Opening This Week:

A SERIOUS MAN—Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men) used memories of their childhood as Midwestern Jews for this typically dark comedy about a physics professor (Michael Stuhlbarg) whose well-ordered life starts to fall apart. Co-starring Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick, Fyvush Finkel, Adam Arkin, and Michael Lerner. Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills

THE DAMNED UNITED—True story of a British soccer coach (Michael Sheen) who gets the ultimate revenge against his rival—by succeeding him as the coach of the top-rated team Leeds United. With Colm Meaney, Timothy Spall, and Jim Broadbent. Directed by Tom Hooper (HBO’s John Adams). Reviewed this issue. North Park

ETC:

CHARADES—A program of experimental films from the last decade by WNY native Ann Steuernagel, who reconfigures found footage from educational and industrial films to critique gender roles and systems of communication. Presented as part of the Ways In Being Gay 20th Anniversary celebration. Thurs 8pm, Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave. (854-1694) www.hallwalls.org

THE CREEPING TERROR (1964)—A so-bad-it’s-good classic, in which rock’n’rolling teens are stalked by a monster from outer space. Assembled at the last minute out of carpet remnants after the original was stolen, the monster is so immobile that you can see its victims pretending to be “devoured” by crawling backwards into it. Directed by Vic Savage. Fri 7:30pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376).

DEVIL TIMES FIVE (1974)—Residents at a ski lodge take in a group of children who survived a car wreck, not realizing that the children are sociopaths who were on their way to a psychiatric center. An effective low-budget thriller; look for pre-teen idol Leif Garrett as one of the killer kids. With Sorrell Booke, Gene Evens and Henry Beckman. Directed by Sean MacGregor. Fri 9:15pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376).

FIRE UNDER THE SNOW— Documentary portrait of Palden Gyatso, a Buddhist monk imprisoned for 33 years by the Chinese, who continues his non-violent protests against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Presented by filmmaker Makoto Sasa. Thurs Nov. 5 7:30pm. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 (1981) and THINNER (1996)—Halloween double feature. Sat. midnight. Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main St. (834-7655) www.dipsontheatres.com.

THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959)—Eccentric millionaire Vincent Price offers five people $10,000 each if they can spend the night in his haunted mansion. With Carolyn Craig, Richard Long, Elisha Cook Jr. and Carol Ohmart. Directed by William Castle (Mr. Sardonicus). Thurs Oct. 29 8 pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

MALA MOSKWA (LITTLE MOSCOW)—Tensions in a Polish town occupied by the Russian army in the late 1960s stymie the love between the wife of a Russian officer and a Polish soldier. Director Waldemar Krzystek will present his award winning film, which opens a series of recent Polish cinema. Thurs Nov. 5m 6pm. Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St. North Tonawanda, (716) 692-2113 www.canisius.edu/polish/events.asp

MY NIGHT AT MAUDE’S (France, 1969)—In the best-known of Eric Rohmer’s series “Six Moral Tales,” a devout Catholic (Jean-Louis Trintignant) tests his beliefs about love and religion while spending a night at the house of a bohemian divorcee (Françoise Fabian). Rohmer’s detractors deride him as all talk; his fans revel in that talk, and the subtly cinematic ways in which it is presented. Adult filmmaking at its best. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues 7 pm, Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1956)—Ed Wood’s best remembered film is hardly the “worst movie ever made” (that would be The Flintstones), but it is one of the most entertaining bad ones. The story about aliens intent on destroying Earth before we destroy the universe takes a back seat to 70 minutes of cardboard sets, stock footage, and overripe acting from an assortment of Hollywood wannabes. Sat 9pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376).

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975)—Dig out your fishnet stockings and bustiers and get ready to do the Time Warp again with Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Meat Loaf and Magenta. Fri midnight (pre-film party at 9pm). Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413); also Sat midnight, Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

SPIDER BABY (1964)—Indescribably odd horror comedy starring Lon Chaney Jr. (who also sings the theme song) as the caretaker of three siblings who suffer from a hereditary disease that makes them both childlike and murderous. Co-starring Carol Ohmart, Mantan Moreland and future Rob Zombie favorite Sid Haig. Directed by Jack Hill (Coffy). Sat 10pm. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com