Gremlins (Joe Dante, 1984, USA, 111')

**CINEMA DEBATE TICKET RESERVATION** **FREE SCREENINGS FOR MEMBERS.** Reserve via WhatsApp at **640743115**, and contribute **€5 or €3 via Bizum to 654805437** For this December, we propose a short film cycle dedicated to Christmas’s irreverent side. Three films that dismantle the traditional festive façade, tear open the celebratory wrapping, and reveal what lies beneath: chaos, black humor, and a rebellious spirit that fits these holidays 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 backdrop of a Los Angeles Christmas. A burglar who stumbles into Hollywood, a sarcastic detective, and an actress struggling with precarity become entangled in a plot blending crime, industry, and satire. **During the discussion, we’ll explore**: 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 incisive deconstruction of Hollywood clichés from within. ## 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 associates with the “Christmas spirit.” Sharp humor, satire of consumerism, and an unflinchingly cynical look at the American Dream. **In the discussion, we’ll examine**: the monster as a mirror of excess; consumerism critiqued as a secular religion; the tension between the familial and the sinister; and how Dante blends comedic horror with a 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 lights, noise, and contradictions. An obsessed priest, a lost heavy-metal fan, and an opportunistic showman traverse a city seemingly assembled from advertising debris, frustrations, and pent-up energy about to explode. **During the discussion, we’ll delve into**: Madrid 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 how the film captures the social anxiety of the 1990s. ## Meeting point and evening schedule We’ll meet at **Big Tree Books (C/ Dos Hermanas, 17)** next Tuesday at **7:30 PM**. The evening will be divided into three parts. The first half-hour will be devoted to refreshments, 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, we’ll hold a discussion 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 and constructive debate. No prior knowledge of cinema is required; in fact, we actively avoid pedantic lecturing—Wikipedia exists for that. We aim to create something fantastic and different every Tuesday! We want to know what you feel—and how you express it! Drawing on the discussion theme and what we’ve seen in the film, personal stories are welcome—and they’re also an excellent way to share our thoughts and emotions. We want you to participate actively! Cinema and debate always go hand in hand—which is why we hope you’ll become a fan of our one-eyed white rabbit. ## **How much does the session cost? Reservations** 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 (typically €5 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