From venue changes and the pandemic to political backlash and the threat of litigation, Salem Horror Fest founder and director Kay Lynch has never been one to back down. The festival’s seventh annual event, which kicked off last night at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, was further proof of her resilience.

After its original headliner, Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy, canceled with less than 48 hours notice, the festival’s entire opening night ceremony was restructured. Tickets, which had sold for $50, were refunded and the program was made free (with the option to make a donation), costing the festival an untold amount of money.

But the show must go on — and it did so in spectacular fashion with horror icon Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons) sitting down for a live interview, while the Hocus Pocus screening was replaced by The People’s Joker, previously scheduled to be the festival’s closing film.

Kay Lynch

Following a Joker-inspired drag performance from local favorite Miz. Diamond Wigfall that put smiles on the audience’s faces, Lynch took the stage to make her opening remarks. The festival’s resilient leader was quick to address the elephant in the room. “It’s been hard, but when I look around at everything and everyone here, I think, ‘This is way fucking cooler than it would have been,'” she chuckled as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The Faculty of Horror co-host Alexandra West delivered an impassioned keynote address. Perfectly encapsulating Salem Horror’s ethos, she prudently addressed the real-world horrors currently going on in the world while empowering those in attendance. “Those in power have labeled us weirdos, freaks, sluts, trash, perverts, and a whole lot of other words I refuse to use. What I want to impart to everyone in this room is: be a fucking weirdo.” Her rally cry was met with thunderous applause.

Lynch was joined by Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, George A. Romero’s widow and founder of the George A. Romero Foundation, to present the recipients of this year’s GARF Fellowship, which recognizes “up-and-coming filmmakers who embody that DIY, punk-rock spirit that George had” by connecting them with established filmmaker mentors.

Livescreamers director Michelle Iannantuono and Meltdown: A Nuclear Family’s Ascension into Madness director Colton Van Til will receive mentorship from Jenn Wexler (The Ranger, The Sacrifice Game) and Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife). Lynch also announced the festival’s jury winners: Jasmine J. Johnson’s Inner Demons for Best Short and Rachel Kempf & Nick Toti’s It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This for Best Feature.

Suzanne Desrocher-Romero

Rue Morgue executive editor and Faculty of Horror co-host Andrea Subissati led a brisk, 20-minute conversation with Quigley, covering her journey as a woman in horror from watching Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers with her parents to working with Dan O’Bannon on Return of the Living Dead and beyond. The scream queen cites The Walking Dead as a turning point for the genre’s mainstream respect.

Via a video intro, The People’s Joker director/co-writer/star Vera Drew reminded viewers that the movie is protected by copyright law while poking fun at the situation. It’s no surprise that rights issues plagued the Batman parody’s festival run, but Altered Innocence has brazenly given it a theatrical release.

I expected the film to be outrageous — it’s very funny, especially with an audience — but I wasn’t prepared for how profound it is. Beyond the manic energy, self-aware absurdity, endearingly crude effects, and animated interludes is a heartfelt, coming-of-age tale exploring queerness. Its core message of being true to oneself is universal, but its representation is particularly important for the trans youth of today.

The Salem Horror Fest team deserves endless commendation for pivoting on such short notice, as does the community for rallying behind it.

The festival continues April 26-28 and May 3-5 at various venues in Salem.

Andrea Subissati & Linnea Quigley

In addition to the aforementioned award winners, programming highlights include George A. Romero’s Resident Evil, a documentary on the master of horror’s unmade adaptation; Carnage for Christmas, from prolific trans filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay; The Monkey, based on Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew short story; Ghost Game, director Jill Gevargizian’s follow-up to The Stylist; and Faceless After Dark, a meta horror tale starring Terrifier‘s Jenna Kanell.

Other features include Black Lake: Director’s Cut, Ghost Game, I Will Never Leave You Alone, It’s Not Paint, The Judgment, Liminal, My Mother’s Eyes, Purgatory Jack, Sigil, Sins of the Father, Sweet Relief, The Vizitant, Welcome Week: A College Horror Anthology, and Young Blondes, Stalked and Murdered.

Salem Horror has teamed with GARF and Coolidge After Midnite for screenings of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Deadat the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline. The former two are digital restorations, while the latter two will be shown on 35mm.

The festival will also host several repertory screenings followed by live podcast recordings: Cat People with Faculty of Horror, The Grudge with Horror Queers, Demon Knight with Girl, That’s Scary & Blerdy Massacre, plus a secret screening presented by Cinematic Void.

There will also be short films (including a selection of Stephen King’s Dollar Babies adaptations), author discussions (with the likes of Christopher Golden, Bracken MacLeod, Kayla Cottingham, Cat Scully, J.W. Ocker, and Alyssa Alessi), filmmaker Q&As, after parties, and more.

Get your tickets for Salem Horror Fest 2024 now.

Miz. Diamond Wigfall

Alexandra West

Kay Lynch & Suzanne Desrocher-Romero

Linnea Quigley

K/XI & Kay Lynch