by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

I am thrilled to be covering the Salem HorrorFest for Moviejawn this year. As a Massachusetts native who cannot get home for the Halloween season, this makes me feel very connected to the spooky Halloween spirit of a place that I love. If you have not heard of this festival it is one that “is a celebration of diverse voices and innovative filmmaking within a genre that best reflects our cultural demons.” It is exciting to see festivals dedicated to diversity, especially ones in the horror genre. After covering Final Girls Berlin Film Fest Part 1 earlier this year I am excited to see what Salem has to offer. 

The festival has both virtual and in-person programming as they are still committed to keeping folks safe during the pandemic. I suggest checking out their website for the full list of programming and offers they have.

Two Witches (dir. Pierre Tsigaridis)

This film is about a witch who must pass down her inheritance to her granddaughter. I love horror films that deal with witches and witchcraft. There are so many interesting stories to tell and I like the witch as a terrifying monstrous feminine archetype. From the description, this one should be right up my alley.  I have very high hopes for this particular selection as it has much to do with my interests as a writer. 

SEEDS (dir. Skip Shea)

This is another film with many elements I look forward to. It tells the story of a mother and father who struggle over their religious beliefs; one holding onto their Christian values while another is drawn to a strange New England cult. I love cults and I love New England so I am very interested in what Seeds will have to offer moviegoers. This is part of the festival’s “Local Mass Hysteria” section featuring Massachusetts filmmakers so I am excited to see what some of these local filmmakers are bringing to the table. 

So Vam (dir. Alice Maio Mackay)

This particular film centers around a gang of vampires who feed on bigots and abusers. So what’s not to love about this? This sort of feels like the ultimate fantasy outlet for all of our 2021 woes. Plus vampire films are another area that I love to delve into. This seems like it could be fun and campy so I am excited to see if this is the comfort food I am looking for. I also love to support female filmmakers so I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this. 

Wicked Games (dir. Teddy Grennan)

The description of this film gives me Adam Wingard You’re Next vibes based on the description, so I cannot wait to see what it has in store. A woman joins her boyfriend for a Halloween weekend but they are forced to deal with masked intruders. However, Harley has a secret background that may aid her in her fight for survival. This film could also provide some The Strangers vibes but I am interested to see where it goes and if we might get a new final girl out of it! 

Dawn Breaks Behind the Eyes (dir: Kevin Kopacka)

This title sounds downright weird in the best way. A couple spends an eternity in a castle and faces an unknown entity in the house. I am very interested to see what this film will bring given how elusive the description is. But the stills and poster all look great so I am willing to give it a chance. I love creepy house films and this seems like it might have some reality/time-bending sci-fi elements that could be very fun. 

So these are just a few of the titles I am excited to see for the festival. It was hard narrowing it down because Salem is showcasing so many cool feature films and shorts. So again check out their website and keep an eye on Moviejawn for some of my forthcoming reviews!