Texas Frightmare Weekend Extends Film Festival April 28 – May 1 . . . Deep in the Heart!

The movies that I watch must have one of two things in them: action or horror. Anything else is just a bonus, and add those two things together in one film and it’s gold. I will be attending Texas Frightmare Festival this year because, well, it has “fright” in the title and Survival of the Dead by George Romero will be playing! I think it’s safe to say I would watch pretty much anything Romero threw at me. Now here’s your chance to watch the film and all the other films playing that weekend. We will be giving away a free pass to the festival so you can join in the fun.

For a chance to win a FREE PASS for Texas Frightmare Weekend, tell me why you should go to TFW, whether your reason is serious or silly. Winners will be picked April 19.

DALLAS, TX – Texas Frightmare Weekend announced it has extended the dates for its companion Texas Frightmare Film Festival this year (April 28 – May 1). Highlights from the lineup include the US Premiere of Tim Sullivan’s 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS, George Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD and Adam Green’s Sundance hit, FROZEN.

Green’s FROZEN stars Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell and Kevin Zegers and follows the life or death choices a trio of skiers and snowboarders must make when they find themselves abandoned on a ski resort chairlift. The film, which was a surprise hit at the Sundance Film Festival in January will screen at the Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville on Wednesday, April 28 at 7:00PM.

Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD is the 6th film in his vaunted zombie series. The film follows characters from his prior outing DIARY OF THE DEAD and takes them to an island community inhabited by two feuding factions of locals divided not just by their approach to the zombie threat, but to years of family disputes. The film, which adds an unlikely western flavor to Romero’s legendary themes, will screen at the Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville on Thursday, April 29 at 7:00PM.

Katrina visits with 2001 Maniacs director Tim Sullivan on the set of Scream Queens 2.

Sullivan’s 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS follows the mayhem that ensues when a fresh group of unsuspecting Northerners fail to show up for their annual Guts N’ Glory Jamboree, and the residents of Pleasant Valley feel inspired to take their cannibalistic carnival on the road and head to Iowa where they encounter the cast and crew of a reality show. The film will screen at the Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville on Thursday, April 29 at 9:00PM. Attending the screening will be Sullivan along with cast members Bill Moseley, Christa Campbell, Kevin Ogilvie, Ryan Fleming, Lin Shaye, Katy Johnson, Jordan Yale Levine, Nicole Rae and Kathryn Le.

The screenings will feature red carpet entrances populated by several stars and filmmakers of the films as well as the horror and the genre stars attending Texas Frightmare Weekend.

Screenings on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 will take place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel (4440 W John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, Texas).

Texas Frightmare Film Festival Director Loyd Cryer said, “The film festival component has always been an important part of our convention. After all, we are here to celebrate and highlight the work
of horror legends and genre fan favorites, so adding two additional nights of theatrical screenings to see their films was something we always knew we wanted to do. And it’s a thrill, in our fifth year to have grown to that point already.”

The Texas Frightmare Film Festival titles include:

BLOOD NIGHT: THE LEGEND OF MARY HATCHET
Director: Frank Sabatella
Cast: Nate Dushku, Samantha Facci, Danielle Harris, Bill Moseley, Samantha Jacobs
The film focuses on a group of teenagers celebrating the anniversary of the death of a local axe murderer that suddenly find themselves face to face with the realities of the haunting urban legend.

DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW
Director: Frank De Felitta
Cast: Charles Durning, Robert F.Lyons, Lane Smith, Larry Drake
The film tells the story of a retarded man, who after being unjustly accused of attacking a young girl, hides in a cornfield disguised as a scarecrow only to be hunted down and shot. Later, after it is revealed he saved the girl from a vicious dog attack, members of the search posse begin being stalked and killed by a mysterious scarecrow.

THE FINAL
Director: Joey Stewart
Cast: Marc Donato, Jascha Washington, Whitney Hoy, Justin Arnold
The film follows a group of high school outcasts that decide to take revenge on the kids that have tormented them.

FROZEN
Director: Adam Green
Cast: Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers
The film follows the life or death choices a trio of skiers and snowboarders must make when they find themselves abandoned on a ski resort chairlift.

LONG PIGS
Directors: Nathan Hynes, Chris Power
Cast: Anthony Alviano, Paul Fowles, Nathan Hynes, Chris Power
The film shows the results after two desperate young filmmakers stumble upon their ultimate subject, a 33 year old cannibalistic serial killer, who has agreed to let them document every aspect of his
horrifically violent life-style.

THE RETELLING
Director: Emily Hagins
Cast: Kristoffer Aaron Morgan, Jessica Wilson, Richard McDermott, Simone Heim
The film is about a young boy and his family that face an unsettling presence at the home of his ailing and blind grandfather. The young boy and his new friend investigate the source and discover a murder from the past that may have finally found its connection to the present.

RODRIGO GUDINO SHORTS
The founder and president of Rue Morgue Magazine presents 3 shorts: THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MISTER HOLLOW (Director: Rodrigo Gudiño, Vincent Marcone); THE DEMONOLOGY OF DESIRE (Director: Rodrigo Gudiño); THE EYES OF EDWARD JAMES (Director: Rodrigo Gudiño).

SPIRIT CAMP
Director: Kerry Beyer
Cast: Julin, Brandon Smith, Denise Williamson, Roxy Vandiver, Alyssia Dujimovich
The film follows the clash that follows a street smart “goth girl” after she is forced to attend cheerleader camp as part of her rehabilitation from a juvenile correction facility. When members of the spirit squad start turning up dead, the girls must put aside their differences and struggle to survive the murderous rage of a crazed psycho-killer lurking among them.

Survival of the Dead: Early poster before announcement of full title.

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD
Director: George A. Romero
Cast: Richard Fitzpatrick, Athena Karkanis, Heather Allin, Kenneth Welsh, Alan Van Sprang
The film follows characters from his prior outing DIARY OF THE DEAD and takes them to an island community inhabited by two feuding factions of locals divided not just by their approach to the zombie threat, but to years of family disputes.

SWEATSHOP
Director: Stacy Davidson
Cast: Ashley Kay, Peyton Wetzel, Brent Himes, Melanie Donihoo
The film focuses on a young woman and her friends break into an abandoned warehouse and begin setting up an impromptu party. Unbeknownst to them, something lurks in this dark place…and they are about to pay for their mistake.

TEXAS FRIGHTMARE MASSACRE
Director: Joe Francis
Cast: Joe Francis, Parrish Randall, Tristan Lavelle David Ayers
The film is a horror comedy about a nerd that goes to Texas Frightmare Weekend with his stepsister and her boyfriend. Upon realizing that they are not his friends and that he can’t rely on his movie heroes, he goes on a murderous rampage.

2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS
Director: Tim Sullivan
Cast: Bill Moseley, Christa Campbell, Kevin Ogilvie, Ryan Fleming and Lin Shaye
Mayhem ensues after the failure of a fresh group of unsuspecting Northerners to show up for their annual Guts N’ Glory Jamboree, inspires the residents of Pleasant Valley to take their cannibalistic carnival on the road and head to Iowa where they encounter the cast and crew of the reality show.

Texas Frightmare Weekend will feature appearances by John Carpenter, George Romero, Lance Henriksen, Doug Bradley, Kane Hodder, William Katt, Margot Kidder, Derek Mears, Julian Sands and over forty genre icons.

Highlights will include a CHRISTINE reunion with stars Keith Gordon, Alexandra Paul and John Stockwell. Also, one of the final 2 remaining 1958 Plymouth Fury cars used to film the movie will be at the show for fans to see.

Premiere Props will also auction over 500 props and collectibles from films like RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE, BOOK OF ELI, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, CHRISTINE, PIRANHA 3-D, BEASTLY, LETTERS TO JULIET, TAKERS and EASY-A. Additional props and fright fare will be announced courtesy of top genre studios and production companies like Lionsgate, Ghost House Pictures, Sony, Screen Gems.

Texas Frightmare Weekend will also feature the 3rd Annual Zombie Walk sponsored by Moxley Manor as well as the 3rd Annual Hearse and Shock Rod Show.

The Texas Frightmare Film Festival and Texas Frightmare Weekend will run April 28 – May 1, 2010. Passes and tickets are currently on sale online at www.TexasFrightmareWeekend.com.

TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND
Texas Frightmare Weekend presented by Anchor Bay Entertainment in association with Rue Morgue Magazine is a three day horror convention that takes place annually in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Since its inaugural event in February 2006 Texas Frightmare Weekend has hosted appearances by horror icons George A. Romero, Malcolm McDowell, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley and more. True to its motto, “The Southwest’s Premier Horror Convention”, their goal is to provide fans with an unrivaled experience by celebrating all aspects of genre film making. Texas Frightmare Weekend hosts celebrity appearances, autograph signings, screenings, exclusive parties and horror memorabilia vendors from all over the country. The event is also extremely proud to have featured the rising talents of many Texas “Frightmakers” in screenings, panel discussions and Q & A’s. For more information on the event, please visit www.TexasFrightmareWeekend.com.