By Valerie Milano

Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/1/20 – The trendy and beautiful Arena Cinelounge at The Montalbán is opening its doors to new films starting on September 2nd with MURDER IN THE WOODS, an award-winning slasher film featuring a diverse ensemble cast. The popular arthouse cinema venue recently received city approval to re-open with new COVID-19 safety precautions in place, detailed in our media alert below.

The news marks a trend of theaters opening back up after 5 months of closure. If you haven’t been to the venue, it’s a truly special location with beautiful 360 rooftop views. Doors should open around 6PM and showtime starts around 8PM.

WHAT: Arena Cinelounge at the Montalbán Rooftop, a Los Angeles-based arthouse cinema screening mainstream and classic films, is re-opening its doors and showing new films to Angelenos since COVID-19 closures. On Wednesday, September 2nd, the popular theater will be screening the fun yet thrilling indie film, Murder in the Woods, as its first new showing, set in a beautiful 360 rooftop view. Directed and produced by Mexican filmmaker Luis Iga Garza (The Call), a USC MFA Annenberg fellow and written and produced by Yelyna De León (Will and Grace, A Better Life), the enjoyable slasher stars a multicultural cast in non-stereotypical roles, including José Julián (A Better Life, Shameless), Jeanette Samano (ISA, Female Fight Squad), Chelsea Rendon (Vida, Bright), Catherine Toribio (Jane the Virgin), Jordan Diambrini (The Outfield) and Kade Wise (Empire), with Danny Trejo (Machete).

To protect the health and safety of attendees, the Montalbán Rooftop has implemented new COVID-19 safety precautions including: temperature screenings, one-way entry and exit protocols, seating limitations, face covering requirements, surface sanitization and socially distanced exit procedures. Additionally, no walk-ups will be allowed so every ticket must be purchased in advance.

Part of the Montalbán Rooftop’s mission is to support Latino talent and Murder in the Woods is a film that stars an ensemble group of people of color, including Danny Trejo, and was created by an all Latinx group of filmmakers. The film’s release coincides
with the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month (starting September 15) and is the perfect gateway to celebrating achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans.

Guest will need to make reservations in advance to enjoy a screening. For more information about Arena Cinelounge and the Montalbán Rooftop, visit:

https://arenascreen.com/ and

For more information about Murder in the Woods, visit: https://www.murderinthewoodsmovie.com/

MURDER IN THE WOODS SYNOPSIS:

Murder in the Woods is centered on a group of college friends who plan a getaway to celebrate a birthday party at a desolate cabin in the woods. Against his grandmother’s (Soledad St. Hilaire) demands, Jesse (José Julián), a loner-type decides to go on a trip
with his friends. He is immediately smitten with Fernanda (Jeanette Samano), a sweet girl from Chicago whom he hasn’t seen in years. She is in town visiting her loudmouth cousin, Chelsea (Chelsea Rendon), who is ready to celebrate her birthday and plans to let loose with her boyfriend Gabe (Jordan Diambrini). Tagging along at the last second are Jule (Kade Wise), the class clown pothead, and the very out-of-his-league Celeste (Catherine Toribio). Soon after arriving to the mysterious cabin in the woods, the group of teens discover the dark secret it holds, which forces them to fight for their lives.

WHEN: September 2, 2020.

Doors & Bar open at 6:00 pm, The Movie starts just after sunset (8:15 pm PT)

SOCIAL MEDIA: #ArenaCineLounge #MurderInTheWoods
@ArenaCinelounge & @MurderintheWoods (Instagram)

Facebook: @MITWMovie

Twitter: @MITWMovie

TikTok: @murderinthewoods

WHERE: The Montalbán Rooftop

1615 Vine St, Hollywood, CA 90028