Categories: Things To Do

Challenge yourself to survive 12 hours of horror movies in Calgary

Photo via Calgary Underground Film Festival/Facebook

The annual 12-hour horror movie marathon is a Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) tradition that’s been going on strong for years.

It’ll be back the weekend before Halloween, this Saturday, Oct. 25, in Calgary.

For the ultimate horror movie buffs out there, it’s an annual celebration of the genre in one of the city’s coolest independent movie theatres, Globe Cinema.

But for those of us just looking to challenge ourselves to a dare this scary season, it’ll be 12 hours of haunted mayhem, with costume contests and giveaways in between.

Here’s everything to know about this Halloween horror flick special!

What to expect

Horror movies will grace the silver screen from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Oct. 25 and 26, ringing in the end of the month with a bloodbath of seasonally appropriate films.

The evening will kick off with a brand-new film, Hold the Fort (2025), directed by William Bagley, about a young couple who find themselves locked in a battle between their new homeowners association and an onslaught of monsters from hell.

You’ll then take a deep dive through the horror genre, stretching back to the 1960s with the dubbed version of Black Sunday, an Italian black-and-white cinematic masterpiece about a vengeful vampire princess.

A free breakfast will even be served at 5:25 a.m., and the Globe’s concession will be open and doling out hot soup and hot dogs all night long.

You’ll need to stay awake and caffeinated to get through all 12 hours of this moviethon, which will screen everything from Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) to Young Frankenstein (1974).

Halloween interlude

CUFF has prepared a whole evening of programming to accompany your survey of horror cinema.

A costume contest will begin at midnight, so come dressed to impress for a chance to win bragging rights and a prize or two.

There will also be a burgers-at-midnight break and free breakfast served before the final film at 5:30 a.m.

The bar will be open until 2 a.m., so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to grab a shot or two of liquid courage to keep you conscious all night long.

Come dressed in your Halloween best and ready to celebrate the best of the season with decades of beloved horror classics.

CUFF also promises other surprises in store for you throughout the night.

Can you make it through the whole evening without balking? Snag your tickets to find out!