HorrorFest Brings Fear & Carnage To The Electric Theater
October 16th – 19th, 2024.
HorrorFest brings genre films from around the world to the Electric Theater just in time for Halloween!
Don’t you just love this time of year? Not only are things starting to cool down, but the spooky season is upon us, and nothing screams “spooky season” like horror movies. And nothing screams “horror movies” quite like HorrorFest. In fact, this independent film showcase was born out of the purest love of horror.
Way back in the early 2000’s, during its humble beginnings, HorrorFest was initially started as a means to treat lovers of horror to the classics of yesteryear in a theatrical setting. In the years that would follow, this festival would evolve, becoming a springboard for local filmmaking talent. Then, in 2020, the festival would pivot once more by transforming into a full-blown international film festival, and to this very day, HorrorFest continues to open its arms to horror filmmakers from all over the world.
During its 2023 edition, Southern Utah’s long-running HorrorFest International Film Festival treated attendees to the latest and greatest in horror and in an effort to add to the ghoulish delight of the experience, the proceedings were set to an affectionate 80s slasher movie/summer camp motif. This year, the festival lineup promises to be even stronger and as far as the motif goes, well…Let’s just say that this time around, the horror will come from above.
Presented by The Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah (FMASU), HorrorFest is the perfect event to usher in Halloween and while programmers are always looking to scare audiences, they also recognize that horror shouldn’t be written off as a one trick pony. This is to say that there are many different shades of horror so those who dare to attend the festival in October 2024, can expect frights to be sure, but patrons can also expect plenty of thrills, drama, adventure, romance, bromance, the experimental, and of course, plenty of humor because there’s a fine line between what terrifies us and what makes us laugh.
What can attendees expect at HorrorFest 2024? How about over 50 films–shorts and features–from around the globe. Feature film titles will include;
“CHAINSAWS WERE SINGING”
This Estonian import is a gloriously depraved fusion of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and Monty Python but it also evokes the spirit of early-career Peter Jackson efforts like “Bad Taste.” It should also be noted that this is a full blown musical! A high-energy (and oddly charming) splatterfest over 10 years in the making. This is the Utah premiere.
“ASTRAL PLANE DRIFTER”
Based on the beloved Mike Caravella-created short film of the same name, “Astral Plane Drifter” is a movie that defies description because it doesn’t neatly fit into any one genre. It’s a science fiction movie, it’s a grindhouse flick, it’s a romance, it’s a bromance, it’s a kung-fu actioneer, and it’s a stoner comedy all rolled into one. This is the World Premiere screening of a movie that the universe needs. Cast and crew will be on hand for a Q&A.
“FRANKIE FREAKO”
An immensely entertaining throwback to low-fi 80s gems like “Ghoulies” and “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie.” “Frankie Freako” finds a man in a midlife crisis inadvertently conjuring a goblin and his demonic cohorts by way of a late night party hotline. From Steven Kostasni, the creative writer/director/creature maker behind “The Void,” and “Psycho Goreman.”
“ALIEN COUNTRY”
“Alien Country” takes viewers back to the days of lively creature feature comedies like “Tremors” and “Men in Black.” This Utah-produced film from Boston McConnaughey and Renny Grames finds affable Jimmy and his lovely on again/off again soulmate Everly doing everything they can to stop an alien invasion. Members of the cast and crew are expected to be on hand for a Q&A.
“1978”
From Argentina comes this 70s set slice of politically-charged horror in which a group of torturers get more than they bargained for after kidnapping the wrong targets. A film in which a bad set of circumstances takes a turn for the worse.
“THE INVISIBLE RAPTOR”
A hilarious, irreverent, and altogether creative sendup of Spielberg films, the aptly titled “The Invisible Raptor” finds a paleontologist teaming with a friendless security guard so that they might stop an invisible raptor as it wreaks havoc in a small, unsuspecting town. Co-producer/co-writer Johnny Wickham and star/co-writer Mike Capes will be on hand for what is sure to be a very entertaining post-screening Q&A.
“VOIDCALLER”
This engrossing, experimental gem from Sweden finds a woman with amnesia coming to the realization that something sinister of a cosmic scale may be at play. A film that is patient, thought provoking, haunting, and entertaining in equal measure.
“80’S FLASHBACK SCREENING”
The mystery screening has become something of a tradition at HorroFest International and 2024 will be no different. Viewers won’t know what this 80s horror film screening is until the lights go down. Past 80s Flashback screenings have included “The Howling,” “Prince of Darkness,” and “The Blob” (1988.) This year’s selection promises to be a blast. It will be followed by a live episode of the Cinemast Podcast with host Brandon Treadway and a special guest from the film.
Beyond these exceptional features, HorrorFest International will also unload over 40 short films including the likes of buzzworthy titles like “The Ghost in the Road,” “The Parcel,” “Pizza Panic Party,” “Silent Generation,” “The Queen of the Underworld,” “Scratch,” “The Winding Sheet,” “Psychotronic Atomizing X-periment,” “13th Night,” “Convoluted,” “The Red Stone,” “Umbra,” “Satanimation,” “Howl If You Love Me,” and a whole lot more!
But HorrorFest isn’t only limited to films. While movies are certainly the primary focus (this is a film festival after all), attendees can also expect filmmaker Q&As, special guests (including HorrorFest fave Frank Dietz), industry panels, a live script read, after parties, horror trivia, an awards ceremony, and more.
And for those of you who want an added bonus, you can join FMASU for a little something called Hell Night on Tuesday, October 15th. This evening will consist of a 15th anniversary screening of Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell” followed by a 16mm screening of Clive Barker’s 80’s horror gem “Hellraiser” courtesy of film print collector Matthew Moon. The perfect double feature to get attendees primed for the horror festival to end all horror festivals.
The 2024 HorrorFest International Film Festival will take place from Wednesday, October 16th – Saturday, October 19th at the historic Electric Theater in beautiful St. George, UT. For all festival details, including ticket info, click here.
