Gold St. Movie Club hosts classic movies in atypical environments, paired with carefully crafted food, drink and games to suit the film. Photo: Supplied.
An interactive screening of the 1996 cult classic horror-fantasy film The Craft is coming to Verity Lane’s newest bar this spooky season.
Canberra husband-wife duo Elly and Patrick Galvin, who run Gold St. Press, are behind the Halloween party and screening at Squeaky Clean this month.
Patrick promises offshoot Gold St. Movie Club is not your typical cinema experience where you sit down with a box of popcorn, turn your phone off and keep to yourself.
“We play classic films that people have potentially seen a dozen times before and who want to watch it with a group of friends,” he explains. “We want people to be laughing and yelling.
“Then we also step it up. Before the screening my partner and I watch the film and we plot out points where we can get a smoke machine and create a bit of an atmosphere there.”
At their last screening of Predator, Patrick and Elly shone laser pointers to imitate the predator’s targeting system and hosted a Predator-themed game of bingo.
“It just creates a more immersive experience,” Patrick says. “You’re not just sitting back and watching a film, but you’re really getting involved in some way.”
Patrick says the idea for Gold St. Movie Club’s brand of interactive movies originated from a tradition among him and his classic film buff friends.
“The way it started out was just at someone’s house and we would make food or drink that paired with the setting of the film,” he explains.
“The idea was to try and expand it out and make it a public thing and then take it a step further by finding an environment that pairs with the film.”
Predator was shown at Downer’s Gang Gang Cafe, The Shaking Hand in the city was chosen for The Mummy, while The Craft is set to be screened at Patrick’s close friend’s bar Squeaky Clean.
“It’s got a kind of grungy feel. It’s trying to pick up a bit of the vibe that the old Phoenix Bar used to have,” Patrick says. “It’s got a twisting entrance, which kind of works like a haunted house.”
Alongside themed food and drink, market stalls, parlour games, lucky door prizes and decorations, there will also be a special guest appearance by best-selling author Maria Lewis who just released The Graveyard Shift. “She typically does book releases in Canberra every time she releases a book, but this time just hadn’t quite worked anything out,” Patrick explains.
“The Craft is her favourite film coincidently, so she’s going to get up and talk a bit about the film and its cultural impact, because she’s a journalist and film historian as well.”
Afterwards, Maria will be hosting a meet and greet and book signing for fans and will also be responsible for judging the obligatory Halloween costume competition.
The Gold St. Halloween Party is on Saturday 28 October, 4 pm until late, at Squeaky Clean, 45 East Row, Canberra (entry via Verity Lane).
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