Before there was Guillermo del Toro’s Shape of Water, there was Creature From The Black Lagoon. This double bill traces one of cinema’s most enduring monsters from his Universal horror origins to his Oscar-winning reinvention, with Dr Mitch Goodrum on hand to unpack 70 years of this sympathetic sci-fi.
“Since his appearance in 1954, the titular Creature has served as a widely recognisable monster – but a sympathetic one. As early as 1955, Marilyn Monroe’s character in The Seven Year Itch described the Creature as someone who required ‘a sense of being loved and needed and wanted’. While this sense of sympathy and understanding is developed in the first sequel, Revenge of the Creature (1955), it reaches its conclusion much later on through, if not the same, then a very similar creature in Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water. Set in the 1950s, del Toro’s Oscar-winning film acts as both a conclusion to the Creature saga and a commentary on it, particularly on the period of its production. Join us at UPP for this chance to see where it all began and how it all ended, exploring themes of scientific overreach, marginalisation, and desire.” – Dr Mitch Goodrum
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Saturday 22nd August 6pm
The Shape Of Water
Saturday 22nd August 8.15pm
Book tickets to both screenings in a single transaction and receive a 25% discount on the total cost. Use the film links below to book your seat.
A team of scientists exploring the Amazon discover a prehistoric, gill-man creature lurking in a remote lagoon. As tensions rise over whether to study or kill it, the creature grows fixated on one of the expedition’s women. A classic of 1950s monster cinema.
At a secret research facility in Cold War America, a mute cleaning woman forms a tender bond with a captive amphibious creature. As government agents close in, she risks everything to set him free. Guillermo del Toro’s romantic fantasy won the Oscar for Best Picture.
Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!