So this past weekend, we FINALLY screened AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON at an Ohio Horror Marathon. We also FINALLY gave VIDEODROME and PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE their Marathon bow. And you could argue that SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES had also long deserved a Marathon screening. All three of these films are modern classics in their own way, but for one reason or another it took decades for them to show.
Which brings up the obvious question: which major film that's never played the Horror Marathon should be featured sometime in the near future? Definitions of major will vary, but try to stick with something of importance. Any fan of HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD (which is one of the great shameless Italian zombie ripoffs) can say that it's been overlooked, but I'm aiming for films that would merit some surprise from a listener if you told them it had never screened at the Horrorthon. And remember that not every title is readily available in 35mm; argue all you want, but for the time being it's often still the preferable format for such screenings.
I know that a certain Mr. Cornelius and I are in agreement that Jack Clayton's THE INNOCENTS is long overdue for a Marathon spot. It serves as a companion piece to THE HAUNTING, both low key ghost stories that are master classes in slow burn tension. Print availability has been a major reason for its absence, but like AMERICAN WEREWOLF, it's also just been pushed back many times.
