For a long while, there have been problems with the webhosting for Cinefantastique Online. We let these problems slide because a new, better website, with different hosting, is in the works. However, we reached a point where the old website was no longer viable. For a while,we redirected our URL to Cinefantasitque's Facebook page, but now, for the time being, we are using this simple blog while we wait for the new improved website.

Note: As you will see if you scroll down through the archives, this blog used to be used for Hollywood Gothique, which covers the same type of material as Cinefantastique but with a focus on Los Angeles area events. Sorry for any confusion.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS will be screened, along with several of Pal's short stop-motion "Puppetoons."

Tickets are $5 for general audiences, $3 for Academy members. The theatre is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California 90211. Telephone 310) 247-3000.

The Los Angeles Times has an article about the event, including interviews from some of the people who will be involved.

Like last year, Horror Nights 2008 will feature mazes based on Freddy Kruger, Jason Voorhees, and Leatherface, but Universal promises that the Kruger maze will be brand new, featuring a recreation of the infamous house on Elm Street. (Last year was more like a trip through an Asylum - not surprising when you know that it located in a maze that had been called "The Asylum" the year before.)

New for this year will be a Scare Zone inspired by THE STRANGERS, the sleeper hit horror film from earlier this year. (For those unfamiliar with the terminology, Scare Zones are simply areas of the park haunted by ghouls, so you get the Halloween experience even before you stand in line for an hour to walk through a maze.)

In addition, the back lot tram tour will be significantly upgraded to double its length, for the first time incorporating mazes.

Universal's usual rides and attractions will be open, although revamped for Halloween: the Jurassic Park Ride becomes Jurassic Park in the Dark; the Waterworld show becomes Slaughterworld, etc.

Halloween Horror nights will be open on weekends, beginning October 3. Dates are October 3-4, 10-11, 17-19, 24-26, 30-31 and November 1. Doors opening nightly as 7:00pm; closing hours vary.

Tickets are available for $54 onlin at Universal Studios Hollywood's official website; they are also sold in advance at Ralph's, Food 4 Less, and Hot Topic, where you can save $20 a ticket by buying a Coke-related product.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• Halloween Horror Hollywood - Opening Night 2007
• Interview: Horror Nights Creative Director John Murder, 2007

Halloween is just around the corner apparently. Sure, you may think it's not till the end of October - over two months away - but Halloween superstores are already setting up, and the big-name attractions like Knott's scary farms will open their tombs at the end of September.

So, it should be no surprise that Universal Studios is already sponsoring a contest to promote their 2008 Halloween Horror Nights. Follow this link to enter, for a chance to win a round-trip to Universal Studios Florida this Halloween.

The New Beverly Cinema has finally posted its August schedule, which thanks to the miracle of RSS FEEDS you can access at the Hollywood Gothique listing for the theatre.

Mixed in with the usual revival fare are several fantasy, horror, and science-fiction titles:

• A 007 double bill of DR. NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
• A grindhouse double bill of MURDER SET-PIECES and CHAOS
• A 007 double bill of GOLDFINGER and THUNDERBALL
• STANLEY (a rip-off of WILLARD but with snakes) and IMPULSE
• An Alan Parker double bill of ANGEL HEART and BIRDY
• A midnight screening of DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004)
• A midnight screening of the young-adult horror flick THE GATE
• A Clu Gulager doulbe bill of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and FEAST

Moving on, the complete schedule for September is not yet available, but there will be midnight screenings of the horror-comedy IDLE HANDS and of Michael Mann's 1983 horror film THE KEEP, and in October there will be an all-night horror show on the 18th.