NOW SHOWING: BOBBY YEAH screens at The Horse Hospital (09 NOV).
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SCREEN GUIDE: THE MISKATONIC INSTITUTE at The Horse Hospital

COMING SOON: THE MISKATONIC INSTITUTE OF HORROR STUDIES has launched a new programme at The Horse Hospital — 14 SEPT to 14 DEC 2017 — Tickets on sale now.


The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies (London branch) has just announced a fantastic new season of film classes in Bloomsbury’s countercultural equine treatment room, The Horse Hospital.

Running September to December 2017, each class is led by a luminary from the horror world with some sessions doubling up as book launches that will surely make Santa’s sack bulge come Christmas.

Named after H.P. Lovecraft’s fictional university, The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies is a non-profit, community-based organisation that started in Canada. The school currently has branches in Montreal and London, with an NYC branch about to pop-up.

If you haven’t been before, it’s time to stuff your backpack and grab your stationery set.

“It’s not enough to know we’re scared – we need to understand how and why, and what being scared means. The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies is an initiation into an understanding of horror, which is – in the end – a key to an understanding of everything.” Kim Newman

les raisins de la mort
Jean Rollin’s LES RAISINS DE LA MORT gets discussed at The Miskatonic Institute (14 SEPT).

BIG TOP ATTRACTIONS

The main events are as follows:

14 SEPT 2017
VIRGINS & VAMPIRES: GOTHIC DAMSELS AND FINAL GIRLS IN THE CINEMA OF JEAN ROLLIN
Jean Rollin’s films are peopled by damsels in distress who reveal themselves much less vulnerable than they initially appear. Electric Sheep editor Virginie Sélavy will look at the way in which Rollin uses Gothic motifs such as the castle and the vampire to question social and moral norms and subvert conventional gender expectations.

12 OCT 2017
VIDEO DUNGEON: HOW TO TALK ABOUT ‘PSYCHOTRONIC CINEMA’
To launch his new book, Video Dungeon, Kim Newman will be talking about critiquing films some reckon beyond or beneath or outside criticism, illustrated with clips from the weirdest and rarest films. He will consider critical approaches to what Michael Weldon calls ‘Psychotronic Cinema’ and less perceptive souls write off as ‘junk’.

09 NOV 2017
INTO THE DARK: THE MONSTERS AND NIGHTMARES OF HORROR ANIMATION
In this illustrated talk, Nag Vladermersky, Director of the London International Animation Festival, will look at the specific forms that horror takes in animation, digging deep into the bowels of the extensive LIAF archive to unearth some of the darkest, weirdest and hellish gems that have screened at the festival over the last 14 years.

14 DEC 2017
YULETIDE TERROR: CHRISTMAS HORROR ON FILM AND TELEVISION
To celebrate the release of Spectacular Optical’s new book Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television, contributors Stephen Thrower and Derek Johnston will delve into the world of festive fright favourites and obscurities, from American Santa Slashers (and the ensuing controversies) to the quintessentially-English A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS series.

WHERE TO SHELTER

  • VENUE: The Horse Hospital
  • TIME: 19:30 – 22:00 (Doors open 19:00, no admittance after class starts!)
  • TICKETS: £10 advance / £11 on the door / £8 concs / £35 full season ticket (includes Miskatonic student card).

SINGLE-O EXHIBIT

If we had to attend just one, it would be Kim Newman’s VIDEO DUNGEON given that we write about adventurous films and Newman knows a thing or two about the topic. We’re glad to see him tackling the “Golden Turkey/Mystery Science Theatre brand of snark” and feel sure he’ll have strong views on ‘so bad it’s good’ sarcasm (you know, that idiot who sits behind you and laughs ‘knowingly’ the entire film through…). We do, however, subscribe to counter theories of ‘so good it’s bad’, which may be the topic of another post entirely… (yes DUNKIRK, we’re thinking of you).


#shelterfromthestorm


Featured image: BOBBY YEAH (2011) by Robert Morgan will be discussed 09 NOV 2017.

*Text & details from Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies. Correct at posting.