RiffTrax, formerly known as Mystery Science Theater 3000, is heading to a theater near you August 16th for a live commentary on the film “Manos’ The Hands of Fate”. This will be a revisitation to the film for the RiffTrax crew, as the film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1993. The film, regarded as one of the worst ever made, chronicles a vacationing family who lose their way on a road trip in Texas, and find themselves trapped at a lodge maintained by a polygamous pagan cult. Check out the trailer below; find a theater near you offering this event here; and after the jump read the full press release!
NCM® Fathom Events and RiffTrax Present Hilarious Cult Classic with
All-New Live Comedic Commentary from the Stars of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” Broadcast to Select Movie Theaters Nationwide August 16
Centennial, Colo. – June 21, 2012 – NCM® Fathom Events and RiffTrax present “RiffTrax Live: ‘Manos’ The Hands of Fate” in theaters for only one night on Thursday, August 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT and tape delayed 7:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. PT. Featuring the same comedians from the cult classic “Mystery Science Theater 3000” (MST3K), Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett will reunite on the big screen to fire off their wisecracking commentary on the 1966 American horror feature “‘Manos’ The Hands of Fate.” The event will be broadcast LIVE from Nashville to participating movie theaters across the country. Attendees will be treated not only to “Manos’” infamous abysmal acting, outdated effects and seemingly endless cat fights featuring ‘The Master’s’ many girdle-clad wives, but also a selection of free digital goodies.
Tickets for “RiffTrax Live: ‘Manos’ The Hands of Fate” are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change). The event will be broadcast to more than 550 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.
“Revisiting ‘Manos’ again after 19 years will be like running into a dear old friend—a friend who drinks all your beer and hits you up for money,” said Michael J. Nelson, RiffTrax creator and former host of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000.’ “Still, we’re thrilled to be able to bring this timeless classic to the big screen. (Don’t tell anyone but I seriously love this film.)”
Previous successful Fathom and RiffTrax events have included “RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer” in August 2011, a hilarious riff of the cheesy 1962 fantasy epic featuring giant rubber monsters and a leprechaun in a jar; “RiffTrax Live: House on Haunted Hill” in October 2010, which took on the Vincent Price horror classic just in time for Halloween; “RiffTrax Live: Reefer Madness” in August 2010, parodying the legendary cult classic; “RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 From Outer Space” in August 2009, skewering what is widely considered to be the ‘worst film ever made’; and “RiffTrax Live: Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza” in December 2009, featuring “Weird Al” Yankovic.
“Fathom’s live in-theater events with the RiffTrax gang have been tremendously popular with theater audiences,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “With ‘Manos,’ Mike, Kevin and Bill are sure to deliver yet another side-splitting evening of fun, packed with their signature brand of wisecracks.”
Infamous for its significant technical deficiencies and continuity flaws, “‘Manos’ The Hands of Fate,” written, directed, produced by and starring Harold P. Warren, is widely believed to be one of the worst films ever made. The plot revolves around a vacationing family who lose their way on a road trip in Texas, and find themselves trapped at a lodge maintained by a polygamous pagan cult. In 1993 “Mystery Science Theater 3000” featured “‘Manos’ The Hands of Fate,” launching the film’s cult status.
**Editor Note: Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett will be available for select telephone, radio and television press interviews. Artwork, bios and other promotional materials can be found at www.rifftrax.com/epk.
About National CineMedia (NCM)
NCM operates NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology. The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom Events present cinema advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in-theater network, comprised of theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional theater circuits. NCM’s theater advertising network covers 181 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50) and includes over 19,000 screens (approximately 17,800 digital). During 2011, over 670 million patrons (on an annualized basis) attended movies shown in theaters in which NCM currently has exclusive, cinema advertising agreements in place. The NCM Fathom Events live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is comprised of over 700 locations in 167 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). The NCM Interactive Network offers 360-degree integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema, encompassing 42 entertainment-related websites, online widgets and mobile applications. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 48.6% interest in and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com or www.FathomEvents.com.
About RiffTrax
Featuring former members of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning show “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” RiffTrax is composed of Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett. Nelson has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, written a regular column for TV Guide and authored many best-selling books. Perhaps best known as the man behind the plucky red robot Tom Servo on “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” Murphy is also author of the bestselling book “A Year at the Movies: One Man’s Filmgoing Odyssey,” and has provided film commentary for NPR’s “Weekend Edition.” In addition to being a screenwriter and an internationally-produced playwright, Corbett was the voice of the robot Crow (version 2.0) on “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” as well as many other strange characters including the clueless alien The Observer (a.k.a. “Brain Guy”). To find out more about RiffTrax, visit www.rifftrax.com.
