In some Asian cultures, the observance of Ghost Month every August is a time-honored tradition. It is said that during this time, the spirits of the dead come to visit the living. In celebration of this tradition, this year’s Thrill Fest by Ayala Malls Cinemas has been dubbed “Thrill Fest: The Ghost Month Classic Film Series” – and it boasts a spine-tingling lineup of thriller movies. 

Starting August 21 until September 3, Ayala Malls Cinemas will showcase a formidable (and frightening!) lineup of classic Hollywood horror and thriller films that are celebrating their anniversaries this year – offering cineastes a rare opportunity for a limited time only to watch “Interview with the Vampire” (30th anniversary), “Gremlins” (40th anniversary), “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (40th anniversary) and “The Towering Inferno” (50th anniversary) the way they were meant to be seen – on the big screen. So get ready for two weeks of chills, thrills, and unforgettable moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Get ready for a terrifyingly good time at the movies this Ghost Month. Here’s a quick guide to this year’s Thrill Fest lineup of remastered classics:  

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (Available August 21 – 27)
30th Anniversary. Released in 1994
Starring: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas

In “Interview with the Vampire,” 200-year-old vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) shares his story with reporter Daniel Molloy (Christian Slater), chronicling two centuries of desire, love, yearning, grief, terror, ecstasy and regret. Based on Anne Rice’s popular 1976 novel of the same name, this movie adaptation was nominated for two Academy Awards.

GREMLINS (Available August 21 – 27)
40th Anniversary. Released in 1984
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton

In the idyllic small town of Kingston Falls, struggling inventor Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) returns home with an unusual pet, called a Mogwai, as a gift for his son Billy (Zach Galligan). Taking care of the Mogwai is simple as long as they follow three important rules: Keep the Mogwai away from water, don’t expose him to bright lights, and never feed him after midnight. But the rules are broken, and the consequences literally multiply at an alarming rate. Written by Christopher Columbus (“Home Alone” 1 and 2, the first three “Harry Potter” movies), “Gremlins,” though involving creatures that can be frightening, is a fun watch for the entire family.

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (Available August 28 – September 3)
40th Anniversary. Released in 1984
Starring: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, John Saxon

A man who was murdered returns as a hideously scarred monster in the terrifying nightmares of his killers’ children who, one by one, are starting to die in their sleep. This classic horror film and its iconic villain, Freddy Krueger, were created by horror slasher genre genius Wes Craven (the “Scream” franchise).

THE TOWERING INFERNO (Available August 28 – September 3)
50th Anniversary. Released in 1974
Starring: Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire

Doug Roberts (Paul Newman) is the architect who designed the 138-storey Glass Tower, the tallest building in the world. But during the dedication ceremony for the skyscraper, an electrical short circuit starts a fire. San Francisco Fire Department chief Michael O’Hallorhan (Steve McQueen) arrives on the scene to help put out the fires, but with inadequate wiring that causes more fires, and the building being too high for such an emergency, will the people at the Tower survive? Directed by John Guillermin (known for another Hollywood classic “King Kong”), “The Towering Inferno” won three Academy Awards. 

Exclusive cinematic experience

The Thrill Fest offers moviegoers an exclusive cinematic experience – the featured classics are currently not available on popular streaming platforms, and can be watched, for a limited time, only at Ayala Malls Cinemas, and at an affordable price too! For only P200 – P250, cinema patrons can rediscover old favorites in the following participating cinema branches: 

1. Glorietta (P250)
2. Greenbelt (P250)
3. Circuit (P250)
4. Market Market (P250)
5. Fairview Terraces (P250)
6. Feliz (P250)
7. Trinoma (P250)
8. UPTC (250)
9. Manila Bay (P250)
10. Harbor Point (P250)
11. Solenad (P250)
12. Ayala Center Cebu (P200)
13. Centrio (P200)
14. Capitol Central (P200) 

With state-of-the-art facilities, including plush seating, generous legroom, cutting-edge laser projections, better images and superior audio technologies like Dolby Sound and Dolby Atmos, Ayala Malls Cinemas enhance the movie-watching experience, ensuring that viewers enjoy watching movies in the best possible environment. 

In addition to the premium cinematic experience, Ayala Malls Cinemas offers movie lovers a chance to rediscover (and, for the younger ones, discover!) timeless masterpieces. Who says old movies can only be seen via streaming on usually small and mobile screens? Films, especially those created before the age of smartphones, were created for the big screen, the cinema. So hurry and book your tickets to the Thrill Fest now! 

Make sure to catch the festival’s four classics – “Interview with the Vampire,” “Gremlins,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “The Towering Inferno” – during their limited festival run in Philippine cinemas from August 21 to September 3. For more information on screening schedules and to book tickets, movie enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the Ayala Malls Cinemas FB and IG pages. You may book your tickets in advance by visiting www.sureseats.com or any of the participating cinemas.