From venue changes and the pandemic to political backlash and the threat of litigation, Salem Horror Fest founder and director Kay Lynch has never been one to back down. The festival’s seventh annual event, which kicked off last night at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, was further proof of her resilience.
After its original headliner, Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy, canceled with less than 48 hours notice, the festival’s entire opening night ceremony was restructured. On lieu of the original $50 ticket charge, the program was made free (with the option to make a donation), costing the festival an untold amount of money.
But the show must go on — and it did so in spectacular fashion with horror icon Linnea Quigley sitting down for a live interview, while the Hocus Pocus screening was replaced by The People’s Joker, previously scheduled to be the festival’s closing film.
Kay Lynch
Following...
After its original headliner, Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy, canceled with less than 48 hours notice, the festival’s entire opening night ceremony was restructured. On lieu of the original $50 ticket charge, the program was made free (with the option to make a donation), costing the festival an untold amount of money.
But the show must go on — and it did so in spectacular fashion with horror icon Linnea Quigley sitting down for a live interview, while the Hocus Pocus screening was replaced by The People’s Joker, previously scheduled to be the festival’s closing film.
Kay Lynch
Following...
- 4/26/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest returns to the Peabody Essex Museum on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
We’ve learned this week that Salem Horror Fest 2024 kicks off with a special opening night ceremony at the Peabody Essex Museum featuring Kathy Najimy in a moderated discussion with Andrea Subissati, editor of Rue Morgue Magazine.
The program opens with a keynote speech from Alexandra West, author of the new book Gore-Geous: Personal Essays on Beauty and Horror, followed by remarks from Suzanne Romero-Desrocher (George A. Romero Foundation), legendary scream queen Linnea Quigley, festival director Kay Lynch, and drag performances by Miz Diamond.
The evening will conclude with a screening of Hocus Pocus.
The Salem Horror Fest team notes, “VIP includes priority seating, meet and greet, signed item and professional photo. Additional autographs are available for $60 each.”
Grab your tickets now and stay...
We’ve learned this week that Salem Horror Fest 2024 kicks off with a special opening night ceremony at the Peabody Essex Museum featuring Kathy Najimy in a moderated discussion with Andrea Subissati, editor of Rue Morgue Magazine.
The program opens with a keynote speech from Alexandra West, author of the new book Gore-Geous: Personal Essays on Beauty and Horror, followed by remarks from Suzanne Romero-Desrocher (George A. Romero Foundation), legendary scream queen Linnea Quigley, festival director Kay Lynch, and drag performances by Miz Diamond.
The evening will conclude with a screening of Hocus Pocus.
The Salem Horror Fest team notes, “VIP includes priority seating, meet and greet, signed item and professional photo. Additional autographs are available for $60 each.”
Grab your tickets now and stay...
- 3/1/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Ovinal neo-noir.
September has been the month of erotic thrillers on the Horror Queers podcast, and after spending the first two weeks discussing Brian De Palma’s controversial masterpiece Dressed to Kill and Paul Feig’s suburban noir A Simple Favor, we’re now moving into a queer cinema classic in the Wachowski sisters’ 1996 neo-noir Bound!
Bound sees Violet (Jennifer Tilly) set her eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Unfortunately, Violet is the girlfriend of violent gangster Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. As the two women launch into a passionate love affair, they assemble an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar, with two million dollars of the mob’s money. As you might expect: not everything goes according to plan.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday.
September has been the month of erotic thrillers on the Horror Queers podcast, and after spending the first two weeks discussing Brian De Palma’s controversial masterpiece Dressed to Kill and Paul Feig’s suburban noir A Simple Favor, we’re now moving into a queer cinema classic in the Wachowski sisters’ 1996 neo-noir Bound!
Bound sees Violet (Jennifer Tilly) set her eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Unfortunately, Violet is the girlfriend of violent gangster Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. As the two women launch into a passionate love affair, they assemble an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar, with two million dollars of the mob’s money. As you might expect: not everything goes according to plan.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday.
- 9/25/2023
- by Trace Thurman
- bloody-disgusting.com
Happy Pride to all my fellow queers out there in the horrorverse! Join us for a Twitch celebration on Friday, June 16th at 7pm Est as we celebrate by getting some friends together, catching a great double feature, and raising some money for a good cause!
Those who remember last year’s Hellraiser-raiser may recall we raised $1,150 for the Trans Empowerment Project, an organization devoted to “moving the Trans community out of crisis and into empowerment by focusing on the abolition of white supremacy to ensure that our most marginalized community members, Disabled Queer and Trans People of Color, can thrive and live their best lives.”
For Pride month I’d like to see if we can do even better! We are setting a goal of $1,500, and I’m confident that we’ll be able to reach it. And of course, I won’t be going it alone!
Starting at 7pm,...
Those who remember last year’s Hellraiser-raiser may recall we raised $1,150 for the Trans Empowerment Project, an organization devoted to “moving the Trans community out of crisis and into empowerment by focusing on the abolition of white supremacy to ensure that our most marginalized community members, Disabled Queer and Trans People of Color, can thrive and live their best lives.”
For Pride month I’d like to see if we can do even better! We are setting a goal of $1,500, and I’m confident that we’ll be able to reach it. And of course, I won’t be going it alone!
Starting at 7pm,...
- 6/16/2023
- by Bryan Christopher
- DailyDead
Filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay (So Vam) is back with new movie Bad Girl Boogey, and The Wrap reports today that Dark Star Pictures has acquired the queer slasher.
Bad Girl Boogey will release on VOD outlets beginning July 4.
Bad Girl Boogey is said to “take the slasher out of the hands of the Reaganite 80s mentality of punishment and violence and turns it into a powerful and resonant allegory for the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, and all of those who are hated and outcast.”
In the film, “Angel, whose mother was brutally murdered one Halloween night, when blood was shed by a deranged killer wearing a parasitic mask cursed with black magic and bigotry.
“Sixteen years later, when Angel’s best friend is slaughtered by a killer with the same mask, they must overcome their personal struggles, fight their fear, and find the masked killer before he, or it,...
Bad Girl Boogey will release on VOD outlets beginning July 4.
Bad Girl Boogey is said to “take the slasher out of the hands of the Reaganite 80s mentality of punishment and violence and turns it into a powerful and resonant allegory for the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, and all of those who are hated and outcast.”
In the film, “Angel, whose mother was brutally murdered one Halloween night, when blood was shed by a deranged killer wearing a parasitic mask cursed with black magic and bigotry.
“Sixteen years later, when Angel’s best friend is slaughtered by a killer with the same mask, they must overcome their personal struggles, fight their fear, and find the masked killer before he, or it,...
- 4/21/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Salem, Massachusetts brews up more Halloween activities than you can shake a broom at each October, so it was logical for Salem Horror Fest to take place during the spookiest month of the year. For its sixth installment, however, the festivities have moved to the spring, making it much easier to attend without throngs of tourists.
If last night’s opening night ceremony — headlined by a screening of Candyman with Tony Todd in attendance — is any indication, horror lovers will show up any time of the year. Held at the Peabody Essex Museum, the event kicked off with poignagnt opening remarks by festival director Kay Lynch. She briefly outlined the evolution of Salem Horror, which was born out of her desire for catharsis after the 2016 election.
With folk horror being a common theme among some of this year’s programming, Kier-La Janisse was enlisted to deliver a keynote address. Much like how her essential documentary,...
If last night’s opening night ceremony — headlined by a screening of Candyman with Tony Todd in attendance — is any indication, horror lovers will show up any time of the year. Held at the Peabody Essex Museum, the event kicked off with poignagnt opening remarks by festival director Kay Lynch. She briefly outlined the evolution of Salem Horror, which was born out of her desire for catharsis after the 2016 election.
With folk horror being a common theme among some of this year’s programming, Kier-La Janisse was enlisted to deliver a keynote address. Much like how her essential documentary,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Following the exciting announcement that Tony Todd will be a guest of honor at this year's Salem Horror Fest, the full lineup for the anticipated festival has now been revealed, including the new documentary Satan Wants You and retrospective screenings of Fright Night: Part II, The Fog (1980), The Blood on Satan's Claw, and more!
Exclusively announced on Fangoria, you can check out the full lineup of films and events for this year's Salem Horror Fest on their official website, and we also have the official press release with additional details:
Press Release: Salem Ma - March 13, 2023 - Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest has announced the full lineup for their sixth annual presentation, which kicks off on Thursday, April 20, and runs through Sunday, April 30.
The official program begins with a featured showcase of Satan Wants You, a new documentary...
Exclusively announced on Fangoria, you can check out the full lineup of films and events for this year's Salem Horror Fest on their official website, and we also have the official press release with additional details:
Press Release: Salem Ma - March 13, 2023 - Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest has announced the full lineup for their sixth annual presentation, which kicks off on Thursday, April 20, and runs through Sunday, April 30.
The official program begins with a featured showcase of Satan Wants You, a new documentary...
- 3/20/2023
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest returns to the Peabody Essex Museum on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
Salem Horror Fest, in partnership with Cinema Salem and Bit Bar, will run Thursday, April 20 through Sunday, April 30 featuring dozens of premieres, filmmakers and special guests including Linnea Quigley, Amelia Kinkade, Geretta Geretta, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, and Stephen Geoffreys with live podcasts Faculty of Horror and Horror Queers.
The event will honor Hollywood legend Tony Todd for his groundbreaking performance originating the iconic role of Candyman from the 1992 film, in addition to countless other roles.
This week, Fangoria has shared the full feature film lineup for the sixth annual Salem Horror Fest, and we’re going to include that below. Head over to Fangoria for more info!
Festival Director Kay Lynch tells Fangoria, “The world is becoming an increasingly scary place, but Salem...
Salem Horror Fest, in partnership with Cinema Salem and Bit Bar, will run Thursday, April 20 through Sunday, April 30 featuring dozens of premieres, filmmakers and special guests including Linnea Quigley, Amelia Kinkade, Geretta Geretta, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, and Stephen Geoffreys with live podcasts Faculty of Horror and Horror Queers.
The event will honor Hollywood legend Tony Todd for his groundbreaking performance originating the iconic role of Candyman from the 1992 film, in addition to countless other roles.
This week, Fangoria has shared the full feature film lineup for the sixth annual Salem Horror Fest, and we’re going to include that below. Head over to Fangoria for more info!
Festival Director Kay Lynch tells Fangoria, “The world is becoming an increasingly scary place, but Salem...
- 3/16/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
We are so excited for the return of Salem Horror Fest this April and they have announced that Tony Todd will be honored during the event, which will include a keynote speech from Kier-La Janisse, a screening of Candyman, and a Qa hosted by Andrea Subissati!
"Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest has announced the kickoff to their sixth edition with an opening night program to be held at the Peabody Essex Museum on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The event will honor Hollywood legend Tony Todd for his groundbreaking performance originating the iconic role of Candyman from the 1992 film, subsequent sequels in addition to his towering filmography of more than 250 credits including Night of the Living Dead, The Crow, Final Destination with recurring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, The Flash, 24, Stargate Sg-1, Scream: The TV Series.
"Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest has announced the kickoff to their sixth edition with an opening night program to be held at the Peabody Essex Museum on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The event will honor Hollywood legend Tony Todd for his groundbreaking performance originating the iconic role of Candyman from the 1992 film, subsequent sequels in addition to his towering filmography of more than 250 credits including Night of the Living Dead, The Crow, Final Destination with recurring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, The Flash, 24, Stargate Sg-1, Scream: The TV Series.
- 2/15/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest is back in 2023, and the fest has announced this week that their sixth edition will be kicking off at the Peabody Essex Museum on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The event will honor Hollywood legend Tony Todd for his groundbreaking performance originating the iconic role of Candyman from the 1992 film, plus that film’s subsequent sequels in addition to his towering filmography of more than 250 credits including Night of the Living Dead, The Crow, and Final Destination with recurring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, The Flash, 24, Stargate Sg-1, Scream: The TV Series, and more.
Additionally, author and film critic Kier-La Janisse will provide a keynote speech about the role of folklore in our history and culture followed by a special screening of the original Candyman and Q&a with Tony Todd...
The event will honor Hollywood legend Tony Todd for his groundbreaking performance originating the iconic role of Candyman from the 1992 film, plus that film’s subsequent sequels in addition to his towering filmography of more than 250 credits including Night of the Living Dead, The Crow, and Final Destination with recurring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, The Flash, 24, Stargate Sg-1, Scream: The TV Series, and more.
Additionally, author and film critic Kier-La Janisse will provide a keynote speech about the role of folklore in our history and culture followed by a special screening of the original Candyman and Q&a with Tony Todd...
- 2/15/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Each week Joe Lipsett will highlight a key scene or interaction in S02 of Don Mancini’s Chucky series to consider how the show is engaging with and contributing to queer horror.
With the action cutting back exclusively to the School of Incarnate Lord, this week’s “Chucky” delivers an hour focused solely on the kids. And while the demise of Trevor by Hulk Chucky is sure to be the episode’s biggest talking point, that’s the buzzy cliffhanger, not the meat of “Hail, Mary!”
Most of the episode is dedicated to guilt, penance, and forgiveness. It’s built into Sister Catherine (Andrea Carter)’s art history lesson; it falls from the lips of Devon Sawa’s Father Bryce (numerous times); and it’s a struggle that continues to drive a wedge between not just Jake (Zackary Arthur) and Devon (Björgvin Arnarson), but also Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), who...
With the action cutting back exclusively to the School of Incarnate Lord, this week’s “Chucky” delivers an hour focused solely on the kids. And while the demise of Trevor by Hulk Chucky is sure to be the episode’s biggest talking point, that’s the buzzy cliffhanger, not the meat of “Hail, Mary!”
Most of the episode is dedicated to guilt, penance, and forgiveness. It’s built into Sister Catherine (Andrea Carter)’s art history lesson; it falls from the lips of Devon Sawa’s Father Bryce (numerous times); and it’s a struggle that continues to drive a wedge between not just Jake (Zackary Arthur) and Devon (Björgvin Arnarson), but also Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), who...
- 10/20/2022
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
"Pride Never Dies. Join us for weekly watch parties celebrating indie filmmakers on the forefront of the Queer Horror revolution." Salem Horror Fest and the Horror Queers Podcast are teaming up once again for Frightgown! The six-week virtual screening series highlights queer indie horror and will raise funds for The Trevor Project. Kicking off on Wednesday, July 13th with So Vam, we have all the details:
Salem Ma - July 6, 2022 - Salem Horror Fest and the Horror Queers Podcast will resurrect their Frightgown fundraiser on Wednesday, July 13 and run weekly through August 17 at 7:30 pm Est, kicking off with the new film So Vam from 17-year-old trans filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay. The six-week series will showcase recent projects featuring queer horror stories and filmmakers.
Frightgown organizers Kay Lynch and Joe Lipsett state: “The momentum for Queer Horror is real. It’s an exciting time for new and independent voices. While Pride Month is over,...
Salem Ma - July 6, 2022 - Salem Horror Fest and the Horror Queers Podcast will resurrect their Frightgown fundraiser on Wednesday, July 13 and run weekly through August 17 at 7:30 pm Est, kicking off with the new film So Vam from 17-year-old trans filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay. The six-week series will showcase recent projects featuring queer horror stories and filmmakers.
Frightgown organizers Kay Lynch and Joe Lipsett state: “The momentum for Queer Horror is real. It’s an exciting time for new and independent voices. While Pride Month is over,...
- 7/6/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
We're very happy to hear that Salem Horror Fest will be making its return in April 2023! Film submissions are already open and more details will be revealed in the coming months, but in the meantime, check out the official press release below and the killer artwork from David Dembowski!
Salem, Massachusetts - April 20, 2022 - Named by FilmFreeway as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” the aggressively, and unapologetically queer Salem Horror Fest will return to the Halloween capital of the world for it’s sixth year next April 20 - April 30, 2023.
Addressing the move, festival director Kay Lynch said, “ Salem is a nightmare. Every October, half a million visitors descend upon a city population of 50,000 - snarling traffic, crowding the streets, and commandeering an extremely low inventory of hotel rooms driving up prices so that no one can travel to Witch City for a weekend without dropping 2,500. This is not the experience,...
Salem, Massachusetts - April 20, 2022 - Named by FilmFreeway as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” the aggressively, and unapologetically queer Salem Horror Fest will return to the Halloween capital of the world for it’s sixth year next April 20 - April 30, 2023.
Addressing the move, festival director Kay Lynch said, “ Salem is a nightmare. Every October, half a million visitors descend upon a city population of 50,000 - snarling traffic, crowding the streets, and commandeering an extremely low inventory of hotel rooms driving up prices so that no one can travel to Witch City for a weekend without dropping 2,500. This is not the experience,...
- 4/20/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
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