By Woo Sian Boon

IT was a Saturday night movie date with a twist for Mr Praveen Thomas, 34, and his wife.

Without telling his 30-year-old wife Smitha Thomas, a software engineer, where they were going, Mr Thomas whisked her off to watch a horror movie.

In a cemetery, no less.

And the couple didn't have to get out of their car the whole time.

Mr Thomas, a project manager in an investment bank, is among a growing number of Singaporeans who are falling in love with watching movies the old-school way - at a drive-in.

He said: "This is the first time I'm watching a movie at a drive-in, and I'm very impressed with the whole set-up.

"The weather was very pleasant and windy."

The one they attended last Saturday, organised by design and advertising agency Ape Communications, attracted over 140 cars.

Called Movie Mob, the fortnightly roving screenings can draw up to 200 cars each time, said Mr Mikhail Choo, director of Ape Communications.

He said: "We got the idea from watching American movies that featured drive-in movies, and we thought, if they can have it there, why not have it here in Singapore too?"

The concept for MovieMob is simple.

Come by car or on foot to enjoy a movie out in the open.

All that is required is an FM radio to tune in to the movie's audio.

Movie Mob, which has been held since July last year, happens every fortnight at different locations around Singapore.

The location of the screening remains secret until three days before the event.

One has to sign up on Movie Mob's website or join its Facebook group to be notified on where the next movie will be screened.

Some of the venues for the drive-ins include Tanjong Rhu and Marina South.

The venues have to be accessible and situated away from residential areas, said organisers.

The movies are screened on an inflatable screen '15mwide by8mtall ' sponsored by Epson.

A week before the screening, a theme will be chosen by the organisers.

But viewers get to vote which movie will ultimately be screened.

They get to choose from four movies.