For one weekend only, the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey became a playground for cinephiles with Leeds-based Sneaky Experience treating audiences to a special Halloween programme. With films including ‘The Exorcist’, ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘Monsters Inc’ there was a trick or treat for every age range, and the novelty of getting to explore an iconic Leeds landmark by night made it a thoroughly exciting event. With the Abbey lit up in ominous red and pre-movie entertainment provided in the form of ghost walks and fire eaters, it was a night at the movies with a difference, complete with a suitably spooky compare who had a maniacal laugh that echoed around the ruins brilliantly.
As for the film we caught, John Carpenter’s Halloween remains a horror classic full of tropes modern audiences will recognise and features a very young Jamie Leigh Curtis in a brilliant performance as the tormented babysitter. It was the perfect film to watch in the ruins due to its camp and slightly silly nature; the audiences who caught The Blair Witch Project the following night might have been left checking under their bed for monsters as the setting really was an eerie Halloween treat. Although it was slightly cold due to the inconsiderate October rain, the show went on in true British fashion, and nothing brings a crowd together quite like a spot of bad weather.
Brilliantly thought out by the creative team at Sneaky Experience it was a perfect alternative cinema experience, and the team are already working on their next ambitious project. Later this month Leeds Dock will be transformed into an all-American diner for a screening of Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece Pulp Fiction, complete with a Twist dance-off for those who want to channel their inner Mia Wallace or Vincent Vega. Closer to Christmas the venue will become a winter wonderland for screenings of Frozen and modern classic Elf.
Sneaky Experience is well worth leaving the comfort of the multiplex for, an immersive experience like no other. After all, why watch films when you can be a part of them?
For more details, visit http://sneakyexperience.co.uk/
Hannah Woodhead
Image: Warner Brothers Pictures