Dumpster Raccoon: ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK (1988)
Date & Time
Sat, 25 Apr, 2026 at 09:30 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Revue Cinema | Toronto, ON
Details
“Well, there's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence!”Sick of being sexually harassed at her TV gig, ELVIRA, Mistress of the Dark (Cassanda Peterson) spectacularly quits to pursue her flashy cabaret dreams – except she’s flat broke. All seems lost until she learns her witchy great-aunt has left her a massive inheritance, leading her to small-town Massachusetts to liquidate its assets (including a rambling old house, a nervy poodle, and a “cookbook” with magical powers). As her outre lifestyle and taste test the boundaries of local decorum and awaken deeper passions in the citizens, can Elvira come to an understanding with the town’s ultra-conservative denizens and her pushy uncle (a warlock who wants to get his hands on the powerful spellbook at all costs)? Or will conservatism win out – and DESTROY THE WORLD???
Born out of a low-rent TV gig (and with considerable debt to Morticia Addams and predecessor VAMPIRA, the hesitant star of previous Dumpster Raccoon screening PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE), ELVIRA was the brainchild of Groundling member Cassandra Peterson – exploding from late-night cable to become a camp sex-pot icon to horny straight teens and rabid queer fans alike. Bringing Elvira to the big screen was a passion project for Peterson, turning down multiple other lucrative offers to see it made, only to spectacularly bomb in theatres – but has since become justly revered as a cult masterpiece in the John Waters trash0flick tradition.
As pop culture has caught up to her aesthetic and irreverent wit, Elvira is being reassessed and celebrated as a breakout drag icon, and (after Peterson’s own recent coming out) a crown jewel in queer history.
With video preshow, host Anthony Oliveira, live performance, and cocktails by the Shameful Tiki Room – sponsored by Bay Street Video!
Event Location
Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Avenue,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Event Host
Revue Cinema
