Imagine a horror convention in your living room. Michael Myers is being a wallflower while you and Jason Voorhees veg out on the couch, debating over the nominees in a scream queen contest (you’re doing most of the talking, of course.) At the same time, directors Mick Garris and Wes Craven are engaging in a thoughtful conversation about whether people can confront evil without resorting to evil themselves.
AMC Fearfest offers this immersive, transporting experience. AMC TV has been hosting horror marathons in October since 1997 and this year’s program is its best yet.
This year’s festival is the real deal — a good ole fashioned monsterfest dripping with nostalgia. This is the time of year in which we see the world through innocent, childlike eyes again. As Halloween approaches, we forget our everyday problems and indulge in horrors that are much more mysterious, outlandish, and fun. AMC is the place to go for that escape.
This year’s horror festival has new and exciting features such as insightful interviews with horror legends like director Wes Craven and actor Kane Hodder and campy recreations of famous horror scenes which are imbued with the same innocence and wonder as the remakes in “Be Kind Rewind.”
In terms of the movies, AMC is focusing on slasher films from the ‘70s and ‘80s (my favorites). However, older horror films such as “The Last Man on Earth” and “White Zombie” (starring Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi respectively) are available to watch at www.amctv.com.
I have had the most fun with the “Friday the 13th” films. I even learned something in the process. Imagine that! During “Friday the 13th: Part III,” I realized the meaning of Jason’s hockey mask in regards to his mayhem. He hunts teens for sport, and in punishing them for their youthful indiscretion, he is a moral goalie.
I’m sure there are plenty more discoveries to be made before this marathon ends on Halloween night. Upcoming movies include “Predator,” “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Evil Dead 2.” The festival ends with the premiere of the new original series, “The Walking Dead” from director Frank Darabont (“The Mist,” “The Shawshank Redemption”).
Based on the popular graphic novels, this zombie invasion drama will air at 10/9c on Sunday, Oct. 31 and run on a weekly basis. So don’t be too sad when Fearfest ends; there will be plenty of horror to enjoy in the weeks to come.