Fiery Pen

Year #9 at the Telluride Horror Show! This year, there was no traumatizing child injury, so I had a much more typical experience.

Obligatory Hike

Over the years, the Horror Show has experienced the many seasons of Telluride in October. We have seen roasting sun, crisp fall air, and heavy snow. This year, we got a lot of rain. Potentially my least favorite.

Considering the mud the weather created, we kept the hike simple. Mostly, a stroll through Telluride to the Bridal Veil Falls trailhead. We started up the road; however, time and my confusing body truncated the hike.

But the views were gorgeous, and Telluride was in full (soggy) autumnal splendor.

The Movies

Whatever the hike did to my body (I thought altitude sickness once again but now have doubts), it did limit me for the weekend. I didn’t feel up to my normal wandering and marathoning. As such, I stuck pretty close to one venue. This did, however, help me watch WAY MORE movies than last year!

Here is the rundown of my viewing and my ratings:

• Dust Bunny 💀💀💀💀💀 A big budget, fantastical production. Basically, an R-rated kids movie. This film is hysterical and heartwarming (and honestly should not be rated R). Plus, the sets and visuals are dazzling. I cannot wait to show my children.
• The Creep Tapes 💀💀💀💀💀 I love this franchise. The new episodes are hysterical. What I have seen of season 2 is even better than season 1.
• It Ends 💀💀💀💀 I was underwhelmed until this movie was explained to me. It seemed so slow and vague and repetitive. However, once I viewed it through the proposed lens, it’s brilliant. I will need to watch it again knowing what I know now so it can break my heart.
• Good Boy 💀💀💀💀 Such a clever concept with the dog. Slow but beautifully shot. Considering what happened to my family last year, I had all the feelings during the introduction. And Indy, the dog, is a very effective empathetic tool. The pace could be tightened, but I really enjoyed it.
• The Vile 💀💀💀💀 Creepy and emotional. The story drew me in, the plight of a wife and mother when her husband unexpectedly brings home a second wife and things go so very wrong. It needed more horror, but the story is enough.
• We Bury the Dead 💀💀💀 A very unique zombie story. The first half is fantastic; then it kind of loses its way. It has a great premise and is so creative, but it feels like they didn’t know how to wrap it up so did so too cleanly.
• Dolly 💀💀💀 American 70s homage horror in the woods of Tennessee. The special FX in this are wild. This is very much a punch-in-the-face, make-you-uncomfortable horror; however, the story still manages to sag in the middle. Somehow, a 76-minute movie feels long.
• Honey Bunch 💀💀 Bizarre. I didn’t hate it, but it might need a second watch to make me like it. The soundtrack, in particular, is very peculiar. I think the dynamic between the main couple is odd, and that is reflected in the rest of the movie.
• Shelby Oaks 💀💀 This one had a lot of hype, but I was disappointed. It is like two movies shoved together, and only the first one is good. There is a threshold of how much “dumb white girl” shit I can buy, and this one far exceeded my tolerance.
• Deathgasm 2 💀 I saw Deathgasm at Stanley Film Fest years ago, but the sequel is terrible. I need my repeated penile trauma to have a purpose in the story.

Overall, a solid year and lineup. I can’t remember much of last year, beyond my worry for my child, but I do feel like this year was better for more than just that. The schedule allowed for breathing room between showings, which also helped with line management and gave the non-movie events some space. Though there were an unfortunate number of single screenings of films, and one of my favorite parts is deciding what to see Sunday based on chatter.

The Horror Show continues to grow and, with that, does come growing pains. The lineup was released later. Less celebrities and directors attended to give Q&A after the features. Assholes found their way into the audiences and lines to misbehave. It happens as things grow and change.

All told, it was a fantastic weekend, and I can’t wait to go back for year #10.

Christina Bergling

https://linktr.ee/chrstnabergling

Like my writing? Check out my books!

• Red Walls – When Talia’s parents go after the monsters who hurt her, they never expected real monsters.
• Followers – You never know who is on the other side of the screen. Followers is a mystery and thriller that blends women’s fiction with horror.
• The Rest Will Come – Online dating would drive anyone to murder, especially Emma.
• Savages – Two survivors search the ruins for the last strain of humanity. Until the discovery of a baby changes everything.
• The Waning – Locked in a cage, Beatrix must survive to escape or be broken completely.
• Screechers – Mutant monsters and humans collide in the apocalyptic fallout of a burned world. Co-authored with Kevin J. Kennedy.
• Horror Anthologies