December Calendar

“GREMLINS” “BLUE SUNSHINE”

HOME ALONE Pizza Party (1990)

With all-you-can-eat cheese pizza included in your ticket price!

Remember when this movie came out? It doesn’t matter whether you were a kid, teen, adult, whatever; 1990 was the year of HOME ALONE. It inexplicably rose all the way to #3 on the all-time box office and became the seminal holiday movie for a generation. After watching this movie all kids ever dreamed of doing is eating unlimited amounts ice cream and pizza and booby-trapping idiot burglars when they try to infirate their house.

It’s comedy line-up of Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci is hard to beat, especially when Candy’s playing polka music or Stern’s whacking Pesci with a crowbar. And to make things even better you can watch this modern classic while eating as much cheese pizza as you possibly can!!! Kevin wouldn’t want it any other way.

Girlie Night: LOVE ACTUALLY Quote-along (2003)

Forget about THE MIRACLE ON 34th ST or Charlie Brown! LOVE ACTUALLY is basically the whole reason I celebrate Christmas. For, without this masterpiece of a romantic comedy, there would be no love in this cold, cruel world. Plus, we’d all be stuck singing “Jingle Bells” instead of everyone’s favorite carol, “Christmas Is All Around.”

I challenge you to find one other movie that combines Colin Firth, an adorable little boy with a dead mom, the British Prime Minister, the porn industry, Mr. Bean, a washed up rock star and a kid in an octopus costume into something that makes me cry tears of shimmering, golden joy into my cocktail. In addition to crying along, everyone is encouraged to quote along with their favorite lines, cheer when characters finally kiss and, of course, boo the crap out of that terrible secretary. Plus your ticket includes themed props to insure that you truly feel Christmas all around you.

Join us for this very special holiday edition of Girlie Night, where you’re allowed (and expected) to squeal, sigh and grab your neighbor’s arm when Colin Firth finally proposes to that Portuguese lady. Just in cases!

THE WORLD OF KANAKO (2015)

An operatically cinematic tale of lurid murder and revenge.

An uncompromising revenge thriller of operatic scope, The World of Kanakois a non-stop visual and emotional assault to the senses as it follows troubled ex-detective Akikazu (Kôji Yakusho, 13 Assassins, Babel) on the hunt for his missing teenage daughter, Kanako. What he discovers in his search is an unsettling and harrowing web of depravity––surrounding both Kanako and himself. As Akizaku stumbles along a shocking trail of drugs, sex and violence, he finds himself woefully unprepared for the revelations that affect all he holds dear.

Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima (Confessions, Japan’s submis-sion for the Academy’s® best foreign language film in 2011), THE WORLD OF KANAKO is an astonishing tour de force of mystery, beauty and boundary-pushing violence. A wildly ki-netic and startlingly venomous throwback to the best that Asian extreme cinema has to offer, THE WORLD OF KANAKO offers a trip right up to the edge of a man’s private hell––and over it.

“PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE”

DRAFTHOUSE FILMHOLIDAY FUN

2 MON

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Pizza Party

7DIE HARD

14Monday Night Thread-Up:TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA

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28

1 TUES

8Video Vortex:TURKISH STAR WARS

15ELF Movie Party

IFC at the Alamo:LIFE OF BRIAN

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29

2 WED

9Action Pack:HOME ALONE PIZZA PARTY

HOME ALONE

16THE FUNTASTIC WORLD OF SANTASPLOITATION

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30

3 THURS

10National Lampoon’s CHRISTMAS VACATION

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24

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4 FRI Prints of Darkness:PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE

11Drafthouse Films: WORLD OF KANAKO

BLUE SUNSHINE with Jeff Lieberman in person!

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25

5 SAT

Girlie Night:LOVE ACTUALLY QUOTE-ALONG

Mondo X Chiller:GREMLINS

12Drafthouse Films: WORLD OF KANAKO

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

The Big STAR WARS Quiz Thing

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26

1SUN

VERTIGO

6Victory Screening:THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE

CLUE QUOTE-ALONG

13Drafthouse Films: WORLD OF KANAKO

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Temple of Shlock: KILLERS ON WHEELS

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Tough Guy Cinema: DIE HARD (1988)‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except... the four assholes coming in the rear in standard two-by-two cover formation.

This is the ultimate Holiday film that brings us all together and makes us give thanks at the alter of Bruce Willis for making us believe in the heroic acts of one man, against the odds, with no shoes taking down a German terrorist organization.

ELF Movie Party (2003)Come out to Alamo Drafthouse this winter as we celebrate one of the best holiday films ever made! Will Ferrell’s take on a North Pole elf trying to figure out Manhattan just might be the funniest he’s ever been, and this is certainly the best holiday movie from the past ten years.

The ELF Movie Party will feature all sorts of fun props, a themed contest before the film, and a snowball fight in the the-ater! We’ll have jingle bells for everyone, bubbles for a few key scenes, and a special scratch n’ sniff card so you can Smell-Along with Buddy and his family!

“Buddy the elf, what’s your favorite color?” That’s totally how we’re answering our phone all through December.

The Funtastic World of Santasploitation (1964)Presented by the American Genre Film Archive!

Santa Claus has always been synonymous with happiness, peace, and fun. Now Santa Claus will also be synonymous with witches, pie fights, and a sassy talking Christmas tree that grants wishes to a malicious young man with an enormous derriere. THE FUNTASTIC WORLD OF SANTASPLOITATION replicates an authentic holiday tradition of days gone by. Name-ly, exposing Santa Claus as a harbinger of trans-dimensional nightmares. We’ve raided the American Genre Film Archive for the best-of-the-best in bizarro Christmas lunacy. Adults dressed in dollar-store animal costumes! Delusional Christmas clowns! SATAN! And to top it all off, a brand new 2K transfer of the most infamous full-length Santasploitation mind-melter of all time -- THE MAGIC CHRISTMAS TREE! We cannot be held responsible for any lasting trauma.

HOME ALONE (1990)It is Christmas time and the McCallister family is preparing for a vacation in Paris, France. But the youngest in the family named Kevin got into a scuffle with his older brother Buzz and was sent to his room which is on the third floor of his house. Then, the next morning, while the rest of the family was in a rush to make it to the airport on time, they completely forgot about Kevin who now has the house all to himself. Being home alone was fun for Kevin, having a pizza all to himself, jumping on his parents’ bed, and making a mess. Then, Kevin discovers about two burglars, Harry and Marv, about to rob his house on Christmas Eve. Kevin acts quickly by wiring his own house with makeshift booby traps to stop the burglars and to bring them to justice.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)Over time this film has gained notoriety as a seminal holiday classic and has been given the distinction of being a sentimental and sometimes corny gem about what’s important in life. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact Capra’s film is one of the psychologically darker and emotional rich Hollywood pro-ductions of the 1940’s. That’s not to say it isn’t uplifting, but the undertones, which were no doubt brought upon by each man’s experience in WWII, allow for a very mature and complex expe-rience. So if you’ve skipped this film because of its reputation as a light, happy Christmas movie do yourself a favor and see this undisputed classic. And if you’re already a fan you can watch it on the big screen at the Alamo.

National Lampoon’s CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989)Mele-ki-liki-maka is Hawaii’s way to say Merry Christmas to you. Bad luck seems to follow Clark Griswold and his family no matter where they go or what they do. The perpetual optimist, Clark (the young and great Chevy Chase) tries to make the holidays a special family event by chopping down the biggest tree in the forest, hanging a million Christmas lights, and deal-ing with his obnoxious visiting family members. He does this all while banking on his holiday bonus – but will it come?

Mondo X Chiller: GREMLINS (1984)We’re giving away a Mondo GREMLINS sweater to one lucky winner at this screening!Set in the town of Kingston Falls, NY (which would later double as Hill Valley, CA in 1985’s BACK TO THE FU-TURE), GREMLINS tells the story of a young boy named Billy who is gifted a nauseatingly cute creature for Christmas by his father. When this creature, called a mogwai, is exposed to water, it sprouts other mogwai. If the mogwai eat food after midnight (pacific time) they turn into vicious new creatures called gremlins. The only way to kill them is with Vitamin D. Murphy’s Law takes over and chaos ensues.

Temple of Schlock: KILLERS ON WHEELS (1976, 35mm)HELLS ANGELS ON WHEELS collides with STRAW DOGS and LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT in this brutal biker flick from Hong Kong’s legendary Shaw Brothers Studios. A series of increasingly hostile run-ins between a gang of rowdy Yamaha riders and two young couples staying at an island vacation home leads to deaths by electrocution, fire, boiling oil, broken glass, harpoon gun, and even outboard motor! In other words, this is more top-notch schlock from the director of THE BOXER’S OMEN! Plus, you get a snappy soundtrack of stolen music ranging from Piero Piccioni’s “Identikit 2” and Herbie Hancock’s “Heartbeat” to Lalo Schifrin cues swiped from KELLY’S HEROES. Don’t miss this very rare English-dubbed 35mm print, which came to us straight from the grindhouses of 42nd Street!

IFC at the Alamo: LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)Join us for this FREE screening presented by IFC! Reserve your seat with a $5 voucher good towards food & beverage.

We’re indulging in some of our favorite British humor to celebrate the return of TODD MARGARET (starring David Cross), which heads back to TV on Thursday, January 7th only on IFC. Get a sneak peak of the show with exclusive clips at this screening

Brian Cohen has a lot in common with Jesus Christ. They were both born in a stable in Judea, they’ve got their issues with the Romans, and they have excellent beards. Most of the similari-ties end there, but Brian does walk a twisted parallel path that occasionally intersects with the Son of God in Monty Python’s irreverent satire of the New Testament.

Victory Screening: THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)Alamo Victory members are invited to this FREE screening! To sign up for Victory, visit drafthouse.com.Frank Sinatra stars in this edgy, gorgeously photographed story of cold war mind games. As an Army officer, he discovers that his politically-minded war-hero protégé (Laurence Harvey) is under the hypnotic spell of the commies. Naturally he must make everyone understand, but in a world of suspicions and shifting alliances, it’s easier said than done. Hugely influential and ahead of its time, this feels as much like a European art film as an all-American expose of the dark side of our national spirit. Sinatra and Harvey are excellent, but Angela Lansbury steals the show as Harvey’s hard-driving, manipulative mother. An astonishing achievement, full of driving satire and a knowing, sardonic look at the politics of cynicism. Essential.

Monday Night Thread-Up: TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985, 35mm)Co-presented by Paracinema.Set in what Friedkin dubs a “violent, cynical wasteland under a burning sun”, the Los Angeles here is a tough, dirty place filled with money launderers, sociopaths and reckless drivers all operating to the erratic, glossy soundscape of Wang Chung. Featuring a pre-MANHUNTER William Petersen in the lead and a deliciously evil Willem Dafoe as the villain, TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is presented here on its 30th Anniversary, in 35mm and as violent and cynical as ever. And, yes, there’s a car chase.

Video Vortex: TURKISH STAR WARS (1982)Incorporating actual footage from STAR WARS with what appears to be snuff footage from Dimension X, TURKISH STAR WARS is -- by far -- the ultimate achievement in outlaw plagiarism from the land of Turkey. Mostly because this pop-art power-blast reimagines George Lucas’s seminal space opera as a statement on nuclear war with skeletons riding horses and boulders that function as grenades. Existing beyond mortality and rejecting rationality, TURKISH STAR WARS is so thor-oughly berserk that it alters our perceptions of what it means to be alive. In the words of Turkish Darth Vader: “It’s as if the earthlings are using magic!”

The Big Star Wars Quiz Thing (2015)From the Big Oscars Quiz Thing to Ladies’ Night, The Big Quiz Thing’s special events have amped up the familiar live trivia format to the status of a true game show spectacular. And on December 12th, to honor the release of the latest chapter in the saga, the BQT will thrill Alamo Drafthouse in Yonkers with the Big Star Wars Quiz Thing! From when the hope was new to when the force will awaken, prepare for a five-round multimedia team trivia spectacular, all about the movies, the mythology, and more. At stake will be tremendous geek glory, in addition to prizes from the Alamo. Hosted by masterfully nerdy quizmaster Rory Scholl.

BLUE SUNSHINE (1978)Director Jeff Lieberman joins us in person for this screening, presenting a new 4K DCP restoration from the original 35mm negative which was thought to be lost for the past 30 years!

Jerry Zipkin is a nice guy. He graduated top of his class. He’s respectful of women. He’s in love. It seems like Zipkin’s got it made, until the night one of his friends loses his hair to spon-taneous alopecia totalus, freaks out and throws three innocent women into a fireplace. Now Zipkin’s on the run from the law, wrongfully accused, trying to prove his innocence. It turns out others are going bald and going on murderous rampages. It’s up to Zipkin to find the missing link.

CLUE Quote-along (1985)This month we’re celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the hilarious film adaptation of the board game CLUE. We’ve subtitled all of your favorite lines, so you can quip along with Wadsworth (Tim Curry), scream along with Mrs. Peacock (Ei-leen Brennan), and feel the flames on the side of your face with Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn). We won’t be handing out ropes or lead pipes, but we will be giving you props (including CLUE cards, of course) to intensify your evening at Mr. Body’s manor. Quote-alongs are always interactive, but this show takes audi-ence participation to a whole new level. Whether you’ve seen this movie a thousand times or never before, it’s no mystery that you’ll have a ridiculously fun night.

Prints of Darkness: PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974, 35mm)Actor Gerrit Graham in person!

The ultimate synthesis of horror and rock ‘n’ roll, Brian De Pal-ma’s PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE is an explosion of mu-sic, madness and the director’s trademark camera style, complete with prowling cameras and split screens. William Finley stars as Winslow Leach, an aspiring songwriter who is betrayed by Mephistophelean record mogul Swan. His scarred face covered with a silver mask, Leach sets out to avenge himself upon Swan and reclaim his music. Co-starring SUSPIRIA’s Jessica Harper as Phoenix, the singer who catches both Leach and Swan’s eye, and Gerrit Graham in a hilarious performance as over-the-top glam-rock singer “Beef,” this film didn’t find success upon initial release, but his since won legions of fans. Whether you’re one of them, or a newbie who has never experienced it before, come see PHANTOM in all its colorful, big-screen glory!

HOLIDAY MOVIESTIS THE SEASON

MONTHLY SERIESDRAFTHOUSE REGULARS

MONTHLY SERIESDRAFTHOUSE REGULARS

SPECIAL EVENTSLIVE GUESTS AND OTHER SURPRISES

HOLIDAY MOVIESTIS THE SEASON

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Schedule is subject to change, and more events may be added. Always check our website for the most up to date information.

DECEMBERT I C K E T S , T I M E S , A N D D E TA I L S AT

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