Films

Preliminary Film List

Dr. Who and the Daleks
This theatrical feature is sort of separate from the Dr. Who canon, but then again it's also an important part of it. It's one of two films made with Peter Cushing as the Doctor, unrelated to the BBC productions. We also encounter some of the rest of the Who family including his granddaughters Susan and Barbara as well as Barbara's boyfriend Ian who accidentally triggers the tardis taking them to the planet of the Thals, where we first meet the Daleks. This is in some ways a retelling of the BBC's second serial in an altered fashion and with brightly-colored Daleks. An absolute must for anyone who thinks they have seen all of Dr. Who, Radio Times says ''Despite its many faults, it's still a fun ride for both the uninitiated and die-hard fans alike.''
1 hr. 22 min., In 16mm Technicolor

The 21st Century
A discussion of the space program of the 21st century and Man's future in space, with Walter Cronkite, Arthur C. Clarke, and a number of visionaries.
22 min, in 16mm

Extra Bad Movie: Serpent Island
A woman with an old family letter about a treasure hires two sailors who are sworn enemies to take her to Haiti together. It's a good thing that one of the sailors had been there during the war and knew where the island with the golden voodoo idol was. Steps away from touching it, she is attacked by a giant rubber snake in a series of jump cuts whose climax teaches us the two morals of the film: 1. Don't mess with voodoo, and 2. Hire a professional editor. "Stupid movies can destroy your brain cells," claims movie critic Jack Kroll and this is no exception although it is redeemed in part by some fine travel footage of sailing ships and a voodoo ceremony. MST3K commentary is encouraged and will be necessary. Sponsored by the Institute For the Promotion of Bad Cinema and the Instituto Cinemalo d'Italia.
1 hr., In 16mm, Color by Ektachrome Commercial Process

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
In the city of Santa Mara, California, people are being replaced with things that seem to be people but really aren't, and the town doctor discovers what is going on. Steven King says this classic film has "A crazily convincing documentary feel"' and many people draw parallels between fears of Russian invaders in the fifties and the fears of alien invasion in this film. We can't speak to that but we think it is a scary movie for the whole family and there are precious few of those made. Byron Connell says it is "absolutely chilling" and it remains just as so today as it did when it first hit theatres in 1956.
1 hr. 20 min, in 16mm

Skin I Live In
A plastic surgeon creates a perfect, eternal skin replacement and tests it on a patient, but as time goes by the patient begins to look more and more like his deceased wife and it becomes clear the patient is doing this against her will. Director Pedro Almodovar describes it as ``A horror story without screams or frights'' but you'll find that it is frightening with a slow onset that may not occur until after the film is over and you start to think about the consequences of medical experimentation. A cut above the classic mad scientist film, updated for the modern era.
2 hrs. in 35mm

The Outer Limits, "Premonition"
An Air Force test pilot is flying a high altitude test flight. After executing the probatory maneuver, he is suddenly thrust into a world in which time moves very differently than normal. But why is his wife there? What of the mysterious shadowy figures? What about the accident about to occur to his child? And what is a probatory maneuver anyway? This film leaves more questions than it answers but that's how the Outer Limits is.
In 16mm, 48 min. B&W syndication print

The Veldt
In this adaptation from the classic Ray Bradbury story, two parents worry about their children's increasing obsession with a scene of African lions in the virtual reality nursery and the slow disruption of their lives.
24 min, in 16mm

The Lottery
This adaptation of Shirley Jackson's famous New Yorker story of a traditional ritual in a small New England town features the film debut of Ed Begley Jr. and if you don't think it's science fiction you're not thinking about it quite right.
24 min, in 16mm (Kodachrome Print)

Rich Macchi Memorial Films

Repo Man
Rich Macchi was one of the people who made Arisia happen, and one of the people who ran the film program here many years ago. He died unexpectedly this past May. One of his favorite films was Repo Man, a classic film about a punk rocker on his first job at a reposession firm, and his encounter with radioactive aliens in the trunk of a Chevy Malibu. We're running it in his memory and viewers are welcome to briefly share their memories of Rich before the film.
1 hr. 32 minutes

They Live!
Rich Macchi was one of the people who made Arisia happen, and one of the people who ran the film program here many years ago. He died unexpectedly this past May. One of his favorite films was They Live!, in which a down and out loser discovers a pair of sunglasses which allows him to see the world as it really is. Unfortunately the way it really is involves aliens among us who are oppressing the human race. It's funny, but then it's also horrifying at the same time. We're running it in his memory and viewers are welcome to briefly share their memories of Rich before the film. 1 hr. 33 minutes