"Nightmare Cinema"

The Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena plays a big part in the horror anthology "Nightmare Cinema" (Cinelou Films, 2018). Mick Garris wrote his segments with the theatre in mind even before he knew he could shoot there. It was the last film shot at the Rialto before it was churched and redecorated, thus becoming unusable as a location. It's the theatre that ties the film together.

 

 

 

Mickey Rourke and Maurice Benard. A version of this image appeared with a November 2017 story in The Hollywood Reporter. Mickey ties the film's five segments together. The article noted that "the movie centers on a group of down-on-their-luck individuals who enter the decrepit Rialto Theatre. Their deepest and darkest fears are brought to life onscreen by The Projectionist (Rourke), a mysterious, ghostly figure who holds the nightmarish futures of all who attend — and cannot escape — his screenings." 

 

Mick Garris wrote and directed the "The Projectionist" with Mickey Rourke, Mark Grossman, Zarah Mahler, Sarah Elizabeth Withers, Faly Rakotohavana, Maurice Benard and Elizabeth Reaser. The cinematography was by Andrew Russo.

 

Mick's segment titled "Dead" features Faly Rakotohavana, Orson Chaplin, Annabeth Gush and Daryl C. Brown. The cinematography was by Andrew Russo.

 

Joe Dante directed "Mirari" with Zahra Mahler, Mark Grossman, Celesta Hodge, Reid Cox, Belinda Belaski, Chloe Moore, Amber Burdick and Richard Chamberlain. The cinematography was by Andrew Russo.

 

David Slade did "This Way to Egress" with Elizabeth Reaser, Lucas Barker and McIntyre Sweeney. The cinematography was by Joe Willems.

 

Ryuhei Kitamura contributed "Mashit" with Maurice Benard, Mariela Garriga, Jamie Lynn Concepcion and Stephanie Cood. The cinematography was by Matthias Schubert.

 

Alejandro Brugués directed "The Thing in the Woods." The segment features Sarah Elizabeth Withers, Kevin Fonteyne, Chris Warren, Eric Nelsen and Jared Gertner. The cinematography was by Matthias Schubert.

 

 

Mark Grossman and Zarah Mahler up in the balcony in "The Projectionist." Mark and Zarah are also both in "Mirari."

 

 

Another balcony shot with Zarah. 

 

 

A view to the main floor.

 

 

A shot announcing Ryuhei Kitamura's segment "Mashit."

 

 

"The Thing in the Woods" on the marquee.

 

Sarah Elizabeth Withers looking into the boxoffice. She's in both "The Projectionist" and "The Thing in the Woods" segments. This image as well as the seven previous ones all appear on IMDb.

 

 

The directors of "Nightmare Cinema" sitting for a portrait at the Rialto. In back from the left are  Mick Garris, Ryuhei Kitamura and Alejandro Brugués. In front are David Slade and Joe Dante. The photo was a post from Mr. Garris on Facebook. Thanks to Escott O. Norton for sharing it on the Friends of the Rialto Facebook page.

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Rialto Theatre for lots of history and many photos. It's a 1925 design by Lewis A. Smith. Since late 2017 it has been used as a church.

On IMDb: "Nightmare Cinema"