AMC MONSTERFEST

By: BRIAN THOMAS
Date: Friday, October 26, 2001

Several years ago, cable channel American Movie Classics acquired the broadcast rights to Universal's library of classic monster films for Halloween. While this was a sad day for local TV horror hosts, who then had to rake through the lower dregs for horror fare, it gave AMC an inspiration. They came up with the idea of hosting the first ever TV monster movie marathon to show 24 hours of creature features, uninterrupted by commercials. Dubbed Monsterfest, their idea was a great success, and the celebration quickly became an annual tradition - both for the station and its viewers - and each year it seems to be growing like the Blob.

Past years have brought a variety of special features to Monsterfest. Sometimes celebrities are called in to host each day. One year Roger Corman was host for the entire fest, and even directed episodes of a monster serial which was broadcast in between films. Typically, a few monster movies and specials are sprinkled into the schedule throughout October, whetting appetites for the big event. Last year, AMC stepped up the interactive aspect of Monsterfest by adding more contests and an online trivia game to their website, which was so popular that it often put AMC's servers out of commission.

This year the online content takes the form of enrollment in the "Transylvania Film Institute" to prepare viewers for a special online Monsterfest edition of YOU DON'T KNOW JACK, with a new section of quizzes every day. There's also a Halloween night live chat with Dracula expert Raymond T. McNally, a Flash golf game, and much more.

So now you're all rarin' to go for Monsterfest - electrodes fired up, fresh tapes by the VCR, remote control polished, full supply of No-Doze. But how do you know when is a good time to check the website, take a nap, or (gasp!) read the Cinescape Halloween Special? Don't panic! We've prepared a little guide to the whole shebang for you.

The Schedule

With Halloween falling on a Wednesday this year, AMC has decided to stretch out Monsterfest to six days in order to take advantage of the weekend lead-in. Monsterfest features begin by taking up about half of Friday's schedule, then increase until running a hair-raising 34 ½ hours straight from 8 PM Tuesday. Films are grouped roughly around a particular monster theme each night, though there seems to be a lot of wandering off away from the tour into dark hallways. AMC apparently begins their broadcast schedule at 7 AM, which is slightly confusing. We've reset the days to begin at midnight for you. (All times are Eastern.) Features that are repeated later in the schedule are marked with one of those little asterisk thingies like so: "*". Screenings scheduled for widescreen presentation are marked so: "[]".

Friday, October 26

8:00 AM SUPERNATURAL

Not considered an official part of Monsterfest, but this early (1933) feature in which Carole Lombard is possessed by the ghost of a killer certainly qualifies.

2:00 PM YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN *

Mel Brooks never had a

bigger hit than this deft parody of Universal's Frankenstein flicks, written by and starring Gene Wilder.

4:00 PM ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN

Best monster comedy ever.

5:30 PM THE MAN WHO DREW BUG-EYED MONSTERS

A special documentary about artist Reynold Brown, who painted many of the classic monster movie posters of the 1950s.

8:00 PM FRIGHT NIGHT * []

Friday's featured monster is Frankenstein, but it also seems to be horror comedy, making this a good place to drop in this fun 1985 chiller in which William Ragsdale thinks new neighbor Chris Sarandon is a vampire. If you miss it here, you can catch it on Halloween.

10:00 PM YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Saturday, October 27

12:00 AM FRANKENSTEIN

Boris Karloff as the

all-time best Frankenstein monster.

1:30 AM YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

3:30 AM TALES OF TERROR

The first day of Monsterfest ends with a Roger Corman Poe picture, and picks up with another the second day. Here, Vincent Price stars in a trio of Poe stories, joined by Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone.

12:30 PM THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

Crazy Vincent Price is possessed by the spirit of a sadistic ancestor, and puts his torture chamber to good use.

5:45 PM BACKSTORY: ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW *
AMC's behind-the-scenes series looks at the camp horror musical.

8:00 PM THE BRIDE *

Saturday night's theme is Bride of Frankenstein, and this 1985 update starring Sting and Jennifer Beals tries to romanticize the tale in the manner of 1979's DRACULA remake. Typical '80s silliness, though Clancy Brown makes a pretty soulful monster.

10:05 PM THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

James Whale directs one of the best monster movies of all time. Whatja mean you've never seen it?!

11:30 PM BACKSTORY: ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Sunday, October 28

1:45 AM THE BRIDE

2:45 AM THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN

Lon Chaney, Jr. takes over the monster role for the series in this lesser effort, but tune in for more of Bela Lugosi as Ygor.

4:00 AM THE BRIDE

7:00 AM ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

Bud and Lou are policemen (!) on

the trail of a monster in London. Say, you don't think Boris Karloff has anything to do with this?

10:00 AM FROGS

Lots of croaking going on in the Florida swamp as amphibious ecoterrorists get revenge on greedy Ray Milland.

2:45 PM THE CRUCIBLE

Star-studded Hollywood version of the Arthur Miller play about the Salem witch trials. One of Winona Ryder's rare non-smoking roles.

8:00 PM THE MUMMY *

Classic in which Boris Karloff stars as a reanimated necromancer scheming to be reunited with his reincarnated princess.

9:30 PM THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB

Hammer fun enlivens this creaky tale of a vengeful mummy who cracks skulls when his tomb is violated.

11:30 PM THE MUMMY

Monday, October 29

1:00 AM THE MUMMY'S HAND

Action & terror for Americans

in Egypt. The film that inspired the recent Mummy films.

2:15 AM THE MUMMY'S TOMB

Lon Chaney gets wrapped up in his role of Kharis the Mummy for the first time.

3:30 AM THE MUMMY'S CURSE

A refreshing shift to Louisiana, and some truly chilling scenes, but this was the end of the Mummy series.

4:45 AM THE MUMMY'S GHOST

Believe it or not, but kids in the '40s were really horrified by Lon Chaney's shuffling Mummy.

8:00 AM WAKE OF THE RED WITCH

Okay, so this John Wayne high seas adventure doesn't belong here. But its got "witch" in the title, so you might get confused if you've been watching mummy movies all night... boo!

2:15 PM THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF *

Hammer Films produced this classical tale as their stab at the werewolf legend, one of their best efforts. Oliver Reed is doomed by a cursed birth.

4:00 PM ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE MUMMY

In this parody of THE MUMMY'S HAND, Bud & Lou go to Egypt and face off against femme fatale Marie Windsor and a chubby Mummy.

5:30 PM HOLLYWOOD GHOST STORIES

Documentary about haunted Hollywood.

8:00 PM THE WOLF MAN

Typically underrated George Waggner

classic made Lon Chaney, Jr. a star as an enduring monster icon.

9:30 PM  THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF

11:15 PM  BACKSTORY: ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

11:45 PM  FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN

Post-production studio editing sabotaged Bela Lugosi's portrayal of the sick, blind monster, but the inspired idea of pitting two star creatures against each other is still a lot of fun, and Lon Chaney's Wolf Man has some fine scenes.

Tuesday, October 30

1:15 AM  THE WEREWOLF

The Wolf Man theme is updated for the atomic-powered 1950s.

2:45 AM  WEREWOLF OF LONDON

Universal's first Wolf Man

feature is full of thrills and humor.

4:15 AM  THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US

The Creature from the Black Lagoon is represented by only his swan song in this year's Monsterfest. Here, desperate Universal tinkers with the Gill Man in the laboratory in a failed attempt to inject fresh life in the series.

12:30 PM  THE OTHER

Creepy Tom Tryon story about twin boys on a New England farm.

2:15 PM  THE OMEN *

Creepy kids day continues with a full Omenfest. The film that made Richard Donner's career. Is Gregory Peck's baby the Antichrist?

4:00 PM  TENTACLES

Well JAWS was taken, so they had to use this title for their big octopus movie.

5:30 PM  ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT MONSTERMANIA

This entry in the MONSTERMANIA documentary series focuses on giant monsters.

8:00 PM  THE OMEN LEGACY *

One hour documentary examining the OMEN series.

10:00 PM  THE OMEN

Wednesday, October 31

12:00 AM  DAMIEN: OMEN II

Surprisingly, this turns out to be the second Omen movie. Lee Grant sends Peck's bad boy to a military academy. Sure, that'll straighten him out.

2:00 AM  OMEN III: THE FINAL CONFLICT

Little Damien grows up to be spooky Australian Sam Neill. And that's final... except for that direct-to-TV fourth Omen movie.

4:00 AM  THE OMEN LEGACY

6:00 AM  DRACULA *

1931 blockbuster made an

icon out of Bela Lugosi and shaped every horror film made since.

7:15 AM  DRACULA

Concurrently shot Spanish version suffers from a lack of Lugosi, but improves on the original in every other way.

8:45 AM  SON OF DRACULA *

Lon Chaney is miscast as the Prince of Vampires, but this Universal chiller still has plenty of atmosphere and a unique plot.

10:15 AM  DRACULA'S DAUGHTER *

Fine follow-up loosely based on a Stoker story casts Gloria Holden in the title role as the first vampire to seek psychiatric treatment.

11:30 AM  DRACULA *

1:00 PM  DRACULA'S DAUGHTER *

2:15 PM  SON OF DRACULA *

3:45 PM  HOUSE OF DRACULA

Since Universal has yet to release this Monster Bash on DVD, this would be a good chance to catch it. Dracula! Wolf Man! Frankenstein! Hunchback! Mad Doctor!

5:00 PM  BLOOD OF DRACULA

Basically, an all-girl remake of I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF.

6:30 PM THE BRIDES OF DRACULA

Peter Cushing's Van Helsing battles Baron Meinster and his harem of hellions in this Hammer classic.

8:00 PM  FRIGHT NIGHT *[]

10:00 PM  LOVE AT FIRST BITE

In this Dracula comedy, George Hamilton is the tannest vampire ever.

Thursday, November 1

12:00 AM  DRACULA

1:30 AM  FRIGHT NIGHT []

3:30

AM DRACULA'S DAUGHTER

5:00 AM SON OF DRACULA

If that's not enough for you, Halloween night has lots of other TV options. Encore is showing THE WITCHES, CASPER, BODY SNATCHERS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, THE BLOB (1988) and THE EXORCIST. USA Network has HALLOWEEN II, CHERRY FALLS, URBAN LEGEND and PROM NIGHT. Turner Classic Movies will show MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, I MARRIED A WITCH, KING KONG, SON OF KONG, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, VAMPYR, NOSFERATU, THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and THE VAMPIRE. The Independent Film Channel goes the documentary route with DOCUMENT OF THE DEAD, DARIO ARGENTO: AN EYE FOR HORROR, HAXAN and AMERICAN NIGHTMARE. And Cinemax will cap a quartet of their AIP remakes with HALLOWEEN. Whew! You might have to miss an episode of WOLF LAKE.