Terror Vision Fright Fest is all about discovery, introducing horror fans to forgotten classics

Fright Fest once darkened the halls of the Lucas Theater plunging it into screams of terror and a few waves of laughter as obscure and forgotten horror films played on the screen. This Saturday, the one-day horror film festival moves to the Ben Tucker Theater inside the Savannah Cultural Arts Center. This year also signifies a switch of names.

“It's always been the Graveface Fright Fest,” said Ryan Graveface, owner of Graveface Records. “I started Graveface, which was like a catch-all for all creative projects that I did. And then in 2015, I started Terror Vision, which is actually a separate entity of just horror stuff. That way the indie rock fans from Graveface don't have to be bombarded with nonstop horror scores and blu-ray releases that they might not be keen on. And that's why this year I've actually shifted the name from Graveface Fright Fest to Terror Vision Fright Fest because it's finally its own living, breathing entity.”

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As in past years, Fright Fest will be filled with a great selection of horror films and special guests. This includes the southeastern premiere of the “Out There Halloween Mega Tape” with the writer and director Chris Lamartina there for a Q&A, “May” with a live score by composer Jammes Luckett, “Waxwork” with a Q&A with composer Roger Bellon, and “Chopping Mall” with a Q&A and autograph signing with actress Kelli Maroney.

Ryan Graveface is a self-described collector of many things. Some of those collections led to the opening of Graveface Museum. When asked if Fright Fest was inspired by similar collections, Ryan said yes and no.

“More so mental instead of physical. Typically, the things that Terror Vision releases, which is correlative to what I screen, those are just in the recesses of my mind from when I was like 5- to 10 years old exploring USA Up All Night programming to renting VHS schlock at Sights and Sounds Video. I can't deny that I'm very much a product of the 80s.”

Ryan hopes the Terror Vision Fright Fest introduces a new generation of horror film buffs to films he had to struggle to find when he was younger.

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“I think it's hilarious that in 2022, you have infinite resources, most of which are free, some of which are a small price to pay like Spotify, and I feel like I discover almost nothing on a day to day basis, as far as media is concerned, but you know, at 8-years-old going to a video store, the amount of discovery was immense, and I think it goes to show that this era is a little poisoned because the over-saturation of everything is actually not necessarily a positive.”

It isn’t just films that Fright Fest brings to Savannah. It’s also filmmakers, actors, and composers. You might think people involved in cult classics would jump at the opportunity to visit a crowd of fans but not always.

“Everyone seems surprised typically. Mostly I get nos.” Ryan said he comes prepared to make a good case for guests to accept his offer. Sometimes that means proposing something they never expected.

“We’re screening ‘May’ which is such a good movie but approaching the composer and being like, hey, I know you've never done this and you probably don't want to do it, but will you show up and play the score while we show you the film? Jammes was like, okay, does anyone want that? And I'm like I do, so it's celebrating the composer as much as the director as much as the actors and that's what sets [Fright Fest] apart.”

Ryan hopes attendees will walk away with a greater appreciation of all aspects of horror filmmaking but especially composing.

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“Roger Bellon from ‘Waxwork’ has done a bunch of cool stuff like ‘Highlander.’ Dude’s catalog is incredible, and I am excited to interview a composer about all of his experiences.”

Terror Vision Fright Fest is Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight at the Ben Tucker Theater. General admission is $30 in advance and $35 the day of. There is also a VIP package that includes a t-shirt, poster, and other goodies for $75.

For more information, go to terror-vision.com/store/terror-vision-fright-fest-2022-october-29th.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah GA Halloween events: Terror Vision Fright Festival