Avert your eyes and put down your popcorn as classic horror films hit London’s cinema screens this Halloween.

Jameson Cult Film Club Presents “Chills in the Chapel”, Union Chapel, Islington: 29-30 Oct
The Jameson Cult Film Club presents two horror classics in the atmospheric setting of the Union Chapel, Islington. Steel yourself for The Blair Witch Project (1999) and the best horror remake of all time (fact), Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) on the 29 and 30 October respectively.
Read more abot Chills in the Chapel

Brain Wash Presents Fright Night at Curzon Soho: 28 Oct
Don your most gruesome fancy dress for a night of DJs, VJs and drinks and a rare screening of Tom Holland’s Fright Night (1985) at Curzon Soho. Regularly voted as one of the greatest horror films of all time, Fright Night follows one boy’s mission to prove that his neighbour is a vampire. The fun starts at the bar from 9pm, with the screening from 11.30pm.
www.curzoncinemas.com/fright-night-a-halloween-spooktacular

Halloween Screamings, The Round Chapel, Hackney: 28, 30 & 31 Oct
From the creators of the Rooftop Cinema Club comes a short season of creepy classics, including The Exorcist (1973), The Omen (1976) and Halloween (1978), on the 28, 30 and 31 October. Doors open at 6.45pm and there’s a licensed bar – serving spirits no doubt.
experiencecinema.com

The Underground Picturehouse at The Water Poet Spitalfields: 31 Oct
And finally for some light relief, head to The Water Poet in Spitalfields for a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) on 31 October. Doors open from 6.30pm for a 7pm screening.
www.wegottickets.com

Murder, mysticism and eerie music – the screening of 1920s silent film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari at Greenwich Picturehouse on Wednesday night had it all.

The live rescore came courtesy of music maestros Minima. I had expected a tinkling piano, so was delighted by their electrifying mix of drums, base, cello and guitar.

Celebrated as a classic of German expressionist cinema, the film makes good use of menacing shadows, agitated characters and bulging eyes ringed in thick make-up – even for the men!

The strange story centres around the sinister Dr Caligari who tours fairgrounds with his ‘exhibit’, a hypnotised sleepwalker called Cesare who “knows the past and can see into the future”.

Alternately hilarious and mystifying, I found the film a fascinating change from today’s slick flicks, with its slow-building story, flimsy stage sets and descriptive title cards.

Minima’s score was fantastic. I loved the exotic African-style drumming that accompanied Dr Caligari’s fairground show, the slightly sleazy background music for a bachelor pad and the well-timed drum beat that made me (and half the audience) jump out of our seats!

Minima are sadly coming to the end of their performances of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, but they have one more show in London at The Prince Charles Cinema on 18 May. You can also keep an eye out for more Minima performances on their website.

For the next two weeks, you’re being encouraged to swap your normal purchases for fairtrade stuff. So, make your morning coffee a fairtrade coffee, your usual bananas become fairtrade bananas, and your normal cotton T-shirts for fairtrade cotton T-shirts.

Every little change you make helps producers in the developing world get a better deal.

Across London, there are tea parties, coffee mornings, wine tastings, discussions, sports days, film screenings, treasure hunts, craft workshops, a tea dance, a barn dance and even a Burlesque PanTease taking place over next fortnight to raise awareness of fairtrade.

Check out the definitive list on www.fairtradelondon.org.uk/events to find out more.

And don’t forget to let us know in the comments below if you’re planning on swapping your shopping for the fairtrade choice! (And register it here too: www.fairtrade.org.uk/thebigswap.)