Is Denver ready for a horror film festival to call its own?
Timothy Schultz sure thinks so.
Schultz is the executive director of the Mile High Horror Film Festival, a new event hitting Denver Oct. 22-23.
Your Denver Film Community Examiner caught up with Schultz to find out more about the festival and what drew him to horror in the first place.
CT: Talk about the birth of the festival and why you think Denver is ready for a horror event like this.
TS: I think Denver is definitely ready for a major independent horror film festival. The community is here, the fans are here, and there definitely seems to be an appetite for quality horror films.
I decided to start this festival because I love film festivals and I love independent horror films and so it seemed to make sense to bring this to Denver. Some of the best horror films I've ever seen have been independent. In my opinion, independent horror films are better than Hollywood horror films because they don't have to play by a set formula to sell. They can make a film that is "out of the box" that can actually surprise you.
There aren't too many film festivals of this genre in the Rocky Mountain region, yet the appetite is here and so are the fans. I believe we will make this one of the top horror film festivals in the nation.
CT: Will the festival be modeled on other horror-themed festivals, or will it be unique in its approach?
TS: We have been exploring some of the other top horror festivals to see what does or doesn't work for them, however, we definitely want this festival to be unique.
It will be much more than simply a film festival. We want the community to really feel like they can be involved and have fun. We're planning a number of crazy activities, costume parties, contests, and of course quality independent horror films!
CT: What are your thoughts on the current state of horror movies? Any trends you're spotting that haven't broken out yet ... but might soon.
TS: One trend I've noticed, especially in Hollywood mainstream films, is that horror is slowly shifting away from the classic teen slasher formula that boomed in the '70s and '80s and we're now seeing many torture sub genre type of films in the industry. And they also seem to be getting more and more disturbing, violent, and over-the-top in an effort to out do the previous films. They're not as straight forward as the classic films where the protagonist teenager would get attacked by a monster in a mask.
This of course does not mean there aren't many quality horror films that aren't of this torture sub genre being made because there are and many of them are great, but it is a trend I've noticed.
Personally, I'm a big fan of the psychological thrillers and of horror films that are unpredictable, entertaining, and scary. I think anything goes, especially in the world of independent horror film.
CT: Some of the best horror movies in recent years have come from the indie realm - your thoughts, and can this be sustained given the tough economic climate? How can horror festivals help support the genre?
TS: I agree, some of the best horror movies in recent years have come from the indie realm, such The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, and a number of other films that are not as widely known.
Historically, horror movies have excelled in times of economic trouble from the great depression to the 1970s oil crisis.
One reason for this is that they can serve as an allegory for modern day problems. For example, "Night of the Living Dead" indirectly shows the decline in family values as family members turn into zombies before doing the unthinkable and devouring their very own loved ones.
Horror films also act as a form of escapism. It's a way to get your mind off of everything and just have fun. If you're on a date, it's also a great way to cozy up with your significant other.
Plus, in a twisted way if you see a really scary horror film it may make you think to yourself that your own life is a little bit better off than the poor soul who just got axed, possessed, or attacked by a three-headed monster.
Even in Denver, haunted house attendance was thriving last year in spite of this economy.
CT: What are your favorite horror films, and why?
TS: One of my favorite horror films of all time is "The Shining." It's one of the few Hollywood horror films that I can say that about. I love [director] Stanley Kubrick and it's an all around gripping film that I've seen many times. "The Exorcist" also ranks right up there as one of my top favorites. It's one of the few horror films that I can say truly left a mark and really scared me!
The recent independent hit "Paranormal Activity" I thought was also great! It was extremely low budget, but it had a cinéma vérité type of style that was realistic and a compelling story. Its success is comparable to winning the film lottery because most quality independent horror films are not picked up and distributed so widely, nor do they normally turn that kind of a profit. The film cost a few thousand dollars to produce and in return, it earned millions.
I hope that people can see that film and become more open-minded to the world of independent horror film. I think people are tired of seeing the same story with the same heroes and villains, which are often all too predictable. Independent horror film often times offer something different and something that can actually surprise you and hence, scare you! After all, the main reason most people want to watch a horror film is to be scared. There is something about the thrill of what may be lurking around the corner. In the world of independent horror film, you don't necessarily know what will be lurking around the corner. They can afford to break the rules and formulas that are followed in Hollywood.
CT: Does Colorado have any horror roots, either genre filmmakers who hail from this area or classic horror films partially shot here?
TS: One of the most famous horror movies of all time, "The Shining" was inspired by Stephen King's novel, which was written in Estes Park at the Stanley Hotel. They also shot "The Shining" television series at the Stanley and its been the subject a few paranormal reality shows. Most of Kubrick's film itself was not shot in Colorado, but the novel was originally inspired by this hotel.
Also, Lon Chaney is one of the most famous horror actors of all time and he is from Colorado Springs. Chaney was the star in a number of famous silent films, such as "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and "Man of a Thousand Faces."
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