Sunday, August 2nd, 2026
Bear witness to nautical nightmares in this edition of Sacrilegious Cinema: Menagerie of Madness concerning seaside frights, detailing the test of lunacy when faced with a watery grave, incorporating sirens and legends of the deep alike. All aboard for a treacherous journey across the currents of terror.
At 8PM, turn back time to the 1890s where we meet the acquaintance of two lighthouse keepers who inevitably become stranded via storm on a remote New England island, leading the men to madness when left to their own devices, culminating in a tumultuous turn of events laced with mythology and mayhem. Robert Eggers’ THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019) etches a petrifying portrait of pandemonium in this stark black and white 35mm film, blurring the threshold between reality and fantasy in a hallucinatory hellscape. Inspired by the short story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe, The Lighthouse channels themes of isolation, guilt, and the ramifications of taboo knowledge amidst threads of cosmic horror to the likes of Lovecraft. The Lighthouse further embeds the narrative with parallels to Greek Mythos as well as psychological lens of both Freud and Jung, examining psychosexual dynamics associated with masculinity complimented by duality to construct a dreamlike diorama plagued by anguish. Starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as the eponymous lighthouse keepers, the men endow the atmosphere with a dichotomy amidst their eccentricities, plunging audiences further into the maritime madness against striking visuals, stellar cinematography and a haunting score to forge a palpable ambience to swim in. 
Then, at 10PM, hark back to 1905 and join two Irish carnival workers in their pursuit to abduct an authentic siren from an old sailor to profit off the said discovery in their sideshow— however, once the duo set sail for America, the mysterious creature unveil perilous properties while the crew is left vulnerable amongst the vast scourge of the sea. SHE CREATURE (2001) submits a dark retelling of the well known whimsical lore, embracing monstrous mermaids in their grotesque origins, subverting any trace of romanticism intertwined in these legendary lures. Sebastian Gutiérrez’s early 2000s effort pays homage to 1950s B movies with spectacular special effects orchestrated by the masterful Stan Winston, all fins and no frills. She Creature captures a feministic slant, sinking into seduction- particularly of a sapphic lineage- ultimately dealing in fertility, autonomy, and obsession, particularly through the vehicle of Carla Gugino’s (Gerald’s Game, The Haunting of Hill House) Lily, cultivating a psychic bond with the mesmerizing mermaid (sensually portrayed by Rya Kihlstedt) exposing an empowering liberation within her. Moreover, the scourge of mankind’s preoccupation with greed is critiqued under an ethical judgement where retribution reigns supreme. 
Come take a dip at Hot Wax Coffee Shop in Ybor City and succumb to our siren song and drown in the delights of our themed drinks.. the water’s just fine.
FREE popcorn included with a mandatory purchase- no cover charge with a 1 drink (or snack) minimum from the bar. Make sure to sample the themed drinks for this week’s double feature- grab them while you can.
(Movie nights offer psychological insight accompanied by behind the scenes information and observations by your horror hostess). 