TV & Showbiz

Cultplex’s annual horror film festival returns to GRUB next month

Because spooky season should last all month long.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 16th September 2024

A much-loved staple of Manchester’s spooky season is returning this autumn as the STAB Season film festival lands back at Cultplex next month.

Part of GRUB over at Red Bank, Cultplex is one of the best small-screen cinemas and hidden gems full stop to be found in the city centre; as the name would suggest, they celebrate fan favourite films, video games, cool nerd stuff and all things culty.

And don’t worry, by culty we mean the stuff people are obsessed with – there’s no risk of stumbling across old people donning hooded cloaks like in Hot Fuzz or anything, we promise.

However, that film is a very good example of the kind of fandom this Manchester ‘mini-cini’ champions, and this October it will once again be taken over by a whole host of horror movies and more as part of the month-long festival.

Promising to deliver “a month of sinister cinema that isn’t for the faint of heart” and be “the biggest yet”, the 2024 STAB Film Season over at Cultplex kicks off on Wednesday, 2 October and doesn’t stop until the start of November.

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With this year’s lineup featuring sci-fi and supernatural classics such as The Exorcist (1973) and Alien (1979) – and that’s just the double-bill they’ve booked in for Halloween night – as well as full-on movie marathons, special spooky one-offs and other events.

We’re talking quizzes, Q&A and binging of TV box sets just to name a few. Basically, it’s going to be equal parts terrifying and terrific.

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Kicking off the city’s longest-lasting horror movie festival with their annual airing of 1974’s locally-shot-yet-criminally-underseen The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (now THAT is what you call a cult film), before swinging headlong into Wes Craven’s hit slasher franchise Scream and Korean zombie hit Train to Busan (2016), this thing is going to move at a mile a minute.

It’ll be Halloween before you know it. You can find the full STAB Film Season 2024 line-up below:

DateWhat’s on at STAB Film Season – Cultplex @ GRUB
Wednesday, 2 October19:30 – The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974)
Thursday, 3 October20:30 – Sprechen: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari + live score
Friday, 4 October20:30 – Double-bill: Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) + Shiva Baby (2020)
Sunday, 6 October13:00 – Scream Stab-a-Thon
Wednesday, 9 October19:30 – Interference Film Club: Martyrs (2015)
Saturday, 12 October13:30 – The Addams Family (1991)
16:00 – The Blob (1988)
19:00 – Zombie All-Nighter ft. Train to Busan (2016), Return of the Living Dead (1985), REC (2007) and Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979)
Sunday, 13 October16:00 – Interview With The Vampire (1994)
Wednesday, 16 October19:30 – Halloween Quiz Show
Friday, 18 October18:00 – Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (2004 — and our pick of the bunch*)
Sunday, 20 October13:00 – TRASHFEST with Andrew Leovald Q&A
16:00 – CULT CLUB: The Mummy (1999)
Wednesday, 23 October19:30 – GASP: Suspiria (1977)
Thursday, 24 October19:30 – MAGHOUL (amateur video game night – but scary)
Friday, 25 October18:00 – Double-bill: Thirteen Ghosts (2001) + Ghost Ship (2002)
Saturday, 26 October13:00 – A Lovely Time: The Simpsons ‘Treehouse of Horror’ Quiz
13:30 – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
16:00 – In The Mouth of Madness (1994) + Nick Helm Podcast
20:00 – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) for Freddy K’s 40th B-Day Party
Sunday, 27 October13:00 – Movie Church: Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
16:00 – Linnea Quigley’s Horror Workout (1990)
19:00 – Tetsuo The Iron Man (1989)
Wednesday, 30 October19:30 – Arrow Film Club: Ju-on The Grudge (2002)
Thursday, 31 October – HALLOWEEN!19:30 – Double-bill: The Exorcist (1973) + Alien (1979)
Friday, 1 November19:30 – Slumber Party Massacre Double Bill
Saturday, 2 November – The Finale16:00 – Death Becomes Her (1992)

Read more:

Halloween and horror fans won’t need convincing on this one, you already know the drill.

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You can expect all this and loads more surprises we wouldn’t dare spoil for you when STAB Film Season kicks off at Cultplex next month.

And the best part is, you’re already at GRUB, so proper good food and drink is right on your doorstep. Just try not to throw it all in the air when the jumpscares start.

Full-season listings can be found HERE with tickets for all events available to book now – if you’re brave
enough. It’s not the only thing fright fans can look forward to this year either…

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Cultplex/GRUB MCR (supplied)

TV & Showbiz

Liam Fray says ‘yes’ to Courteeners supporting Oasis on tour amid rumoured 2027 dates

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Courteeners want to support Oasis on 2027 tour dates

Liam Fray has said that the Courteeners are ready to “answer the call” if/when it comes to supporting Oasis on their next big live tour, with rumours of dates for shows in 2027 ramping up.

The fellow Manc favourites were heavily suggested as potential support acts for the Live ’25 reunion gigs, but Cast and Richard Ashcroft were ultimately selected as the warm-ups for the world tour.

Nevertheless, being linked with opening up for Oasis isn’t the kind of buzz that ever goes away entirely, with beloved Stopfordians Blossoms also having been hinted at following their cheeky reveal at Wythenshawe Park.

With that in mind, when asked if Courteeners would be ready to open up for Oasis on their still only hypothetical tour next year, Fray had a very quick answer:

Not to speak for the Middleton musician, but it’s a bit of a no-brainer, really.

As you can see, in a recent interview with Radio X host Johnny Vaughan promoting the indie rockers’ new single, ‘Plus One Forever’, the 41-year-old frontman made it clear that he and his bandmates would bite hands off if the other Liam and/or his brother Noel offered a slot to them.

The younger Gallagher brother definitely had plenty of fun teasing supports last time around, before making some fairly more obvious posts and then seemingly just announcing them on social media according to his own timeline.

LG does what he wants, after all.

As for the supposed ’12 nights at the Etihad Stadium’ reported recently, not to mention all the other sets across the country that would no doubt follow should they come to fruition, Fray could say little else other than simply “Yes” to the prospect.

Joking, “Well, it is from me – I don’t know if someone else has said no!”, there have been no other indications on this front, but it’s safe to say it’d be a huge booking for everyone involved and a HUGE crowd-pleaser; Liam looks to be working on one of his own, elsewhere, too…

The two lead singers have both graced the stage of the Emirates Old Trafford stadium at Lancashire County Cricket Club, as well as Heaton Park, respectively.

Still, playing Man City’s expanded home ground and Campus would be something special for both.

Liam noted that he was at Heaton Park himself for that unforgettable summer last year, and also praised Wigan’s very own Ashcroft for being “unbelievable” when he caught him at Wembley. Big shoes to fill. The question is, who would you like to see supporting Oasis on their possible tour dates in the future?

In the meantime, we’ll have to be satisfied with gearing up for the release of the highly-anticipated reunion documentary, with the title and a first trailer now revealed.

Noel Gallagher delivers update on Oasis Live ’25 reunion documentary
Can’t wait to relive one of the best moments of our lives.

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Featured Images — Audio North/Radio X (screenshot via YouTube)

TV & Showbiz

Trailer released for ‘gripping’ new ITV drama series starring Michelle Keegan

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The trailer for a new ITV drama series starring Manchester’s very-own Michelle Keegan has been released.

Already billed as being a ‘gripping’ new series that’s set to have audiences right on the edge of their seats, The Blame will dive into secrets, suspicion and systemic corruption all under the surface of this seemingly quiet town.

The six-part series – which was filmed in and around London late last summer – promises complex characters, unexpected twists, and a mystery at its core.

Produced by the acclaimed Quay Street Productions – which are part of ITV Studios – and written, developed for television, and executive produced by Megan Gallagher, The Blame sees Michelle Keegan take on the role of DCI Kenneth Walker.

A talented ensemble cast stars alongside Keegan, including well-known actors like Douglas Booth, also in a lead role, as well as Ian Hart, Nathan Mensah, Nigel Boyle, Joe Armstrong, Matilda Freeman, Gavin Spokes, Josh Bolt, and Ceallach Spellman in various supporting roles.

The series begins when the body of teenage figure skater, Sophie Madsen, is discovered, sending shockwaves through the town of Wakestead.

As DI Crane (Keegan) and DI Radley (Booth) dig deeper, what starts as a tragic death spirals into a tangled web of lies, institutional cover-ups, and moral compromise. As the clock ticks and trust fractures, Crane must navigate both a murder investigation and the treacherous politics inside her own team.

A trailer for the show has now been released showing the cast in action ahead of airing on ITV later this year.

The trailer has been released for a ‘gripping’ new ITV drama series starring Michelle Keegan / Credit: ITV

“The Blame is a brilliant new crime thriller full of surprising twists and a compelling investigation that also cleverly tackles police corruption, exploitation and misogyny as the thriller unravels,” commented ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill.

“Megan is such a wonderful and clever writer, and with Michelle Keegan in the lead, this is going to be an unmissable drama and one I’m very proud to have on ITV.”

Read more:

No release date for the show has been announced, but we do know it’s ‘coming soon’.

Featured Image – ITV Studios

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