Cinematheque to screen KSU professor’s 70s horror film

The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque will present Robert West’s 1973 horror movie “The Wednesday Children” at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 29.

West, a Kent State professor emeritus and alumnus, wrote and directed “The Wednesday Children” in the fall of 1972 and released it in the spring of 1973.

“The Wednesday Children” explores the idea of children taking over the world, West said. According to the Cinematheque’s website, the plot follows a group of neglected children who become enchanted with a creepy but charismatic church janitor who tells them how to rid adults from their lives forever.

However, unlike similar films, like “Village of the Damned,” the movie occurs in a suburban town in Ohio, a very realistic setting, West said.

West, who teaches film courses at Kent State, owns the only print of “The Wednesday Children” in existence. Although for the first time, DVDs made from West’s copy of “The Wednesday Children” will be on sale at the showing.

West said he doesn’t expect many students to see it unless they live in Cleveland, but he knows some of his colleagues will attend the viewing. He said they will probably react like any other film’s audience.

“Some will like it. Some won’t,” West said.

After the showing, West and surviving members of the cast and crew will discuss the film.

Tickets for the film are $9 and $5 for anyone under 25 years old.

Contact Alicia Balog at [email protected].