A movie known for its lurid and creepy subject matter, Peeping Tom was panned by critics on its 1960 release, virtually destroying the career of filmmaker Michael Powell (The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus).

Over the years, movie buffs have reconsidered the voyeuristic thriller starring Karlheinz Böhm, Anna Massey, Moira Shearer. Martin Scorsese has even namechecked it among his favorite films of all time. Shot in gloriously saturated Technicolor, the proto-slasher film reveals its violence implicitly, suggesting the universality of voyeurism, a notion that may have not gone over well during its time. 

See the film about a psychopathic cameraman, aspiring actress on the dark fringes of Hollywood, a rebel and a criminal mastermind at the Vault tonight in downtown Tampa. The cult classic marks be the debut showing of Second Screen Cinema. 

The first of four movies slated for the Second Screen Cult Cinema, Peeping Tom will be shown in a chic new pop-up film series for film buffs with adventurous, offbeat and discerning tastes. The series makes its debut from 6 to 10 p.m. tonight at The Vault in Downtown Tampa (611 N. Franklin St.). Admission is a donation of $5, and seating is limited to 200.

“As far as what we hope for, both for the event and for the series overall: We hope to not only enrich the local cultural arts scene, but to also give Tampa Bay area denizens something a little funky, a little sophisticated and a little ‘big city’ to do in the slowly but steadily flourishing Downtown Tampa scene,” says event co-curator Michael Martz.

Bamboozle Cafe will provide food available for purchase and a cash bar will be stocked with spirits for themed craft cocktails (such as the “Peeping Tom” — love that!) will be open before, during and after the film’s screening, which begins at 7 p.m. and runs 101 minutes. Attendees are encouraged to stick around immediately after for cocktails and conversation.

Launched as a nonprofit organization by a collective of friends and film aficionados entrenched in the local arts scene, Second Screen Cult Cinema is currently the only curated monthly film series in the Tampa Bay area that will show unconventional and unforgettable cult films geared towards adult movie-goers (18+) looking for a refreshingly unique cinematic experience. Second Screen’s goal is to enrich the Greater Tampa Bay cultural arts community and to enhance Tampa’s flourishing downtown district.

“We created Second Screen Cult Cinema to not only show some terrific cult films that can’t be seen in any local theater, but to also emotionally engage a fresh audience and help energize Tampa’s urban core,” explained series co-founder Ann-Eliza Taylor, a local cultural maven who has chaired past Gasparilla arts events. Her husband, Brian Taylor, coincidentally, founded the Sleep of Reason Cinema series.

“Peeping Tom is the perfect archetype of the style of films we plan on showing throughout this series,” adds Martz. “It hits that sweet spot of films that are both underseen and a bit atypical from the norm that demand to be experienced, enjoyed and discussed.”

Second Screen will will be presenting films the third Wednesday of every month. See David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive in March, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure in April and Mario Bava’s groovy, colorful 1968 comic book action film Danger: Diabolik in May. 

Meanwhile on the other side of the bay, St. Pete for Peace is back at a new venue and day for its free weekly human rights/world-conscious film series at 7 p.m. tonight. Downtown hangout Community Cafe (2444 Central Ave.) will host the event and invites patrons becoming a member to receive discounts through their optional membership program. A menu of locally grown-deriven meals with vegetarian and vegan options are served from lunch through late night at the cafe. Options for drinkers and non-alcohol-drinkers include beer, wine, coffee, tea, and Italian sodas are available too.

The first film in St. Pete for Peace’s ninth year of movies will be Let the Fire Burn follows The MOVE, an organization originally established as a “back to nature” movement that practiced “green” methods. When their methods became more radical, the group began to draw the attention of the Philadelphia community and local law enforcement. In 1985, after complaints from neighbors about obscene broadcasts and health hazards, the police department intervened to evict the MOVE row house on Osage Avenue. When gunfire broke out and tear gas failed to evacuate, the police dropped explosives on the house.

This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2015.