What is a B-movie?

There has been much debate among movie fans over this very definition. Originally, the B-movie was the lesser half of a double feature, often a cheap genre picture – sci-fi, horror, exploitation. The term, however, has outlasted its original context, and has come to mean anything cheap or cheesy. Some will even apply it to recent blockbusters that capture, whether intentionally or not, the spirit of those classic Bs. But if you ask the average person what a B-movie is, chances are they'll tell you the B stands for 'bad.”

In that light, the Sundridge Sunflower Festival promises an evening of really bad movies in the open air on August 14. Starting at dusk, the grounds of the Sundridge, Strong, Joly Arena will become a drive-in without the cars. People are invited to bring their blankets and folding chairs and enjoy the Attack of the Outdoor B-Movies.

Which brings us to our next question. Why would anyone willingly watch a bad movie?

The short answer is that the only bad movies are those that fail to entertain. And we all know that big budgets and big names do not necessarily make an entertaining movie. A good bad movie is all about fun. Monsters, aliens, giant bugs, goofy science are all part of the tradition. These movies are made to entertain, without a lot of pretension.

That is, of course, not to say that a bad movie can't be pretentious. Indeed, the more seriously it takes itself, the more likely you are to find the true treasure hidden in these movies – unintended humour. Monsters too ridiculous to be scary, saucers that fly on visible strings, badly written lines spoken by actors who make Shatner look subtle by comparison – all pure gold.

Attack of the Outdoor B-Movies will feature a lineup of classic drive-in fare from the golden age of B-movies. Watch this website for more details in the coming months.

Whether fishing, boating, swimming, golfing, dining or just enjoying the natural scenic beauty, make sunny Sundridge a part of your Northern Ontario Vacation.