Halloween draws near, and what better way to spend the spooky season than with some scary movies?

While staying at home (or more likely in your dorm) is how most of us end up watching movies, sometimes the mood calls for something a bit more classic. Let’s take a look at three places to experience some old-fashioned cinema charm.

Our first stop is Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema De Lux located at 70 Worcester-Providence Turnpike in Millbury.

With a full array of amenities from candy to pizza, Blackstone is the first choice for many Clark students looking to spend an evening at the big screen.

Speaking of amenities, the selection of food is a step ahead of other smaller theaters, with fresh pizza, hot dogs, fries, ice cream, and the legendary soda dispenser. That’s right, the Coca-Cola “Freestyle” machine that was taken from The Bistro has a few friends in the Blackstone Cinema.

All that does come for a price. During our visit, we purchased two drinks, a large popcorn, and a small Dippin’ Dots for $30. The popcorn was average, the drinks were standard, and the Dippin’ Dots were glorious (make sure to get a spoon!).

While the wide food and drink selection may be impressive, the real reason for its popularity is almost certainly its location. Blackstone is around a fifteen-minute drive from Clark University’s campus, making it a convenient spot for any film buffs with some extra time.

Next, we’re going to look at Regal Solomon Pond at 591 Donald Lynch Blvd. in Marlborough, Mass.

At around thirty minutes away from campus, Regal is not as large as Blackstone, and has fewer in the way of food, only basic candy, popcorn, and a few Pepsi drinks. The prices are a bit cheaper, however the taste of the popcorn is significantly better, and the size of a “small” fountain drink was notable enough to warrant my mother requesting a picture. 

If the main part of your cinema experience is the classic movie popcorn, Regal’s is miles ahead with a buttery treat you’ll devour.

Our final leg of the journey is a bit more unconventional. When looking for movie theaters near Worcester, I often stumbled upon a delightfully quaint location, only to discover it was a stage theater. At Mendon Twin Drive-In at 35 Milford St in Mendon, Mass., what you see is what you get: A big screen.

Like Regal, the drive from campus is about half an hour, and make sure to bring your own car, because that’s where you’ll be seated.

A drive-in might be a bit of an unconventional choice, but if you want a real retro viewing with cotton candy, corn dogs, and giant pretzels, then Mendon’s has you covered. With a main snack shack, an ice cream parlor, and a beer garden, there’s plenty to choose from.

The downside is their size; with only two screens and a short showtime window, they only show four films a night only two times a week on Fridays and Saturdays. While having double features is nice, some may find the schedule a turn-off.

The final verdict? Go watch a movie.