Monday, December 15th, 2025
Monday, December 15th, Sacrilegious Cinema dips its toes into foreign horror with a festive twist, dabbling in a duo consisting of giallo to French extremity sub-genres, sampling scares from southern Europe. Though not explicitly to do with the holidays, this dyad operates with relevant Christmas framing devices, taking place around the season or pertaining to it in one way or another, making this double feature an unconventional Yuletide viewing daring to tempt the limits of your average blood bath. 
Starting off strong at 8PM, we voyage overseas to Rome where jazz pianist Marc Daly witnesses the vicious murder of psychic medium Helga Ulmann, thrusting him into a perilous investigation with reporter Gianna Brezzi in an effort to unmask the identity of the unknown assailant. Dario Argento’s DEEP RED “Profondo Rosso” (1975) contains all the vital ingredients to concoct a perfect giallo, drenching the whodunnit narrative with a slew of red herrings against a vivid color palette, ambitious shots and stylish cinematography, emerging as an unorthodox holiday flick with its Christmas oriented opening.
Moreover, Deep Red marks the first collaboration of many between Argento and progressive rock band Goblin, whose reputation is renowned for orchestrating the haunting score of [Argento’s later] Suspiria (1977). In addition, Daria Nicolodi, a long time paramour of Argento himself, takes center stage as the sarcastic, headstrong journalist, in what would lead to plenty of more partnerships to follow in future works with this also being the first.
This staple of the giallo movement is steeped in both Freudian and Jungian elements, with a doll motif representing remnants of childhood innocence- defiled- as well as repressed in the recesses of the unconscious mind, along with serving as a conduit for the uncanny. Furthermore, Argento addresses themes of misogyny, issuing roles that would typically go to men instead to women, delving into the domain of defying gender norms and identity depicted in a few of the film’s scenarios.
The kills succeed in savagery, exercising injuries audiences could relate to on a smaller scale to incite an inherent reaction, causing viewers to squirm in their seats.
Undoubtedly a contender for Argento’s finest creation, Deep Red serves as a blueprint for many later films, even without being the first of its kind- although giallo tends to follow a dreamscape ambience specializing in the bizarre at the risk of incoherence, the plot remains cohesive throughout. 
Then, at 10PM, we journey to France to accompany a recently widowed woman on the verge of labor, terrorized by an unknown assailant on Christmas Eve- and what they crave isINSIDE (2007) of her. Welcome French extremity horror crafted by duo Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury- pairing visceral gore with an intriguing storyline- but beware, this is not for the faint of heart.
Inside ( À l’intérieur) pushes the envelope even within the bounds of its own sub-genre, excelling in its provocative presentation, this picture remains compelling and rife with tension in spite of its violent visuals, unveiling the beauty in the bloodshed to add an artistic edge to sanguinary sights. This home invasion survivalist film permits more than a mere cat and mouse chase, but conveys themes of grief, loneliness, isolation and motherhood, proving to ascend senseless brutality. Inside benefits from powerful performances by both Alysson Paradis and Béatrice Dalle; Paradis breathes a heart-wrenching realism into protagonist Sarah, bringing a fierce desperation to the table beyond a sullen temperament— meanwhile, Dalle evokes a sinister silhouette stalking in the shadows, but even as she is illuminated by the light, her menace only grows darker, cutting deeper than meets the eye. This is well worth the ride if you have the stomach for it. 
Come out to experience among the strongest candidates for countries boasting the most gruesome foreign horror- comprising of Italy and France, both notorious for their memorable genre entries in the annals of fear. Face serial killers and baby snatchers this week- only at Hot Wax Coffee Shop.
FREE popcorn included with a mandatory purchase- no cover charge with a 1 drink (or snack) minimum from the bar.
Remember to try our themed drinks for this week’s foreign horror double feature.
(Movie nights offer psychological insight accompanied by behind the scenes information and observations by your horror hostess).