Schlock City USA - Part Two

The 32nd Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival will run at the Somerville Theatre from Sunday, February 18, to Monday, February 19 - President's Day, so it won't piss off your boss. The festival starts at noon and ends at noon. Tickets are $51, but, hey, it happens only once a year. You can find more information at the festival's website.

Picture your long President's Day weekend. You've just made it through the Brattle's Schlock-Around-the-Clock, and you're still hungry for more bizarre movies.

You can leave the Brattle at noon, take a nap, and head down to the Somerville Theatre for the 32nd annual Science Fiction Film Festival, which is yet another all-nighter. This year's theme is "Bots Over Boston."

Puzzlehead (2005) - A scientist builds an android version of himself, and a love triangle develops between him, the android, and the object of his affections. Puzzlehead and its director, James Bai, have received positive reviews across the board. You'll be there to watch this future cult classic on the rise.

Dark Star (1974) - John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon's debut in this low-budget number features a robot bomb with a mind of its own. If the films of this festival were a collection of wines, this would be a very dry white.

Forbidden Planet (1956) - If Dark Star is a dry white, then Forbidden Planet is a bottle of Boone's Farm with a dash of Leslie Nielsen.

Metropolis (2001) - Not to be confused with the 1927 classic, this is the 2001 animated movie. A boy must protect an escaped robot, who qualifies as a second-class citizen, from being recaptured.

Monster House (2006) - It's not clear why this one is on the bill because the movie is named Monster House, not Robot House. But this animated movie has several famous voices from a posse of off-kilter actors, like Steve Buscemi and Catherine O'Hara.

Robocop (1987) - Paul Verhoeven directs and actor and historian Peter Weller stars. One of the genuine big-hit movies of the festival.

Slither (2006) - Directed by Troma Vet James Gunn, Nathon Fillion of Serenity, Pam from The Office, and a bunch of other townies face down nasty alien worms in this black comedy.

Chopping Mall (1986) - Get some vicarious revenge on '80s mallrats when robot store guards turn into killing machines. Notable for cameos from Eating Raoul's Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov.

Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965) - Another title for this one is Mars Invades Puerto Rico. Mars needs women, and they head to Puerto Rico. Throw in an android named "Frank Saunders" and loads of stock footage, and you have a B-movie treat.

The Stepford Wives (1975) - Don't panic. This isn't the execrable remake with Nicole Kidman. This is the real deal in which Katharine Ross grows suspicious of the perfect little homemakers who populate the suburban wasteland.

Eleven sci-fi short films are liberally sprinkled throughout the mix, and Sci-Fi Film Festival head Garen Daly writes on the website that they'll have two surprises - an old movie and a new one.