A NIGHT AT THE DRIVE IN — Melbourne Horror Film Society

David Lorensene and Nik McGrath

Lunar Drive In, S Gippsland Hwy, Dandenong, 26 June 2020

We’ve missed the cinema over the past three months. Last film we saw at the cinema before the first lockdown was National Theatre Live: Frankenstein (Boyle, 2011) on 15 March, with MHFS regular, talented musician and artist, our friend Matt. Little did we know that it would be months before we saw a film again on the big screen. As Melbourne goes into its second lockdown and Lunar Drive In closes its doors again for the next 6 weeks, we reminisce about a night at the Drive In on 26 June.

At the start of June Drive Ins began to open around Melbourne. We were excited to hear this news, missing the big screen, we thought the Drive In ideally setup for COVID-19 end times. They remained open for a month, before closing again. When they reopen, Drive Ins will need our support.

*Dancing hot dog classic Drive In ad from 1957*

The first Drive In opened on Crescent Boulevard in Camden in New Jersey, USA on 6 June 1933. Two decades later the first Drive In opened in Australia, the Skyline in Burwood, on 18 February 1954 (closed June 1983). Lunar Drive In opened on 4 May 1956, closed in 1984, then reopened in 2002. Over 330 Drive Ins opened around Australia, Victoria alone had over 50. Drive Ins have struggled to attract audiences over the years, especially with the popularity of the VCR in the 1980s and 1990s. However, Drive Ins found creative ways to bring in the crowds including live music, BBQs, and introducing the double feature in the 1970s and 1980s, which created a market for B grade genre films. Horror fans can thank the Drive In for some of their favourite horror films from this era.

DAVID’S HISTORY WITH THE DRIVE IN

My first Drive In experience was seeing E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Spielberg, 1982) with my Dad and sister, I was 10 and don’t remember it much. I still have the movie book/magazine that I presume my Dad bought for us. The next adventure was a lot more memorable for me, and it was about 2 years later when I went to the Drive In with my Uncle and cousins to see The Terminator (Cameron, 1984) and Lone Wolf McQuade (Carver, 1983). I didn’t know anything about either film and didn’t know who Arnie was. As you can imagine, I loved The Terminator and can’t remember Lone Wolf McQuade (which I have never got around to rewatching). The local (for me) Drive In closed not long after I went with my Uncle. Sadly I only went twice. :(

NIK’S HISTORY WITH THE DRIVE IN

Mum worked at the Toorak Drive In around 1971 or 1972, she made donuts and worked in the kitchen for about a year. I used to love hearing Mum’s stories about making donuts, skillfully pouring the donut batter into the hot oil, and watching the donuts form. Sadly Toorak Drive In is long gone, it closed in 1984.

As a teenager I went to the Drive In a few times in Brisbane in the 1990s. It was an event - something nostalgic from the old days which attracted me. I enjoyed the double feature - sometimes enjoying the second film more than the first. I remember Reality Bites (Stiller, 1994), was one of those films shown after the main feature, I can’t even remember what was shown first.

HORROR MOVIE MARATHON

The moon was a bright slither in the sky and the clouds threatened rain as we excitedly arrived at Lunar Drive In on Friday 26 June. Scream (Craven, 1996), Nightmare on Elm Street (Craven, 1984), and Friday the 13th (Cunningham, 1980) brought out the horror fans, queued up on S Gippsland Hwy, steam coming off the cars as we waited to buy our movie marathon tickets.

Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker in the famous opening scene of Scream (Craven, 1996)

It is interesting to see Scream and Nightmare on Elm Street back to back as the main characters (Nancy and Sidney) of both films are quite similar. They are both Final Girls and their struggles are overcome by being smart and resourceful. Nightmare on Elm Street’s Nancy (played by Heather Langenkamp) - what a brave, smart, awesome young woman. Another strong brunette, much like Neve Campbell’s Sidney in Scream. Both studious, independent, not easily swayed by peers, brave, smart, and beautiful brunettes. Both miss their mothers, one brutally murdered, the other alcoholic and a little AWOL at times. Both also had to grow up fast. Nancy and Sidney are strong female characters, perhaps inspired by Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie in Halloween (Carpenter, 1978).

Sheriff Burke (Deputy Dewey’s boss) in Scream is played by Joseph Wipp who played Sgt Parker in A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Robert Englund as Fred "Freddy" Krueger in Nightmare on Elm Street (Craven, 1984)

The choice of screening these three films was quite unique, as both directors, Wes Craven and Sean S Cunnigham, worked together in the 70s on Last House on the Left (Craven, 1972). Wes was the writer-director, and Sean was the producer. Both went on to have long careers in the horror genre.

Not long after the opening credits of Friday the 13th (Cunningham, 1980), the rain that had threatened all night finally came, much to our delight as it rained on screen. Guess one of the things that makes Drive Ins so special is that feeling of being in the film, or in a space watching the film. It rained at the Drive In while it rained in the film, making us feel like one of the characters, but luckily without the bloody end.

HORROR MOVIES SET AT THE DRIVE IN

Need some inspiration for what to watch during lockdown, here are some films set at the Drive In. Imagine watching one of these films at the Drive In. I wonder if we can make a recommendation to Lunar Drive In for when they reopen?!

Ruby (Harrington, 1977) - Ruby Claire owns a drive in where a series of brutal murders take place.

Targets (Bogdanovich, 1968) - The last half of the film is set in a Drive In as they are showing Boris Karloff’s latest film, playing Byron Orlock, and possibly his last film. It is the directorial debut of Peter Bogdanovich.

Drive In Massacre (Segall, 1976) - Well the name pretty much says it all! Fun little low budget slasher film.

Dead End Drive In (Trenchchard-Smith, 1986) - Not really a horror film but an Australian dystopian action film. Story based on Crabs by Peter Carey.

LINKS

Drive-Ins Downunder 2020, Drive-Ins Downunder, viewed 10 July 2020, http://drive-insdownunder.com.au/

History.com editors 2009, First drive-in movie theater opens, viewed 20 July 2020, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-drive-in-movie-theater-opens

Lunar Drive-In 2020, Lunar Drive-In, viewed 6 July 2020, http://lunardrive-in.com.au/

National Theatre Live 2020, Frankenstein, viewed 6 July 2020, http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/ntlin4-frankenstein

Pond, J 2018, The 7 Best B-Movies; How the Drive-In Turned Horror Trash to Treasure, viewed 6 July 2020, https://nofspodcast.com/the-7-best-b-movies-how-the-drive-in-turned-horror-trash-to-treasure/

Simpson, M 2016, Remembering Australia’s Drive-ins, viewed 6 July 2020, https://maas.museum/inside-the-collection/2016/02/09/remembering-australias-drive-ins/

Smithsonian Magazine 2020, Dancing Hot Dog, viewed 6 July 2020, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/arts-culture/dancing-hot-dog/