The Dukes' Halloween season is here!

In October, the Dukes is bringing a programme of spooky delights! From cinema, to live events, to family entertainment, Spooked has Halloween in the (trick-or-treat) bag.

This year, the theme is digital horror. The first strand of cinema offerings includes films that either include the theme of digital technology, or are inspired by digital content. The Dukes will be showing Host, Videodrome, and Undertone (which will be followed by a special live podcast event). They will also show Japanese horror films Ringu, Pulse, and Exit 8, and newer releases Backrooms and Resident Evil.

Other new releases include Irish supernatural horror Hokum, Australian romantic horror Leviticus, documentary about the making of Exorcist II Boorman and the Devil, and the long-awaited Ghosts: The Possession of Button House. For family entertainment, there will be a dress-up screening of Scooby Doo, E.T, Ghostbusters (which also has a SEN screening) and Frankenweenie.

The Dukes are also showing 4k restorations of the anime film Angel’s Egg and Guillermo del Toro’s Cronos. For birthdays, it’s the 50th anniversary of The Omen, the 20th Anniversary of Slither, and the 25th anniversary of Donnie Darko, which will have its own very special screening at Lancaster Castle. The big title for Halloween night is a timeless classic, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho!

Live events include a screening of 1927’s silent film Faust, with a score performed live by Neil Brand. Adam Z. Robinson returns to the intimate Moor Space venue with Deepest Fears, a thrilling reading of two short ghost stories. There will also be a host of creative workshops for children, and Spooked editions of regular events such as the Film Quiz/Mystery Film, Playreading Club, and Play in a Day.

Whether you want to be scared stiff, or prefer an evening of lightly spooky fun, there’s something for everyone! Come along between 23rd-31st October and choose your poison.