Halloween came early this morning for hundreds of Michael Jackson fans who gathered at the Vue Cinema in Liffey Valley for the Irish premiere of This Is It.
The 4.00am showtime would make zombies of any other class of music fan. As it was, Jackson devotees came in the night like smooth criminals.
Black fedoras, 1930s gangster-style zoot suits, white gloves and razzmatazz were the order of the day for the fans of the late, great King of Pop.
The film is based around footage of Jackson rehearsing for a series of concerts and the first screening in Dublin was attended by an estimated 350 fans.
Alan O'Neill (37), an IT manager from Louth, said that while he was a fan, he was more excited about the global screening event. "It's a unique opportunity. It's on at the same time all over the world. It'll never happen again."
Teenager Conor Ryan from Co Westmeath loved the fly-on-the-wall documentary style. "You got to see him when he wasn't on stage and how he reacted with the crew."
His mother Margaret was perhaps even more impressed. "If you weren't a fan before you saw that, you'd be a fan after it. Absolutely amazing."
Although she began the night on chaperone duty and saw Jackson gig in Cork many moons ago, she ended the day a born-again Jackson fan.
"I'll be recommending it to everybody. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see greatness. That's no exaggeration," she said.
All fans agreed he looked fit and well in the film. Irene Cass from Uganda, via Clonsilla, thinks it raises questions about the people surrounding Jackson.
"His dancing was amazing. He had a lot of life in him. I'm 22 and I wouldn't be able to do half the stuff he did. He seemed real normal so the people around him must not have been his real friends."
Lorraine Meaney (27) from Finglas and her brother David (19) had tickets for the ill-fated concert in London. "In a way at least we got to see the concert, but we'd rather not have seen it and he'd still be here."
Jackson's evident commitment and professionalism impressed Lorraine. "He wanted it done 100 per cent and he gave it 100 per cent."
This Is Itwas a great success with fans in Dublin. You couldn't Beat Itin fact. They all agree it is not Badand certainly not Dangerousand the Off The WallMotown legend with more top ten hits than a graveyard's got crosses can still produce a Thriller.