With Halloween just around the corner, a new horror film event will feature a frightening subject: women.
But the Femme Fatale Film Series hosted by the Carolina Theatre isn't devoted to your average Jane. The new addition to the Carolina's fall lineup will highlight the films of four of the horror genre's most notable leading ladies.
The Carolina Theatre is already host to a number of spooky fall film events, including Retrofantasma, which features screenings of classic horror films, and the Nevermore Horror, Gothic and Fantasy Film Fest. Yet Senior Director Jim Carl and Cinema Operations Manager Phil Seib felt that something was missing from the selection of cinematic goodies.
"One thing we noticed consistently over and over in all the other festivals is that few festivals, if any, really focused on artists and celebrities in attendance," Carl said. "Of course, if you take a look at the Star Trek convention or sci-fi conventions, they bring in celebrities but that's not the same thing... as the celebrities introducing films and having them host their own movie."
After locking themselves in a room and hitting each other over the head with ideas (Seib's self-described process), the two conceived the idea of a festival that would spotlight female guest hosts in attendance. Each woman would then be given the option to choose the film she would host. However, the original conception of the series was not horror-based.
But when Dee Wallace (Cujo, E.T.) signed up for the gig, followed by Nancy Allen (Carrie, Dressed To Kill) and Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog, Creepshow), the series sculpted itself into a genre-based celebration of the women of horror. With the concept of the femme fatale in mind, Carl and Seib soon recruited Jessica Harper to host the cult favorite Suspira, and she gladly accepted.
"I have a real soft spot for this [film]," Harper said. "I spent four months in Italy, and I learned a lot and got attached to some really wonderful people. So the movie has an emotional resonance for me, and also I just kind of like it!"
The festival title was conjured to embody the strength and screen presence of these actresses, Seib said. But it also added a little flare and intrigue to the festival, something several of the actresses acknowledged.
"I don't know how 'fatale' I am, but it's fun to be called that for a night, even if it is Friday the 13th," Harper said, whose film Suspira will be screened on the ominous date.
Although the series began in September, it will continue throughout October with Harper and Barbeau as guest hosts.
Carl and Seib are eager for more people to take advantage of this local opportunity, which includes film screenings hosted by the respective actresses, followed by a question-and-answer and meet-and-greet in the theater lobby.
"It's an intimate experience, and all the actresses have been kind enough to pour out their hearts," Seib said. "Dee Wallace broke down crying twice on our stage when she was here."
The interaction with the actresses also provides a glimpse behind the film screen, Seib said.
"This is a really good chance to see how they feel about the movie that we showed, who they worked with, and it gives us a nice intimate insider scoop on what was going on in the film industry back at that time," he explained.
Seib said that while there has been a decent turnout, numbers have been lower than anticipated-something expected for a first-year film festival. However, he said he is hopeful the series will become an annual tradition with the help of audience support and urges cinephiles to come out from hiding and take advantage of a truly unique experience.
"They get to meet a whole bunch of femme fatales!" Harper said. "What's not to like?"
Jessica Harper will host Suspira Friday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. Adrienne Barbeau will host The Fog Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. Both showings are at The Carolina Theatre in downtown Durham. Tickets are $15.
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