Creep Week
Seven nights of frightening films

In a town with at least one film festival running every week of the year, the aptly named Another Hole in the Head suitably ends the complaint "San Francisco needs another film festival like it needs ...." But with its sweet lineup of horror movies both new and classic, Hole tempts even in an overcrowded field.

Several selections in the week's worth of screenings stand out for devoted fear-flick junkies. Quite enticing is Ginger Snaps II: Unleashed, the sequel to 2000's pro-girl werewolf yarn, with original leads Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle reprising their roles. Undead, an Australian cult hit from last year, earned exultant praise for its quirky mix of horror, humor, and western elements, while 2003's Octane is notable both for its B-list movie star cast (Madeleine Stowe, The OC's Mischa Barton, lush-lipped Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) and its tense road-movie story line.

Traditionalists may also appreciate the spooky relics: Abel Ferrara's 1979 power-tool gorefest Driller Killer, a rare screening of the Hammer studio's 1971 carnival-set shocker Vampire Circus, and for the kiddies, a matinee presentation of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. (Hey, we know the Oompa Loompas are creepy, but are they really that scary?) But our favorite pick is Christopher Coppola's Bloodhead -- Nic Cage's bro had the wisdom to cast Lynda Carter, Shirley Jones, and The Love Boat's Bernie Kopell!

Hole begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday with Vampire Circus (and runs through March 25) at the AMC Kabuki 8, 1881 Post (at Fillmore), S.F. Admission is $7-9 (passes are $40-100); call 922-4262 or visit www.sfhorror.com.

-- Joyce Slaton

See this article on the SF Weekly Site:
www.sfweekly.com/issues/2004-03-17/seebeseen.html/1/index.html