FrightFest 2023, a spine-chilling extravaganza of the macabre, unfolded before eager eyes and beating hearts, embracing horror enthusiasts in the most captivating manner. For those fortunate enough to participate, this year's festival brought an added thrill, as the haunting and hair-raising cinematic spectacles were made accessible for remote reviewing. Embarking on a virtual journey through the shadows of terror, delving into the twisted tales of horror from the comfort of one's own domain, was an exhilarating treat for every avid film critic and horror aficionado.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Houston Horror Film Festival. I mean, I could really consider Houston Marriott Westchase my home away from home at this point, but despite all of the years I’ve attended the event, I’ve always concentrated most of my time in the vendor halls and photo areas. This is the first year that I found the time to catch, enjoy, and critique each and every movie.

I remember wanting to cover the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival last year but I was too late on the draw. This year they contacted me about checking out their event and I couldn't be happier to do so. Honestly, I wish I was closer to the City of Brotherly Love because it seems as if they have tons of parties happening to coincide with the screenings.

I briefly covered Fantasia last year, and looking back at the films that made the cut, they all had pretty high marks. Because of this, I thought I’d take a stab at checking out what the fest had to offer in 2023. While I wish I had gotten more across my desk, I very much enjoyed viewing and covering the films that were sent my way.

I’d never attended Chattanooga Film Festival, and with having a lot of free time recovering from surgery, of course, I’d take a stab at checking out what this fest had to offer. While I wish I had gotten to more, I very much enjoyed viewing and covering the films that I had time to watch. There are a bunch of gems here, so I’d say that the Tennessee film community is in good hands for the years moving forward.

Another festival has come and gone and while I wasn’t able to view everything that I had hoped, I was still able to check out some really cool genre films courtesy of the Boston Underground Film Festival. Hopefully, I’ll get my hands on more next time around. That being said, the few films are definitely not to be overlooked, so if you see something you may be interested in, I suggest making a note and circling back when they are more widely available.