What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with the 1981 psychological horror, Possession!

MovieJawn will once again be teaming up with Philly’s favorite film club, Girls Like Horror for the fourth annual Valentine’s Day screening of Possession at The Philadelphia Film Center. Arrive early for an epic party that is sure to make your heart flutter. Mix and mingle with your fellow horror fiends and partake in making a Valentine to your favorite final girl, compliments of MovieJawn. Come dressed to impress in your Valentine fit, ready to strike a pose in front of a themed backdrop provided by Girls Like Horror. Don’t worry if you leave your camera at home, there will be tons of disposables on hand thanks to our pals at PhotoLounge.

In addition to the festive activities, MovieJawn will be slinging zines and cinematic wares in the lobby, where you can also pick up Girls Like Horror merch and a limited Possession event poster from Eric Esposito. The celebration kicks off at 8pm and showtime is at 9:30pm. Come solo, invite your bestie, or better half and come on out for what is sure to be an unforgettable night. Tickets are going fast, snag yours here.

In anticipation of our special Valentine’s soiree, I chatted with Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the Philadelphia Film Society (PFS) Annemarie Maag-Tanchak, PFS Director of Programming Trey Shields, and Girls Like Horror Founder Christina Acevedo to find out what they feel is the ideal movie date night, their favorite movie couple, why they think Possession makes for the best way to celebrate this annual day of love, and their thoughts on other movie related stuff from video rental stores to concessions.

Rosalie Kicks (RK): What do you think makes Possession the perfect Valentine’s flick?

Christina Acevedo (CA): It reflects so well the other side of love, the darker side. It is still a film about love… just with a demon, psychosis, and great SFX, all things I LOVE to see in a film.

Annemarie Maag-Tanchak (AMT): I think every so often you just need to see really freaked-to-the-max movies that get you out of your viewing/comprehension comfort zone. Possession is the perfect film for that, and perfect to see with a date, so you can talk about it after!

Trey Shields (TS): For the longest time, barely knowing anything about it as I like to watch things cold, Possession was the film I knew that I would connect with on a cerebral and visceral level. I felt it in my bones even years before I saw it. After finally getting a copy of the Blu-ray, I knew that this was the film to end all films for me. Zulawski created a monster of a picture with chaotic camera movement, phenomenal performances, sexual/gender liberation, and a darkly comedic, absurd undertone to the paranoia of ‘80s Berlin that even today, after multiple viewings, leaves me breathless. I’m so thankful Metrograph has made this film more available and ever since then we have been playing it every year for Valentine’s Day. When programming, I try to not go with the obvious, easy films for holidays and playing Metrograph’s new theatrical restoration around Valentine’s Day, along with the growing interest and enthusiasm for the film, has proven to be the perfect holiday flick now for the 4th year in a row.

RK: What is the “wildest” film you ever took a date to see? Any regrets? 

CA: I went on a first (and last) date to see Skinamarink at The Bourse when I first moved back to Philly. He was so scared and curled into a ball the entire time, covering his eyes. I was like wow, I just saw one of the most important and interesting horror films of our time. Not a match. 

AMT: In June of 2023, Philly Film Society did a ‘Bad Dads’ Father’s Day double feature of The Mosquito Coast and Roar. I went with my boyfriend and it was four hours of internally screaming at the hubris of these men, but in a delightfully excruciating way. Is there a word for “No! Don’t do that!” combined with “You won’t!”?? 

TS: I don’t think there has been a specific theater date that has gone awry from the content, but one that sticks out in my head was striking up a conversation with a woman visiting Philly from France after seeing Friedkin’s Killer Joe alone at the Ritz 5. I’ve since fallen in love with the film for its southern noir trashiness, but if there was ever one to send a bunch of red flags, it’s THE film of the Matthew McConnaissance. We ended up becoming good friends and even dated for a bit before she went back home!

RK: What’s your idea of a perfect movie for date night ? Is the setting a cinema? At home? A drive-in? 

CA:  Officially have never been to the drive-in on a date, but it sounds lovely.  I went on a friend date to the Mahoning Drive-in Theater and we had a blast.  So sometimes the perfect date is a friend date!  Perfect movie for a date is Wild At Heart, which I recently saw at Philly Film Society… on a date! It’s creepy, funny, sexy.  IT’S LYNCH.  

AMT: There’s a lot of drive-ins where I grew up, and I think it’s the perfect setting for a movie date (or friend date) because you can bring a picnic, snuggle under a blanket, and chat a little in response to what you’re watching while still being a part of a group viewing experience. Plus at the drive-in it’s usually a summer evening with great people watching.

TS: My partner and I watch A LOT of films at home (plus Star Trek Deep Space Nine) because I have created a pretty nice set up, but when we do venture out, I like to do the film first as much as possible before dinner. We also love camping out at Mahoning Drive-in. The other joy I have is when we travel to different cities and looking up the art house theaters in the area and visiting them. I love walking into different cinemas and getting a feel for the energy and history of the space. Owners, managers, and staff across the country have often gone out of their way to either give me a tour or allow me to wander and take it all in solo.

RK: Who is your favorite movie couple?

CA:  Micky and Mallory Knox from Natural Born Killers

AMT: Hans and Frieda from Freaks! They go through such a challenge at the hands of cruel manipulators. Their relationship is so loving, and with their supportive friends and a little revenge they make it out the other side.

TS: Besides Possession’s Mark and Anna, obviously, I have always loved the ebb and flow of Belmondo’s Ferdinand and Karina’s Marianne in Pierrot Le Fou.

RK: If you could pick a movie character to go on a movie date with, who would you pick?

CA: Jeff Goldblum in The Fly before he turns into The Fly because I would like to pick his scientist brain and I would also be curious what film he would pick to see on a date!

AMT: Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont in Rear Window. I love her style and sense of adventure, and we all know Jimmy Stewart is taking her restaurant-at-home lobster dinner efforts for granted. It would be such a glamorous night and I’d be floating on air if I got a kiss on the cheek.

TS: Anna Karina. Any role.

RK: It is the year 2000, what are you renting on date night at the video store? Which store are you going to?

CA: Jaws or Nightmare on Elm Street at the TLA in Bryn Mawr, PA

AMT: I’m getting Clueless or Encino Man from the now-shuttered Deja View video store in my hometown in Upstate NY. 

TS: Fright Night or Casablanca from Blockbuster or West Coast Video.

RK: Which flick do you think portrays the absolute perfect date?

CA: Desperately Seeking Susan, when Roberta and Dez eat chinese food on the roof. I also just love this film so much!    

AMT: The perfect date(s) for me is in the film Daisies by Věra Chytilová, when the two Marias get the creepy older men to buy them dinner and then desert the men at the train station, multiple times. Any good date ends with a full belly and a debrief with the bestie. 

TS: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

RK: Do you have a motion picture that is a “test” for a relationship? If they like this, you know it is meant to be. 

CA:  Great question because I feel like I do this with lots of films.  Always curious about Hellraiser but it is not a dealbreaker. I would say The Second Wave or anything by Peter Weir. Must appreciate Peter Weir.  

AMT: For me it’s not necessarily about a particular title, but more about having a similar attitude toward movies. It’s great to have a Venn diagram of differing and overlapping taste, as long as you and your partner don’t disrespect each other’s opinions or make watching films a competition when it’s supposed to be fun. For me, the test is if someone has equal reverence for the experience of watching critically acclaimed films and really campy, no-thoughts films - if you can’t handle me at my Chopping Mall you don’t deserve me at my Wings of Desire.

TS: Never! But recently my partner fell in love with Lucrecia Martel films when I was revisiting them to consider for a series. I’m so lucky. That or Macgruber.

RK: In celebration of couples… in your opinion what goes best with popcorn at the movies? 

CA: Diet Pepsi! 

AMT: My preferred popcorn topping is vegan butter, salt, and some nutritional yeast, and a half lemonade/half sprite for my drink!  

TS: I rarely ever snack at the theater, but I’m into Reeses Pieces when the feeling hits me. Or a corn dog from Mahoning Drive In at 3 in the morning.

Join Girls Like Horror and MovieJawn Valentine’s Day at Philadelphia Film Society for a soiree unlike no other starting at 8pm, Possession screens at 9:30pm. Tickets available here.

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