Austin is a unique and exciting city for cinema, and as such there’s lots of films and cinema-related events to choose from. These weekly posts will cut through the mainstream releases to highlight the Top 5 cinematic events to check out each week.
1. Evil Dead Opening Weekend
Fede Alvarez’s remake of Sam Raimi’s cult classic finally hits theatres this weekend after an incredibly successful premiere at SXSW last month. A staggeringly intense experience that brings a completely new vision to a classic, the film will fulfill fans’ desire for scares and gore and then some. Bring an iron stomach and a will of steel, and strap in for a horror experience like no other.
Opens wide April 5th
2. Jurassic Park 3D
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s dino-disaster masterpiece, it’s time to go back to Isla Nublar, and this time, in a meticulous 3D conversion overseen by Spielberg himself. While I can’t say that any film necessarily needs 3D to be appreciated, I’ll jump at the opportunity to see Jurassic Park on the big screen no matter what. Word on the street is that this is the best 3D conversion ever for a film not shot in the format, so it’s at least worth checking out, if for no other reason than Jeff Goldblum’s glorious shirtless scene in 3D. You can almost touch the sexy!
Opens wide April 5th
3. Horror Show: Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
Just when you thought you had enough Deadites for one week, the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek is deciding to screen Sam Raimi’s half remake, half sequel to his 1981 original. A completely bonkers horror-comedy, this film is a masterpiece of the genre that has paved the way for dozens to come, and features the grooviest horror hero of all time at his absolute zaniest. Don’t miss this chance to see one of the defining genre films of all time on the big screen, or they’ll swallow your soul!
April 9th, Alamo Lake Creek, 7pm
4. Tough Guy Cinema: Face/Off
Is there anything on earth as glorious as a Nic Cage meltdown? Every meltdown he has is more insane than the last, and Face/Off features one of his best. John Woo’s third American feature may never reach the heights of his Chinese films, or even be as ridiculous as Hard Target or a hilariously self-serious and over-the-top as M:I:2, but it remains an essential piece of 90’s action cinema worth seeing on the big screen again just for the aforementioned meltdown. Oh, and the in-theatre pyrotechnics are pretty cool too.
Alamo Lake Creek & Ritz, April 6th & 7th
5. Mad Men Season 6 Premiere at Violet Crown Cinema
While not necessarily a film event, few TV shows are as cinematic in their storytelling as AMC’s Mad Men. With the sixth season of the best show on television premiering this Sunday, the Violet Crown Cinema will be hosting a free screening of the two-hour premiere on the big screen. Seating is first come, first serve, but $5 vouchers can be pre-purchased to reserve a spot. There will even be cocktails from the theatre’s full-service bar inspired by the show! (Don Draper not included)
Violet Crown Cinema, April 7th, 8pm
