Horror: Messaging the Monstrous
Jun 23–Sep 5, 2022

In the six decades since Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho reinvented horror as a mainstream box office attraction, the genre has morphed and mutated to become arguably the most complex and radically provocative in cinema. Much like musicals and gangster films during the Depression of the 1930s, or science-fiction amid the threat of McCarthyism and nuclear war in the 1950s, horror movies reflect the major concerns of our times. They are often a testament to the plagues of escalating factionalism and disfunction in the world, to humanity’s collective inability to address the conditions that threaten its future, from impending environmental collapse to racial, economic, and gender-based injustice and inequity. Rooted in reality and fueled by the fantastic, these works question the supremacy of humankind, and visualize a dizzying array of consequences for our folly. No other genre so effectively explores the mixtures of shock, fear, brutality, and grim humor that result from acknowledging the fragility of existence and accepting the ultimate end that awaits us all.
This 10-week series will highlight foundational works and key films that capture horror’s uncanny ability to embody the lurking fears evoked by evolving social, cultural, and political change in the world. Organized according to fluid themes that shaped how the works were conceived—Slashers, Horror of Place, Gender and Horror, Race and Horror, the Undead, Body Horror, Women Make Horror, Folk Horror, Eco Horror, and Creatures—the series comprises more than 100 features and an international selection of shorts by seasoned masters and important new filmmakers.
Organized by Ron Magliozzi, Curator, and Brittany Shaw, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film, with Caryn Coleman, guest curator.
Film series
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Messaging the Monstrous Opening Night: Dawn of the Dead 3-D
Jun 23, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Slashers
Jun 23–Jul 2, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Horror of Place
Jul 2–9, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Gender and Horror
Jul 9–16, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Race and Horror
Jul 17–24, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: The Undead
Jul 24–30, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Body Horror
Jul 31–Aug 6, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Women Make Horror
Aug 6–13, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Folk Horror
Aug 14–21, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Eco Horror
Aug 22–27, 2022
MoMA
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Messaging the Monstrous: Creatures
Aug 28–Sep 5, 2022
MoMA
Events
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The Cabin in the Woods. 2011. Directed by Drew Goddard
Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Attack the Block. 2011. Written and directed by Joe Cornish
Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Gwoemul (The Host). 2006. Directed by Bong Joon-ho
Sat, Sep 3, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Cloverfield. 2008. Directed by Matt Reeves
Fri, Sep 2, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Spring. 2014. Directed by Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Thu, Sep 1, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Def by Temptation. 1990. Written and directed by James Bond III.
Wed, Aug 31, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Thing. 1982. Directed by John Carpenter Object Cinema. 2016. Directed by Darren Banks
Tue, Aug 30, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Descent. 2005. Written and directed by Neil Marshall
Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Death Line. 1972. Directed by Gary Sherman
Sun, Aug 28, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Green Inferno. 2013. Directed by Eli Roth
Sat, Aug 27, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Cabin Fever. 2002. Directed by Eli Roth
Sat, Aug 27, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Long Weekend. 1978. Directed by Colin Eggleston
Sat, Aug 27, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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C.H.U.D. 1984. Directed by Douglas Cheek
Fri, Aug 26, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Pet Sematary. 1989. Directed by Mary Lambert
Fri, Aug 26, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Crazies. 1973. Written and directed by George A. Romero
Thu, Aug 25, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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28 Days Later. 2002. Directed by Danny Boyle
Wed, Aug 24, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Gaia. 2021. Directed by Jaco Bouwer
Tue, Aug 23, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Girl with All the Gifts. 2016. Directed by Colm McCarthy
Mon, Aug 22, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Unearth. 2020. Directed by John C. Lyons, Dorota Swies
Mon, Aug 22, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Vuelven (Tigers Are Not Afraid). 2017. Written and directed by Issa López
Sun, Aug 21, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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SGaawaay K’uuna (Edge of the Knife). 2018. Directed by Gwaai Edenshaw, Helen Haig-Brown
Sat, Aug 20, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Company of Wolves. 1984. Directed by Neil Jordan
Sat, Aug 20, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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I Am Not a Witch. 2017. Written and directed by Rungano Nyoni
Sat, Aug 20, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Mlungu Wam (Good Madam). 2021. Directed by Jenna Cato Bass
Fri, Aug 19, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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La Llorona (The Weeping Woman). 2019. Directed by Jayro Bustamente
Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Empty Man. 2020. Written and directed by David Prior
Wed, Aug 17, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Kill List. 2011. Directed by Ben Wheatley
Wed, Aug 17, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Drag Me to Hell. 2009. Directed by Sam Raimi
Tue, Aug 16, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Blair Witch Project. 1999. Written and directed by Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Mon, Aug 15, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Wicker Man. 1973. Directed by Robin Hardy
Sun, Aug 14, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Saint Maud. 2019. Written and directed by Rose Glass
Sat, Aug 13, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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She Dies Tomorrow. 2020. Written and directed by Amy Seimetz
Sat, Aug 13, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Amulet. 2020. Written and directed by Romola Garai
Sat, Aug 13, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Jennifer’s Body. 2009. Directed by Karyn Kusama
Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Knives and Skin. 2019. Written and directed by Jennifer Reeder
Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Censor. 2021. Directed by Prano Bailey-Bond
Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Violation. 2020. Written and directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli
Wed, Aug 10, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Prevenge. 2016. Written and directed by Alice Lowe This Is Our Home. 2021. Written and directed by A. K. Espada
Tue, Aug 9, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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You Are Not My Mother. 2021. Written and directed by Kate Dolan Catcalls. 2017. Written and directed by Kate Dolan
Mon, Aug 8, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Babadook. 2014. Written and directed by Jennifer Kent
Sun, Aug 7, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Dokhtari dar šab tanhâ be xâne miravad (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night). 2014. Written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour
Sun, Aug 7, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Mafu Cage. 1978. Directed by Karen Arthur
Sat, Aug 6, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Grave (Raw). 2016. Written and directed by Julia Ducournau Deep Tissue. 2019. Written and directed by Meredith Alloway
Sat, Aug 6, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Ōdishon (Audition). 1998. Directed by Takashi Miike
Sat, Aug 6, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Shivers. 1975. Written and directed by David Cronenberg
Fri, Aug 5, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Fly. 1986. Directed by David Cronenberg
Fri, Aug 5, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Haute Tension (High Tension). 2003. Directed by Alexandre Aja
Thu, Aug 4, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Dans ma Peau (In My Skin). 2002. Written and directed by Marina de Van
Wed, Aug 3, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Last House on the Left. 1972. Written and directed by Wes Craven
Tue, Aug 2, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Jungfrukällan (The Virgin Spring). 1960. Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Mon, Aug 1, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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I Spit on Your Grave. 1978. Written and directed by Meir Zarchi
Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Tetsuo: The Iron Man. 1989. Written and directed by Shinya Tsukamoto
Sun, Jul 31, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Day of the Dead. 1985. Written and directed by George A. Romero
Sat, Jul 30, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Evil Dead. 1981. Written and directed by Sam Raimi
Fri, Jul 29, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Dellamorte Dellamore (Cemetery Man). 1994. Directed by Michele Soavi
Fri, Jul 29, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Deathdream. 1974. Directed by Bob Clark
Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Las maschera del demonio (Black Sunday). 1960. Written and directed by Mario Bava
Thu, Jul 28, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Night of the Living Dead. 1968. Directed by George A. Romero
Wed, Jul 27, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor 1
Film
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Kū bēi (The Sadness). 2021. Written and directed by Rob Jabbaz
Wed, Jul 27, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Velvet Vampire. 1971. Directed by Stephanie Rothman
Tue, Jul 26, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In). 2008. Directed by Tomas Alfredson
Mon, Jul 25, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Blood Quantum. 2019. Written and directed by Jeff Barnaby File Under Miscellaneous. 2010. Written and directed by Jeff Barnaby
Sun, Jul 24, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Rhymes for Young Ghouls. 2013. Written and directed by Jeff Barnaby The Colony. 2007. Written and directed by Jeff Barnaby
Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Candyman. 1992. Written and directed by Bernard Rose
Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Tales from the Hood. 1995. Directed by Rusty Cundieff
Fri, Jul 22, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Get Out. 2017. Written and directed by Jordan Peele
Thu, Jul 21, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Ganja & Hess. 1973. Written and directed by Bill Gunn Suicide by Sunlight. 2019. Written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu
Thu, Jul 21, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Beloved. 1998. Directed by Jonathan Demme
Mon, Jul 18, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Master. 2022. Written and directed by Mariama Diallo Hair Wolf. 2018. Written and directed by Mariama Diallo
Mon, Jul 18, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Wolfen. 1981. Directed by Michael Wadleigh
Sun, Jul 17, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The People Under the Stairs. 1991. Written and directed by Wes Craven
Sun, Jul 17, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Hellraiser. 1987. Written and directed by Clive Barker
Sat, Jul 16, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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We’re All Going to the World’s Fair. 2021. Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun
Sat, Jul 16, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Stepford Wives. 1975. Directed by Bryan Forbes
Sat, Jul 16, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Brain Damage. 1988. Written and directed by Frank Henenlotter
Fri, Jul 15, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Ginger Snaps. 2000. Directed by John Fawcett
Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Teeth. 2007. Written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein
Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Reflecting Skin. 1990. Written and directed by Phillip Ridley
Wed, Jul 13, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Jack Be Nimble. 1993. Directed by Garth Maxwell
Wed, Jul 13, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Heartless. 2009. Written and directed by Phillip Ridley
Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Let’s Scare Jessica to Death. 1971. Directed by John Hancock
Sun, Jul 10, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Carrie. 1976. Directed by Brian De Palma
Sun, Jul 10, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Burnt Offerings. 1976. Directed by Dan Curtis Meet the Eye. 2009. Written and directed by Aïda Ruilova
Sat, Jul 9, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America. 2003. Written and directed by Douglas Buck
Sat, Jul 9, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Spalovač mrtvol (The Cremator). 1969. Directed by Juraj Herz
Thu, Jul 7, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Somos lo que hay (We Are What We Are). 2010. Written and directed by Jorge Michel Grau
Wed, Jul 6, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Bones. 2001. Directed by Ernest Dickerson
Tue, Jul 5, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Vigil. 2019. Written and directed by Keith Thomas
Mon, Jul 4, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Relic. 2020. Written and directed by Natalie Erika James
Mon, Jul 4, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Haunting. 1961. Directed by Robert Wise
Sun, Jul 3, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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His House. 2020. Written and directed by Remi Weekes
Sat, Jul 2, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. 1986. Directed by Tobe Hooper
Fri, Jul 1, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Office Killer. 1997. Directed by Cindy Sherman
Fri, Jul 1, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Shocker. 1989. Written and directed by Wes Craven
Thu, Jun 30, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Un couteau dans le cœur (Knife + Heart). 2018. Directed by Yann Gonzalez
Wed, Jun 29, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
1 more past
MoMA, Floor T2/T1
Film
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Friday the 13th Part II. 1981. Directed by Steve Miner Alice. 2012. Directed by Ben Rivers
Mon, Jun 27, 2022, 5:00 p.m.