Denver, see Swamp Thing tonight (and help beat cancer) as part of our Science Friction series
Aux Features FilmHowdy! Senior writer Jason Heller here. Just wanted to let you know that Science Friction, The A.V. Club’s monthly science fiction film series, continues tonight at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Denver with Swamp Thing. Written and directed by the legendary Wes Craven, the 1982 science fiction-horror film brought the DC Comics horror hero to the big screen with equal parts pulpy gusto and romantic sensitivity, a few years before the character would become radically revamped in the comics by Alan Moore. Sure, Swampy’s costume is a little rubbery, and goofiness abounds, but in hindsight, it’s a beautiful mixture of genre and heart, a modern mashup of Frankenstein and Beauty And The Beast.
As with Fantastique (Science Friction’s sister series that focuses on fantasy films), Science Friction is curated and hosted by yours truly. I’ll be there tonight in person to introduce Swamp Thing and pick the winners of this month’s giveaways: Twenty copies of Nightmares Unhinged, the new horror anthology by Hex Publishers (which features a short story by me along with many other Colorado writers, including the award-winning science fiction author Edward Bryant, who will be my guest host for the night). In addition, I’ll be giving away a signed copy of my latest book, Slappy’s Revenge, an official Goosebumps movie tie-in (via Scholastic Books). Also, this screening marks the one-year anniversary of Science Friction! Thanks to everyone who’s helped make the series a success so far.
For this special event, the full proceeds of the screening will be donated to the American Cancer Society in honor of Craven, who died on August 30 of brain cancer. Like all Science Friction and Fantastique screenings, this event is sponsored by The A.V. Club. Tickets for Swamp Thing are on sale now.
Science Friction schedule
November 18: Naked Lunch
December 16: Attack The Block
Fantastique schedule
November 5: The Lord Of The Rings (1978)
December 3: Pan’s Labyrinth