Considered the unluckiest day in the calendar, Friday the 13th occurs only every 212 days. And a Friday the 13th that falls on October, the month of Halloween? That’s even rarer, coming around only every 11 years or so. It’s no wonder then this Dubai theatre is going all out for the screening of the new horror film ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ that’s releasing in time for Friday, October 13, 2023.
As if watching possessed actors on the silver screen in haunted settings wasn’t terrifying enough, Roxy Cinemas has decided to make the jump scares quite literal by adding live actors to the shows. Dressed in spine-chilling costumes, the performers will ensure your horror movie experience is a perfect nightmare by appearing during the film’s most hair-raising moments.
What is The Exorcist Believer about?
This sixth instalment of The Exorcist series is a direct sequel to the cult 1973 classic ‘The Exorcist’. The paranormal incidents of this story involve single dad Victor Fielding’s quest to free his daughter Angela from the clutches of demonic powers with the help of Chris Mac Neil, the mum from the original 1973 film.
These immersive freaky Friday shows with live actors are happening in Dubai Hills Malls. The Roxy Cinema Silver experience at 10pm, and if you’d like your nightmares to be larger than life, there’s a 11:30pm session at XTREME, the Middle East’s largest cinema screen. Tickets are limited and you’ll want to book them ASAP on the website. The tickets start from AED 55.
Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky?
Whether you buy into the superstition of Friday the 13th brings terrible misfortunes or not, there’s no denying that this date and the myths and legends surrounding it have shaped pop culture. Fantasy and horror films like Freaky Friday, and Friday the 13th have only perpetuated the myth and deepened the aura of mystery and spookiness around it.
Historically though, the associations of Friday the 13th being unlucky come from Western and Norse legends about 13 guests at a table being a bad omen. Enthusiasts also cite examples of terrible events that have occurred on the date such as cyclones, the disappearance of a Chilean Air Force plane and even the death of rapper Tupac Shakur. In fact, there’s a name to describe the phobia of Friday the 13th – friggatriskaidekaphobia.
Meet-and-greets and themed snacks
You probably won’t be able to hold on to your snacks since jumping out of your skin and screaming your lungs out at regular intervals is a huge part of this experience. However, if you’re made of sterner stuff, nosh on Halloween-themed black and orange popcorn, monster burgers and more.
For those who laugh in the face of fear and enjoy the adrenaline highs of horror, a special meet-and-scare session with entertainers from Global Village will take place in the Roxy Cinemas lobby from 8pm-9pm. Always good to put a face to your fears, right?