Thread: Halloween Night at the Drive In

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I was hoping my fab HF family could offer some suggestions on this.

I approached the local drive in owner asking him if he has ever given any thought to running a haunted/horror/Halloween-type all-nighter at the drive in. A last hurrah for the drive in season. A night will classic horror movies on the big screen. He has gotten back to me asking if I would help to organize it. Honestly I haven't the foggiest clue on how to help to organize something like this. I mentioned that I would put feelers out on my FB page and I will write a post on my Canadian Haunters Club page on my FB as well.

My vision for this would be a few pumpkins around, maybe JOL, with corn stalks scattered around the drive in for effect. Perhaps bonfire, warm cider being served, you know all those wonderful fall type things that I'd imagine most of us on this forum just love.

I'm not sure what the availability of some of the horror movie 'classics' are in regards to getting them for a drive in. Some movies I would love to see in a drive in would be original Halloween, the Exorcist, maybe a Zombieland type movie, or even The Thing.

Any suggestions on what to do to help to organize something like this, in case he decides to go ahead with the idea? I just think that sounds like an absolutely perfect night. Just to take in that atmosphere, snuggled in a sleeping bag because the nights are cooler with the smell of apple cider in the air sounds just dreamy to me.

How about having some actors dressed up as the killers from the films you pick randomly going around "attacking" people?

OMG! I love the drive in and miss it sooo much! This sounds like an absolutely awesome idea. I saw the Exorcist there and it scared the crap out of me!

The original Halloween is always a good choice and maybe Night of the Living Dead. The JOL and scarecrows and a cemetery would be great decorations.

You should probably start locating prints for the movies that you want to show.

If you pull this off, you will be my hero! It sounds soooo wonderful. It does sound like the stuff of dreams. As long as it's not on Halloween night.

I did think of the costume ideas. I think to have one or two people come around during the movie and tap on a window or put their face up against a car window with a costume/freaky mask during a scary movie would be pretty effective in scaring the heck out of the vehicle occupants. Someone else mentioned having a dress up theme for it. My concern is the anonymity that being dressed up offers some of the troublemakers of the world. I could just see some moron getting dressed up and trashing stuff just to be a jerk. Sorry if that sounds jaded.

And Gobby, absolutely not on Halloween night. I totally agree on that one.

That would be awesome!
Would suggest adding some classics to play either first or added to the mix.
Halloween (1980), The Fog, Thing, Trick r' Treat, Creature from the Black lagoon, War of the Worlds, This Island Earth, Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), Wolf Man (1941), Lost Boys, Fright Night (1985), Return of the Living Dead, Land of the Dead, Young Frankenstein, The Feed (2010), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) Evil Dead, NightBreed, Covenant, Underworld, Them!, Shining, Jaws, John Carpenter's Vampires, DayBreakers, Hellraiser, Pumpkinhead, Friday the 13th (1980), Rocky Horror, Repo!: Genetic opera

Yep, WAY up there on the awesome meter.
Would you advertise this as a FAMILY event, and select films appropriate for families with children? That leaves most of the classics in play. It would also discourage troublemakers.
I can see a decorated concession stand, workers in costume.
Maybe a costume parade/contest for the kids either before the first show, or between the first and second shows?
A spooky-themed cartoon, some classic monster trailers?
Definitely costumed actors making the rounds between the cars.
Google "Spook shows" or "midnight spook shows" to read up on their history, you'd be following in some pretty spooky footsteps.

Good luck, please keep us posted!

This sounds so awesome! I love the idea of decorating with cornstalks, scarecrows, bails of hay and pumpkins/JOLs. Maybe throw in some classic white sheet ghosts too. Actors walking around in costume is a fantastic idea! If Halloween is playing, then have Michael Myers walking around, peeking into car windows. Keep in mind what kinda movies you'll have playing though. If films such as Halloween, The Exorcist, Trick R' Treat are playing, then it's more of an evening for teens and adults. If you wanted to keep it more family friendly, then pick films with no swearing, sex or too much gore/violence. Along with the warm apple cider, it'd be nice to have hot cocoa, kettle corn, candy and/or caramel apples. I hope this all works out for you and the community! Keep us updated

I agreee with several others that family friendly would probably be best. I know the others would be great, but MIGHT lend themselves to some punks sick humor. Classic Halloween movies would probably avoid more of this. I would hate to have something ruin this from happening again.

Drive-in theater, what a wonderful thing from the past. I would love to be there.