“THEY LiVE (1988) + THE THiNG (1982) – New 4K Restoration Double Feature” October 14, 2023
Celebrate the Bay Area Premiere of the 4K restoration of John Carpenter’s THEY LiVE(1988) along with the crisp, new 4K restoration of John Carpenter’s THE THiNG (1982) on SAT. OCT. 14 at The Castro Theatre beginning at 7:00pm.
Both films showcase the underrated actor Keith David, along with pro-wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and renowned legend Kurt Russell, all of which achieve mythical status as they battle supernatural brain-washing and body snatching beings. (Did I mention that there’s an alley brawl that is officaially the longest fist-fight in film history!?!)
Throw in Rob Bottin’s jaw-dropping special effects that are still revolutionary today as they were 40+ years ago and the results are two of the most subversive science fiction movies of the 1980s.
Attendees will receive a limited edition Maniacal Mask of Keith David along with a Castro Theatre organ performance. Come protected by wearing your Ray-Bans! Both films Rated R. 4K Restoration DCPs courtesy of Universal.
They Live 7:00 pm
Released in 1988, Rated R, 93 minutes long
Directed by John Carpenter Written by John Carpenter, Ray Nelson Cinematography by Dean Cundey Containing Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George 'Buck' Flower
Nada (Roddy Piper), a wanderer without meaning in his life, discovers a pair of sunglasses capable of showing the world the way it truly is. As he walks the streets of Los Angeles, Nada notices that both the media and the government are comprised of subliminal messages meant to keep the population subdued, and that most of the social elite are skull-faced aliens bent on world domination. With this shocking discovery, Nada fights to free humanity from the mind-controlling aliens.
The Thing 9:00 pm
Released in 1982, Rated R, 109 minutes long
Directed by John Carpenter Written by Bill Lancaster, Joseph W. Campbell Cinematography by Dean Cundey Containing Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter
In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists are disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) and the camp doctor (Richard Dysart) lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one.
