The Libraries gets “Scary!” for Halloween

The Libraries offers suspense, almost-jump-scares, and an Oscar-winning socioeconomic vampire story for your Halloween plans!

First, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, we present the immersive film experience “Scary! in Videorama” from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Hill Library’s Cyma Rubin Visualization Gallery. Collaging together hundreds of clips from classic horror and thriller films, “Scary!” surrounds you with gasps and screams in 360-degrees. The videorama plays several video and audio clips simultaneously on a loop to create a tantalizing and spooky experience.

“We use lots of clips from horror movies, and the clips all focus on periods of tension that usually culminate in some horrifying release—but in this case, there's no release, just the tension,” says Trevor Thornton, Applications Developer at the Libraries and creator of the videorama. “Think Christian Marclay meets Wes Craven.”

“Not only is the viewer completely surrounded by these scenes of terror, but one also has the delightfully scary sense of being trapped in this perfectly round room with no windows and (apparently) no doors,” says Thornton, devilishly.

Then, on Monday, Oct. 30 from 6:30-8:45 p.m., the Global Film Series screens the film Parasite in the Witherspoon Student Center (2810 Cates Ave.). The South Korean feature won the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival as well as four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Bong Joon Ho.

The film presents a story of greed and class discrimination within the symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. As the film’s suspense and feeling of dread builds, so does the sense of mutual vampirism across class boundaries between the two families.

The screening is free and open to the public; pre-registration is required through Eventbrite. This film is rated R for language, some violence, and sexual content. A trailer can be viewed here.