20 Comments
founding

Ooh, I want to see both of these. I've been trying to find a ticket to "Skinamarink," but all the screenings that fit my schedule have already been sold out for days.

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author

Seriously? Having seen it, I would say that it might be best to let the big crowds come and go. It's so unusual and experimental that I imagine it will get a hostile response from mainstream audiences. Better to see it without being around so many restless souls.

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founding

It's true, at least at the Denver Alamo. Friday and Saturday night are all sold out. I'm hoping they'll add some daytime showings early next week, because like you say, I'd prefer a much less crowded screening. But I worry if I have to wait too long, it will be gone from theaters.

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If it goes by the indie-horror-phenomenon playbook, then it will have a big first weekend followed by a massive drop on the second. I'm still just flabbergasted that such a thing is possible, though. A movie like Blair Witch had a Sundance launch, tons of press, and the support of Artisan, which at the time was a large indie distributor. This is a much smaller deal, in theory: Fantasia Film Festival premiere, distribution by IFC Midnight, etc. Maybe TikTok is just that powerful.

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founding

I think we relics of the Internet have no idea how powerful TikTok really is. (I used to be pretty good at writing near-future sci-fi, but it's much harder now when I can't even keep up with the present.) I was at a packed showing of Sunset Boulevard on Sunday, and there were some snickers during the preview for Skinamarink, but maybe they were outliers in the Venn diagram of the two audiences. In any case, good for this little film in generating the buzz it already has.

(Speaking of relics, I keep failing to respond in the thread itself. D'oh.)

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As a fellow Denverite, it's also playing at the Sie if that helps any. By design, it'd be a much smaller crowd.

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founding

Oh, perfect! I didn’t know about the Sie. I’m new to the city and carless, but it looks like I can get there pretty easily. And they have noonish showings early next week. And I’ll be able to see EO also! Thanks for the tip!

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Jan 14, 2023Liked by Scott Tobias

FWIW, I just saw it at the Music Box in Chicago (so not a multiplex crowd) and the audience was absolutely enraptured by it. The only laughter was of the nervous kind.

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author

Good venue for sure.

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founding

May the Music Box never pass away. That's where I saw The Master in 70mm, back when I still lived in Chicago.

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I brought a ticket for tomorrow night but am debating whether to wait for Shudder, since watching at home might enhance the mood more.

OTOH, I have a free popcorn to redeem at Alamo, so I probably will go

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author

I think it’d be really cool to see the film projected. The soundtrack, the detail in the images, the ambience. Keep that ticket!

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Good advice! I did enjoy it but the person next to me HATED it, furious that he wasted his money on it

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I have a strong memory of seeing BLAIR WITCH for the first time at McClurg Court (R.I.P), being completely shaken by it (that last shot!), and then immediately hearing a guy two rows back losing his mind about being ripped off. Some folks aren’t ready for movies that get out of line a bit.

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Looking forward to watching Skinamarink the way I do all horror films: at home, in the daytime, with all the lights in the apartment on.

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"Sustained bedside apparition" = hard pass for me. I can watch almost anything, but that hits a spot in my brain that just ... eek, no.

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The erasure of Sharon, Lois and Bram from Skinamarink must be addressed.

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I somehow missed out on the viral spread of Skinamarink, but based on your review it sounds like I need to get in on the action.

Just cancelled my Shudder too. Whoops.

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