A couple weeks ago I caught part of Stuart Samuels’ documentary Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream on TMN and found it to be a fascinating look at how underground movies used to develop cult followings through years of midnight screenings at independent theatres. Of course, there are less independent theatres nowadays and ever since the advent of home video in the 80’s, the phenomenon of midnight movies has all but died out. Then just this week I read about a movie that seems to be causing a similar craze. It’s called The Room, and has been described as a “cinematic train wreck”, which seems to be the main draw. There are monthly screenings of the film in L.A., where audience members cheer, shout dialogue, and throw plastic spoons at the screen (a reference to a photograph of a spoon that recurs throughout the movie). Of course, writer/director/star Tommy Wiseau now claims he originally intended for the film to be over the top and funny and to cause a reaction from the audience. Some have drawn comparisons between the popularity of this movie and the internet hype for Snakes on a Plane. Are we about to see a new era of midnight movies ushered in by the internet? Check out a trailer and more info on The Room at the movie’s official site (linked below).