Opening This Week:

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT—Inevitable remake of Wes Craven’s 1972 movie (memorable mostly for it’s adline, “To avoid fainting, keep repeating “It’s only a movie...It’s only a movie... “) about suburban parents wreaking gruesome revenge on the thugs who abused their daughter. Directed by Dennis Iliadis. Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

MISS MARCH—From the creators of the cable show “The Whitest Kids U Know,” a comedy about a guy who awakes from a coma to find his high school girlfriend has become a Playboy centerfold. Starring and directed by Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore. Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN—Disney remake. Starring Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, and Ciarán Hinds. Directed by Andy Fickman (The Game Plan), Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

WENDY AND LUCY—Acclaimed independent film starring Michelle Williams as a woman on the road trying to rescue her dog after they get separated in a small town where no one knows her. With Will Patton, Will Oldham and Wally Dalton. Directed by Kelly Reichardt (Old Joy). Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ETC:

BLOODY PIT OF HORROR (Italy, 1965)—A photographer and his models make the mistake of arranging a shoot at a castle whose owner thinks he is the reincarnation of a 17th century torturer. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen former bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay (father of “Law and Order”’s Mariska) prancing around in a red body stocking and babbling about his physical perfection while poking cheesecake models trapped in gothic torture devices. A camp classic, directed by Massimo Pupillo. Fri, Tues 9:15pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

8 1/2 (1963)—In the film many consider his masterpiece, Federico Fellini gives vent to all of his impulses in a story about an Italian filmmaker (Marcello Mastroianni) unable to decide on the subject of his next film. Fellini crams the screen with symbols both universal and personal, but it can be enjoyed even without delving too deeply into its meanings. With Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo and Barbara Steele. Introduced by Bruce Jackson and Diane Christian. Thurs Mar. 19, 7:30 pm. Albright Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave. (882.8700)

GHOSTLIGHTS: FOLKLORE, SKEPTICISM AND BELIEF—Documentary about ghosts said to haunt six local performance spaces: the Riviera Theatre, Shea’s, the Ghostlight Theatre, the Town Ballroom, the Lancaster Opera House, and the Allendale Theatre. The filmmakers will be present for a Q&A after the Saturday screening. Sat midnight, Sun 4 pm. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

LOCAL ARTIST ACCESS RESIDENCY SCREENING— Screening of work by Aimee Buyea, Christine David, Thomas Holt and Elizabeth Knipe, recent recipients of Squeaky Wheel’s access residencies. Sat 8pm. Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main St. (884-7172) www.squeaky.org

THE LONG GOODBYE (1975)—Robert Altman’s adaptation of the Raymond Chandler is an iconoclastic deconstruction of the private eye genre, with Elliott Gould in one of his best screen performances as a shaggy, out-of-place Philip Marlowe in contemporary Los Angeles. Co-starring Nina Van Pallandt, Sterling Hayden, Mark Rydell, and Henry Gibson; look quick for Arnold Schwarzenegger and David Carradine. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues 7 pm, Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

RATTLERS (1976)—Grindhouse classic set in the Mojave desert where snakes go on a rampage after being exposed to military chemical weapons. Starring no one you’ve ever heard of and directed by John McCauley. Fri, Tues 7:30pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

STAGE FRIGHT (1950)—Middling Alfred Hitchcock thriller starring Jane Wyman as a struggling actress who tries to help a friend prove his innocence when he’s accused of murdering the husband of a singer (Marlene Dietrich). With Michael Wilding, Richard Todd, and Alastair Sim. Thurs Mar 12 7:15pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in the Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst 837-0376

A STAR IS BORN (1937)—The second film version (after What Price Hollywood) of the much-adapted story about an unknown who becomes a Hollywood star after marrying an older actor whose career is on the wane. Starring Janet Gaynor, Fredric March, Adolphe Menjou, Oliver Niles, May Robson, Andy Devine and Lionel Stander. Directed by William A. Wellman. Sat 7:30pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in the Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst 837-0376