Grindhouse Wednesdays: putting the sin back in cinema

Creeping tarantulas gnaw off a man’s face. A posse of buxom babes embarks on a vigilante justice spree. Pam Grier stashes razor blades in her hair before a catfight. These are just a few moments of celluloid gold that have passed through the projectors at Grindhouse Wednesdays. GW kicked off its inaugural monthly screening back in December 2009 at Cinéma L’Amour, coinciding with the salacious theatre’s 40th anniversary. Known more for sticky floors than for its vintage interior, L’Amour was the perfect setting to celebrate the various prurient exploitation subgenres of the ‘70s. This isn’t your average suburban matinee at the Cineplex.

Run by Ben Godin and a team of suave volunteers, the screenings raise money for Head & Hands, a non-profit thatprovides various social services to Montreal youth. Though conceived in a porno theatre, GW has changed venues a few times to keep things fresh, each space bringing its own distinct ambience. We asked Godin if the shift in scenery affects audience participation.

“The smaller venues create an intimate atmosphere, which I find really fun, because it feels like everyone is sharing the experience together in a visceral way. Cinéma L’Amour is a lot grittier, the way a true grindhouse theatre is supposed to be. The Rialto, where we’ll be doing the majority of our shows for the rest of 2011, is simply stunning. It really has an event feel to it that the crowd seems to jive on.”