BAR TRASH continues our 14th sensational season — TRASH PLANET 3: APOCALYPSE! — with a special presentation of two queer-tinged, early-career apocalypse films from two very different Davids… David Cronenberg’s venereal controversy SHIVERS (1975) followed by David DeCoteau’s trashy ALIEN cosplay, CREEPOZOIDS (1987).

*** Please note the different day/time for this event ***

SHIVERS dir David Cronenberg (1975 / Canada / 88mins)
“BEING TERRIFIED IS JUST THE BEGINNING…”

A new breed of parasite infects the residents of a luxury apartment block, triggering a very queer sex riot… David Cronenberg’s SHIVERS was hugely controversial on its original release, both for its venereal horrors and for daring to blow Canadian tax dollars on such filth (it was part-financed by the Canadian Film Development Corporation). However, SHIVERS’ “combination of taboo-busting sex, medical terror, and squishy creature effects” (Paul Corupe, Arrow Films) plunges audiences into a queer (and we don’t just mean LGBTIA+) apocalypse that resonates with present-day fears of queer erasure as a result of gentrification, chemsex, and the many health crises that have ripped through our communities since the 1980’s AIDS crisis, which Cronenberg eerily foreshadows.

CREEPOZOIDS dir David DeCoteau (1987 / USA / 79mins)
“YOUR FLESH WILL CRAWL RIGHT OUT OF YOUR BONES.”

Welcome to the future where a group of army deserters are journeying across America to seek shelter from a devastating nuclear war…. David DeCoteau’s CREEPOZOIDS is an iconic ALIEN ripoff where not having much of a budget is no barrier to ambitious (if rubbery) special effects! DeCoteau may be the LGBTQIA+ auteur you’ve never heard of, with almost 200 features under his belt and a seemingly endless production line of cult franchises. Having started work with Roger Corman, DeCoteau found his way to Charles Band (where he directed CREEPOZOIDS and several entries in the beloved PUPPET MASTER cycle) before going rogue and setting up his own production company, Rapid Heart. With DeCoteau’s TV movies now a daytime staple (THE WRONG BABY DADY), CREEPOZOIDS is a delirious throwback to his early-career mayhem.

Polite notice: We are showing SHIVERS and CREEPOZOIDS with subtitles from the best available digital sources. There will be one intermission between the two films. SHIVERS and CREEPOZOIDS contain adult themes and content: our show is strictly for adults aged 18+ only!

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///