Hey folks. Capone in Chicago here. I realize things have been kind of quiet on the screening front for readers in the Chicago area, but let's face it--has there been anything that opened recently that you really wanted to see? That I wanted to see, for that matter? All of this is about to change. If all goes according to plan, I'm going to be offering up four screenings in the first half of March (all before I leave for SXSW on March 12), and a couple of them are going to include very special guests. (And let me just put this on the table now so there's no confusion--I won't be giving away any passes to a WATCHMEN screening. Sorry guys.)

The first screening is a doozey. We're doing the exclusive Ain't It Cool News Chicago screening of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, a Wes Craven-produced remake of Craven's first film from 1972. Unlike a lot of the horror remakes we've been seeing lately, the filmmakers actually bothered to hire serious actors and not just WB pretty boys and girls. And while this version of LAST HOUSE does up the suspense quotient a bit compared to the original, you have to remember this story never played like a slasher film. The killers/torturers are all-too human; no masks necessary. Directed by Greek filmmaker Dennis Iliadis (hand picked by Craven, if I remember correctly), this remake is as brutal and effective as the original. It stars Sara Paxton as Mari, Monica Potter as her mother Emma, Tony Goldwyn as dad John, the fucking awesome and scary Garret Dillahunt as Krug, Riki Lindhome as Sadie, Aaron Paul as Francis, and Spencer Treat Clark as Justin.

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT will screen Monday, March 2, 7:00pm at a downtown Chicago theater. Only the winners of this contest will be informed of the screening details or be allowed in the screening. Do not enter this contest if there's even a slight chance you can't come. If you have a job that might force you to drop your plans to come to this screening, do not enter. If your wife or husband is eight-and-a-half months pregnant, do not enter. IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, DO NOT ENTER. You can get your folks to enter and bring you, but you can't enter. We've got about 260 seats to fill.

Here's how to win. Send me an email at capone@aintitcoolmail.com with the subject line: "IT'S ONLY A MOVIE". In the body of the email, I need your full name, whether or not you are bringing a guest (no guest's name required), and an answer to the following question: What horror film featured a scene or scenes so appalling that you felt noticeably uncomfortable or even had to leave the theater? Limit your entries to 50 words but go into as much details as you can about the moment that made you crack.

Winners will receive an email from me with the details of the screening. I've got a lot of seats to fill, so start entering. Believe me when I say, you want to see this movie. Good luck! And stay tuned, we've got another contest coming your way very soon.

-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com