Just in case its screenings of art-house films, funky nightlife events, and voluminous beer selection weren't enough to cause you to roll into FilmBar after dark, the folks behind the downtown Phoenix indie theatre and culture den have come up with a few more reasons to visit.
FilmBar's proprietors announced yesterday that they're beefing up their late night events and offerings starting in March with a lineup of eight special monthly events and unique screenings that's a mix of cult favorites with both interesting and odd cinematic experiences.
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Cult classics and weirdo fare being shown in the later hours of the evening has been a hallmark of indie and art-house theatres for decades, dating back to the heyday of midnight unfurlings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the late 1970s and earlier.
But while chanting and mimicking the exploits of Dr. Frank-N-Further and company won't be included amongst FilmBar's new late night screenings (at least not yet...we're sure they'll get around to it eventually), there's plenty of other so-bad-it's-good celluloid to check out.
For instance, if you're in the mood to sing along with something schlocky, spazzy electro-pop act Treasure Mammal will offer the chance to do so when it shows R. Kelly's infamous Trapped in the Closet.
Episodes of the ongoing 33-part "hip-hopera," which debuted back in 2005, involved the R&B singer portraying a philandering cop who is caught up in some rather complex and kooky drama after cheating with a preacher's wife.
The sing-along series will actually get a head start on the other late night FilmBar offerings, as it launches this Saturday and features a special pre-show dance party.
You'll have to wait a little longer to watch (and mock) an equally awful and vitriolic-inducing video of The Room, the 2003 flick that's been dubbed the "Citizen Kane of bad movies.
According to local cult movie guru Andrea Beesley, who's overseeing the late night events, the film will start monthly showings in March and - much like they have whenever The Room hits the big screen - the audience is encouraged to mock it mercilessly and toss plastic spoons (a riff on a bizarre shot of a framed photo of the utensil that takes place during the movie).
Beesley, better known as the Midnite Movie Mamacita, will also be bringing two of her signature cinematic events to FilmBar as a part of the late night programming, including The Dr. Diabolic Show (where classic horror and sci-fi gems are dug up for public viewing in-between interactive games and trivia) and Ms. Behaving (an ongoing series devoted to "bad girl" exploitation flicks and the works of such landmark directors as Roger Corman and Russ Meyers).
Fellow cult film guru Damon Foster, a renowned local expert on Asian cinema (who has also published the magazine Oriental Cinema for more than three decades) will offer up his Tokusatsu Theater repertory series, which promises plenty of chop-socky and gigantic monsters wreaking havoc.
R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet Sing-Along featuring Treasure Mammal takes place at 10 p.m. on Saturday at FilmBar. Tickets are $10.
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