A few weeks back, the Overlook Film Festival unleashed its first wave of programming, via a press release that had so many screenings, events and exciting names packed into it that we couldn’t even fit the entirety of that press release into a single post. They got Renfield. They got Evil Dead Rise. They got John Goodman in person for a special anniversary screening of Joe Dante’s Matinee. It was an embarrassment of riches, and we assume that all of you went and purchased your badges immediately upon reading through it.
But maybe some of you were on the fence! Maybe you’d like, I dunno, even more screenings added to this year’s Overlook Film Festival lineup. If that’s the case, have we go the announcement for you:
“The Overlook Film Festival released today the full schedule for its upcoming 2023 edition, taking place March 30 โ April 2 in Americaโs most haunted city, New Orleans, LA. The festival schedule is now liveย at overlookfilmfest.com/schedule.
With these newly-announced features, the horror festival will present a total of 53 films (29 features and 24 short films from 12 countries), along with extensive offerings including immersive programming, interactive events, live performances, brand-new music and magic sidebars, parties and more.
Festival passes and single tickets are on sale for all films and events in the lineup including newly added features such as Bishal Duttaโs It Lives Inside and a special 40th anniversary screening of master of horror David Cronenbergโs cult classic The Dead Zone. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Dead Zone will also be the chosen topic for a live session of the popular Stephen King-obsessed podcast THE KINGCAST, presented by FANGORIA, featuring special guest journalist and filmmaker David Farrier (Mister Organ, Tickled) with host Eric Vespe and guest co-host Bryan Fuller, showrunner of TVโs Hannibal.
The previously announced screening of William Castleโs 1959 feature The Tingler, selected for the festival by legendary filmmaker Joe Dante, will also include a special in-person introduction by โโDavid Dastmalchian, who will appear asย his TV horror host persona Dr. Bartholomew Fearless. The doctor will join Overlook audiences from his lair in Hollywood, California, where he ultimately relocated โ succumbing to his passionate love of cinema โ and where he continues to pursue a vital career in the experimentation of dead tissue reanimation, communicating with the dead and watching old horror movies in his small poorly lit dungeon. A repeat guest in many midnight social circles for hosts such as Dr. Jack Griffin and Vlad Dracula, Dr. Fearless promises to transport attendees into a screening experience like no other. The Tingler will be presented in full โPercepto.โย
Finally, a special night of screenings for local audiences will follow the Festivalโs Closing Night on Monday, April 3rd.
On top of the above, the Overlook Film Festival has also added a secret screening to their lineup:
Try and guess our Secret Screening. As is tradition, we’ll never tell. Leave your expectations at the door. Knowing in advance would defeat the purpose. To spoil the surprise would, of course, be cheating. Only those brave enough to enter the theater will revel in the reveal. Marvel at one of the most exciting new titles of the year. End your Friday Night here, and you won’t be sorry.ย
We have our guesses about what that secret screening might be, but we’re gonna keep ’em to ourselves for the time being just on the off-chance that we’re right (but if we are right, you’ll definitely wanna be there for that one).
The vast majority of the FANGORIA staff has attended the Overlook Film Festival over the years, which we feel qualifies us to confirm that this year’s lineup is one of its all-time best. They’ve packed a ton of cool events into this year’s festivities (including, yes, one of the festival’s signature “immersive” experiences), and we hope to see all of you out there when the festival launches on March 30th.
Stay tuned for more on this year’s Overlook Film Festival as further updates roll in.
