Nowhere Cinema, Exposure, other clubs provide affordable films for Richmonders
Movie- goers watching Darkman at Studio Two Three. Photos courtesy of Nowhere Cinema.
Ash Jones, Contributing Writer
Last Tuesday’s screening of “Darkman” (1990) at Studio Two Three was met with a room full of infectious laughter, as well as a palpable sense that everyone was hooked to the screen.
It was the first of two free showings highlighting the blood-pumping 90s works of filmmaker Sam Raimi — before he broke out big with “Spider-Man” — by Richmond pop-up theatre Nowhere Cinema.
The next? Rugged outlaw film “The Quick and the Dead” (1995), which will show on Jan. 20. Beyond that, Nowhere has a months-long slate of events for 2026, and it is only one of multiple cinema clubs in Richmond showcasing the weird, niche and cult-followed for a relatively low price (or at least cheaper than Movieland).
Nowhere, established in April 2025, has become a hub for “weirdo movie lovers” in Richmond — and along with nonprofit host Studio Two Three, they align in a mission to provide accessible, creative outlets to the public.
There is also Hard Light Cinema, which shows films from around the world; the critical and discussive Exposure, keen on highlighting Black film; as well as Good For Her, a monthly fundraiser celebrating femme-rage in film.
Richmond’s cinema clubs often hold their showings at accessible locations like Studio Two Three — sometimes even collaborating with the Richmond Public Library.
Nowhere screenings are typically free or listed with a “pay-what-you-can” ticket price that makes them more accessible for all movie-goers.
One attendee at the “Darkman” screening noted their disdain for rising ticket prices at corporate theaters. Nowhere has allowed them to consume entertainment in a communal space.
“Everytime I go to the movies, I just think about how I could be pirating it at home instead of spending up to twenty bucks at AMC,” the attendee said. “Nowhere is cool ‘cause I love movies, I love watching them with other people and here, I get to do that without emptying my wallet.”
“Darkman” follows an unnerving scientist who is physically mutated after a vicious attack by ruthless mobsters.
The film, fervent with action and resemblance to 1930’s superhero flicks, was adored by the crowd. One attendee highlighted the weird factor many films on the Nowhere screen seem to possess.
“I come here all the time,” the attendee said. “I love weird, off-kilter movies like this and it’s hard to find similar stuff at big theaters.”
Charles Case, the devoted founder of Nowhere, emphasized the importance of fostering community through the arts.
“I really think of Nowhere as a means to show people what makes the theater special,” Case stated. “To me, there’s nothing more powerful than a room of people laughing together or sharing emotions.”
Case’s goal was to build a creative space from the ground up.
“I was very inspired by the scrappy passion it takes to put on your own screenings, promote and build an audience,” Case stated. “That’s really where Nowhere Cinema stems from … wanting to do my own take on what others were already doing well, and having a larger sense of ownership over what movies people are introduced to in the theater.”
Upcoming film screenings
Nowhere Cinema — nowherecinema.com
- Jan. 20 — “The Quick and the Dead”
- Feb. 2 — “Hollywood Shuffle
- Feb. 14 — “Polyester”
- Feb. 24 — “Uptight”
- March 3 — “Be Kind Rewind”
- March 14 — “Son of the White”
- March 24 — “Millenium Actress”
Hard Light Cinema — hardlight.online
- Jan. 21 — “By the Stream”
- Jan. 29 — “La Strada”
- Feb. 8 — “A Night of Knowing Nothing”
- Feb. 19 — “A Fistfull of Dollars”
- March 1 — “The Act of Killing”
- March 19 — “The Great Silence”
- April 9 — “The Consequences of Love”
Exposure — exposurecinema.org
- None announced (yet)
Good For Her Films — goodforherfilms.org
- Jan. 15 — “May”
- Feb. 10 — “Bride of Chucky”
Prices, locations and showtimes for upcoming screenings can be found on Richmond’s cinema club’s respective websites.
