TV
AMC FearFest 2025 Begins NOW and Janelle Monáe Is Back as Your Host! [Trailer]
It’s October 1 and that means AMC FearFest is now underway. This year’s celebration kicks off with a “Halloween Kickoff Marathon” featuring the Halloween franchise, and the festivities officially began at 3pm ET today with Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers!
AMC and AMC+ have also unleashed the official FearFest trailer featuring award-winning artist, musician and horror enthusiast Janelle Monáe (Glass Onion, Antebellum, Homecoming), the official host of FearFest. Key sponsors are on board for the long-running, annual horror and genre programming event featuring over 650 hours of iconic horror films franchises, new series, specials and more including BACARDÍ Rum and Kraft Heinz as presenting sponsors.
This year’s FearFest trailer, titled “Carnival of Frights,” was brought to life by legendary, award-winning director and frequent Janelle Monáe collaborator, Alan Ferguson. Evoking a classical carnival experience but updated and stylized with everything keyed to a vibe that can only emanate from our official HalloQueen, the creative embodies Monáe’s relationship with horror — artful, stylish, over-the-top and fueled by her genuine passion and love of the genre. The joy of horror is at the forefront featuring Monáe’s nod to fan-favorite movie icons – from Freddy’s terrifying finger blades to Michael’s menacing knife.
FearFest 2025 programming highlights include collections such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Final Destination and the Stephen King library including It (2017), IT the mini-series, The Shining (celebrating its 45th Anniversary) and Misery (celebrating its 35th Anniversary), as well as new episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, an all-new series in the Anne Rice Universe, Talamasca: The Secret Order, and ghoulish holiday specials including The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs: FearFest double feature screening of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Freddy vs. Jason. The goosebump gala also features themed marathons, such as “Fear the ’80s” (Silver Bullet, Christine, Poltergeist), “Creature Feature” (Tremors, Lake Placid, Pet Sematary), and more.
Here’s the schedule for the first week of AMC FearFest 2025…
Wednesday, October 1
FearFest Halloween Kickoff Marathon
3 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
5 pm: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
7 pm: Halloween (1978)
9 pm: Halloween II (1981)
11 pm: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Thursday, October 2
6 pm: Trick ‘r Treat
8 pm: Friday the 13th (2009)
10 pm: Jeepers Creepers
Friday, October 3
AMC Premiere Event
8 pm: It (2017)
Saturday, October 4
Freddy vs. Jason Weekend
8 am: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
10 am: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
12 pm: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
2 pm: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
4 pm: Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
6 pm: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
8 pm: Friday the 13th (1980)
10 pm: Friday the 13th Part 2
12 am: Friday the 13th Part III
2 am: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
4 am: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Sunday, October 5
Freddy vs. Jason Weekend Continues
6 am: Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare
8 am: A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
10 am: ; A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
12:15 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
2:30 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
4:30 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
6:45 pm: Freddy vs. Jason
Click here for the full schedule for AMC FearFest 2025!
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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