Sunday, September 6th, 2026
This Labor Day Weekend, step right up and enter Scarlett Sacrilege’s Menagerie of Madness to catch a glimpse at the beautiful and bizarre on this edition of Sacrilegious Cinema at the circus. Welcome to the freakshow. While both films hone in on the carnivalesque, they diverge tonally from creature feature to cerebral existentialism, surveying different sides of the same coin.
At 8PM, follow me to THE FUNHOUSE (1981), right here in Florida, and witness what the carnies are hiding behind the smoke and mirrors- sometimes, what lies beneath the mask is better left unseen. Erroneously mistaken for a slasher, this flick treads more in monster movie territory, and was directed by none other than maestro of macabre, Tobe Hooper. This underrated hidden gem subverts expectations from the overlooked circus sub-genre, setting itself apart from its relatives amidst a saturation of similar flicks churned out during the height of the splatter craze. In spite of its minimal carnage, The Funhouse boasts gnarly special effects designed by Rick Baker (The American Werewolf in London) upon the grand reveal, pulling back the curtains to unveil a grisly visage in this unique entry. 
Then, at 10PM, enter the CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962), located off the abandoned Saltair Pavillon of Utah, for a psychological excursion into the recesses of sea, but watch your step as to not succumb to the haunted carousel, where ghouls dance a ghastly dirge upon a watery grave in this unorthodox, feministic independent horror. Cited as an inspiration for George A. Romero’s influential Night of the Living Dead (1968), this cult film feels ripped straight from the depths of The TwilightZone, evoking a mood reminiscent of the iconic episode ‘The Hitchhiker’ (1960). Directed by Herk Harvey and starring Candace Hilligoss in the role responsible for decimating her career due to the sheer uncanniness of the film, Carnival of Souls proves a labor of love- unable to be replicated. This 1962 cult jewel delves into the phantasmagorical, exploring themes of alienation, trauma, and misanthropy, manifesting symptoms of depersonalization and derealization, transfixing audiences as we glide between the realm of the living and the dead in an oppressive purgatory. 
Calling all carnies- there’s murder in the midway at Hot Wax Coffee Shop in Ybor City this week. 
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 circus-y double feature.
(Movie nights offer psychological insight accompanied by behind the scenes information and observations by your horror hostess). 