Oh, the Horror!

Each October, the city of Erie is overrun with serial killers, zombies, ghosts, aliens, werewolves, axe murderers, blood-sucking vampires, and the people who love them.

Since 2004, the Eerie Horror Film Festival has been making a killing, or at least doing a hell of a job attracting thousands of fans, filmmakers, and screenwriters for a weekend-long celebration of the horror film genre.

“We’re basically like Sundance, but a little scarier,” says founder and president Greg Ropp. “But it’s not all blood and guts. I’m here to prove that 99 percent of horror films are nothing like what you see in Tinseltown.”

Ropp, a lifelong horror film fan who grew up watching classics such as Dracula,Frankenstein, and The Wolfman, has made it his mission to de-demonize the genre by showcasing the diversity of film projects from around the world that are submitted to the competition based event.

This year’s festival will also feature seminars on horror and the paranormal; Lost Boys and Phantasm cast reunions; and the Carnival of Carnage Expo—where attendees can buy DVDs and other frightening merchandise while mingling with the stars of their favorite flicks.

“Even if you don’t consider yourself a true fan of the genre, you may find something you’ll enjoy,” promises Ropp. “Everybody loves horror films. Even if they say they don’t, they secretly do.” Just be sure to grab garlic and silver bullets before you go.

Info to Go
Eerie Horror Fest
October 8 – 11, 2009
Warner Theater
811 State St.
Erie, PA
(814) 873-2483
eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com