The Movie Nerd Report: Spooky movies showing around Northeast Ohio on Halloween weekend

Halloween weekend and lots of opportunities to celebrate! Here is your #movienerdreport!

The fun kicks off Wednesday at the Cleveland Cinematheque (11610 Euclid Ave, Cleveland 44106) when they will present the Cleveland 48 Hour Film Project Horror and Sci-Fi. Teams had to create a film in under 48 hours with an assigned genre, a character they have to implement,a prop , and a line of dialogue. Now you get to see the results! Group A’s films will show at 7:30 p.m. and Group B’s films will play at 9:30 p.m. 

More information and tickets are available here:  https://cinematheque.cia.edu/movies/48-hour-film-project-horror-sci-fi-group-a/

It is the last Wednesday of the month so that means it is time for the latest film in the WTF Wednesday series at the Cedar Lee  (2163 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights 44118), presented in conjunction with the Cinematheque, with the 1999 Takashi Miike film “Audition.” It tells the story of a grieving widower who stages a fake film audition to covertly find himself a new wife, only to fall for a quiet, enigmatic woman with a violently sadistic past. The film starts at 7:30 p.m. 

More film information and tickets are available here: https://www.clevelandcinemas.com/movies/30033-audition/

Also at the Cedar Lee on Wednesday at 7 p.m. is a film being presented by the Cleveland International Film Festival’s Young Professionals Group with the New Zealand horror-comedy “Mum I’m Alien Pregnant.” It tells the story of an underachieving millennial who accidentally becomes pregnant with an alien (alien-pregnant) and how she must overcome the obstacles to survive and reclaim her life. 

More information and tickets are available here: https://clevelandfilm.eventive.org/schedule/6ac40a47fe58daaec2b398a0

Because Halloween is traditionally a slow weekend, box office wise, there are not as many new wide releases but one that looks particularly jaw-dropping is the new documentary “Everest: The Other Side.” This film from the directors of the Oscar-winning film “Free Solo,” takes a look at elite ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson as they attempt to climb and ski the direct North Face of Mount Everest. 

The holiday themed horror-comedy “Christmas at the Kringles.” It tells the story of a family that moves to a quiet suburban neighborhood where they meet the Kringles, a family that celebrates Christmas year round. When they discover the Kringles’ sinister intentions, they team with a rogue Santa in an attempt to save their family. The film stars Ron Livingston, Rachel Bilson, Rob Riggle and Cleveland’s own David Wain. 

Opening at a number of theaters including Cedar Lee, The Nightlight, and Capitol is this year’s winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in “Fjord.” It tells the story of a devout Romanian-Norwegian couple that resettles in a remote fjord village and forms a close relationship with their neighbors. When their teenage daughter arrives at school with bruises, the community questions whether the family’s traditional upbringing is responsible. Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve star. 

Also showing at the Cleveland Cinematheque: 

Thursday at 8:50 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. they will present the mockumentary “Lady.” It tells the story of an eccentric, narcissistic British aristocrat who hires a struggling young filmmaker to document her life and entry into a local children’s talent show. The film stars Sian Clifford from the show “Fleabag.” 

Friday at 8 p.m. in conjunction with the Grog Shop they will present the Dario Argento classic “Tenebre” with a live score from Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin! Following the film the collective will play songs from the various other film soundtracks they have contributed to. As of this writing tickets are still available but you will need to act fast!

Ticket information for this is available here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/claudio-simonettis-goblin-cinematheque-at-cleveland-institute-of-tickets/15030493?pl=grogshop&REFID=clientsitewp

Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 7:10 p.m. they will present “Mothra vs. Godzilla.” The film sees Godzilla facing off against the benevolent insect monster-god Mothra in this clash of the titans! Film critic Dede Crimmins will give a film introduction at the screening on Saturday!

Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. they will continue their Speak of the Devil series by presenting the Japanese horror classic “Jigoku.” Described as the ultimate morality tale, the interconnected lives of several people, and the decisions they make, lead them literally to hell. 

Sunday at 3 p.m. they will add one more to the Speak of the Devil series with the 1960 Ingmar Bergman fantasy comedy “The Devil’s Eye”. 

More film information and tickets are available at: https://cinematheque.cia.edu/

Over at The Nightlight Cinema (30 N High Street, Akron 44308): 

Thursday at 7 p.m. they will present the British film “Straight Circle.” The film tells the story of a pair of enemy soldiers stationed on a remote border in a vast featureless desert that descend into a state of profound disorientation after forgetting which side of the border is which. 

On Friday and Saturday they will present films appropriate for Halloween! First up, Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. they will show David Lynch’s haunting prequel to the landmark tv series in “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.” The film stars Sheryl Lee, Akron’s own Ray Wise, David Bowie and Kyle McLaughlin. 

They also will be presenting Ken Russell’s recently restored cut of “The Devils,” and as of this writing the Friday and early Saturday screenings are sold out, but there are still tickets available for the Saturday screening at 8:45 p.m. The film stars Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave.

Beginning on Sunday and playing through Thursday is the documentary “The Gymnasts of Fisherman County.” It tells the story of the birth of a gymnastics team in Pakistan that provides an inspiring spark of light for a small group of girls on the margins. 

More film information and tickets are available here: https://nightlightcinema.com/

Over at The Capitol Theatre (1390 W.65^th Street, Cleveland 44102): 

They will be having screenings of two horror classics , on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. they will present John Carpenter’s original “Halloween” and Friday at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. they will present Wes Craven’s “Scream.” 

Saturday at 11:55 p.m. in conjunction with Paradise Galleria, they will present “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Costumes are highly encouraged for this interactive screening!

More film information and tickets are available here: https://capitoltheatrecleveland.com/

Over at Case Western Film Society (Strosacker Auditorium on the Case Campus):

Friday at 7 p.m., 9:15 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. they will present Hugh Jackman, Zach Effron, and Zendaya in “The Greatest Showman” and on Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. they will present Zach Cregger’s breakthrough hit “Barbarian.” 

More film information and tickets are available here: https://films.cwru.edu/

Over at the Canton Palace Theatre (605 Market Ave N, Canton 44702):

Friday they will continue their Horror on the Big Screen series with Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and on Saturday they will be playing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Both films will start at 7:30 p.m. on their respective nights. 

More film information and tickets are available here: https://cantonpalacetheatre.org/horror-on-the-big-screen-at-canton-palace-theatre/

A number of theaters will be showing David Lynch’s “Wild At Heart” which is being shown from a brand new restoration just before it comes out in a few weeks in a new Criterion Collection release. 

And finally on Sunday at 7 p.m,. at Northfield Park Racino is William Shatner Live after a screening of “Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan.” The legend, who recently turned 95, will answer audience questions after a screening of arguably the most beloved of the Star Trek films. 

Tickets and information are available here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/william-shatner-live-onstage-w-star-northfield-ohio-11-01-2026/event/050064879B9858E1

Happy Halloween all! Until next time, we’ll see you at the movies!