Arc Cinema presents a series of Friday night filmic feasts hosted by Venus Mantrap – local drag artist and culture warrior. Fright Night: Cult Cinema Classics at the NFSA will plumb the archives to showcase cinema with bite, edgy movies and fan favourites – films that unnerve, push buttons, ask questions and just look good on the big screen.
If you're a sucker for nostalgia or curious about forgotten gems, join Venus as we venture into the 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond – with special guests, surprise performances, trivia and best-dressed contests. Gather your tribe of rowdy rebels and misfits and join Venus for Fright Night!
Cruising
Friday 24 Oct 8:00 PM
When a string of sadistic murders terrorises the regulars of an underground S&M club, inexperienced cop Steve Burns (Al Pacino) enters the shadowy world of a marginalised subculture.
In 1980, William Friedkin (The Exorcist) provoked outrage with this vivid thriller set in New York's gay leather scene, which illuminated aspects of the complex rules and signals of a community living on the periphery. Originally perceived as a cruel and damaging portrayal of urban gay life, Cruising has since become one of the most fascinating and chilling dramas about sexuality, violence, homophobia and masculinity born out of Hollywood.
“Friedkin’s nihilism leaks onto the film in a curious way, oily and slippery. If, like the film noir (anti)hero, Pacino’s identity is in flux in a socially and politically tumultuous landscape, his ‘descent’ is not so much into gayness as it is into fascism.” – Medium
“Cruising has now been reappraised as a cult classic, especially amongst the gay community who see it not only as a great movie but also as a pre-AIDS time capsule of a gay scene that was hedonistic, decadent and fun.” – Meathook Cinema
Jaws
Friday 21 Nov 8:00 PM
Basic Instinct
Friday 12 Dec 8:00 PM
YOUR HOST VENUS MANTRAP
Venus Mantrap is an androgynous construct whose roots are firmly planted in the world of drag. Exploring aspects of cabaret, performance art and comedy during live shows, Mantrap has produced The Bowie Ball and starred in two one-person-shows: Life, Love and Lip Syncing and Valley of the Molls.
Venus is regularly found at Smith's Alternative as the MC of Cabaret Voltaireand has been a featured artist at Glitterbox, LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club, Drag Cabaret and Finucane and Smith's touring show Dancehall. Follow them on Instagram at @the_venus_mantrap
Life • Love • Lip Syncing on Ngunawal | Ngambri country
Venus Mantrap @the_venus_mantrap
Host of FRIGHT NIGHT @nfsaonline
Emcee SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION @smithsalternative
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