‘Twi-Hard’ haven

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Staff Photo by Grant Morris Members of the Cote family, of Bradford, NH watch the first in the series of films from the Twilight Saga in the back of their mini van before the start of the Twilight double header at The Milford Drive-In Theater Tuesday night. The much awaited third film of the saga premiered in area theaters at midnight.

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Staff Photo by Grant Morris Seth Lewis, Melissa Julien and Jill Stewart get cozy on the hood of their car Tuesday evening before the third edition of the Twilight Saga, "Elipse" took the screen on The Milford Drive-In Theater's screen one."We're basically here to bash it, it's cheezy and there's no plot line," Julien, of Manchester, said of the series.

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Staff Photo by Grant Morris From left to right, Jonathan Manheim, Amanda Bernier, Gabrielle Chaussee, Ashleight Woermer, Joey Woermer, Kaitlyn Barton and Martha Bernier watch as the second Twilight film, "New Moon", begins on screen one of The Milford Drive-In Theater. The midnight opening of the third film, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" was screened for patrons Tuesday night.

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Staff Photo by Grant Morris Members of the Cote family, of Bradford, NH watch the first in the series of films from the Twilight Saga in the back of their mini van before the start of the Twilight double header at The Milford Drive-In Theater Tuesday night. The much awaited third film of the saga premiered in area theaters at midnight.

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MILFORD – The mosquitoes may have been the only ones actually sucking any blood Tuesday night at the midnight premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” – the third installment of Stephanie Meyer’s hit vampire book and movie series.

But with a couple of Bug-Off candles and a layer of blankets, the atmosphere at the Milford Drive-In Theater was a hard one to beat.

“It’s really fun here,” said Jessica Tiedemann, 37, of Nashua. “I used to bring these kids here when they were little, and I used to come here when I was a kid.”

Tiedemann, who still remembers her first drive-in movie in Milford, “Children of the Corn,” figured the pitch-black, outdoor atmosphere would bring an equally creepy vibe to the vampire- and werewolf-ridden viewing of “Eclipse.”

“I was watching (‘Twilight’) earlier in the car and I was watching the trees blowing outside,” Tiedemann said. “You have to read all the books, but it’s certain things like that that remind me of the book.”

One of the passengers in her six-person van, Nicole Jarry, 20, of Nashua, agreed about the enhanced atmosphere of watching “Twilight” outside.

“There’s this part in ‘Twilight’ when they’re in a big open field in front of a hill – it’s kind of like that here,” Jarry said. “It just increases the vibe.”

The group had arrived around 4 p.m. to pull into their parking space in the second row, front and center, facing the enormous screen at the front of the drive-in parking lot.

Jarry and Janessa Jette, 17, had removed two plush car seats from the spacious white van and were reclining out front as they waited for the sun to set and signal the start of the drive-in’s back-to-back feature, leading off with the series’ second movie, “Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

According to drive-in owner Steve Scharmett, it was the drive-in’s first time showing back-to-back sequels building up to the midnight premiere of a film.

“I’m obsessed,” Jarry said, cuddled up in a blanket next to her friend. “This is my first midnight showing, but I’ve been waiting for it since ‘New Moon’ ended.”

Jette, who admitted she only began watching the movies, well, Tuesday, was thrilled to be able to watch the second movie right before the world premiere of “Twilight” at midnight.

The van was torn between who they rooted for more – Bella’s blood-sucking boyfriend Edward Cullen or her furry friend Jacob Black.

“I’m with Jacob,” Jarry said. “Edward’s a sissy.”

Nashuan friend Nick Surdam, 21, said he wouldn’t mind being a vampire like Cullen, though.

“He just wants the power,” Tiedemann said with a laugh. “He wants to be able to read women’s minds like he does.”

“Twi-Hards” across the parking lot were equally uncertain about who protagonist Bella Swan should end up with.

Dana Kaggiano and Catie Stone, both 18, of Weare, sitting barefoot on picnic blankets, had mixed feelings about Bella’s love interests.

Kaggiano switched teams once she saw how Edward was portrayed in the movie.

“I like Jacob,” Kagianno said. “I’m kind of on the fence. At first, I liked Edward in the book, but now I just think Edward is better made up in my head.”

“And Jacob’s always there,” Stone agreed. “Edward ditched her for half the second book!”

Around them, the setup for watching “Eclipse” was just as diverse.

While some people sprawled out on the hoods and roofs of cars, others arrived armed with foldable lawn chairs, beach recliners, picnic blankets and mattresses to make the movie marathon a little more comfortable.

Bedford mom Sue Feelows, 40, stretched out with the top down and seat back in her Sebring convertible while her daughter socialized a couple cars over in anticipation of “Eclipse.”

“I think it will be good,” she said of watching “Eclipse” at the drive-in, “as long as there aren’t too many bugs and no rain.”

Freeda Dejesus, 25, of Manchester, couldn’t wait to catch the premiere at the drive-in.

“It’s not packed here like it is in a movie theater, and you don’t have to hear all the little teenyboppers screaming every time Cullen comes out,” Dejesus said with a laugh.

On the other hand, Courtney Defrancesco, 14, of Manchester, said she loves drive-in movies for the exact opposite luxury.

“You get the comfort of your own car … and you can scream ‘Ahhh!’ and no one can get mad at you,” she said, smiling.

But as the stars came out overhead and “New Moon” began rolling around 9:20, triggering the final countdown to the premiere of “ Eclipse,” it was pretty quiet in the parking lot.

And watching Bella and Edward fraternize in a forest on a humongous screen, lined with real pine trees under the breezy night sky, it was hard not to believe a vampire or werewolf could spring out at any second.

Maryalice Gill can be reached at 594-6490 or mgill@nashuatelegraph.com.