MHFS May Screening - MAY (2002)

Date: 30th May 2023
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

MAY is a hugely underseen horror from the early oughts, written and directed by Lucky McKee. Angela Bettis plays the lonely titular character of May, who yearns for connection. She has a habit of becoming tragically infatuated but no one lives up to her hopes. Not Jeremy Sisto as her crush, Adam; Anna Faris (in her greatest performance) also falls short as Polly, the flirtatious fellow vet nurse. Will May find her true love, or will she have to take matters into her own hands? You'll need to come along to LongPlay on Tuesday, May 30 to find out...

The screening gets started at 7.30pm in the cinema at the rear of LongPlay but you'll be able to find us in the middle room from 6pm having a bite to eat / catch up beforehand. Please bring cash for memberships, which are available on the night at $15 for three screenings, or $50 for twelve.

For new members, we run two nights, one @ LongPlay (last Tuesday of the month) and the second one is Blood Ritual @ True North (second Saturday of the month). For each venue there is a different membership card.

Hope to see you there!
MHFS crew

Blood Ritual - The Beyond

Date - 13th May
Time - Around 8pm
Location - True North 2A Munro Street, Coburg

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you opened one of the Gates of Hell? Does Louisiana seem like a nice place to visit or restore an old hotel? If you say yes to either of these, you should attend this month's Blood Ritual on Saturday 13th of May.

This month we are showing, 'The Beyond' which, like last month's film, was released in 1981 and was also on the Video Nasty list in the UK. 'The Beyond' was directed by Lucio Fulci, otherwise known as the godfather of gore. He was an incredible Italian filmmaker who tackled most genres but was mostly known for his outrageous gore epics.
A young woman inherits an old hotel in Louisiana where, following a series of supernatural "accidents", she learns that the building was built over one of the entrances to Hell.

This is the first in our 3-month Italian Horror Film series, at Blood Ritual.

The good folk at this fine establishment will be dishing up delicious grub and pouring drinks, some in skulls, from about 5pm so come hang out and get yourself a good seat before the screening gets started at a very loose 8:30

Memberships will be available for $10 cold hard cash on the night. If you have been before just remember to bring your card that has the 3 red skulls on it. And you not only get 3 screenings for that but also a drink on the house. Bargain!

Hope to see you there!
MHFS crew.

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MHFS March - The Orphanage (2007)

Date: 28th March 2023
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

We are continuing our Spanish Films cycle that started with Day of the Beast (Mel's December screening) this March.

Join us for a ghostly sad film from Spanish director J.A. Bayona on the last Tuesday of the month.

Laura, a former orphan, raises her adopted son Simón together with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. While at the orphanage Simón tells Laura that he has five invisible friends which she believes are a product of his active imagination. Laura decides to reopen the orphanage to cater to disabled children and throws a party. During the party, Simón tries to persuade Laura to go and take a look at his friend's cabin but she's too busy. Later on she sees a mysterious masked boy and realizes that Simón has also disappeared. Laura feels the presence of other people in the house and months later Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery.

The screening will officially start at 7.30pm in the cinema room at the rear of LongPlay, but you'll be able to find us in the middle room from around 6pm if you would like to join us for a pre-film drink and/or bite to eat. Everyone is welcome!
Memberships will be available on the night for $15 for 3 screenings or $50 for 12. Please bring cash.

Let's get spooky!
- MHFS Gang.

Blood Ritual - Phantasm

Date: 11th of March 2023
Time: Around 8pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

For this months Blood Ritual we will be presenting Don Coscarelli's cult classic Phantasm. Those who attending John Dies at the End last year (also directed by Coscarelli) have had a taste of what is in store, crazy cosmic horror and even crazier set pieces. What is the tall mortician doing to all those people who have mysteriously died in this small town? 

Be there Saturday night, March 11th for all the fun. Food and drinks from 5pm, we'll be there by 6 with the film to start when the sun goes down. We encourage you to get there early to get a seat as 2023 has gotten off to an insanely chockers start. Memberships will be available for $10 cash on the night - and that measly note gets you 3 screenings and a free drink!

Hope to see you there!
- MHFS gang

MHFS WiHM2023: VIOLATION

Date: 28th February 2023
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

Nik McGrath is guest host for our Women in Horror screening of VIOLATION (2020).

Content warning - VIOLATION includes sexual violence and family betrayal, which might be triggering for some viewers.

Produced, directed, and written by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, who have collaborated since 2017 on a number of shorts. This is their feature film debut. Madeleine stars in a tour de force performance that she has described as physically and emotionally draining. A complex and graphic portrayal of the most shocking violation.

Come join us for a drink and dinner in the second room at LongPlay from 6pm. The intro and screening will kick off at 7:30pm in the rear cinema.

Memberships will be available on the night, $15 for 3 screenings or $50 for 12. Please bring cash.

Hope to see you there,
MHFS gang.

Blood Ritual - Blood Diner (1987)

Date: Saturday the 11th of February 2023
Time: Around 8pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

This year we're bringing our annual Women in Horror Month celebrations to True North with a special and quite fitting Blood Ritual screening of the Jackie Kong directed Blood Diner (1987). This movie is absolutely bonkers in all the best ways, so if you like what we typically serve up, this cannibalistic ride will be right up your alley!

Be there next Saturday night, February 11th for all the fun. Food and drinks from 5pm, we'll be there by 6 with the film to start when the sun goes down. We encourage you to get there early to get a seat as 2023 has gotten off to an insanely chockers start. Memberships will be available for $10 cash on the night - and that measly note gets you 3 screenings and a free drink! 

Hope to see you there!
- MHFS gang

MHFS January – Slugs (1988)

Date: 31st January 2023
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

Welcome to (yikes) 2023.

We closed out 2022 with a screening of the Spanish film, Day of the Beast, which was a huge success (well done Mel) and a new festive favourite, so I (David) thought, why not start the year with another Spanish film? And, not just any random Spanish film but one that comes from the same director as MHFS' most screened and most enjoyed film… Pieces.

Join us on the last Tuesday of the month for some gooey goodness with the 1988 film from Juan Piquer Simón, Slugs. 

A small American town is overrun with slugs that are partial to human flesh. Mike Brady, a local health worker, has a solution to off these pests, if only someone would listen to him. When the body count rises and a “slug-spert”, I mean slug expert arrives from England, it looks as though Mike had the right idea all along..
Slugs was one of the many films released on VHS in the 80s that had the 'Banned in QLD' sticker proudly displayed on its cover, so we knew it was worthy of our hard earned money!

The screening will officially start at 7.30pm in the cinema room at the rear of LongPlay, but you'll be able to find us in the middle room from around 6pm if you would like to join us for a pre-film drink and / or bite to eat. Everyone is welcome!

Memberships will be available on the night at a cost of $15 for 3 screenings or $50 for 12. Please bring cash.

David, Mel, Sam & Adam.

Blood Ritual – Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

Date: Friday the 13th of January 2023
Time: Around 9pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

Welcome to 2023 Bloodites.

We have an extra special Blood Ritual lined up to launch the new year, and you'll need to join us on the second Friday in January, instead of the Saturday. Why you ask?

Well, each new year we're eager to check out how many Friday the 13ths the calendar has blessed us with, and low and behold, there's one right there on the first page! So we thought, let's celebrate with a cheeky Friday night screening at True North, Blood Ritual headquarters.

From the vast catalogue of Friday films - which is currently at 12 and counting, fan favourite Part VI: Jason Lives feels fitting to kick off the year as we all return to life after New Year celebrations.

Tommy Jarvis (from Part IV and V) returns to the graveyard to make sure Jason Voorhees is dead and accidentally brings him back to life. Now it's up to Tommy to stop Jason's mindless killing and put him back where he belongs.

The True North Osteria kitchen will be open from 5pm and we'll be hanging out there by 6, with the screening to start when the sun goes down (around 9pm). Memberships for Blood Ritual are an absolute steal at $10 for 3 screenings and that'll also get you a ticket to grab a beverage on the house - and let's be honest, after the holiday season, we need all the freebies we can get! Please bring cash for memberships.

David, Mel, Adam & Sam 

MHFS Christmas: The Day of the Beast (1995)

Date: 20th December 2022
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

A priest, a heavy metal afficionado and a TV occult personality walk into a bar...

We've all heard that joke, right?

Join us on Tuesday, December 20 for our final screening of the year - The Day of the Beast (El dia de la bestia) (1995).

The end of the world is nigh in this Spanish dark horror-comedy and theology professor, Angel, takes to the streets of Madrid, hell-bent on enacting as many sins as possible in order to sell his soul to the Anti-christ... at midnight on Christmas Day. He gets a couple of unlikely allies on board and the trio incompetently cobble together a Satanic ceremony.

This will be a fun watch! So get your Iron Maiden records out and devil horns at the ready for the MHFS version of Christmas mass.

Memberships will be available on the night at a cost of $15 for 3 screenings or $50 for 12. As usual, you'll be able to find us hanging out from around 6pm before the screening officially kicks off in the cinema room at the back, at 7.30pm.

David, Mel, Sam & Adam.

Blood Ritual- Gremlins

Date: 10th December 2022
Time: Around 8.30pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

The silly season is officially upon us and the year wouldn't be complete without one last Blood Ritual to round things out. We're taking another trip back to the 80s for a holiday classic, 1984s Gremlins!

When Billy (Zach Gallogan) is gifted a pet Mogwai for Christmas he instantly gets a new friend in the adorable Gizmo. After Billy breaks the rules for taking care of his new exotic pet, Gizmo sprouts some mischievous friends who quickly outstay their welcome and change into hideous monsters.

We'll be hanging out at True North from 6pm before the screening gets started when the sun goes down (8:30 to 9pm).

Memberships for Blood Ritual are an absolute steal at $10 for 3 screenings and you'll get a ticket to grab yourself a beverage on the house - yep, just paid for itself!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, we hope to see you all there!

David, Mel, Adam & Sam

MHFS November Screening - Serial Mom

Date: 29th November 2022
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

After 31 days of horror we thought we should show something a bit light hearted for this month's screening. Serial Mom is exactly as it sounds, a mother who is a serial killer in the "perfect" American small town. For anyone familiar with John Waters' filmography Serial Mom falls perfectly into his 90's catalog. For those unfamiliar with Waters' work, you're in for a treat.

The screening will officially start at 7.30pm in the cinema room at the rear of LongPlay, but you'll be able to find us in the middle room from around 6pm if you would like to join us for a pre-film drink and / or bite to eat. Everyone is welcome!

Memberships will only set you back $15 for a three screening pass, or $50 for twelve. We take cash on the night.
We would love to see you there!

David, Mel, Adam & Sam

Blood Ritual - John Dies at the End

Date: 12th November 2022
Time: Around 8pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

"Solving the following riddle will reveal the awful secret behind the universe, assuming you do not go utterly mad in the attempt."

So opens Don Coscarelli's 2012 film John Dies at the End. Based on the book of the same name John Dies at the End mixes cosmic horror and black comedy into one hell of a trip you won't likely forget anytime soon. Two paranormal investigators are trying to understand the effects of a seemingly alien drug that when taken opens to the users to see...well...the awful secret behind the universe.

We'll be hanging out there from 6pm before the screening gets started at a loose 8.30 (or there abouts).

Memberships for Blood Ritual are an absolute steal at $10 for 3 screenings and you'll get a ticket to grab yourself a beverage on the house - yep, just paid for itself!

MHFS Halloween Screening - Urban Legend

Date: 25th October 2022
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

Bloody Mary.. Bloody Mary.. Bloody Mary.. well, you know the rest! 

Make sure you check the back seat of your car, then get along to LongPlay in Fitzroy North on Tuesday, October 25th for our screening of Urban Legend (1998). Directed by Melbourne's very own Jamie Blanks, this is one super fun slasher from the post-Scream world that really holds up and is well worth another watch! An incredible cast of Alicia Witt, Jared Leto, Rebecca Gayheart, Michael Rosenbaum, Tara Reid, Joshua Jackson and also featuring big-time players of the genre, Robert Englund, Danielle Harris and Brad Dourif, this movie is gleefully meta and looks beautiful, all while not taking itself too seriously. Bring your pop rocks and your soda for our final screening before HalloweeeEeeEEeen. 

And, to get you even more in the mood, check out the link below for a special chat with director Jamie Blanks that the guys from Good Movie Monday teed up ahead of this screening. You can listen to the audio of it as part of their podcast episode, released on October 3 that also features our Melsy, chatting movies based on urban legends. 

MHFS Halloween Screening - Crawl

Date: 18th October 2022
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

Apex Predator all day baby!

Join us once again at LongPlay on October 18th for another of our Halloween screenings 'Crawl' (2019) directed by Alexandre Aja.

When Haley (Kaya Scodelario) goes to check on her father Dave (Barry Pepper) in the middle of a hurricane she finds more danger than just the looming storm above. As the waters rise around them Haley and Dave must fight to survive against the prehistoric monster below the house.

We can't wait to see you all there, just over halfway to Halloween, keep it spooky

The screening kicks off at 7.30pm in the cinema room at the rear of LongPlay. You'll find us in the middle room from around 6pm for a pre-film dinner and drink.

Memberships will only set you back $15 for a three screening pass, or $50 for twelve. We take cash on the night.

MHFS Halloween Screening - Uninvited

Date: 11th October 2022
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

Yay. The Spooky Season is here and we have such sights to show you. We have three screenings at LongPlay this month and first up is Uninvited from 1987.

A bunch of young people are invited to a "Caribbean cruise" on a gangster's yacht, to distract the attention of the authorities. Unfortunately, a mutant cat which escaped from a test laboratory also gets on board and kills most of the passengers.

The film stars veterans of the horror genre, George Kennedy (Death Ship, Creepshow 2) and Clu Gulager (Return of the Living Dead).

Join us for this bonkers film that once seen is never forgotten.

The screening will officially start at 7.30pm in the cinema room at the rear of LongPlay, but you'll be able to find us in the middle room from around 6pm if you would like to join us for a pre-film drink and / or bite to eat. Everyone is welcome!

Memberships will only set you back $15 for a three screening pass, or $50 for twelve. We take cash on the night.

Blood Ritual - Trick or Treat (1986)

Date: 8th October 2022
Time: Around 8pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

What are you afraid of? It's only rock & roll...

This October, for our Halloween screening at Blood Ritual, we will be showing the heavy metal horror cult classic - Trick or Treat. Filmed during the height of the Satanic Panic, Trick or Treat is the story of a bullied metalhead who plays a record backwards to raise the spirit of metal frontman Sammi Curr to take vengeance on the kids who made his life hell. Trick or Treat has a horns raising soundtrack, amazing cameos and so many spikes on black leather.

Blood Ritual is now the second Saturday of the month at True North in Coburg, we'll be hanging out there from 6pm before the screening gets started at a loose 8.30 (or there abouts).

Memberships for Blood Ritual are an absolute steal at $10 for 3 screenings and you'll get a ticket to grab yourself a beverage on the house - yep, just paid for itself!

MHFS Watch Party - Freaky

Once again the spooky season is upon us, and we’ve decided to begin this years screening festivities with a good old fashioned Watch Party. 'Freaky' is a 2020 horror comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton, currently streaming on Netflix.

When a serial killer attacks his most recent victim, Millie, with an ancient dagger, they awaken the next day to find they’ve switched bodies a là 'Freaky Friday'. As both Millie and the killer struggle to come to terms with their new bodies the very threat of being stuck forever means Millie has to confront her fears and fight back against what the world is throwing at her.

Settle into that comfy spot on your couch for all the entertainment this coming Tuesday night, October 4th. We’ll be hitting play at 8pm AEDT, with customary 30 minute countdown from 7:30pm. We have a dedicated channel for chatting/giffing on our Discord server - send us a DM or email (melbournehorror@gmail.com) for a link to join.
Can’t wait to “see” you all there for this super fun ride!

Blood Ritual - The Blob (1988)

Date: 24th September 2022
Time: Around 8pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

Buckle up ghouls, it’s about to get sticky!

Come down and join us as we continue our 80’s cult classic shenanigans with 1988s The Blob. A remake of epic proportions, directed by Chuck Russel a year after his debut - A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob gives a “modern” spin on 1958s film of the same name. As a small town is slowly overrun by a gelatinous creature from outer space, highschoolers Brian (Kevin Dillon) and Meg (Shawnee Smith) become tangled in a web of chaos between the unwelcome visitor and a new military presence. Chock full of gruesome practical effects The Blob is a cult classic well deserving of a Blood Ritual viewing experience.

We'll be hanging out there from 6pm before the screening gets started at a loose 8.30 (or there abouts).

Memberships for Blood Ritual are an absolute steal at $10 for 3 screenings and you'll get a ticket to grab yourself a beverage on the house - yep, just paid for itself!

We hope to see you all there!

MHFS September screening: PSYCHO II

Date: 27th September 2022
Time: Screening starts at 7.30pm
Location: LongPlay 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North

It's 22 years later and Norman Bates is coming home...

On the back of making ROADGAMES, Richard Franklin was asked to direct a sequel to one of the biggest films by his hero and mentor, Alfred Hitchcock. Teaming up with writer Tom Holland and cinematographer Dean Cundey, this is such a gem of a psychological thriller! Anthony Perkins returns as Norman and upon his return to the Bates Motel, he makes a new friend, Mary (played by Meg Tilly). All is going well until Norman starts getting "confused" again.

This is the second screening in our duo of films directed by Richard Franklin and will be taking place on Tuesday, September 27. The screening will officially start at 7.30pm in the cinema room at the rear of LongPlay, but you'll be able to find us in the middle room from around 6pm if you would like to join us for a pre-film drink and / or bite to eat. Everyone is welcome!

Memberships will only set you back $15 for a three screening pass, or $50 for twelve. We take cash on the night.

We would love to see you there!

Blood Ritual - Demons

Date: 27th August 2022
Time: Around 8pm
Location: True North 2A Munro St, Coburg

Are you having trouble with inner demons? If so, we at Melbourne Horror Film Society can help.

Join us on Saturday, August 27, for it is time to exorcise those demons (and exercise those drinking arms), whilst watching an Italian gem called, you guessed it (plus it was in the event title), 'Demons'.

It's the mid 80s and Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava (Mario's son) team up to write this slice of craziness and gore. Directed by Lamberto Bava, and with a cheeky appearance by fellow horror director Michele Soavi, what you're about to see on screen is beyond belief. If revisiting this film doesn't become a personal ritual, we'll all be very surprised.

Blood Ritual is held at True North in Coburg, and you'll find us there from 6pm, drinking a beverage or two (served in skulls ) and having a tasty bite to eat from the biggest bloody legends you'll ever meet.
Memberships for Blood Ritual are a steal at $10 for 3 screenings and you'll also get a ticket to grab a drink on the house - what more could you want?!

We hope to see you all there!