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Photo illustration by Ryan Waggoner
Film professor Matt Jacobson says the intrigue of cult films like Plan 9 from Outer Space isn't just in the film itself, but in making a tradition of watching the film with friends.
hosts his afternoon cult film theater to the locals of the Jackpot Music Hall, 943 Massachusetts St. Sometimes he will take over the Jackpot for 12-hour marathons for theme nights, like his Halloween Horrorfest last October. Gillaspie's love of cult films is rooted in the low-budget nature of many cult classics, as he grew up on a steady diet of creature features and B-movies.
It's a group thing
"When I'm watching a movie that has someone approaching an untouched subject matter with a very limited budget, it moves me," Gillaspie says. "To me, that's important."
Of course, many of the best times for viewing cult films are when you organize the event yourself. But remember to watch with friends, because it's the group nature of cult films that give them their appeal, KU film professor Matt Jacobson says. It isn't necessarily the film that defines a cult film, but that it has a devoted following that will build a major part of the life around this movie. The whole idea behind a cult film is that it inspires people beyond its release time.
Picking out just the right film is always important as cult films span a variety of genres. From the campy, so-awful-it's good sci-fi films of Ed Wood such as Plan 9 from Outer Space to the trashy, over-the-top comedies of John Waters such as Pink Flamingos to the surreal, eerie big budget films of David Lynch such as Eraserhead, there's no one correct answer to the question of which cult film is best. Just remember that watching a cult
film is akin to knowing an inside joke. It's only funny if you are around others who are in on it, as well.
LIBERTY HALL
BEAUMONT CLUB 4050 Pennsylvania - Kansas City, MO
FRI 12/12
FRI 12/12 SPLIT LIP RAYFIELD Ha Ha Tonka / John Henry & The Engine
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December 4,2008