11 things the guy behind me yelled at last night’s midnight screening of ‘A Bay Of Blood’

Friday night / Saturday morning, the Milwaukee Film Festival stayed up late for a midnight screening of Mario Bava’s 1971 Italian giallo film A Bay Of Blood. The influential proto-slasher (sometimes known as Carnage or Twitch Of The Death Nerve) tells the twisty and violent tale of the titular bay and its many scheming, double-crossing, murdering, and/or soon-to-be-murdered inhabitants and visitors. It’s high on vibes and the final 30 seconds may be the most bat-shit and left-field ending ever committed to film. Four stars! Milwaukee Record says check it out!

But it wasn’t just any midnight screening. A Bay Of Blood was presented by Severin Films, an L.A.-based production and distribution company that specializes in Blu-ray releases of cult films like, well, A Bay Of Blood. Folks from Severin were on hand in the Oriental Theatre lobby with a table absolutely loaded with Blu-rays. It was a blast browsing the table with likeminded horror hounds (Hi, Robyn! Hi, Dave!) buying some keepers and receiving complimentary barf bags. Like I’ve said before about MFF’s Milwaukee Record-sponsored Cinema Hooligante program (of which A Bay Of Blood was a part), it’s great hanging out with your people.

Speaking of people, there was a guy sitting behind me during the film who was really having a blast. I’m normally annoyed or outright hostile to folks who talk or hoot and holler too loudly during movies, but midnight screenings are different. Does the movie you’re watching feature a character getting slammed in the face with a billhook? Does it include a tender scene where two characters get speared mid-coitus? (Friday The 13th Part 2 totally ripped this part off.) If the answers are YES, then it’s cool to have a little fun.

So anyway, here are 11 things the guy yelled—and yelled loudly—during the film. Thanks for a great night/morning, Milwaukee Film Festival and Oriental Theatre! Thanks, Severin! Thanks, guy!

“OH!”

“OOOH!”

“AH!”

“OUCH!”

“Mmm, boobies…” (He kind of whispered this)

“OH!”

“OOOH!”

“WHAT?!”

“OH MY GOD!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” (the last four all happened during the film’s final 30 seconds)

Also, I had a pretty good game of James Bond pinball at Landmark Lanes before the show. God, I love Milwaukee Film Festival season.