The Hudson Horror Show is a semi-annual film festival for classic horror fans. There are two shows a year; one in the Winter and one in the Spring. It was started by Chris Alo and Tad Leger four years ago and continues to run in its birthplace at Silver Cinemas in Poughkeepsie, NY. On December 3, 2011, I attended Hudson Horror Show IV. This Winter film show was titled, “A December to Dismember”. I am eagerly waiting for the Spring Hudson Horror Show. The Spring show will be a 12 hour film festival featuring George A. Romero’s classic, “Day of the Dead”.
Horror film fans were indulged with six classic movies and dozens of trailers projected onto the screen from their original 35mm film format. The key element of this film show for me is seeing films in 35mm format.
There’s something about watching a film with other people that brings out the real fun of what the filmmakers intended. If you’re a horror film fan, sometimes it’s even better to watch them over and over.The facilitators of the Hudson Horror Show are just as energized about the films as the attendees. They sat with the audience for each film and screamed (and laughed) along with us.
There were also vendors, prizes, and conversations with other horror fans and film professionals. Vendors had DVD’s, posters and apparel for sale. The vast collection of DVD’s for sale included some cult classics, B-movies, and mainstream. Other vendors included comic book publisher, Glenn Tippett of scaretactixgraphix, who had original horror comic books.
The festival had a feel of being at a friend’s house. Attendees came from as close as Manhattan to as far away as Maine. Several attendees have been to every Hudson Horror Show. Several knew each other from the previous Hudson Horror Shows. In fact, after the show I realized I was sitting next to an industry friend, Michael Gingold of Fangoria magazine.
The facilitators were easily recognizable in their custom designed t-shirts and badges. They were also the ones scurrying around the theater making sure the show ran smoothly. Aside from being true horror film fans, they are all involved in the film industry in some way.
Audiences of the cult and horror film classics are a niche group. Even if horror is badly done, there’s something about it that makes people like me want to watch it over and over again. it’s like a symbol of who we are. It’s important to know where good shows and festivals are for the horror film fan. The Spring show is set for May 19, 2012.
Sources:
First person
Conversations with Chris Alo, Tad Leger, Ash Williams