Despite facing challenges like venue changes, the pandemic, political backlash, and the threat of legal action, Salem Horror Fest founder and director Kay Lynch has always stood firm. The seventh annual event, which began last night at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, showcased her perseverance once again.
When the original headliner, Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy, canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice, the entire opening night program had to be restructured. Instead of the initial $50 ticket price, the event was offered for free (with an option to donate), resulting in significant financial loss for the festival.
However, the show continued in spectacular style, featuring a live interview with horror legend Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons). The originally planned Hocus Pocus screening was replaced with The People’s Joker, which had been scheduled as the festival’s closing film.
After a Joker-themed drag performance by local favorite Miz. Diamond Wigfall that delighted the audience, Lynch took the stage for her opening remarks. The festival’s determined leader didn’t shy away from addressing the challenges they faced. “It’s been tough, but when I look around at everything and everyone here, I think, ‘This is way cooler than it would have been,’” she laughed, prompting cheers from the crowd.
Alexandra West, co-host of The Faculty of Horror, then delivered a powerful keynote speech. Capturing the spirit of Salem Horror Fest, she spoke about the real horrors happening in the world while encouraging those present. “Those in power have called us weirdos, freaks, sluts, trash, perverts, and a lot of other names I won’t repeat. What I want to say to everyone here is: be a weirdo.” Her words were met with a roaring applause.
Lynch was later joined by Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, widow of George A. Romero and founder of the George A. Romero Foundation, to announce this year’s recipients of the GARF Fellowship. The award honors “emerging filmmakers who embody George’s DIY, punk-rock spirit” by pairing them with established filmmaker mentors.
This year’s recipients, Michelle Iannantuono, director of Livescreamers, and Colton Van Til, director of Meltdown: A Nuclear Family’s Ascension into Madness, will be mentored by Jenn Wexler (The Ranger, The Sacrifice Game) and Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife). Lynch also revealed the festival’s jury winners: Jasmine J. Johnson’s Inner Demons for Best Short and Rachel Kempf & Nick Toti’s It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This for Best Feature.
Andrea Subissati, executive editor of Rue Morgue and co-host of Faculty of Horror, engaged in a lively 20-minute discussion with Linnea Quigley. They touched on Quigley’s experiences as a woman in horror, from watching Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers with her parents to collaborating with Dan O’Bannon on Return of the Living Dead and more. Quigley highlighted The Walking Dead as a pivotal moment that brought mainstream respect to the horror genre.
In a video introduction, The People’s Joker director, co-writer, and star Vera Drew humorously reassured viewers that the film is protected by copyright law, playfully referencing the ongoing rights challenges. Despite legal issues during its festival circuit, Altered Innocence has boldly released the Batman parody in theaters.
I anticipated an outrageous film — it’s indeed hilarious, especially with a live audience — but I was struck by its depth. Beneath the manic energy, playful absurdity, charmingly crude effects, and animated sequences lies a sincere coming-of-age story about queerness. Its central message of authenticity is universal, but it holds particular significance for today’s trans youth.
Kudos to the Salem Horror Fest team for adapting so quickly, and to the community for their overwhelming support.
The festival continues from April 26-28 and May 3-5 across multiple venues in Salem.
In addition to the previously mentioned award winners, the festival’s standout programming includes George A. Romero’s Resident Evil, a documentary exploring the horror legend’s unrealized adaptation; Carnage for Christmas by prolific trans filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay; The Monkey, based on Stephen King’s short story from Skeleton Crew; Ghost Game, the latest film from The Stylist director Jill Gevargizian; and Faceless After Dark, a meta-horror starring Terrifier’s Jenna Kanell.
Other notable features include Black Lake: Director’s Cut, Ghost Game, I Will Never Leave You Alone, It’s Not Paint, The Judgment, Liminal, My Mother’s Eyes, Purgatory Jack, Sigil, Sins of the Father, Sweet Relief, The Vizitant, Welcome Week: A College Horror Anthology, and Young Blondes, Stalked and Murdered.
Salem Horror Fest has partnered with the George A. Romero Foundation (GARF) and Coolidge After Midnite to present screenings of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Dead at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline. The first two films will be shown as digital restorations, while the latter two will be presented on 35mm.
The festival will also feature a variety of repertory screenings followed by live podcast recordings: Cat People with Faculty of Horror, The Grudge with Horror Queers, Demon Knight with Girl, That’s Scary & Blerdy Massacre, along with a secret screening hosted by Cinematic Void.
Attendees can also look forward to short film selections (including adaptations of Stephen King’s Dollar Babies), author panels featuring Christopher Golden, Bracken MacLeod, Kayla Cottingham, Cat Scully, J.W. Ocker, and Alyssa Alessi, as well as filmmaker Q&A sessions, after-parties, and more.
