Butt-Numb-A-Thon

Butt-Numb-A-Thon (also known as BNAT) is an annual film marathon held every December since 1999. It is hosted by Harry Knowles of the Ain't it Cool News website in celebration of his birthday. This mini-festival shows 24 hours of vintage films as well as premieres.

Event admission

The marathon is invite-only via an application process. Before BNAT 5 in 2003, there were typically two ways to gain admittance -- one for Austin residents that usually involved some event (such as BNAT 4 in 2002 having a costume contest at a horror movie screening at an abandoned mental institution on Halloween), then a separate one for those not in the Central Texas area. After BNAT 5, the application process was changed to internet-only involving several essay-style questions and submissions of pictures, which is then used to create a yearbook with all the registered attendees. Competition to get in is fierce, as 10,000 or more applicants attempt to gain one of the approximately 200 seats. This system was put into place to ensure that only die-hard film fans would be in attendance as well as to be fair, as attendance is limited to the seating capacity of the Alamo Drafthouse.

Film debuts and guests

Films that have been shown include the first public screening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," as well as the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "Dreamgirls," "Chicago," "Black Snake Moan," "Snatch," "Magnolia," "Knocked Up," "300," "V for Vendetta," and both the original "King Kong" and the 2005 remake. Guests have included Mel Gibson, Zack Snyder, Peter Jackson, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth, Craig Brewer, Bill Condon, Vin Diesel, and Guillermo Del Toro. Some celebrity guests, such as Eli Roth, attend even though they may not have any films exhibiting but rather for the love of the event. Though he was not present for the screening of King Kong in 2005, Peter Jackson introduced the film with a video-taped message in which he was seen pointing at various locations inside the Drafthouse theater, such as the stage area and specific seats, showing intimate knowledge of the theater from previous visits.

The event's unique style

While BNAT has been home to numerous special screenings and celebrity guest appearances, as much or more significant to explaining the thrust and tone of this event is the many other movies that have been screened, as well as the unique impact of seeing 12-13 films and 30-40 vintage film trailers back-to-back over a 24 hour period without ever leaving the confines of the movie theater. For every premiere or widely known classic that has been shown, there has been a forgotten gem, a tiny independent work, a foreign title or a film that is unlikely to receive a public screening in any other venue due to content that would generally be considered perverse, disgusting or a reflection of cultural sensitivities no longer considered unacceptable. The event has also been characterized by such novel surprises as having a live jug band accompaniment to Buster Keaton's silent classic "The General", the delivery of fresh meat pies to attendees during the early screening of "", and the use of electrically shocking devices to zap sleeping audience members during an intentionally interminable 3:00am viewing of 1950s creaker-classic "Attack of the Gila Monster".Fact|date=May 2008

Location

Butt-Numb-A-Thon is held annually in Austin, Texas, at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown location. In 2007, BNAT 9 was held at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz location at 310 E. Sixth Street in Austin on December 8-9.

On June 24, 2007, as an acknowledgment of the last days of the Alamo Drafthouse's original downtown location (409 Colorado St, Austin, TX, USA) Harry Knowles hosted a hastily assembled half-birthday marathon titled Half-Ass-A-Thon. Half-Ass-A-Thon was to initially only show four features, but by unanimous vote of the audience the marathon was extended to five features.

Film lineups

Feature films are listed in bold. Trailers are listed in "italics". All other items are annotated as appropriate.

1999

*Plan 9 from Outer Space
*Magnolia
*Song of the South
*Fritz the Cat
*Fade to Black
*Phantom of the Paradise
*Calling All Girls
*Giant Gila Monster
*Pitch Black
*Daughters of Dracula
*Tron
*Six String Samurai

2000

*Destination Mars
*The Hobbit
*The Gift
*The Sea Wolf
*Wonder Bar
*Snatch
*Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens
*
*Robocop
*Shogun Assassin
*Santa Claus' Story
*Ed Gein

2001

*Fiend Without a Face
*The Majestic
*Rock All Night
*King Kong
*Vanilla Sky
*Cabin in the Sky
*Blood Feast 2
*Terror of Tiny Town
*

2002

*The Mask of Fu Manchu
*Chicago
*Machine Gun Kelly
*Odds Against Tomorrow
*Crippled Avengers
*Night Warning
*May
*"Dust and Blood" (short film)
*House of 1000 Corpses
*Tiptoes
* (partial screening)
*

2003

* Haunted Gold [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022981/ at IMDb]
* Adventures of Captain Marvel (partial screening of first episode) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033317/ at IMDb]
* * [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167260/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Peter Jackson (director), Frances Walsh (writer), and Philippa Boyens (writer) - The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
* The General with musical accompaniment from Guy Forsyth [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017925/ at IMDb]
* * Oldboy [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/ at IMDb]
* "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346156/ at IMDb]
* Nid de guepes [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280990/ at IMDb]
* Blind (short film) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375615/ at IMDb]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353489/ at IMDb]
* Haute Tension [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338095/ at IMDb]
* Teenage Mother [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061071/ at IMDb]
* The Rotten Fruit [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402052/ at IMDb]
* Undead [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339840/ at IMDb]
* * The Passion of the Christ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Mel Gibson - director of The Passion of the Christ [Rollerfeet, Johnny: Backporch Beer, [http://www.rollerfeet.com/backporchbeer/archives/001643.html "WDYLIA Episode 4 - BNAT5"] . December 8, 2003.]

2004

* "Putney Swope" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064855/ at IMDb]
* Willie McBean and his Magic Machine [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192803/ at IMDb]
* * Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339291/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Emily Browning (actress), and Liam Aiken (actor)
* (unfinished clips) Madagascar [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0351283/ at IMDb]
* The Black Swan [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034522/ at IMDb]
* (slide show/Q&A) Robbie Stamp (producer) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371724/ at IMDb]
* Blonde Venus [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022698/ at IMDb]
* "Legend of the Sacred Stone" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347996/ at IMDb]
* Miss Sadie Thompson [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046076/ at IMDb]
* "War of the Worlds" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/ at IMDb] with video introduction from Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise
* * The Phantom of the Opera [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/ at IMDb]
* "Welcome Home, Brother Charles" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073735/ at IMDb]
* * "The Ring 2" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377109/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Robert Weinbach - director of The Mutations
* The Mutations [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070423/ at IMDb]
* Toys are Not for Children [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0153225/ at IMDb]
* * Layer Cake [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375912/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Tamar Hussain - actor from Layer Cake
* (clip) 2001 Maniacs [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264323/ at IMDb] with introduction from director Eli Roth
* "Casshern" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405821/ at IMDb]
* Ong-Bak [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368909/ at IMDb]
* (short) "Time Piece" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059807/ at IMDb]
* (behind the scenes clips) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363771/ at IMDb]
* Kung Fu Hustle [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/ at IMDb] [Rollerfeet, Johnny: Backporch Beer, [http://www.rollerfeet.com/backporchbeer/archives/003055.html "Butt-Numb-A-Thon 6"] . December 12-13, 2004.]

2005

(December 10, 2005 through December 11, 2005) [Rollerfeet, Johnny: Backporch Beer, [http://www.rollerfeet.com/backporchbeer/archives/003686.html "BNAT(Butt Numb A Thon) VII"] . December 15, 2005.]
* "Apocalypto" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472043/ at IMDb]
* The Most Dangerous Game [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023238/ at IMDb]
* * "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Ray Harryhausen [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0818514/ at IMDb]
* * King Kong [http://wwwimdb.com/title/tt0360717/ at IMDb]
* Footlight Parade [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024028/combined at IMDb]
* * Sick Girl [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0643111/ at IMDb]
* * Sympathy For Lady Vengeance [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451094/ at IMDb]
* The Professionals [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060862/ at IMDb]
* * District B13 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414852/ at IMDb]
* * (teaser) 2gether 4ever [http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/film/1003 at Bloody-Disgusting.com] , [http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=21764 at Ain't It Cool News]
* * Cigarette Burns [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0643109/ at IMDb]
* * (unfinished clip) "Hostel" presented by Eli Roth [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450278/ at IMDb]
* * The Descent [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/ at IMDb]
* Stunt Rock [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078335/ at IMDb]
* Drum [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074437/ at IMDb]
* "" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376994/ at IMDb]
* "" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317919/ at IMDb]
* * V for Vendetta [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/ at IMDb]

2006

(December 9, 2006 through December 10, 2006) BNAT 8 / Octo-Butt-Numb-A-Thon [Rollerfeet, Johnny: Backporch Beer, [http://www.rollerfeet.com/backporchbeer/archives/003941.html "OctoButt-Numb-Athon! (BNAT 8)"] . December 10, 2006.]
* El Laberinto del Fauno aka Pan's Labyrinth [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/ at IMDb] - this film was not part of the core BNAT line-up, but it was open to BNAT attendees the night before BNAT.
* (short) Chirpy
* "Stunt Rock" - this trailer is a BNAT classic and is always shown early in the evening. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078335/ at IMDb]
* "Raw Force" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084573/ at IMDb]
* "Teenage Tramp" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128719/ at IMDb]
* "The Telephone Book" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067839/ at IMDb]
* * Black Snake Moan [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462200/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Craig Brewer - Director of Black Snake Moan
* * Dreamgirls [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443489/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Bill Condon - Director of Dreamgirls
* "Panorama Blue" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070507/ at IMDb]
* "Female Animal" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137116/ at IMDb]
* "Baby Love" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062693/ at IMDb]
* "Girls Are For Loving" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070113/ at IMDb]
* "Underage"
* Once Upon a Girl [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279996/ at IMDb]
* Inherit the Wind [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053946/ at IMDb]
* "Rocky" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/ at IMDb]
* "Rocky II" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079817/ at IMDb]
* "Rocky III" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084602/ at IMDb]
* "Rocky IV" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089927/ at IMDb]
* "Rocky V" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100507/ at IMDb]
* (introduction) Sylvester Stallone on DVD
* * Rocky Balboa [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479143/ at IMDb]
* * (sneak peak) Fanboys preview [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489049/ at IMDb]
* "The Mafu Cage" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077888/ at IMDb]
* "The Buttercup Chain" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066875/ at IMDb]
* "PEPE" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054172/ at IMDb]
* "Mantango" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057295/ at IMDb]
* * Knocked Up [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478311/ at IMDb]
* (snippet) Teen Wolf - started as a joke; not shown in full
* * Black Book [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389557/ at IMDb]
* The Informer [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026529/ at IMDb]
* "The Challenge of the Lady Ninja" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165136/ at IMDb]
* "The Legend of Hillbilly John" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070295/ at IMDb]
* "It Came Without Warning" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081764/ at IMDb]
* "Cannibal Girls" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069841/ at IMDb]
* "Curse" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265138/ at IMDb]
* Raw Force [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084573/ at IMDb]
* * Smokin' Aces [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475394/ at IMDb]
* * 300 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/ at IMDb]
* (Q&A) Zack Snyder - Director of 300
* * Children of Men - this film was not part of the core BNAT line-up, but it was open to BNAT attendees the night after BNAT. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/ at IMDb]

2007

Half-Ass-A-Thon

(June 24, 2007 through June 25, 2007)
* "" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061334/ at IMDb]
* "Drum" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074437/ at IMDb]
* "Three the Hard Way" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074437/ at IMDb]
* "Stunt Rock" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078335/ at IMDb]
* Wonder Bar [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026007/ at IMDb]
* "Tarzan and the Brown Prince" aka "Tarzán y el arco iris" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069344/ at IMDb]
* "Gymkata" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089243/ at IMDb]
* "Death Ride" aka "Crash!" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075887/ at IMDb]
* "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072251/ at IMDb]
* "Gambit" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060445/ at IMDb]
* (PSA) Clint Eastwood describes crack cocaine and warns the audience to avoid it.
* (introduction) Matthew Vaughn on DVD.
* * Stardust [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486655/ at IMDb]
* "Battle Beneath the Earth" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061387/ at IMDb]
* (advertisement) Starmaster for the Atari 2600
* "The Magic Voyage of Sinbad" aka "Sadko" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046264/ at IMDb]
* (advertisement) Two Bic(c) lighters talk about refreshments that are available in the lobby.
* Topkapi [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058672/ at IMDb]
* "Future Kill" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089181/ at IMDb]
* "The Toy Box" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067871/ at IMDb]
* "White Comanche" aka "Comanche Blanco" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061497/ at IMDb]
* "Who?" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072405/ at IMDb]
* "The Terrornauts" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062355/ at IMDb]
* "Tarzan and the Jungle Boy" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063673/ at IMDb]
* Impulse [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071654/ at IMDb]
* Seven Blows of the Dragon aka Shui Hu Zhuan [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069265/ at IMDb]

BNAT 9 / Big Trouble at Butt-Numb-A-Thon 9

(December 8, 2007 through December 9, 2007)
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=5q0fOIo95zA "Hobo with a Shotgun"]
* "Popcorn"
* "Pinocchio's Birthday Party" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140457/ at IMDb]
* "Happy Birthday to Me" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082498/ at IMDb]
* "The Party Animal" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087889/ at IMDb]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=GXNBS4WqyX8 "Stunt Rock"]
* The Great McGinty [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032554/ at IMDb]
* "The 'Burbs" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096734/ at IMDb]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBQu6xQSUDA "Bachelor Party"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj-z2_D_t0E "Amin: The Rise and Fall"]
* Charlie Wilson's War* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7WFdnp4M3Q trailer]
* "A Bomb for a Dictator" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050375/ at IMDb]
* "Have Your Kids Immunized Today" (Will Rogers Institute PSA)
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=eJyHfKNNaes "Mr. No Legs"]
* Pickup on South Street [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046187/ at IMDb]
* "The Secret of Magic Island" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056461/ at IMDb]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yM3-YO7qHs "Big Trouble in Little China"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ze6B9OfKYc "Thundercops"]
* Mongol [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8FOiYN6KKQ trailer]
* "The Exterminator" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080707/ at IMDb]
* Vintage In-Theater Pizza Advert
* "Sorceress" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086340/ at IMDb]
* The Abominable Dr. Phibes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byFWmroEH6U trailer]
* "Voyage of the Rock Aliens" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096402/ at IMDb]
* "Get Crazy" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085551/ at IMDb]
* "Freckles" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053837/ at IMDb]
* * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUbf2Dj2oIU trailer]
* "Blind Fury" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096945/ at IMDb]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB6aiylrlJ4" Stop or My Mom Will Shoot"]
* Lonely Are the Brave [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056195/ at IMDb]
* "Man Beast" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049468/ at IMDb]
* "W."
* "Three in the Cellar" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066512/ at IMDb]
* "The Evictors" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079128/ at IMDb]
* The Poughkeepsie Tapes* (director/writer John Erick Dowdle, wife/star Stacy Chbosky, and writer Drew Dowdle attended but were unable to speak as scheduled due to studio demands)
* Teen Lust [http://imdb.com/title/tt0078100/ at IMDb]
* "The City on The Edge of Forever" episode of "Star Trek", broadcast in HD.
* "Call Me Bwana" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056897/ at IMDb]
* "J.D.'s Revenge" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074703/ at IMDb]
* "Golden Needles" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071568/ at IMDb]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6708706375975545238 "Black Samurai"]
* Addio Zio Tom | Farewell Uncle Tom [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180396/ at IMDb]
* "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085636/ at IMDb]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thOncLexWDE "Nightmares"]
* "Trick or Treat" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092112/ at IMDb]
* Trick 'r Treat* with Q&A with director/writer Michael Dougherty. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggDNhd5FC2U trailer]

EXCLUSIVE CLIPS
* "Rambo" with on-screen text intro from Sylvester Stallone.
* "WALL-E" with intros and Q&A with producers.
* ""
* "Fanboys" - Lucas Ranch interrogation filmed four days before BNAT

INTENDED FILMS
* Rambo* - Unable to be shown due to missing special effects
* Cloverfield* - Unable to be shown due to short notice and shipping error
* Fanboys* - Unable to be shown due to being in re-shoots

* Previously unreleased features.

References

External links

* [http://community.livejournal.com/bnatters/ BNAT LiveJournal Community]