Lots at stake as vampires invade Oxnard movie theater
Brave fans can risk their necks for classic vampires during Cinemark’s “Fangtastic Films" series.
Movies will screen starting Friday through April 17 in Oxnard at the chain's Century Riverpark theater, 2766 Seaglass Way in The Collection shopping center. Showtime is 6 p.m. nightly.
The series is intended to build excitement before the new vampire movie “Abigail” lands April 18, Cinemark spokesperson Julia McCartha said in an email. She added Cinemark has seen a lot of enthusiasm for bringing back popular films to the big screen.
The classic movies won’t be shown at Cinemark Century Ventura Downtown 10, McCartha said.
The Oxnard series begins Friday with “The Lost Boys,” a 1987 offering that terrorized countless drive-ins. The late Carpinteria resident Joel Schumacher directed the film. Corey Haim, Jason Patric, Corey Feldman, Jamison Newlander, Kiefer Sutherland and Jami Gertz star in a story about a fictional California town where teenagers find vampires in their midst.
On Saturday, “Twilight” will show. Kristen Stewart stars as a high school student who moves to the Pacific Northwest and falls in love with a 108-year-old vampire played by Robert Pattinson, whose undead friends age well and even sparkle in the 2008 movie shot in Washington’s forested Olympic Peninsula.
Sunday's offering features the 1931 black-and-white classic “Dracula.” Bela Lugosi stars as the famous count and commands the screen in sinister close-ups.
More terror will come Monday with “From Dusk to Dawn,” the 1996 film starring George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino as bank robbers. After a heist, they pick up hostages and cross into Mexico, then visit a bar where people turn into vampires. Tarantino co-wrote the movie.
“Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles” will land Tuesday. Brad Pitt stars as Louis, a vampire who tells his epic life story to a reporter played by Christian Slater. The 1994 film is based on Anne Rice’s novel of the same name. Tom Cruise plays Lestat, the vampire who turns Louis into a creature of the night in the tale set in New Orleans.
The series closes with the action-packed “Blade” on Wednesday. Wesley Snipes stars in the title role as a half-vampire, half-mortal man who fights evil vampires in the 1998 thriller.
On April 18, the new movie “Abigail” will bring its horror to theaters around the country. Alisha Weir plays Abigail, a ballerina daughter captured by criminals. They take her to a mansion, where they learn — to their horror — she’s a vampire.
For more information, go to www.cinemark.com.
Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at dave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Classic vampire movies invade big screen in Oxnard before 'Abigail'
