Salem Horror Fest 2023
What Salem Horror Fest says about itself:
Salem Horror Fest is a celebration of diverse voices and innovative filmmaking within a genre that best reflects our cultural demons.
Salem Horror Fest was founded as a direct response to the 2016 election. As political hate and fear became increasingly weaponized against minority groups, we set out to create a safe and welcoming space for people to find truth and catharsis in the shadows of the horror genre.
Salem, Massachusetts is known around the world as a Halloween mecca, but it is important to remember how religion and greed were used to scapegoat vulnerable members of this community, mostly women, and sentenced them to death. It is a deeply horrific and shameful moment in our history - one that must not be forgotten.
I would love to write about the social political aspect of Salem horror Fest but that really is not my groove. First and foremost I am a horror fan and that is really what draws me to this festival. When I find the films being presented "good" I am happy as can be and when they are not I leave disappointed. It must be saying something about the films that I have attended four(?) Salem Horror Fests counting the virtual one. That said, Salem Horror Fest (SHF) delivers some really great horror for any fan while also creating a space for queer horror like no other festival, probably anywhere. Founder Kay Lynch has created a space where diverse voices can tell their stories for an audience that will connect and appreciate them. The FACT that SHF can please the cis white middle aged man like me with high quality well curated content and also have those films be queer as fuck indicated to me the disconnect in our society where this same material is not programmed by many other festivals. I heard more than any other message in Q&As and Introductions the appreciation of the film makers that Kay has create a space where they can tell there stories. On top of that the festival is hosted at Salem Cinema a independent four screen cinema in the heart of Salem Massachusetts with the friendliest most helpful staff imaginable. Salem sells itsself as the Halloweeen capitol of the world, the Witch City if you will has many attractions for those travelling in from out of town for the festival. From historical to corny there is definately fun things to do in this town.
The main thing with any film festival that must be navigated is how do you schedule yourself so you can maximize the cost of the ticket. I have purposely purchased both weekend passes more to support the festival than that I want to spend that much time trying to see 'everything'. I never really plan on seeing everything but am most interested in new films and then try to hit the shorts after that. In fact as I get older (60 this year) physically I have a hard time making it through more than a couple films without needing to take a break and walk around town to ease some of the aches and pains. So what I am going to describe is my Festival, there was so much more that I just skipped because I wanted food or needed a break, or was to tired and went home for the night, or because I had reached my budget limit. There were added cost screenings in the small twenty-five seat theater that I would have loved to do. I missed the Opening night because I was travelling back from spending the week at the home office in Alpharetta GA, so I did not get to see Tony Todd Meet & Greet ,VIP Fan Event Candyman with Tony Todd | Q&A with Keynote: Kier-La Janisse I would have paid a bit more to see that if I was in town.
There were also a couple more special events for additional money on top of the cost of passes:
Night of the Demons | VIP Fan Event Linnea Quigley, Amelia Kinkade where the actresses watch the film with you in a intimate 25 seat theater, do a Q&A and then do pictures with the attendees.
Autograph Signing | Linnea Quigley, Amelia Kinkade, Geretta Geretta
Demon Night Party @ Bit Bar with Linnea Quigley, Amelia Kinkade, Geretta Geretta signing autographs and interacting with fans. The bit Bar is an Arcade Game film bar with food that partners with the festival. Its a lot of fun. I went to this but really spent most of my time talking with other fest participants and a bit with the very wonderful Andrea Subissati and Alexandra West of the Faculty of Horror Podcast. It is one of my favorites. and I had watch a live version of the pod in Salem earlier that day. Unfortunately Blood on Satans's Claw was not the best of films but it made for some interesting podcast conversation.
Fright Night | VIP Fan Event with William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, and Stephen Geoffreys watching the film again in the intimate setting with perks.
Autograph Signing | William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Stephen Geoffreys
Fright Night Party @ Bit Bar William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, and Stephen Geoffreys
Hopefully there are other blogs out there where you can hear about my missed experiences. If I had gone for the Special creenings I could have dropped another $300 on top of the $350 I had already spent on the two weekend passes. A bit above my price range so sacrifices had to be made. For better or worse I had to make some hard decisions and so what follows is just the things I did and saw.
Witch Hunt - A short about witches in Brooklyn and in Salem performing hexes on Donald Trump, a response to his administration and hateful policies.
Satan Wants You (2023) -
It tells the story of how the Satanic Panic of the 1980s was ignited by "Michelle Remembers", a memoir by psychiatrist and his patient. The book relied on recovered-memory therapy to uncover Michelle's abduction by baby-stealing Satanists. (imdb)The roots of the Satanic Panic are explored in this documentary that has no problem casting blame. Well done with a build towards several conclusions behore then having a turn where it picks the conclusion the makers felt suits it best. The footage of television shows in the throws of the panic did bring me back. I remember being a teen in the eighties and talking to friends about all this bullshit. We wondered if it was really going on and how could anyone keep such a big conspiracy secret. We never worried about our own neighbors because in the city everyone sort of knew everyone so there was no way we would not have known who the satsnic cult was. Speculating about small town America though was fair game. Far from keeping us away from the evils of Satan I think this did more to introduce us to the idea that Satan could be worshipped. My neighborhood was predominately Catholic so there were probably kids in these conversations who were living the real horror of cults and not the sensationalized satan ones. An A+ documantary that is worth a watch.
Blood on Satan's Claw (1971)
- This was the film being reviewed in the LIVE Falculty of Horror podcast. Not a objectively good film it is about the conflict between old religions and new, good and evil, dressed and undressed liberal and mostly conservative. In the end though the story falls way short of anything I would rate highly although I have to say the print shown at the fest was very good. Take the time to download and listen to the Faculty of Horror episode on it. Andrea and Alex do a great job hating on this film. It's an unusual episode since usually the FOH picks movies they like and give us a deeply research conversation about them. So to hear them rip into something made for a very lively episode. It is one of my favorite parts of the Salem Horror fest to see this podcast live, always funny and very insightful it just a pleasure. I just wish there was a bit more time allotted for the podcast because they could have given us more insights but the schedule is the schedule. I always say its great that they do the research so I don't have to.
Faculty of Horror
Demon Box - After festival rejections, a director revises his intensely personal short film about trauma, suicide, and the Holocaust, and transforms it into a painful, blunt and funny dissection of the film and his life. (imdb)I actually thought the short itself even without the added commentary was pretty good, with the commentary its great. It's only 14 minutes but tells a cool little story about the effects on younger generations at hearing family members talk about things that happen to them during the holocaust. By doing commentary on what was meant to be a serious short there is a humor at the short while the story is serious and still intact beneath it.
Wolves (2022) - from imdb -
Inspired by true events. When a young social recluse stumbles onto a series of unsolved cold cases he finds himself pulled deeper into society's dark underside and must face his own demons to learn the truth.
There was some controversy around this film as the short description on imdb made many people think this was a film about a real serial killer. This feature is not really that although it alludes to how someone could cross the line to killing people. If you are averse to animal violence then this is a film you should definately avoid. It's attempting to tell a dark tale of the urges one might have to harm and how seeing those urges playing out in the papers might attract you to that person acting on similar urges. What I experiences was I had a real disconnect with the content of the story and foun myself not very interested in it. Also could we stop with the upside down crane shot, please. This one was a miss for me but hey, you can't expect to vibe with everything you see. I am sure it had some soon to be cat killer jizzing in his pants as "he" watched.
Short: My Cat Lucy - Saw this particular animated short twice and was delighted both times.
Bakeneko: A Vengeful Spirit (1968) - from Letterboxd -
Nabeshima Naoshige murders his lord, Ryuzoji Takafusa, seeking to gain power and steal his Lord’s wife. To avoid her fate, Lady Takafusa drowns herself along with her cat in a nearby marsh. A decade later, Naoshige’s efforts to steal another woman trigger a curse on him when she also commits suicide at the same marsh — forcing him to suffer the consequences of his past actions.This movie was really a pleasant watch, I am always surprised by Severin Films, not only do they know my sweetspot for viewing but are consistently producing films I have not scene like this one. Well programmed just before Alex West's lecture on Cat familiars in film showed us on cat familiar in a convoluted but unltimately satifying feature. I some time go away from Asian theater for long periods of time before I have an experiece that brings me back. This one is worthy of bringing me back.
Presented by Severin Films
Severin FIlms is one of my movie buying mainstay sites, so it was great that they were at SHF the entire first weekend. As well as having a table up where you could spend your money on some of there wonderful titles they had several screening of films from their vaults including Bakeneko which I saw for the first time and really loved. They also contributed several showings of Woodlands Dark & Days
Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror,
Morgiana (1972), and
The Ninth Heart (1979)
The Cat Came Back: Feline Familiars in Horror, A Lecture by Alex West Presented by the Miskatonic Institute was a delight with Alex doing such a fine informative performance on the subject. I came away from this with a list of films feature cat familars that I am putting together to watch at a later date. I love that the festival mixes in alternative material and not just films themselves. It really breaks up that sluggish feeling you get from watch too many movies in a row. Alex is great, I am a fan of her thoughtful and informative material. If i was still on the socials I would share hers with you but alas I have freed myself of that time suck.
Summoners (2022) by Terence Krey - When Jess returns from the big city she reconnects with friends reconnect Alana her high school besty and fellow witch. Things are not quite what they first seem to Jess and as she learns more about what her friend has been up to in her absence old feeling and held grudges create a crisis only magic can solve. I really enjoyed this picture, it was not quite what it seemed and the turn was really well done. I love when the world you are placed in has magic and it is just a given, no explanations or anything. It makes for less exposition and opens up so many more possibilities.
T Blockers - by Alice Maio Mackay from imdb -
Ancient parasites rise from a small town, taking the most fearful and susceptible hosts. A young filmmaker finds herself as the only one who can sense the possessed resistance before the horror escapes and spreads. A very good effort that touches upon toxic male culture while wrapping it into a handy science fiction film. This film was fun but Alice being so young was really awkward in the Q&A afterwards. She needs to work on a couple little stories about her productions that can be quick crowd pleasers. Still making features and still a teenager WOW! I really loved the last film I saw by Alice, So Vam and was really looking forward to this feature. It did not really bowl me over but was cool enough that I was engaged throughout. The raw emotions Alice writes into her characters comes through but I would like to see her get a bit more nuance and complex, in time I am sure she will.
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Short: Dead End *
Saint Drogo - from imdb -
Saint Drogo is a supernatural slowburn thematically inspired by 70s horror like Rosemary's Baby and Wicker Man. A gay couple, whose relationship has grown a bit strained, take an impromptu trip to Provincetown, Cape Cod in the off-season. Caleb, one half of the couple, has been plagued by nightmares of his ex, who had been working in Provincetown for the summer. When they arrive to town, it appears Caleb's ex has gone missing. As disturbing hallucinations continue to haunt Caleb, he becomes more determined in finding him. But the closer he gets, the sooner he nears the sinister secret the town is hiding.Actually saying something about the pros and cons of the gay influx / local community symbiotic relationship, while also being a film about a Dagon style demon cult. Those teeth snorting, sex addicted cultist must make a sacrifice each off season to keep the Karma good and the wealth flowing into Provincetown.
Short: The House Sitters - my memory fades and I can't quite remember this one.
Bliss of Evil from imdb -
A sound engineer is forced to confront her trauma when she and her girlfriend's grunge band are trapped in a recording studio by a shadowy killer
I really liked this I thought the space used for the film and some very well done editing really kept up the tension in this one. The sound engineer suffering a bad, violent breakup with a band member come back to do sound for the band sans the guitarist boyfriend. When one of the attendees at the studio is murdered suspicions run rampant. Discovering that the doors to the studio are chained shut the group must defend themself against a killer who could be one of them. This film really delivered so you should seek it out when you have a chance. The acting is decent the story good (maybe true events) and like I said the editing worked to keep you from knowing everything too early in the film.
Maya by K/XI - Maya was a wonderful rich look at Pakistan in the story of a Djinn possession. Although a bit slowly paced the discovery of the twist towards the end was pretty cool. This film may not be great for all but as a fan of Djinn movies I was all in. From badwolf pictures -
K/XI's documentary-style debut feature, Maya, tells the story of a young girl's childhood trauma that plays out in to a tale of jinn possession. Based on true stories.*
George A. Romero Foundation Fellowship Recipient - The GARF is dedicated to honoring the life, work, and cultural influence of George A. Romero. They are also dedicated to supporting a new generation of filmmakers and artists inspired by his legacy. Read all about the wonderful work they are doing by following the above link.
Also from a Romero Fellowship Recipient - Elisa Fennerty - The Ones You Didn’t Burn - from imdb
After their father passes away, two siblings return to their old family farm to sell off the land. However, darker forces may be at play that will force them to reanalyze their relation to their ancestor's land.
I didn't necessarily click real well with this film but every film is not for everybody. Still it was competently made and still worth a watch. I think for me i guessed where it was going early on so all the stuff around substance abuse and returning home to face your demon did not resonate quite as well as I would have liked. Maybe it's that it is such a common trope that you have to do something really special with it. I liked the messaging about generational ethics and how we should appreciate the history of the land we live on.
Pou (Peacock) - A wonderful queer gothic horror period piece that delivers its messages as part of a complete story without beating you over the head with them. For me this was the film I liked best in the entire festival. The lead Tarryn Wyngaard is great in the lead and it is so well directed by Jaco Minnaar in a feature directorial debut. imdb. describes the film as
The psychosexual journey of a young woman into the dark recesses of the Afrikaner psyche and its compromised past.
The Weird Kidz - A thoroughly entertaining coming of age animated story about a group of kids dealing with a cult in a desert landscape. It was funny and silly at times but also captured those tween to teen years with riduiculous fart jokes and wanting to see boobs. When a camping trip turns into a fight to save friends and family from a giant ant worshiping cult the youngsters find the courage to come through.
Follow Her -
Jess (Dani Barker) has finally found her hook: secretly filming creepy interactions she encounters via online job listings, and using the kinks of others to fuel her streaming success. For her next episode, she's been hired by Tom (Luke Cook) to write the ending of a screenplay in a remote, lavish cabin. Once there, the alluring self-proclaimed screenwriter hands her a script in which the two of them are the main characters. This client isn't what he seems, and even though the money's great... the real payment here could cost her life. Follow Her is a psycho-sexual thriller which questions the ethical boundaries of social media. Written by Quiver DistributionThis was another really good one looking at the ethics of social media. We atre getting more of this kind of story now a couple decades into our spy on ourselves and everyone else society.
