Christmas Gamberra: The Day of the Beast (Álex de la Iglesia, 1995, Spain, 103')

**BOOK YOUR CINEMA-DEBATE TICKET** **FREE SCREENINGS FOR MEMBERS.** WhatsApp **640743115**, and **CONTRIBUTION OF €5 OR €3 VIA BIZUM TO 654805437** For this December, we propose a short film cycle devoted to Christmas’s irreverent side. Three films that dismantle traditional holiday décor, tear open festive packaging, and reveal what lies beneath: chaos, black humor, and a rebellious spirit that fits these dates perfectly: **The Day of the Beast**, **Gremlins**, and **Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang** ## Tuesday, December 9. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang *(Shane Black, 2005, USA, 102’)* [https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film455962.html](https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film455962.html) **Shane Black** delivers a playful, acerbic noir set against the glossy, shop-window Christmas of Los Angeles. A thief who stumbles into Hollywood, a sarcastic detective, and an actress unable to escape precarity become entangled in a plot blending crime, industry, and satire. **During the debate, we’ll discuss**: how Shane Black uses Christmas as an ironic counterpoint to expose a city steeped in pretense; the metanarrative playfulness of the narrator; the genre-blending of classic noir and black comedy; and the film’s internal dismantling of Hollywood clichés. ## Tuesday, December 16. Gremlins *(Joe Dante, 1984, USA, 111’)* [https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film455839.html](https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film455839.html) Joe Dante transforms Christmas into a laboratory of chaos: an adorable gift mutates into an invasion of creatures attacking everything popular culture deems “the Christmas spirit.” Sharp humor, satire of consumerism, and a decidedly un-naïve look at the American Dream. **During the debate, we’ll explore**: the monster as a reflection of excess; the critique of consumption as secular religion; the tension between the familial and the sinister; and how Dante blends comedic horror with a remarkably lucid portrait of the fear that home may cease to be a refuge. ## Tuesday, December 30. The Day of the Beast *(Álex de la Iglesia, 1995, Spain, 103’)* [https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film926890.html](https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film926890.html) Álex de la Iglesia sets the Apocalypse in a Madrid saturated with light, noise, and contradictions. An obsessed priest, a lost heavy-metal fan, and an opportunistic showman traverse a city seemingly assembled from advertising scraps, frustrations, and energy on the verge of explosion. **During the debate, we’ll delve into**: Madrid’s portrayal as a character; the fusion of horror, satire, and urban cinema indebted to comics; criticism of media and sensationalism; the clash between faith, marginality, and spectacle; and the film’s capture of 1990s Spain’s social pulse. ## Meeting point and evening schedule The meeting point will be **Big Tree Books (C/ Dos Hermanas, 17)** next Tuesday at **7:30 PM**. Each evening is divided into three parts. The first half hour will be spent having drinks, introducing the film, and getting to know one another. At 8:00 PM, the screening begins. All screenings are in original version with Spanish subtitles (VOSE). Finally, a discussion will follow, lasting until 11:00 PM. ## What will the discussion be like? These gatherings are participatory—we want to hear your opinions to foster an open, constructive debate. No prior knowledge of cinema is required; in fact, we actively avoid pedantic lecturing—Wikipedia is there for that. We aim to create something fantastic and different every Tuesday! We want to know what you feel—and that you’re able to express it! Drawing from the discussion topic and what you’ve just watched, personal stories are welcome—and indeed, they’re a great way to share our thoughts and feelings. We hope you’ll participate actively! Cinema and debate always go hand in hand—which is why we’d love you to become a fan of our one-eyed white rabbit. ## **How much does the session cost? Bookings** Attendance at the debate and discussion session is free for members of **Happening Madrid**; for non-members, contributions are voluntary and based on your means (€5 is typical, via Bizum to **654805437**). Ángel ([[https://wa.me/+34640743115](https://wa.me/+34640743115)]([https://wa.me/+34640743115](https://wa.me/+34640743115))) María ([[https://wa.me/+3463063998](https://wa.me/+3463063998)]([https://wa.me/+3463063998](https://wa.me/+3463063998))) Spaces are extremely limited