Maine theaters are the place to get your fill of horror movies this week
Maine Theaters Line Up a Mix of Horror, Documentary, and Holiday‑Themed Films for Halloween Season
Portland, Maine – As October turns the state into a playground of shadows, a handful of Maine‑based cinemas have announced a slate of Halloween‑era releases that range from local horror anthologies to a controversial documentary on the Israel‑Gaza conflict and a concert‑film of the late Ozzy Osbourne. The programming, which begins this Friday and runs through the first weekend of November, is a reminder that the season’s entertainment can be as diverse as it is chilling.
State Theatre hosts the 16th‑year Damnationland festival
Starting Friday, the State Theatre at 609 Congress St. in Portland will screen the annual Damnationland anthology. The festival, a Maine‑made celebration of horror and dark fiction shorts that has been running for 16 years, will showcase work from local filmmakers Joseph Aaskov, Alexa Allen, Trixie B, Victoria Gabor, Jin Defillipis, Mason Hawkes, Luis Valmadrid, and Robert Moore. Tickets and showtimes can be purchased through damnationland.com, which also lists the next town the festival will visit.
PMA Films shows the documentary “NAZA”
Sunday evening will bring PMA Films at 7 Congress Square in Portland a documentary titled “NAZA.” The film follows Israeli soldiers on Tel Aviv rooftops after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. It examines the Israeli Defense Forces’ claim that “No one is innocent in Gaza,” and documents the ongoing campaign of indiscriminate civilian casualties. According to the documentary, some 60,000 people—including children—have been killed or wounded; the film’s title, translated from the Israeli military acronym, means “collateral damage.” Reporters have said that the film is facing suppression attempts.
Colonial Theatre screens “Ghost in the Cell”
Belfast’s Colonial Theatre, at 163 High St., will show the Indonesian/South‑Korean horror flick “Ghost in the Cell” on Sunday. Directed by Joko Anwar, the movie follows a prison besieged by an invisible force that kills inmates and guards in grotesque, inventive ways. Critics have praised the film for its creative gore and suspense.
Space presents the avant‑garde film “Begotten”
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Space at 538 Congress St. in Portland will screen 1996 black‑and‑white film “Begotten” by E. Elias Merhige. The wordless piece has earned a reputation as a “mind‑screw” that unsettles viewers with its surreal visuals and unsettling imagery, drawing comparisons to David Lynch’s fever‑dream style.
Nickelodeon Cinemas hosts a rare concert‑film
Nickelodeon Cinemas, located at 1 Temple St., will run a two‑day showing of the concert‑film “Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning” on Oct. 28 and 29. Filmed just 17 days before Ozzy Osbourne’s death in 2025, the footage captures the original Sabbath lineup performing together for the first time in years. Osbourne appears seated on a bat‑winged throne, delivering a subdued but powerful set.
Holiday‑themed horror‑comedy “Christmas at the Kringles”
The horror‑comedy “Christmas at the Kringles” opens nationwide on Friday, Oct. 30. Starring Thomas Lennon, Rob Riggle, Donald Faison, Arden Myrin, Ron Livingston, and Rachel Bilson, the film follows new arrivals in a Christmas‑obsessed neighborhood who are punished for refusing to adopt holiday cheer. The film’s premise plays on the irony of early holiday displays in stores and has drawn comparisons to “Shaun of the Dead.”
All of the films listed above are currently available in Maine, offering audiences an opportunity to choose from a spectrum of scares, real‑world drama, and festive fun. Whether you’re drawn to the local creative output of Damnationland, the stark political commentary of “NAZA,” the visceral horror of “Ghost in the Cell,” the experimental art of “Begotten,” the nostalgia of Osbourne’s final performance, or the quirky holiday mix of “Christmas at the Kringles,” the state’s theaters are ready to keep you on the edge of your seat.
