In 1978, John Carpenter’s Halloween scared the pants off America, made Jamie Lee Curtis a second-generation scream queen, and instantly immortalized an inside-out William Shatner mask as a face of fear.

Nearly 35 years later, the grandaddy of slasher films returns to terrorize babysitters — and moviegoers — at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Harkins Bricktown Cinemas 16, 150 E. Reno.

Frankenstein and
The Bride of Frankenstein
7 p.m. Wednesday

Fire bad, Frankenstein good.

Boris Karloff became an icon when he filled the heavy shoes of Mary Shelley’s monster in Universal Pictures’ 1931 classic. Critics call its 1935 sequel, The Bride of Frankenstein, even better.

I can’t say I agree, but there’s no doubt that tonight’s double feature, presented by Turner Classic Movies, is an excellent bet.

To be Frank, you have two options: AMC Quail Springs 24, 2501 W. Memorial, and Cinemark Tinseltown USA, 6001 N. Martin Luther King.

Dammit, Janet! The 1975 camp comedy horror musical that will not die pops up for two local showings on Halloween night. In both cases, naturally, audience participation is a must.

First, at 10 p.m. at Oculus Gallery, 518 N.W. 23rd, toilet paper, toast and water guns will be supplied.

Appearing for its 10th consecutive year at Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main in Norman, Rocky rolls at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10, and prop bags filled with all the necessary items will be available for an additional $5.

Speaking of people talking during movies, the three Mystery Science Theater 3000 veterans who head the RiffTrax team will take live shots Thursday night at 2010’s Birdemic: Shock and Terror.

The instantly notorious $10,000 film aimed to be a thriller à la Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. It failed.

For guaranteed laughs at the expense of incompetently manufactured thrills, flock to the aforementioned AMC Quail Springs 24 and Cinemark Tinseltown USA, as well as Hollywood Spotlight 14, 1100 N. Interstate Drive in Norman.