Still from The Wicker Man, directed by Robin Hardy, 1973.

Anyone who ever perused the mountainous video selection at the old Mondo Kim’s store in the East Village, when it still existed, can guess that most of the folks who worked there acquired about a PhD’s worth of knowledge in cult obscurities and arcane movie trivia. Who in the city could be qualified, in that case, to try their hand as curators and start an ongoing series of film screenings dedicated to sleeper hits from the ’70s and long-lost psychedelic gems? Named after the store’s rental department, where the collective’s founding members probably absorbed thousands of hours of warped cassette tapes, The Third Floor is a group of ex-Kim’s employees with the simply stated mission of “presenting to you, the general public, movies we like.”

On Saturday, October 30, the organization will team with 92YTribeca to present “Night of the Wicker Man,” a celebration of Robin Hardy’s 1973 pagan horror classic set on the fictional Scottish island of Summerisle. Following a screening of the original cut, the British director will deliver a Q&A on the making of The Wicker Man and screen teaser footage from The Wicker Tree, a sequel starring Christopher Lee that he shot over the summer. As if this weren’t enough for even the biggest Wickermaniacs, bands Wooden Shjips, Effi Briest, and Silver Summit will be in attendance to perform interpretations of songs, poetry, and rituals from Paul Giovanni’s original score. To cap off the evening, Spectators will take part in a costume party and a dance around a May Pole to the step of DJs spinning acid folk and psychedelic rock.

For those of you who need a refresher, here is the trailer for the original Wicker Man–not to be confused with the Hollywood remake starring Nicolas Cage:

Night of the Wicker Man
October 30, 2009 at 92YTribeca
200 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013
All ages. Bring your favorite animal mask or a flower crown or two.
Click here for tickets to the 7pm screening and following music event.
Click here for the Midnight screening and preceding music event.

Previously on Arthurmag.com:

1. Friday, October 2nd – Lovely Daze 6 book launch at P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in NYC
2. Friday, October 16th – Vashti Bunyan: Exclusive Live Performance & NYC Documentary Premiere
3. Arik Roper’s “The Hidden Dimension” opens at Fuse Gallery in NYC on October 24, 2009
4. This Sunday, October 18: Woodstock Mountain Poetry Festival
5. Brightblack Morning Light’s Nabob Shineywater on SANDY BULL (from Arthur No. 25/October 2006)