There’s so much to talk about surrounding this year’s Salem Horror Fest happening across Salem from April 30th through May 4th that we don’t even know where to begin! But we’ll try. First up, as you could probably tell from the opening sentence, this year’s event (Number 8 if you’re counting, dubbed “The Horror Within”) is happening over one “Mega-weekend” (5 days in a row starting on Wednesday, April 30th) as we’re calling it rather than the previous 2 consecutive weekends as has been the norm.
Chalk that change up to the fact that longtime director Kay Lynch has stepped down from producing this year with The Horror Arts Collective stepping in for the 2025 event. So far, it looks like the inaugural SHF under The Horror Arts Collective is pretty much business as usual with another solid lineup of films (We’ll get to those soon) and events across Witch City including short residencies at some familiar Horror Fest haunts like Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Access TV, and Die With Your Boots On to name a few.
Night Zero on April 30th is like a “soft opening” with fest badges available for pick up at Salem Access TV followed by a showing of the “Local Mass Hysteria” short film selections and concluding with the first repertory screening of the event, Session 9, all happening at the same venue. Opening Night happens on May 1st as the official kick off of the 2025 Salem Horror Fest at Peabody Essex Museum and, as in year’s past, starts with a bang with this year bringing Ashley Laurence as the guest of honor on a night that will also feature a conversation between Laurence with Rue Morgue’s Andrea Subissati, a Keynote speech from Professor Tananarive Due, jury award and George A Romero announcements, and screenings of both Jury award Official Short Bedlamer and Hellbound: Hellraiser II starring Laurence.
After that there’s 3 days to go filled with films, frights, and fun! Highlights for May 2nd-May 4th include an appearance from 5-time SHF attendee Linnea Quigley who’ll be hosting a special Return Of The Living Dead listening party at Residency Records, , vendor markets, book panel events, Bloody Disgusting-sponsored events, and live podcasts from Girl, That’s Scary!, The Horror Show, & Faculty of Horror. Beyond Hellbound and Session 9, the rest of the repertory lineup includes Chain Reactions, Give Me An A, the UK version of The Descent, The Girl With All The Gifts, Troll 2, The Substance, and, if you missed your chance to check out the 4K UHD 40th Anniversary screening of Re-Animator at The Brattle in Cambridge recently, Salem Horror Fest has you covered when it shows on May 4th (For all the repertory screenings, head here).
As for the rest of the screenings? Having seen close to 20 of the various films across the “Official Feature Selection”, “Shorts & Interludes”, and “Local Mass Hysteria” categories at this year’s Salem Horror Fest as of this typing (With a total tally way more than that before SHF even begins this year) all we can say is “Wow”. We have full reviews coming for so many following their premieres across SHF but a few of our favorites include… wait, are we allowed to have favorites? How about this: None of the films showing are to be missed. However! If you find yourself with limited time then we have a few suggestions coming your way.
On the “Official Selection Feature” front, Christopher Bickel’s Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is a hoot especially if you like your Horror on the trippy side with a load of gore. And as music nerds, we couldn’t resist putting a request in for something with such a music-focused plot (Centered around a record store retail warrior). Elsewhere, The Rebrand from Kaye Adelaide and THE DÆMON from David Yohe & Matt Devino are no joke on opposite ends of the Horror spectrum. “Local Mass Hysteria” options? SHF has those as well with the very New England ghost story of The Guest on Topsfield Road from Luke St Germaine and the haunting Day Dreams by Michael Perik and Olivia White.
Then there’s the “Shorts & Interludes” section with over 40 films to choose from! We’ve seen a LOT. Not all but a lot and our biggest issue is there’s not a one amongst those that we haven’t loved in some way, shape or form. Filmmaker David Yorke has awkward first date flick Nervous Ellie AND slasher Safe showing, Scrumptious from Paul Jacob Presley is a devilishly delicious John Waters meets Misery-style Horror story, Full Moon Glory Hole from Thom Newell brings the star power with one-time “Jimmy Olsen” Sam Huntington making an appearance, and Be Bad from Lauren Hart offers up some macabre hilarity. Also flying under the radar here is the recent Kickstarter-backed Frankenbabes from Beyond the Grave! from Onyx the Fortuitous hisself, Andrew Bowser which is madcap mayhem boasting some big genre names and visceral visuals. Also of note (For now), Bloody Mary from Drew Underwood is built off the most clever premise and Find You Here from Jo Smyth features enthralling performances from both leads Jessica Johnson and Catrin Stewart.
Salem Horror Fest 8: The Horror Within happens from April 30th through May 4th from The Horror Arts Collective across Salem, MA. To purchase tickets and to get a full rundown for all of the events happening, head here and to see what you’re getting yourself into daily you can now find the full daily schedule here. And for the latest news, hit the SHF socials when you head here, here, or here.