For those who get all tingly over smashed guts and bloody faces on the big screen, this Saturday brings with it a delightful surprise. Splatter-Rama returns to Cinema Paradiso with the goriest, most vile double feature around. This month features two ghoulish "night" films: Night of the Demons and Night of the Creeps.
The popular event quieted down after last March's screening. Radio-Active Records' Mikey Ramirez, who hosts the night, said that part of the reason for the break was that Record Store Day was consuming all of his time. The other reason was that he's just sold his house and was looking for a place to live. "After RSD, which was a huge success, I needed a break," he admits.
See also: Photos from Splatter-Rama, August 2012
He also was waiting to find the right partner and the right time to start on any new projects. It's not like Ramirez wasn't busy though, he also hosts and DJs a Friday night fiesta with live acts at Gramps bar in Miami. This week, they're putting on a pre-party for the BB&T Center's Depeche Mode concert.
"I wanted to bring someone in that I can trust and help me with the workload," Ramirez says. And as luck would have it, he found the right man. "My good friend who I've known for years, Jasper Delani, and I met up, and talked about some potential ideas and we discussed Splatter-Rama. We both loved the concept and the event and thought it was the right time to kickstart it again." He noted that, "Mark Pollack is sitting this round out due to other commitments, but I wish him the best of luck and hope we can work together again in the future."
He and Delani have known each other since they were 14-years-old, and Ramirez describes him as "one of the most creative and engaging people I have ever met," adding, "I'm excited to work with him on this project."
The evening begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, and includes a sponsorship by Death Waltz Recording Company, who release horror soundtracks. Both Death Waltz and Radio-Acitve will be raffling off merch to lucky ticket buyers. "We're working on having more guest speakers come through," Ramirez says, "and Cinema Paradiso has been very helpful with us getting the event up and running again."
It seems like he's excited for the return of the night. "I'm a horror fanatic." Ramirez affirms, "I grew up on these type of films. I had very little interest in Jurassic Park; I wanted to watch Suspiria. So for me, this is a labor of love, very much like Radio-Active Records."
Besides the films, there will be a happy hour from 7 to 8 p.m., the concession stand'll be open all night, and you can also munch on Frankie Dogs. We suggest you use lots of ketchup, possibly some on your face, to freak your friends out during the most gruesome parts of the flicks.
Splatter-Rama. 7 p.m., Saturday, September 14, at Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale. $10 entrance, includes raffle, and parking is free. Visit fliff.com or the event Facebook page.
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