Bama Art House goes nostalgic again, this time with Halloween flavor for fall

After experimenting with nostalgic films for its summer Bama Art House series, in place of the usual new indie, foreign or art films, the Arts Council is bringing the idea back for fall, with four comedy, fantasy and horror-related oldies leading up to the Halloween season, broken up Oct. 3 by the annual Manhattan Short Film Festival.

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Screenings will be 7 p.m. Tuesdays from Sept. 12-Oct. 24, with the exception of Sept. 26 and Oct. 17, at the Bama Theatre. The doors, box office and Bama Bar open at 6. Admission is $10 general, $9 for students and seniors, and $8 for Arts Council members. Season pass punch card tickets will be on sale for $70, good for any 10 films, in any upcoming series.

Ghostbusters

Sept. 12: "Ghostbusters" (1984), rated PG, 1 hour 45 minutes. Directed by Ivan Reitman ("Meatballs," "Stripes," "Kindergarten Cop"). Original of the much-remade/revisited tale of out-of-work academics who set up a ghost-removal service when their parapsychology funding falls through. Starring Dan Akyroyd (Ray Stantz) and Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler), who wrote the script with uncredited help from Rick Moranis (Louis Tully), and Bill Murray as Peter Venkman. Also featuring Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson and William Atherton. Rotten Tomatoes score: 95% Fresh from 79 reviews; 88% audience score, from 250,000 plus ratings.

Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Akyroyd star as the original three in 1984's "Ghostbusters."
Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Dan Akyroyd star as the original three in 1984's "Ghostbusters."

Sleepy Hollow

Sept. 19: "Sleepy Hollow" (1999), rated R, 1 hour 45 minutes. Directed by Tim Burton, based on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to investigate a series of decapitations credited to a mysterious Hessian and/or Headless Horseman (Christopher Walken). Also featuring Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Christopher Lee and Jeffrey Jones. Rotten Tomatoes score: 70% Fresh from 125 reviews; 80% audience score, from 250,000 plus ratings.

Christopher Walken plays the Hessian Horseman in the 1999 "Sleepy Hollow."
Christopher Walken plays the Hessian Horseman in the 1999 "Sleepy Hollow."

Manhattan Short Film Festival

Oct. 3: "26th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival." Global film festival in which more than 100,000 viewers in more than 500 cities over six continents view and vote on finalists. At the Bama Theatre, patrons will get a voting card and official program, voting for one actor and film as their favorite. Votes are tallied then emailed to NYC headquarters.

"Love, Dad" and "Don Vs. Lightning" are among the entries in the 2023 Manhattan Short Film Festival. The Bama Theatre will again be one of 500 venues showing it worldwide; patrons can vote on favorites.
"Love, Dad" and "Don Vs. Lightning" are among the entries in the 2023 Manhattan Short Film Festival. The Bama Theatre will again be one of 500 venues showing it worldwide; patrons can vote on favorites.

The Fog

Oct. 10: "The Fog" (2005), rated PG-13, 1 hour 40 minutes. Remake of John Carpenter's 1980 thriller, directed by Rupert Wainright ("Stigmata"), about a mist filled with vengeful spirits terrorizing an Oregon coastal town. Starring Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Selma Blair. Rotten Tomatoes score: 4%, from 69 reviews; 19% audience score, from 100,000 plus ratings.

Tom Wellington and Maggie Grace star in the 2005 remake of "The Fog."
Tom Wellington and Maggie Grace star in the 2005 remake of "The Fog."

Bram Stoker's Dracula

Oct. 24: "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992), rated R, two hours eight minutes. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on Stoker's novel "Dracula" (1897), in which the centuries-old vampire travels to England to court new blood. Starring Gary Oldman as the head bloodsucker, Winona Ryder as Mina Murray, Anthony Hopkins as Professor Van Helsing, Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Seward, Sadie Frost as Lucy Westenra, Cary Elwes as Lord Holmwood, and Tom Waits as Renfield. Rotten Tomatoes score: 78% Fresh, from 67 reviews; 79% audience score, from 250,000 plus ratings.

Gary Oldman stakes out the title role in "Bram Stoker's Dracula."
Gary Oldman stakes out the title role in "Bram Stoker's Dracula."

The Bama Theatre is at 600 Greensboro Ave., downtown Tuscaloosa. For more, call 205-758-5195, see www.tuscarts.org, or see Bama/Arts Council presences on Facebook and Instagram.

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Bama Art House fall series will have Halloween flavor