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This article was published 27/10/2022 (1363 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Halloween programming at Cinematheque

Saturday, from 10 a.m.
Cinematheque, 100 Arthur St.
Tickets: from $10 ($6 members) at winnipegfilmgroup.com

There’s nothing quite like a scary movie to get you in the mood for Halloween, and this Saturday Cinematheque is bringing the big-screen screams all day.

Things kick off at 10 a.m. with the Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party: Halloween Edition, a throwback to the “good old days” when Saturday morning cartoons, spooky or otherwise, ruled the roost. Kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy three hours of Halloween-themed cartoons, public service announcements, commercials and more. The event, curated by David Bertrand, also features all-you-can-eat cereal, with dairy-free options available.

In the afternoon and evening things get downright spooky, as Cinematheque presents Aurora Gorealis, a horror movie marathon featuring creepy Canadian classics. At 3 p.m. comes the 1981 film The Pit, directed by Lew Lehman and featuring a 12-year-old boy who is bullied until he discovers a pit in the woods full of man-eating creatures called Trogs. At 5 p.m. it’s Pin, the 1988 film directed by Sandor Stern, the tale of the titular plastic medical dummy who comes home to live with Leon — before things go south.

At 7 p.m. Bruce Pittman’s 1987 film Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II hits the screen, the story of a prom queen killed in 1957 who returns 30 years later to haunt the event (and a principal hiding secrets). Things close out at 9 p.m. with Steven Kostanski’s 2020 film Psycho Goreman, which sees a pair of siblings accidentally resurrect an ancient alien to do their bidding who attracts all manner of intergalactic killers.

Tickets for Aurora Gorealis start at $10 per film ($6 for members), with combo deals available, while tickets for the Saturday cartoon party are $15 ($12 for members).

— Ben Sigurdson

Murder mystery at the Garrick

Saturday, 8 p.m.
Garrick Hotel Bar, 287 Garrick St.
Tickets $28 plus fees on Eventbrite

Legendary detective Sam Spade is at the end of his rope. His latest murder investigation has hit a wall and he needs help untangling the complex case. Amateur sleuths are invited to the Garrick this weekend to find the killer before time runs out — magnifying glass not required, unless you’re keen to commit to character.

Murder in the Dark is the latest interactive whodunnit from Murder on the Menu, a local theatre company that’s been hosting guided mystery shows since 1989. The production is inspired by film noir of the 1950s and brings Spade, protagonist of Dashiell Hammet’s novel The Maltese Falcon, back into the spotlight alongside a cast of shadowy characters.

The action kicks off Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the downtown hotel and bar. After cracking the case, investigators are welcome to celebrate their win with music and dancing. Cash bar and ATM on site.

— Eva Wasney

Winnipeg Comiccon goes back to the future

Friday to Sunday
RBC Convention Centre
Tickets: Friday, $15. Saturday, $35. Sunday, $30; weekend passes $60 or $180 for VIP package at comicconwinnipeg.com

Winnipeg cosplayers can get into Halloween mode a few days early, thanks to Winnipeg Comiccon.

The three-day event at the RBC Convention Centre welcomes stars of television and movies, but also comic-book creators, authors and film directors.

Among the headliners are actors Lea Thompson (Back to the Future), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter franchise), Cerina Vincent (Not Another Teen Movie), John Barrowman (Doctor Who), Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall) and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead).

Comic-book creators to appear include Dave McCaig (The Batman), Aaron Reynolds (Effin’ Birds), David Robertson (When We Were Alone) and Bryce Nelson, a Dakota Collegiate grad who has gone on to create the comic Brian, the Unexpected Hero.

Friday’s highlights include three screenings of the Phantom of the Paradise (2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and discussion and autograph sessions with Peter Elbling, who starred (under the stage name Harold Oblong) as a member of the Juicy Fruits in the cult 1974 film by Brian De Palma.

Saturday’s autograph and photo-op sessions begin at 10:30 a.m., but there will also be workshops about costumes from the Star Wars franchise, streaming, live-action role playing, novel-writing, Lego, and a screening of Army of Darkness, (6 p.m.) which Campbell, who starred in the film, will introduce.

Sunday at 2 p.m. will be the Masquerade Awards, which hands out prizes in five different skill levels; at 4 p.m. the Peg City Power Rangers will perform.

A full list of events and locations within the convention centre can be found at comicconwinnipeg.com.

— Alan Small

A Nightmare on Donald Street

Saturday, 9 p.m.
Metropolitan Entertainment Centre, 281 Donald St.
Tickets $23-$48 at nightmareondonald.com

What did the bartender say when the ghost asked for a drink? Sorry, we don’t serve spirits.

Ghosts, ghouls and other spooky creatures will be in luck, however, when downtown entertainment venue the Met presents three floors of frightening fun on Saturday with a Day of the Dead-themed event.

The evening is billed as Winnipeg’s largest Halloween costume party, offering a VIP nightclub experience (yes, there is bottle service) with the exclusiveness of a gala and the horrors of a haunted house, spread out over three levels in the former theatre.

There’s a costume contest hosted by Energy 106’s Tyler Carr — vie for a prize for best costume or best group costume — and sets from local DJs, including EDM/Top 40 by Jamil the DJ, Electric Kitten and Running With Scissors on the main floor and hip hop/R&B/throwbacks from Keesh and Electric Kitten in the Tempo Ghost Lounge, on the second-level VIP floor.

— Jill Wilson

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