrates the work of one of cinema’s most audacious auteurs, David Cronenberg, with four films from the master of “body horror” including The Brood (1979) and Scanners (1981); plus Peter Strickland’s Berberian Sound Studio (2012), Erik Blomberg’s classic The White Reindeer (1952) and the Chilean stop-motion animated horror The Wolf House (2018). The season is rounded off with Tobe Hooper’s original Slasher The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).
Profondo Argento
Dario Argento is one of the most influential filmmakers in the genre and has had a profound impact on modern horror as we know it. His films have an identifiable style: erratic plots, bursts of psychedelia, outrageous violence and death scenes, with humour and romance interjected. But as well as sending shivers down your spine, Argento had a strong desire for his films to entertain and used powerful and exuberant sounds and images. Never leaving audiences indifferent, the Profondo Argento series is not to be missed on MUBI in the run-up to Halloween.
Deep Red (1975) – Now Showing
Phenomena (1985) – October 8
Tenebrae (1982) – October 13
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) – October 23
Suspiria (1977) – October 30
Also, returning for the second Halloween, MUBI have teamed up with Taiwanese-inspired eatery BAO London for an Argento-themed cinema and culinary experience – Dine In Cinema: Profondo Argento – running from October 17 to November 13 at BAO Shoreditch and BAO Borough.
Groups of 6 to 14 can book a private KTV room (with screen, speakers, mood lighting and comfortable seating – so no one can hear you scream), select a film from the Dario Argento ‘Profondo Argento’ season and enjoy a set menu of highlights from the BAO menu. Tickets are £35pp and also include 30 days of free MUBI access so you can stream the full ‘Flick or Treat’ selection.
Love And Other Parasites
One of Canada’s most celebrated directors, David Cronenberg has carved out an indelible legacy with his string of “body horror” films that marry skin-crawling bodily transformations with psychological and philosophical concerns. LOVE AND OTHER PARASITES serves up the Cronenbergian body in all its complexities digging deep into the auteur’s fascination with the sick and twisted.
Cronenberg’s interest in questioning human instinct and debating morality is on full display in this dedicated season culminating in acidic social satires featuring blood-thirsty zombies, telepaths with a vendetta, broods of mutant children, sinister cabals, giant talking bugs and more.
Rabid (1977) – Now Showing
The Brood (1979) – Now Showing
Scanners (1981) – October 26
Naked Lunch (1991) – November 12
Sounds pretty incredibly, right? Celebrate Halloween the proper way with some absolute classics, some delicious food, and with a spooky atmosphere like no other. What are you guys waiting for?
MUBI is the biggest community of film lovers, available across 190 countries, with more than 12 million members around the world. MUBI acquired renowned sales agent and production company The Match Factory and Match Factory Productions in January 2022.
Subscription plans are £10.99 a month or £71.88 for 12 months, or £15.99 Premium a month or £131.88 for 12 months to include MUBI GO. MUBI is available on the web, Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, as well as on mobile devices including iPad, iPhone and Android.
