The Rio Theatre‘s Friday Late Night Movie series continues on  with a screening of one of our favourite and most frequently requested titles – the bizarro 70’s Japanese cult-classic oddity that is HOUSE (“Hausu”).

Some movies can’t be explained; they need to be experienced. HOUSE is one of those movies. (Trust.)

How to describe Nobuhiko Obayashi’s indescribable 1977 movie HOUSE? As a psychedelic ghost tale? A stream-of-consciousness bedtime story? An episode of ‘Scooby-Doo’ as directed by Mario Bava? Any of the above will do for this hallucinatory head trip about a schoolgirl who travels with six classmates to her ailing aunt’s creaky country home who comes face-to-face with evil spirits, a demonic house cat, a bloodthirsty piano, and other ghoulish visions, all realized by Obayashi via mattes, animation, and collage effects. Equally absurd and nightmarish, HOUSE might have been beamed to Earth from some other planet.

“The best thing in this wild assemblage of collage and cartoon and fairy tale is that the girls, when they’re eaten, scream with glee as their cut-out body parts spin around the frame. It’s cannibalism as the ultimate kiddie ride.” (Vulture)

Friday, October 18
Doors 10:15 pm | Movie 11 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Advance tickets HERE

LATE NIGHT DATE NIGHT! Bring a friend, date, or pal and get two-for-one entry to this film!

HOUSE “Hausu” (Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977 / 88 mins / NR / Japanese with English subtitles) In an effort to avoid spending time with her father and his creepy new lover, young Gorgeous (Kimiko Ikegami) resolves to visit her aunt’s remote mansion. With six of her closest friends in tow, including the musically inclined Melody (Eriko Tanaka) and the geeky Prof (Ai Matsubara), Gorgeous arrives at the estate, where supernatural events occur almost immediately. A severed head takes flight, household appliances come to life and a portrait of a cat seems to contain an evil spirit.

*Must be 18+ for entry. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film only. Please redeem at the door.
*We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca. If a screening or live event is not sold out, the remaining tickets will be available for in-person purchase at the Rio Theatre’s Box Office prior to showtime (subject to availability).
*Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime. All seating is General Admission; please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats, and time for treats at concession.
*If you are looking to redeem either a Rio Theatre gift certificate or Groupon to any regular Rio Theatre screening: You can either email us in advance <[email protected]> and give us a “heads up,” or do it at the box office prior to showtime.

*All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale.