Halloween in Helsinki: Where to go

Isn’t October the most atmospheric time of the year! You feel the darkness settling in and the city lights fill your mind with warm, even christmassy, thoughts. Then it hits you: all hallow’s eve aka Halloween. The best party of the year! To get the best out of your Halloween time in Helsinki, I’ve gathered a list of things to do in this dark corner of the world.

RIVIERA: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

FRIDAY / OCTOBER 28 / 5:30 PM
Riviera Kallio
Tickets: rivierakallio.fi/16051

The ultimate cult film, Rocky Horror Picture Show, is a wild cocktail of b-movie clichés, hedonism and camp humour. The film was destined to flop entirely, but was given a new life in New York’s legendary Waverly Theater’s midnight movie shows, when film-goers started to dress up as the film’s characters and take part in it. This Halloween, Riviera invites movie watchers to do the same in it’s Kallio theater. “A mental mind fuck can be nice.”

Conjuring Tricks

FRIDAY / OCTOBER 28 / 6 PM
Forum Box, Ruoholahdenranta 3A

CONJURING TRICKS presents a selection of stop motion animations that explore the domestic uncanny by Brooklyn-based artist Kate Stone and an experimental, modern-day magic lantern live performance by Turku-based Kultapalmut duo. Followed by a panel discussion between Kate Stone, Pauliina Mäkelä and Tytti Rantanen, editor of niin & näin philosophical magazine.

Altar de Día de Muertos – Family Day

SATURDAY / OCTOBER 29 / 10 AM
Annantalo
Free entry – For all families

Got kids? Check this out! On Día de Muertos, traditionally celebrated between the 1st and 2nd of November, Mexicans and Centro-Americans families set up spectacular Altars in memory of loved ones who have passed away. On Saturday, Annantalo is full of multilingual program for all ages: performances, workshops and storytelling – and of course, a traditional colourful altar.

The Horror – Movie Themes Concert

SATURDAY / OCTOBER 29 / 7 PM – 9 PM
Musiikkitalo
Tickets: ticketmaster.fi/311003

THE HORROR concert will dive into the deep wells of horror movie music scores. The Vantaa Orchestra will offer themes from classics, such as The Omen, The Exorcist, The Shining and Halloween, just to name a few. Internationally well received concert is now playing first time in Helsinki.

Gran Fiesta Cinemaissí – Halloween Special

SATURDAY / OCTOBER 29 / 8 PM – 3 AM
Teurastamo, Työpajankatu 2A
Free entry

Cinemaissí 2022, Latin American Film Festival, is happening on the 26th-30th of October in Helsinki. On Saturday, they’re holding a special día de muertos, with a great bunch of interesting performers: Julio Romero (Puerto Rico), Mr. Robert (Cuba), Las Cristalinas (Finland), Percussion live by Isaac Sacedo (Columbia), DJ Latin Queen (Columbia) and DJ Gus El Pibe (Peru). Expect a proper fiesta and steamy rhythms in the midst of a cold autumn night.

Klub Kalma’s Halloween – The Night Of The Vampires

SATURDAY / OCTOBER 29 / 11 PM – 5 AM
On The Rocks, Mikonkatu 15

If the Latin rhythms don’t squeeze out all your life juice, you can head to the city center to enjoy a rocking Night of the Vampires. I’m sure this will be BYOB: Bring your own blood.

The Creeps production on its way

Are you into snow horror and 80’s creatures? If so, then this one’s definitely for you. The Creeps is an action-horror-comedy film currently being shot in Finland’s wintery Kuusamo, starring the legendary Christopher Lambert (Highlander), Chris Cavalier (Hidden Figures) and Iiro Panula (Bordertown).

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Red Static Releases New Trailer and a Poster

From the Finnish filmmakers behind the wonderfully strange hillbilly horror flick Kyrsyä – Tuftland, a new release is about to see the light of day. Enter Punainen Kohina (eng. Red Static).

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Watch out for Gnomes

The festive season is approaching and children all over are anxiously waiting for their piles of boxes. In Finnish culture children are told to behave well or else the lurking gnomes will see and the almighty Santa won’t bring any presents on Christmas eve. Such cruelty!

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Review: Helsinki Horror Walk

Finally, I had the chance to check out one of the coolest tours in town: Helsinki Horror Walk. The 2-hour-long walk took us from the Katajanokka Prison Hotel to the very center of the city. On the way we got to hear intriguing ghost stories, urban legends and local mysteries.

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Finnish mystery thriller Kyrsyä – Tuftland releases new stills

There’s been a nice, mysterious atmosphere ahead of the news from Roope Olenius’s first feature Kyrsyä – Tuftland. All good comes to those who wait – now we got our hands on the first stills from the film. And a date for the US premiere!

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The Top 3 Finnish Horror Movie Villains

Kuutamosonaatti

3. Johannes (Kuutamosonaatti, 1988)

Finland is a fairly large country, especially when considering the amount of people. There’s a lot of room for everyone, and for some serious rural backdrops as well. Kuutamosonaatti was released in 1988, 14 years after the release of rural horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

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Horror movie BODOM nominated in Finnish Film Awards

bodom nominated

Traditionally, horror movies aren’t exactly the ones to receive awards and appraisal from critics. However, there might be a slight change happening in this tradition – specifically in the nordic region.

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