The First Week of HALLOWEEN HORRORFEST 2021--including RATAPALOOZA--has been scheduled!

 

You can feel the anticipation in the air, can't you?

This will be the fourth time I've challenged myself with the task of viewing and writing about 31 horror films, one for each day, that were chosen by celebrity sponsors, my Patreons, and by random...it's also the first time we have a sub-festival celebrating one of my hometown's biggest claims to fame, Ratapalooza!  A number of films this year focus on our rodent friends who own the subways of New York, and when I turn to the Randomizer this year, it will be chosen from a list of rat-themed horror films.

As we approach this august event, the first week has already been programmed.  Here's what you can look forward to in 2021's Cavalcade of Cinematic Chills!

Sept 30th: There's some unfinished business on the horizon first...last year I fell short by one day, so I didn't get to review and discuss Mike Blanchard's pick, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, directed by the great Curtis Hanson and featuring Annabella Sciorra and Rebecca DeMornay!  We're going to correct that next week!

Oct 1st: My friend and Ozploitation Icon Brian Trenchard-Smith ushers in the ghoulish, gaudy gala with his own Night of The Demons 2, the sequel that tells you what happens when the demonic Angela decides she wants to play some more!  Brian will be representing the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Oct 2nd: Film critic and proud cinema snob Witney Seibold drops by to choose the Frank Hennelotter classic Basket Case 2, which continues the saga of Belial and his non-deformed twin brother in style!  Witney will be representing The Trevor Project.

Oct 3rd: The suave and charming film critic William Bibbiani presents the Mexican obscurity Curse of the Doll People, an...unauthorized...adaptation of the classic Fritz Leiber tale Burn Witch Burn directed by Alfredo Salazar.  William will be representing The Los Angeles LGBT Resource Center.

Oct 4th: Film critic and expert on all things Christmas Alonso Duralde come by to give us a little early holiday haunting with the obscure Long Island shot chiller Silent Night Bloody Night, featuring the magnificent Mary Woronov!  Alonso will be representing the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Oct 5th: Ratapalooza officially starts here, as esteemed filmmaker Greg Lamberson presents the great George Cosmatos story of a man, a brownstone, and the rat that becomes his obsession, Of Unknown Origin!  Greg will be representing the American Diabetes Association.

Oct 6th: The rats keep coming as my own personal lab rat, Chris Honeywell, gives me a chance to talk about the greatness that was Glen Morgan and James Wong's remake of Willard featuring the unique Crispen Glover, who may very well be the film's greatest special effect!

Oct 7th: More rodent hijinxs as Rich 'the Monster Movie Kid' Chamberlain lets loose the legendary lunacy that is The Killer Shrews!  Rich will be representing The Mid American Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

...and the rampage of rodent fear will continue throughout the month with such films as Rats: Night of Terror (sponsored by Dread Media's Des Reddick), Gnaw: Food of The Gods 2 (sponsored by Nicholas Kaufman), Deadly Eyes (sponsored by my Patreon subscriber Sean Taylor) and The Abominable Dr. Phibes (sponsored by Jim and Theresa Moon)!

There are presently seventeen open slots for this year's festival, and if you'd like to be included, there are four ways to get your share of the spotlight:

1) You can become a Domicile of Dread Patreon at any level.  Patreons always get a free slot, as well as advance access to podcasts and other goodies!

2) You can buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi.  Suggested donation is $3

3) You can make a donation to Queens Community House Covid-19 Relief and Recovery Campaign.  Suggested donation is $10.  Please forward your receipt to me as proof.

4) You can choose to make a donation to the charity chosen by a sponsor on his/her/their day. Like with the third possibility, please forward me proof of donation.

It is not necessary to choose a rat-based horror film.  However, if you do, I will forward you a special Ratapalooza banner you can display on your website.

It looks like it's going to be a great Horrorfest, so don't miss out on all the action.  See you on the 30th!