For good reason, October activities tend to lean pretty hard into the Halloween of it all. Milwaukee Film wasn’t immune to that as it set up its programming for the month, but movie lovers will find much more than jump scares waiting for them at the Oriental Theatre in the days ahead.
The biggest share of screenings does belong to things that go bump in the night — specifically, vampires. A series pointedly titled “Bite Club” will bring 16 different classics to the big screen:
- Oct. 3 — Fright Night, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 3 — From Dusk Till Dawn, 10 p.m.
- Oct. 5 — Vampire’s Kiss, 9:45 p.m.
- Oct. 10 — A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, 9:15 p.m.
- Oct. 11 — The Hunger, 9:15 p.m.
- Oct. 12 — Monster Squad, 3:30 p.m.
- Oct. 12 — Blade, 8:30 p.m.
- Oct. 13 — Ganja and Hess, 3:30 p.m.
- Oct. 17 — Daughters of Darkness, 9 p.m.
- Oct. 24 — Only Lovers Left Alive, 6:30 p.m.
- Oct. 24 — Messiah of Evil, 9:15 p.m.
- Oct. 25 — Thirst, 9:30 p.m.
- Oct. 26 — Irma Vep, 1:30 p.m.
- Oct. 26 — SIlents Synced presents Nosferatu x Radiohead, 4 p.m.
- Oct. 26 — Aswang (30th anniversary digital restoration), 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Barry Poltermann and cast
- Oct. 27 — Dracula, 4 p.m.
If you need a break from the bloodthirsty, Milwaukee Film has also arranged two other series and a pair of screenings meant to spark community conversations. The latter includes My Love Affair With Marriage at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 in conjunction with Sojourner Family Peace Center and a free showing of It’s Basic at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 in partnership with the Zilber Family Foundation. Both films will be followed by panel discussions.
“The stories of families benefiting from unconditional cash programs are narratives that deserve to be elevated,” Zilber Family Foundation executive director Gina Stilp said. “As we’ve introduced The Bridge Project in Milwaukee, we’ve seen these narratives reflected in the journeys of our moms and their newborn children. Our support of It’s Basic is an effort to further amplify what unconditional cash programs mean and how they could have a generational impact on individuals who need support the most.”
One of the other series cued up turns October into Rocktober, highlighted by a screening of the 1925 film Phantom of the Opera at 7 p.m. Oct. 11, featuring live accompaniment from Dairyland Theatre Organ Society. The other movies in the series include:
- Oct. 1 — Stand by for Failure: A Documentary About Negativland, 6 p.m.
- Oct. 5 — 1-800-ON-HER-OWN, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 8 — Eno, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 31 — Demons with a live score performed by Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin, 7:30 p.m.
Finally, if you haven’t watched TV or looked at billboards or used your phone lately, there’s an election coming up. In an effort to — as the organization’s artistic director Cara Ogburn stated — “inspire audiences to get involved in democracy on a local and national scale,” Milwaukee Film kicked off a series of Democracy Docs this past Monday with a screening of Running With My Girls. Coming up later this month are:
- Oct. 7 — Without a Whisper / Heather Booth: Changing the World, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 21 — No One Asked You, 7 p.m.
- Oct. 28 — Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 4 — Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed, 7 p.m.
For ticketing and other information on all of the movies, use the links provided or visit the Milwaukee Film website.
