Your October guide to Philly-area repertory film screenings

The Devils
Starting Thursday, October 15
Various theaters

In 1971, British filmmaker Ken Russell made a psychological horror film called The Devils, the historically based story of a 17th-century priest accused of witchcraft, as well as a horny nun. Needless to say, the film was extremely controversial at the time and was banned in numerous countries, which has made it difficult to see in its original form over the years. But this year, Warner Bros. announced a new 4K restoration of its director’s cut, and after well-received film festival showings, it’s getting a theatrical release (rated NC-17!) through the new Clockwork specialty label.

Stop Making Sense
Thursday, October 1 at 8pm
The Colonial Theatre
223 Bridge Street, Phoenixville

Jonathan Demme’s 1984 Stop Making Sense, about the Talking Heads, is one of the most acclaimed concert films ever made, and it got its own big revival and re-release a couple of years ago. Now, it’s showing on the big screen again in Phoenixville—with one of the Talking Heads, Jery Harrison, in attendance.

Halloween (1978)
Wednesday, October 7
Ritz Five, 214 Walnut Street

The Ritz Five was closed for a while in September, but it’s back in business and featuring a month-long John Carpenter retrospective leading up to All Hallows’ Eve, naturally kicking off with the Halloween movie that started it all nearly 50 years ago. On the other Wednesdays in October, the Ritz Five will show Village of the Damned, Prince of Darkness, and The Thing.

The Heiress (35mm)
Thursday, October 22
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
824 W. Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr

BMFI is hosting a 35mm screening of William Wyler’s 1949 film (starring Olivia de Havilland and Montgomery Clift) about a lovelorn heiress who falls for a poor man. Superstar podcaster Karina Longworth will introduce the film and also discuss the new season of her podcast, “You Must Remember This” (this season’s theme: “the Bisexuals”).

Other cinema showings:

Deadly Friend
Thursday, October 1
PhilaMOCA

Birth
Friday, October 2
Film Society Center

Synecdoche, New York (35mm)
Friday, October 2
Film Society Center

Young Frankenstein
Friday, October 2
The Colonial Theatre

Wildwood, NJ
Sunday, October 4
PhilaMOCA

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy
Sunday, October 4
The Ambler Theater

Talking to Strangers
Wednesday, October 7
Lightbox Film Center

Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Wednesday, October 7
The Colonial Theatre

Rachel Getting Married (35mm)
Saturday, October 10
Film Society Center

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Saturday, October 10
The Colonial Theatre

Welcome to the Dollhouse (35mm)
Saturday, October 10
Film Society Center

The Exorcist (35mm)
Sunday, October 11
Film Society Center

Saturday, October 31
The Colonial Theatre

My Brother’s Wedding
Wednesday, October 14
Lightbox Film Center

The Elephant Man
Wednesday, October 14
The Ambler Theater

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (35mm, with special guest Matt Zoller Seitz)
Thursday, October 15
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

The Love Witch
Friday, October 16
The Colonial Theatre

Exhumed Films 24-Hour Horror-thon
Saturday, October 17
The Colonial Theatre

Fitzcarraldo (Cinema Classics Seminar)
Saturday, October 17
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (with live organ accompaniment)
Sunday, October 18
The Colonial Theatre

Screamplay + Manos: The Hands of Fate (double feature)
Wednesday, October 21
Lightbox Film Center

Troll 2
Saturday, October 24
PhilaMOCA

Nosferatu (1922, with live organ accompaniment)
Sunday, October 25
The Colonial Theatre

Marie Antoinette (Cinema Classics Seminar)
Tuesday, October 27
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Possession
Wednesday, October 28
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Pieces
Friday, October 30
Ritz Five

Ghostbusters
Saturday, October 31
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Thanks for reading BSR! If you value arts journalism, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our next roundup, and share us with your friends. There’s never a paywall at BSR.