Heart-pounding, spine-tingling fear – the kind that drives you either to the edge of your seat or to curl tight in the fetal position. That’s what you should anticipate should you choose to brave Louis Hall Room 119 Oct. 30.
Murderers, zombies and buckets of blood will terrify horror movie buffs at Studio 22’s first Halloween Film Fest, called “From the Vault: A Thrill to Kill.” NU’s largest and longest-running production company is bringing their scariest and most thrilling films from the depths of the film vault for fans across campus.
Studio 22 is known around campus for their annual June premiere, which showcases the films of that year’s grant recipients. A “calling card” for budding filmmakers, the organization receives contributions from both alumni and the School of Communication. It awards approximately 10-15 grants per year, helping Norhtwestern students produce independent films, Studio 22’s co-chair Alex Schwarm says.
“There are great things happening in [film] classes,” the Communication junior says. “It’s just a matter of letting people know about it.”
Last year’s grant recipients premiered at festivals across the country. One director was chosen as one of MTV’s top 25 filmmakers on campus, and one film, The Detention Teacher, won a student Emmy.
Schwarm, along with Studio 22’s Special Events Director Saagit Scher collaborated to present this first-ever festival and innovative way to exhibit student films on campus.
“We wanted to expand our horizons and try to broaden our impact on the community,” Schwarm says.
While the primary purpose of Studio 22 is to premiere new works to the film community, Tuesday’s fest will be all about pure entertainment and getting into the Halloween spirit.
“You don’t have to have any interest in filmmaking,” Schwarm says. “Just a love of horror movies.”
Studio 22 members spent over four hours purging their library of student films and watching anything that would fit into the horror/thriller genre.
Tuesday’s fest will feature five short films (between 10-20 minutes long), three class film projects from last year, and one NiteSkool music video. The films are produced and directed entirely by students and feature both NU students and local Chicago talent.
Writer and director Anthony Williams, who will be showing a film at the fest, has been a fan of the horror genre for years.
“There’s something about horror that’s always captured my imagination,” the Communication senior says.
Williams’ short film, Darling, tells the tale of five college students and the bloody nightmare that ensues when they stop for the night at a bed and breakfast. Williams recently returned from the Freak Show Horror Film Festival in Orlando where Darling was featured.
Williams doesn’t intend for Darling to scare audiences but rather entertain them, just like two of his favorite films, the classic Evil Dead and the lesser known Dead and Breakfast.
“I’d love for everyone to leave with a smile,” he says.
If all the selections are created by individuals even half as interesting as Williams, I’m sure it will be. Count me in for a few screams. And just in case the films are too much too handle, there’s always the free Halloween candy. Chomp it as a distraction, gobble it to settle your nerves, or just simply hide behind it.
“It will be a Halloween experience like none another,” Schwarm says.
“From the Vault: A Thrill to Kill” screens in Louis Hall 119 Oct. 30 from 9 to 11 p.m.
Medill freshman Alexandra Finkel is a PLAY writer. She can be reached at [email protected].
