Cinema spotlight: Cigarette Burns and Scala Forever

From 1981 to 1993, the Scala provided London with all its grindhouse needs. Specializing in alternative, underground, and off-beat film, the notorious cinema offered hardened movie fans something the local Odeon couldn’t (plus a bit of after hours boozing, at a time when obtaining some decent liquor past 11.00pm wasn’t so easy). Sadly, the all-night movie and drinking marathons are now little more than the stuff of legend, a distant memory of the pre-multiplex era.

But amongst London’s modern film enthusiasts, there are still those that fight to keep the dream alive. In a generation of superheroes, CGI, and endless throwaway franchises, it’s reassuring that there are some who champion old-school zombie massacres, budget gore, and indie sensibilities. One such pioneer of cult film is Cigarette Burns, the London-based underground cinema alternative. Since early 2009 it has screened a variety of horror, schlock, sleaze, and grindhouse across a variety of London venues.  It was founder Josh Saco’s passion for cult film that originally gave birth to the project.

‘I had gone to the Rio one Sunday to see Jekyll and Hyde,’ says Josh, referring to Dalston’s much-loved picture house. ‘I left wondering why more cult or horror films weren’t being screened. So I figured why not do my own?’

Josh’s original mission was to steer away from what he describes as ‘cookie cutter cult films’, the kind of thing that passed for an alternative cinema experience before Cigarette Burns’ conception.

‘There were pubs showing films,’ Josh tells THN, ‘boring things I’d seen a million times. Kubrick or Scosese films with a pint in a pub just never sat right with me.’

To date, Cigarette Burns has showcased a range of obscure material, screening films from directors such as Mario Bava, Dario Argento, and Abel Ferrara. Though these names may be familiar with cult cinema fanboys, they still remain relatively unknown to the masses.

Whilst Cigarette Burns attempts to offer something different for London’s cinemagoers, there remains a sense of fun beneath its operation. As far back as the ‘video nasties’, part of horror’s appeal has been its communal aspect. Groups of rabid gorehounds have always reveled in coming together for 90 minutes of blood, guts, sleaze, and shoddy production values. This also was a driving factor for the original Cigarette Burns events, itself a collaborative effort.

‘I called up my friend Ed Zed and we hatched a little plan,’ Josh says. ‘We approached the Mucky Pup pub with the intention of showing films you could get pissed to and enjoy with friends.’ But it seems there was more to Cigarette Burns than the mandatory boozing, though that certainly was a consideration. ‘We were focusing on the film,’ continues Josh, ‘but also taking into account the environment. The films needed to be drunk friendly. Nothing too heavy, and the odder the better, but not pure trash.’

Cigarette Burns has grown somewhat since the beginning: though it still screens on the first Monday of every month in the Mucky Pup, for the last year it has also run monthly events at the Rio (such as a smash-hit screening of PIRANHA 3D earlier this summer). Cigarette Burns has also recently held events at one of Central London’s most popular venues, as Josh explains:

‘We’ve taken on setting up the occasional double bill at the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square, which is exciting and opens up loads of possibilities.’ Their first event saw a sell-out screening of RINGU and POLTERGEIST, an appealing tag team of horror for any fan.

‘Obviously Cigarette Burns has grown beyond the confines of a pub, but the mission is still the same,’ says Josh. ‘That said, in a cinema we feel more comfortable showing more challenging films.’ Such examples include Ferrara’s MS. 45, which was shown at the Rio. The film tells the story of a mute, vengeful seamstress who goes on a gun-toting murder spree after suffering two rapes in the same day. Hardly kids matinee material.

Films like this obviously exist for a certain niche audience, and for many casual movie fans, their violent or sexual content and rough edges will be difficult to embrace. But for others, they remain one of the most exciting forms of cinema, a throwback to a time when film was considered truly dangerous, now viewed with a sense of nostalgia and self-awareness. For Josh, the alternative side of film has always appealed, and his Cigarette Burns events demonstrate a passion that is rare for much ‘mainstream’ cinema.

‘When I was a kid I had to go food shopping with my parents, and I used to spend that time sat in the video rental section of the supermarket. All the horror films were on the bottom two shelves, and that was perfect for me. I could sit on the floor and get lost in these fascinating covers.’

Josh was influenced by a range of films and television, and considers his passion to be a result of such late night TV treats as C.H.U.D., GARGOYLES, and THE TWILIGHT ZONE. As Josh says, ‘It all creeps in, I guess… ‘

Cigarette Burns has succeeded in building a loyal fanbase, with an increasing number of returning audience members to its events. The monthly screenings at the Mucky Pup boast a dedicated group of regulars, some of whom have supported Cigarette Burns from the very beginning. Fans are also welcome to make suggestions, and some of past programming has been influenced by audience feedback, such as the screening of J. Michael Muro’s comedic horror STREET TRASH, which had been regularly requested.

‘I was shocked at how many people came out for Street Trash,’ recalls Josh. But many of Cigarette Burns’ other events have proved just as popular, particularly SHOGUN ASSASIN and SUSPIRIA (‘I’ll be honest and say that had much more to do with Suspiria being an amazing film than Cigarette Burns really doing anything particularly interesting’ Josh confesses).

Next on the agenda is a double bill of Lucio Fulci’s occult film THE BEYOND and Dan O’ Bannon’s zombie feature DEAD & BURIED, showing at the Prince Charles Cinema on 24^th August. Both films featured on the original video nasties list and are now available to be screened uncut, a real sinister treat for the horror diehards. The double bill is part of the ‘Scala Forever’ season, which is currently running across 27 different London venues and film clubs for what Josh describes as an effort ‘to pay tribute to an important part of our cultural history.’

‘Highlighting cult movies, running regular all night screenings, and film festivals, The Scala is close to many people’s hearts,’ says Josh. ‘So Scala Forever is a celebration of London’s lost Grindhouse. Ultimately it’s a fantastic chance to get out there and see how different groups programme, present, and to watch loads of films.’

The upcoming double bill is the first of two Scala Forever events that Cigarette Burns will host. The second will be a triple-bill of Shunya Ito’s FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION trilogy at Dalston’s Rio. Taking place on 24^th September, the screening will also feature a special guest host in Pinky expert Jasper Sharp. ’Female Prisoner is a much loved example of the Japanese Pinky violence genre,’ Josh tells THN, ‘extreme, experimental and erotic in equal measure. The remit was films that had been screened or would have been screened at the Scala. Female Prisoner, as far as I am aware, never did, but content wise it’s perfect, and given the chance I will show a Japanese film. When all else fails, I look east.’

Following these special screenings, Cigarette Burns will continue to bring cult film fans what Josh appropriately describes as ‘obscure treats’, and he clearly prides his set-up on delivering something that viewers may not have seen before. Cigarette Burns has also secured special appearances for past events, such as actress Caroline Munro and director Mark Ezra for a Q&A following a screening of SLAUGHTERHOUSE HIGH. Also, for each screening Cigarette Burns print up a limited edition T shirt, and Dee Dee’s Vintage will host a pop-up shop selling appropriate retro clothing.

There is also an exciting future project in the works, something that may add another layer to the pioneering cinema experience, as Josh explains: ‘We’ve teamed up with Reel Music and will be starting a monthly night at 93 Feet East on Brick Lane in October. Reel Music is a semi regular club night based at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes specialising in soundtracks and songs featured in films. So they’ll have a DJ set before and after the film, which will undoubtedly prove to make for a grand ole time.’

Beyond this, Josh is unsure what else the future holds for Cigarette Burns. ‘Whatever it is,’ he says ‘it’ll always be full of forgotten flickering images.’ And for cult fanboys, that can only be a good thing, as Cigarette Burns will continue to continue screen grindhouse classics and obscure curiosities. And it isn’t all about blood, guts, poor dubbing, and women wrestling in prison; for both Cigarette Burns and its fans, there is a genuine appreciation for the artistic nature of cinema’s underbelly, something that be hard for regular cinemagoers to appreciate.

‘There are standards, they are sometimes difficult to define, or articulate, but there must be an element of class there… somewhere… buried deep down…’

DEAD & BURIED and THE BEYOND are showing on 24th August at the Prince Charles Cinema.

The FEMALE PRISONER triple bill is showing on 24th September at the Rio Cinema.

For more information visit cigaretteburnscinema.com and for the complete Scala Forever listings visit scalaforever.co.uk