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A faint metallic odor of blood could be detected amid the typical wafts of warm buttered popcorn at Tribeca Cinemas in Manhattan as crowds of people lined up inside and around the theatre. Another typical New York City crime scene? Not yet. But by day five of the NYC Horror Film Festival, the body count would be in the thousands as attendees will have witnessed countless murders and delectable acts of torture and violence. It’s not a day at the beach for Spielberg fans, but it is for those that subscribe to hardcore horror. And those filmmakers and fans alike from all over the globe festered for a week at the annual festival that can only be described as “summer camp for twisted-thinkers”.

Providing a platform for independent horror filmmakers for nine years, the New York City Horror Film Festival has once again delivered what it promised, appetizing scare-fare. Headed up by Founder and Director Michael J. Hein, an accomplished producer, actor and ingénue behind his production company Moodude Films, this year drew in 500 short and feature film submissions. Stated Hein, “This year’s festival posed the most challenging to program due to the influx of so many talented entrants”. The result… a showcase that boasted the cream of the crop. The best of the bloodiest.

Also on board the NYCHFF team include Programming Director/Film Publicist Joseph B. Mauceri (Vampyre, Twisted Tales, Headspace) and Filmmaker Liaison/Actress/Model Kimberly Magness (Devil’s Grove, Gossip Girl).

From the Opening Night Red Carpet Party on November 18th to the Awards Ceremony and Closing Night Party November 22nd, this gala event featured four live bands, 60 short and feature length films, a celebrity panel and catered brunch, tons of schwag, and several severed-handfuls of horror industry icons. Among these masters of mayhem included writer/actor and managing editor of Fangoria Magazine Michael Gingold, Writer/Director Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case, Brain Damage), Writer/Producer/Director Craig Singer (Dark Ride, Perkins’ 14), Writer/Director Jeff Lieberman (Squirm, Satan’s Little Helper), Actor/Stunt Performer Steve Dash (Friday the 13th Part 2, F/X) and Actor Ron Millkie (Friday the 13th, Satan’s Helper). Procuring a Best Screenplay nomination at the festival for “Gargoyles”, Writer/Producer/Actor Stan Shaw (Rocky, Fried Green Tomatoes, Daylight) was forthcoming of his plans to shoot the film with a 50M budget next year. Shaw added that Actress Kathy Bates was interested in one of the leading roles.

Undoubtedly, this year’s lineup of short features included some of the most intensely impressive artistry to date. Every imaginable horror theme was explored from Prozac-deprived zombies to deeply unwell knife-toting prowlers to people who eat people. The monster in the closet came out and for a full week, refused to return. Among the more noteworthy were Ryan Blake George’s sexy tale of deceit and dementia in “Edge”, Devi Snively’s ironic suspense-er “Death in Charge”, Eric Scherbarth’s supernatural shocker “Sinkhole”, K Prada and J Pradas’ cannibal chronicles “Humanos Con Patatas”, Robin Kasparik’s ethereal “Séance”, Steven Kostanski’s bizarre and oddly humorous “Heart of Carl” and Barbara Muschietti’s ultra-creepy “Mama” which is rumored to go into production as a feature with Guillermo Del Toro on board.

In the features category, the “180 degrees award” goes to “Must Love Death” directed by Andreas Schaap. What started as a quirky cliché-ridden romp through romantic-comedy-ville quickly turned into a brutal, jarring bloodbath that would sate anyone’s morbid quench for torture porn. Labeled as a horror/comedy, the dichotomy between terrifying and hilarious is quickly skewed. The shudders may turn to laughter, and then the laughter soon to guilt. What is so funny about torture, really?

Then there’s the decapitation-friendly slasher “Sweatshop” directed by Stacy Davidson (Domain of the Damned), and starring up and coming Scream Queens Julin (The Unseen, Boggy Creek) and Ashley Kay (Domain of the Damned) with a nice cameo by Fangoria’s own Michael Gingold. This movie is fun. The kills are graphic, over-the-top, gasp-worthy and take place at a rave. But wait a minute… Raves? Wasn’t that, like, so five years ago? Hmmm…

Next is an intriguing “crimeumentary” written and directed by Chris Aurilia entitled “Ave Maria”. This film is “The Poughkeepsie Tapes” meets “Dexter”. While containing all the ingredients of a well-thought out and organized faux-documentary, the film’s appeal is illuminated tenfold by the outspoken and often comical performance of its star Jason Spisak (featured in Alexandre Aja’s upcoming Piranha 3-D) who plays a happy-go-lucky all-American guy who quickly descends into the depths of mental decay.

Although not entered into the competition, a mention must be made of the screening and premiere of Frank Sabatella’s “Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet”. Preconceived notions of “yet another formulaic slasher flick” were quickly dispelled upon viewing this masterful work of fun, sex, blood and sex and more blood. Not one dull moment presented itself in time to check Blackberries and iPhones for the most recent text messages. Brilliant special makeup effects by Jeremy Selenfriend and flawless performances by Bill Mosely and Danielle Harris make this the holiday pick of the year. This is a must-see after turkey and stuffing.

Recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was famed writer/producer/director William Lustig (Maniac, Vigilante, Relentless, Maniac Cop) who now owns and operates the popular Blue Underground, an entertainment company that restores, re-masters and releases thousands of hard-to-find cult films. Following the festival’s retrospective screening of the dark 1980 grindhouse classic “Maniac” starring Joe Spinell and Caroline Munro, Lustig’s advice to filmmakers: “Be tenacious no matter what”. He also went on to advise artists to “network” as much as possible at events such as the NYCHFF. “It is through the group effort of like-minded individuals that often rises above the competition and ensures a better chance of success”.

So who took home the coveted awards? It’s not always about the destination but rather the journey and in honor of all the great artists who were a part of this year’s New York City Horror Film Festival 2009, that is a question that can be answered by visiting the website.

http://nychorrorfest.com/

Photos by Andrew Kaen

NOTE: Due to overlapping programs during the festival, this writer was not able to view all of the films.