A MONSTER double-bill of fiendishly good scary movies takes place at a Durham cinema this Halloween.

Gala cinema will screen two of the scariest films ever made in its Halloween Horror Double Feature, starting with the director’s cut of 1973 supernatural horror classic, The Exorcist, at 11pm on Wednesday, October 31.

Inspired by a real life exorcism, The Exorcist is one of the most terrifying and one of the most profitable horror movies ever made, and was the first of its genre to receive an Academy Award nomination for best picture.

Following the demonic possession of 12-year-old Regan, who begins levitating, speaking in tongues and, in the film’s most iconic scene, whose head spins sickeningly, a worried mother attempts to win back her daughter by engaging two priests to perform an exorcism.

The second bloodcurdling offering of the night, Wes Craven’s classic slasher A Nightmare on Elm Street, starts at 1.30am on Thursday November 1.

Disfigured Freddy Krueger prays on Midwestern teenagers in their dreams, which, in turn, kills them in reality, in this menacing offering.

Robin Byers, Gala cinema manager, said “Our Halloween screenings are always popular and this year we’ve chosen some absolute classics. Seeing a film on the big screen always brings it to life, which of course is exactly what you want when you’re watching a film about the un-dead. There’s no better way to scare yourself senseless this Halloween than our late night fright-fest!”

Tickets, priced at £7.50 per film or £12 for both, from the box office in person, online at www.galadurham.co.uk or by calling 03000 266 600.