Laugh along at live commentary during a 'bad' movie at the Salina Art Cinema

While it is regarded and more known for showing art, prestige and award-winning films, the Salina Art Center Cinema is showing a different kind of film this weekend, a "bad" film.

In the first of what is hoped to be a continuing series, the art cinema is hosting Comedy Night, a showing of a "bad" film with live commentary from local comedians, something reminiscent of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and RiffTrax.

Beginning at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the cinema, 150 S. Santa Fe Ave., the Comedy Night film event will feature "Attack of the Giant Leeches," a film that — according to the cinema's website — has a unique and outrageous plot:

"A backwoods game warden and a local doctor discover that giant leeches are responsible for disappearances and deaths in a local swamp, but the local police don't believe them."

This plot, along with the production value and more, make this the perfect kind of film for this kind of showing.

"It's in the public domain," said Brooks Olivier, cinema manager for the Salina Art Center. "It's from the '50s, the acting is subpar to say the best, the special effects are rather laughable by today's standards ... and the dialogue is pretty basic."

Joining the fun with their commentary will be comedians Jordan Long, Luckas Baeza, Noah Beery and Staton Diehl, who will also be performing stand-up before the film begins.

Why bring a 'bad' movie to the Salina Art Center Cinema?

Olivier said this kind of event is something he and the comedians who are taking part in it have been thinking about doing for a while.

"We've been wanting to get something going and (finally) just settled on a date," Olivier said.

He said he knows this isn't the typical kind of film people would expect to see at the Art Cinema, but there's still a place for it in the art form.

"(We have) an appreciation for films of all kinds," Olivier said. "This is designed to kind of bring in a different audience that can see what we do and what we're about."

He said this brings a lightened tone to the art cinema that many people don't think about when they walk by the box office on Santa Fe Avenue.

"We're here to celebrate film and have a good time," Olivier said. "I think this is a great opportunity to showcase that."

Potential for more Comedy Nights in the future

Olivier said he hopes to bring Comedy Night back after this initial event.

"(The comedians) have already been talking about really wanting to get it in some form of regularity," he said.

The future of the event really comes down to how successful this first edition is.

"Hopefully, we get a lot of people out here, it's a big success and we can do it again," Olivier said.

With other "bad" films available in the public domain, there are plenty of options moving forward if this event takes off.

"There's quite a few and they'd all be really great for it," he said.

Comedy Night begins at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. This event is for those age 21 and older. Tickets, which can be bought online or at the box office, are $8.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Laugh along at live commentary during a 'bad' movie at the Salina Art Cinema