Imagine this fresh horror. You are a major Hollywood star. You are headlining a new movie about struggling to survive in a harsh, post-apocalyptic universe. But in our off-screen reality, you have to rearrange your splashy film premiere because an infestation of bedbugs has crippled your New York City theater. Horrifying!
That’s what happened to The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials, which – according to The New York Post -- had to move its premiere earlier this week because the AMC Empire Times Square fielded "numerous reports" of bedbug activity. Numerous. Beyond disgusting.
The premiere didn’t have to move far, as the activity shifted right across the street to the Regal Cinemas Times Square. Yes, in Manhattan, there is an AMC Theater right across the street from a Regal Cinemas, and both are packed from opening to close. But back to the bugs, which successfully disrupted a world premiere. AMC Theater representatives released a statement on the situation, explaining:
At AMC, we take aggressive, proactive steps, including regular inspections and inspections any time a bedbug is suspected. If any inspection comes back positive, the affected area is treated the same day .?.?. by pest control.
But bedbugs can be a lingering issue, particularly for a high-traffic, dimly lit environment like a movie theater. In fact, with a little research, we discovered that this same theater had to shut down back in 2010!
A few years back, bedbugs were an issue at the Toronto International Film Festival, with the primary screening venues being treated for bug problems days before the Canadian celebration of cinema was about to begin. Bedbugs can be treated, and as the above report claims, colder weather can do a lot to stem the infestation of the critters. But tell that to Dylan O’Brien and Kaya Scodelario, who just wanted to attend their premiere!
The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials picks up right where the original movie left off, with a team of young survivors escaping the maze of the title but still trying to stay ahead of a dangerous, powerful force by maneuvering a desert wasteland known as the Scorch. The movie is in theaters nationwide. Let’s all hope that bedbugs aren’t waiting for us when we arrive for our screenings this weekend!
