Septemburton Celebrates Iconic Director's New Film

ALAMO DEVOTES MONTH TO TIM BURTON

Illustration: Sarai Nissan | CU Denver Sentry

Since the announcement of Tim Burton’s film adaptation of the popular novel Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, it seems as though the world has relapsed into a Tim Burton frenzy.

In particular, the Alamo Drafthouse has conjured Septemburton—the dedication of the entire month of September to Burton and his ethereal films. Littleton’s own Alamo branch began Septemburton with Corpse Bride and Big Fish on Sept. 2 and will conclude with Edward Scissorhands on Sept. 21.

Septemburton was organized to celebrate the “artist/director/magician/visionary,” as quoted on the Alamo’s website. The “festival” is inducting their Burton-focused month by hosting a fi lmmaking contest entitled “Burtonize This!” in which filmmakers take previously popular films and add a little bit of Burton aesthetic to them through character references or visual similarities.

Although there are many films that value and play on a dark aesthetic, no one does it quite like Burton. He is known for his dark and gothic fantasies that have a twinge of quirkiness to shed some light upon the common theme of morbidity. Burton’s films have certainly held international intention. Be it with sheer adoration or intense animosity, the kooky and bizarre filmmaker is certainly deserving of his own month.

On Sept. 2, the Alamo hosted a showing of Corpse Bride and Big Fish. These are both vastly different films that stemmed from Burton’s long career, but both are equally beautiful. The 2005 film Corpse Bride is Burton’s second stop motion feature (after The Nightmare Before Christmas), and it tells a morbid and eccentric love story. Big Fish is also a fanciful tale, but it’s less rooted in Burton’s signature darkness and finds balance between the light and the shadows. Both films are Burton-esque in their own way and are classic films in his career.

Unbeknownst to many, the Alamo Drafthouse has several locations across America, and much to any Burton fans’ enjoyment, each location will be hosting Septemburton. Conjointly with the film screenings, the Alamo staff will host celebratory Burton-inspired pre-screenings with contests, props, and other goodies. Adorning a costume is highly encouraged.

The commitment the Alamo has to cherishing the artistry of Tim Burton is impressive. Each screening will allow any fan or curious viewer to leaf through Burton’s edition of movie magazine Birth.Movies.Death., which houses everything and anything one needs to know about the eccentric director.

Along with any great party are party favors, or in the case Edward Scissorhand-themed enamel pins (created by Denver-based artist Mondo) in the shape of either Edward’s Scissor-hands or the dinosaur hedge he trims.

Specific Alamo locations will not only decorate their space with anything and everything Burton, but for the zealous devotee, the staff has created a Septemburton menu containing food and drink inspired by his films. For example, one dish was dubbed “Sandwich for the Recently Deceased” in reference to Burton’s 1988 film Beetlejuice. Choices from the menu include the “Scissor Chopped Salad,” the “Shake, Shake, Shake Senora” milkshake, and “The Pale Moonlight” cocktail.

Regardless of being a Burton fan or not, the consideration and appreciation of a figure often perceived as “weird” or “creepy” is assuring and appreciated for those who feel they may also walk in the same shadowy steps as Burton himself.