Celebrate the 35th & 40th anniversaries for two of the most underrated teen films of the late-1980s. Preceded by a fistful of 35mm trailers along with a ton of trivia and special giveaways.
“PUMP UP THE VOLUME + TRiCK OR TREAT Double Bill @ The Balboa Theater”
February 21, 2025
Pump Up the Volume
7:00 pm
Directed by Allan Moyle
Written by Allan Moyle
Cinematography by Walt Lloyd
Containing Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis
Christian Slater gives the performance of his career as a shy high schooler who’s forced to move to a suburb in Phoenix, Arizona during his senior year. Once he starts his own pirate radio show (under the pseudonym of Hard Harry), his subversive late night ranting and raving begins to attract more than just his very own sweetheart (Samantha Mathis).
Perfectly capturing the “grunge era” with a neo-sincere script as well as a treasured soundtrack including Sonic Youth, The Pixies, Bad Brains, Soundgarden and Leonard Cohen, the film is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago. Inspiring films such as Donnie Darko (2001) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), writer/director Allan Moyle has had a track record of capturing disaffected youth beginning with the punk classic Times Square (1981) and then again in Empire Records (1995). Find your flannel shirt, bust out some Ankh jewelry and be prepared to “talk hard”.
Rated R for moderate nudity, profanity and subversive subject matter. Running Time: 105min. DCP courtesy of Warner Brothers/Park Circus
Trick or Treat
9:20 pm
Directed by Charles Martin Smith
Written by Joel Soisson
Cinematography by Robert Elswit
Containing Marc Price, Tony Fields, Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne
Finally re-released after nearly 40 years, this overlooked 1980s teen flick (not to be confused with the 2007 horror anthology Trick r’ Treat) is a profoundly affecting 1980s horror film that uniquely confronts depression in America’s suburbia by way of “sleaze metal”.
Marc Price (of the TV show Family Ties fame) is spot-on as Eddie Weinbauer, a bullied teen who finds solace in his cassettes, vinyl LPs and Heavy Metal heroes. As Eddie spirals into the disturbing messages played backwards on his new Metal album, creature-feature artist Chuck Yagher (who designed the SFX for A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, 3, 4 and the first three Child’s Play films) concocts a slew of jaw-dropping monsters.
Released a full year before The Lost Boys (1987) and The Gate (1987), this quintessential MOViES FOR MANiACS experience also showcases an incredible original metal soundtrack by “Fastway”, headed by former Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke. Preceded by a gaggle of 1980s trailers along with a ton of trivia and special giveaways. Rated R for moderate sex, nudity, violence profanity and subversive subject matter. Running Time: 98min. Rare 35mm print with rights courtesy of Rialto.