Movie Madness University is a film & television appreciation program of the Hollywood Theatre. Our class offerings range from in-depth four-week seminars to casual curated film series along with special presentations. The goal of all of our programming is to help people learn more about movies; explore Movie Madness' world-class collection; and meet like-minded film lovers.

Scroll down to explore our October 2024 classes.

Pulse

Tuesday evening, October 1st at 6:30pm

Cost: $22 ($18 members)

CLASS FULL - ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

Kiyoshi Kurosawa is considered one of the greatest living directors today. A large contributor to the international success of Japanese horror films in the late 90s, Kurosawa is revered for his ability to craft unsettling tension and eerie imagery that lingers in the mind and body well after the film has concluded.

In his turn of the millennium techno-horror, PULSE (2001, 119 min) we follow three strangers at the onset of the internet boom, searching aimlessly through the streets of Tokyo hoping to uncover the mystery around the sudden disappearance of friends and colleagues.

In this one night course, we will discuss both the excitement and anxiety of the early internet age, draw connections to the nascent chat rooms present in Pulse and our current social media landscape, and, ultimately, answer the fateful question, “Do you want to meet a ghost?”

This class is taught by MMU Instructor Tracy Kernell, a filmmaker and artist working with moving images to explore the intersections of Black vernacular culture, music, and archival practices.

Class size will be limited to 18.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie

Wednesday evening, October 30th at 6:30pm

Cost: $22 ($18 members)

CLASS FULL - ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

Join us for this special look at the ‘90s anthology cult classic, TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE (1990, 93 min). We’ll analyze its use of folklore, urban legends, and literary adaptations, examining how it combines supernatural horror with grim humor. The course will also focus on the film’s themes, its connections to 1980s horror, and its influence on the anthology subgenre.

This class will be taught by MMU lead instructor Kia Anne Geraths, a filmmaker and educator. Her previous classes include the Cult Horror series, Intro to Varda, Science Fiction B-movies, and more.

Class size will be limited to 18.

Trick 'R Treat

Thursday evening, October 31st at 6:30pm

Cost: $22 ($18 members)

CLASS FULL - ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

In this special Halloween night class, students will delve into the cult classic horror anthology, TRICK ‘R TREAT (2007, 82 min). We'll examine how the film captures the spirit of the holiday through its unique structure, narrative overlaps, and iconic characters. The course will also explore the film's blending of practical effects and atmospheric storytelling to achieve a story that pushes the medium of anthology horror forward. Make sure to stay for the discussion as we learn more about this film's impact on the horror genre and how it revitalized the anthology format in modern cinema.

This class will be taught by MMU lead instructor Kia Anne Geraths.

Class size will be limited to 18.

Our Iconic Queer Ancestors: Divine

Starting Wednesday evening October 2nd at 6:30pm

Cost: $90 ($75 for members) for the four-class series.

CLASS FULL - ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

It’s Divine timing! Come celebrate Divine, the filthy and fabulous star of John Waters’ cult classics and a trailblazer of queer cinema who rose to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, and became a symbol of audacious self-expression and revolutionized the portrayal of drag in film.

In this class, we’ll delve into key films of Divine’s career, and his lasting impact on queer culture and the broader landscape of cinema. We’ll trace his transformation from a local Baltimore performer to a global icon, his collaborations with John Waters’ Dreamlanders and the Cockettes, and his influence and enduring legacy in drag, film and queer nightlife. At the same time, we’ll hold space for the Divine who wasn’t on the screen, his struggles and his thwarted dreams of breaking into bigger Hollywood films.

Films:

10/2: PINK FLAMINGOS (1972, 93 min)

10/9: FEMALE TROUBLE (1974, 89 min)

10/16: TROUBLE IN MIND (1985, 111 min)

10/23: HAIRSPRAY (1988, 92 min)

This class will be taught by Max Swanson, a filmmaker/performer, writer, educator, and organizer based in Portland, OR. They currently also teach at NW Doc and PSU, and work as a freelance story consultant. They are also a co-producer of the local drag and art collaborative Max & Mars Present.

Class size will be limited to 18.

Half Agony, Half Hope: Austen Adaptations of the 90s

Starting Thursday evening October 3rd at 6:30pm

Cost: $90 ($75 for members) for the four-class series.

CLASS FULL - ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

In the 1990s, Hollywood rediscovered the novels of Jane Austen and produced 9 adaptations of her works. Join us this October to examine the horrors of absent parents, poverty, bad advice from friends, and the lack of appropriate choices in marriage material, or just come enjoy the cravats, gowns, puffy shirts and bonnets of these period dramas.

In this class, we’ll explore one award winner for best screenplay, one production that dared cast an American lead, a film that’s regarded as one of the most faithful to the source material, and the story that is widely considered one of Austen’s most problematic. We’ll look at whether these films still resonate with audiences almost 30 years after they were made and what makes these stories timeless. We may even talk a bit about the costumes…

Films:

10/3: PERSUASION (1995, 103 min)

10/10: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995, 136 min)

10/17: EMMA (1996, 120 min)

10/24: MANSFIELD PARK(1999, 112 min)

This class is taught by MMU Instructor De. Her previous MMU classes include What is Costume? and Worldwide Vampires: Everlasting Appeal.

Class size will be limited to 18.

CRASH COURSE | Uninvited Guests: Home Invasion In Film

Starting Monday evening October 7th at 6:30pm

Cost: $30 ($25 members) for the four-class series

CLASS FULL - ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

One of the more terrifying concepts in horror, perhaps because of its plausibility, is that we are not even safe in our own houses.

How often do you really consider the safety of your own home? You lock the doors, the windows, double check that weird closet if you’re a little jumpy, but do you know for certain that those motions will protect you from a truly determined menace? How positive are you that your sanctuary is unassailable? What prevents you from being a target?

In this 4-week Crash Course, we’ll explore the subgenre and a handful of its infinite motivators, including the idea that all you really have to be...is home!

Films:

10/7: THE STRANGERS (2008, 86 min)

10/14: WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967, 108 min)

10/21: ANGST (1983, 87 min)

10/28: KNOCK AT THE CABIN (2023, 100 min)

This crash course is taught by Hollywood Theatre staffer Betsy Kniffin.

Class size will be limited to 18.

MMU Crash Course classes offer a low-intensity way to explore a filmmaker or genre, in a friendly environment shared with fellow film lovers. Unlike our MMU seminars, Crash Courses offer a more casual approach. There’s no formal lecture or discussion, but films are curated and presented by staff experts.

Xenomorph Academy

Starting Tuesday evening October 8th at 6:30pm

Cost: $90 ($75 members) for the four-class series

CLASS FULL - ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST

In his 1979 film ALIEN, Ridley Scott brought to life one of cinema’s most iconic and enduring creatures, the Xenomorph. A parasitic predator, a “perfect organism” that has since hatched and incubated in our cultural imagination (and nightmares) for over 40 years.

In this class, we’ll join one of sci-fi's all-time great protagonists, Lieutenant Ellen Ripley, on a crash course through the first four films in the Alien franchise. A series featuring genre masterpieces, tonally unique sequels, stories of troubled and chaotic productions, and of course plenty of screams just in time for Halloween!

Films:

10/8: ALIEN (1979, 117 min)

10/15: ALIENS (1986, 136 min)

10/22: ALIEN3 (1992, 114 min)

10/29: ALIEN RESURRECTION (1997, 109 min)

This class will be taught by Dylan Reiff, a writer/performer who co-founded Kickstand Comedy and has worked with the Sundance Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, the Stanley Film Festival, and Overlook Film Festival.

Class size will be limited to 18.