By: Mike Kelly
“It’s showtime!” Michael Keaton exclaims before unleashing a comedy of horrors that drives one of the most memorable movies of the scary movie genre. Keaton’s iconic role as the titular character in Tim Burton’s 1988 classic Beetlejuice is the kind of movie that is played by cable movie stations on repeat throughout the Halloween season.
Around Peoria, though, more than just the cable stations are attempting to get in on the fear factor. Burton’s Beetlejuice is one of a handful of classic scary movies that are being replayed on the big screen at Goodrich Quality Theaters’ Willow Knolls 14 location just off W. Willow Knolls Drive.
These screenings are part of Goodrich Quality Theaters’ “Flashback Cinema” series, which offers different classic film showings twice each week. This year, October showings include Gremlins, screening Oct. 16, Beetlejuice, screening on Oct. 20 and Oct. 23, and the horror hit A Nightmare on Elm Street, screening on Oct. 27 and Oct. 30.
According to one Peoria movie theater insider many of the top scary movies actually come out around spring, rather than the fall. As a result, the best place to get movie theater frights is Willow Knolls 14’s Flashback Cinema offerings, and the extra seasonal tension might just add to the overall experience.
“Going to a flashback Halloween movie feels more fun than just going to just a typical flashback movie,” said Willow Knolls patron Ben Pollard.
However, there are also plenty of movie options still available for fans and moviegoers that are looking to experience a new story during this autumn season. For moviegoers with children or a taste for less violence, theaters are also offering the newly released version of The Addams Family, an animated take on the classic television comedy.
There is also the recently released Joker, a new take on a classic comic book villain. Joker is playing at all three major movie theaters in Peoria and offers plenty of tense moments, albeit in a less traditionally “frightening” sense.
Both The Addams Family and Joker are available at Landmark Cinemas on Dries Lane, which offers a free “Bring Your Own Bucket” popcorn promotion every Tuesday. On any other day, the theater also specializes in offering its $2 popcorn and beverage combo and special savings on tickets for students and senior citizens.
“Landmark is the best movie deal in town,” said Joker viewer Peter Hanley. “They have the cheapest priced food and an affordable ticket, especially for students. Plus I believe that the free popcorn is a great motivator. Whenever I have a movie I’m hoping to see in theaters, I try to plan and see it on a Tuesday.”
Beyond newer releases, there is also still time to catch up on releases from earlier in the year that still fit the seasonal spirit of October and offer more scary moments. One such release is Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which is a film adaptation of a horror book series from the 1980s. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark still has screenings scheduled at Willow Knolls 14, but not at AMC Classic Grand Prairie 18 or Landmark Cinemas.
Another older release that is still available is IT: Chapter 2, the sequel to 2017’s IT and an adaptation of the classic Stephen King horror novel. IT: Chapter 2 is playing at both Willow Knolls 14 and AMC Classic Grand Prairie 18, but it is no longer available at Landmark Cinemas. Like the first movie and the original novel, IT: Chapter 2 follows a group of people as they try to kill an evil spirit that takes the form of a clown and terrorizes a small town.
“To me, IT [Chapter 2] resembles more of a Halloween movie [than something like Joker,]” said Pollard. “A lot of the Halloween movies that I’ve seen have one villain who terrorizes a specific person or group of people.”
Whether your taste is frights or just a good movie in general, there is no doubt that the theaters around Peoria have you covered this October. With a wide range of theater options, pricing, deal opportunities, and classic seasonal re-releases, any moviegoer can find something to enjoy.
