WORTHINGTON -- If you noticed more yawns, dark under-eye circles and pale faces than usual among schoolmates or work colleagues yesterday, it was likely due to a widespread quest to seek vampires and werewolves under a new moon at midnight.
A 12:01 a.m. Friday showing of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" at Northland Cinema 5 drew a strong contingent of fans eager to see the second movie based on the four-book "Twilight" series by Mormon housewife- turned best-selling author Stephenie Meyer.
Attendees ranged from the Twilight-addicted to the casually interested and came in a variety of ages and genders, although high schoolers and females appeared to dominate.
"We are very happy with the turnout," expressed Todd Frager, an owner of Northland Cinema 5, as he busily sold tickets and made change en route to filling the two largest theaters nearly to capacity. "Nationally, this movie is big, and Worthington appears to be falling right in line with that, which is nice."
The "Twilight" books (which center on the love story between a human girl and a 17-year-old vampire) and movie series have become a national phenomenon with a cult-like following among many. Devotees range from teenagers to grandmothers.
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The young "Twilight Saga" movie stars, including Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, are typically swamped by crowds at public appearances. "Eclipse," the series' third movie, is in development with an expected June 2010 release date.
Shortly before midnight, employees scrambled to serve a long line of patient though enthusiastic customers at the concession counter while adolescent girls, giddy mothers and sleepy-eyed couples milled about the lobby in anticipation of the main event.
Twenty-something Olivia Figueroa of Worthington said seeing the PG-13-rated "New Moon" at midnight seemed appropriate, and that she found the first movie "cool" so wanted to get in on the early action.
High school friends Justin Jass and Kyle Elder of the Heron Lake/Okabena area were waiting to purchase popcorn. Neither boy had read any of the "Twilight" books or seen the first movie but both said they had heard a lot about the books and thought it would be fun to be among the first to see "New Moon."
"Yeah, I'm going to be tired tomorrow, but we thought this would be a good place to see girls," admitted Jass.
Among the girls present were Worthington High School students Martha Alwal, Sabra Petersen, Jessica Kullman and Tiffany Harberts.
Alwal, a "Twilight" aficionado, has read the entire series. Despite having met Lautner, whose relatives include the Dave and Sheila Bos family of rural Fulda, in person when he participated in a local fundraiser in February 2007, Alwal claimed the stylish vampire Edward Cullen, played by Pattinson, as her favorite character "because he's hot."
"But Taylor was really nice," professed Alwal.
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"I'm Facebook friends with his cousin," added Kullman proudly. "I'm hoping for an introduction."
Count mother Cindy Teerink of Rushmore, who arrived with three teenage girls in tow, firmly in the Lautner camp.
Dressed in a black shirt reading "I run with the werewolves" on the front and "Team Jacob" (for Lautner's Native American/werewolf character Jacob Black) on the back, Teerink was a bundle of excitement.
"I am a huge fan of Stephenie Meyer and have read all the books," Teerink eagerly confessed. "I went to an autograph signing she did at the Mall of America, and she answered a question I'd submitted."
Lori Rosenberg of rural Worthington came to the theater with a group of over-30-year-old women, having safely tucked her three daughters into bed and bid husband Scott good night before happily settling into the electric buzz filling the auditorium.
Who's her favorite "Twilight" hunk?
"Edward," she replied in a dreamy voice. And does Rosenberg's husband think she's crazy?
"Oh, yes he does," Rosenberg replied with a warm chuckle.
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Heather Lindstrom, a 30-something "Twilight mom" from Brewster, side-stepped the whole tired-at-work issue by planning ahead to take the day off so she could rest up from her "Twilight" marathon.
Lindstrom took advantage of Northland Cinema 5's double-feature offer, which allowed her to watch "Twilight" at 9:30 p.m. Thursday followed by "New Moon" at midnight for only $9.
"I loved the books and read them all in a week last year," shared Lindstrom, who acknowledged that when a woman at work first suggested them to her she wasn't certain she wanted to read about vampires.
"Once I started them, I couldn't stop reading, and now I've re-read them all several times. I just couldn't put them down," said Lindstrom.
It's good Lindstrom took time off from work to sleep on Friday, because her evening plans involved a return trip to the theater, this time to accompany her 10- and 12-year-old daughters to "New Moon."
That's the kind of report cinema owner Frager wants to hear.
"Frequency of attendance might drive this picture," asserted Frager. "Our goal with these midnight showings is to remind people we're here and that we'll play every show we can.
"The exciting part is that, for us, the Christmas movie season started today."
