Reel Rituals Revs Up for Driller Killer

Contributed

Reel Rituals is a film screening series like no other – sharing vintage films, often from the public domain, that have often been long-forgotten or are generally under appreciated and giving them a fresh take. This month's film and discussion will tackle the 1979 psychodrama The Driller Killer.

Friday, Jul. 31

Do you like films on the fringes? Forgotten gems? Oddballs that were ahead of their time? Do you want to find a place to watch them with like-minded weirdos and talk about the modern social ramifications of the movie you just watched?

If so, you might already be a Reel Rituals fan. The series is the brainchild of Madman Mook and the Pentacle Pin Up, also known as the Erie Reader's own Aaron Mook, and 40 Under 40 alum Rie Witherow.

For their fourth installment of the Reel Rituals film series, the duo will be presenting the 1979 psychodrama The Driller Killer. In a recent statement, the organizers described Reel Rituals as "a series of semi-regular, affordable film screenings dedicated to overlooked, forgotten, and underseen cinema. Rooted in Erie's DIY spirit, we bring films to life in rotating venues across the city, turning each screening into a unique communal experience."

"Part of what's exciting about Reel Rituals is not only exploring different genres, but even subgenres of film," Mook explained. "Most of what is in the public domain is pre-1960 and relatively tame as far as today's standards go, so it's exciting to use this month's screening to introduce folks to the weird and wonderful world of 'video nasties.'"

It's a loose atmosphere that offers academic takes and insights into films that are often misunderstood – and so far, all in the public domain. The previous screenings featured The Brain That Wouldn't Die, followed by A Bucket of Blood and The Old Dark House.

With opening slide presentations to provide context and backstory, the duo offers an experience that's part vintage horror hosting and part TED Talk. Expect them to tackle the film's misleading cover image and its impact on censorship in the Thatcher-era United Kingdom.

With dates and films lined up for August and September, stay tuned to their social media to find out what's next. Witherow hinted, "We have some super secret special announcements we'll be making that go beyond Reel Rituals, and any fans of Erie's spookier side are not going to want to miss them."

Doors at 5:30, film at 7 p.m. // 10|20 Collective, 1020 Holland St. // $10 // For Mature Audiences // For tickets and more information, visit 1020collective.com