You’ll sometimes hear film fans say that the cinema is their church. But how often can someone say that literally? Well, you can if you’re in the pews for Horror Church, a collaboration between Halloween celebration Phantom Fest and horror movie experts Garth Manor.
Their new series brings terror classics to one of Austin’s most iconic places of worship: the Central Presbyterian Church. The gruesome twosome will rev up the devout with a screening of Carrie (Oct. 18), followed by two seasonal shockers closer to Yule Tide: Silent Night, Deadly Night (Dec. 13) and Black Christmas (Dec. 14). Phantom Fest founder Adam Sweeney explained, “One of the fascinating things about films, and especially horror films, that you hear all the time is that the environment is a character. And with the Central Presbyterian Church, that is a perfect extension of this iconic storytelling program.”
If the idea of a horror film screening in a church seems revolutionary to you, then it’s old news to Central Presbyterian. The mid-century modern gem hosted a screening of Italian gore classic The Beyond in 2016, then last year, they opened the doors for the first ever Horror Church selection, The Exorcist. That screening included a horror art market, photo op, and an opportunity to get roasted by the possessed Regan. The Garth Manor team are experts on such experiential screening events, but being able to screen in the Central Presbyterian is something special. Garth Manor Creative Director Jarrod Yerkes said. “The environment alone really sets you in the mood.” When discussions started with the church leadership about coming back for more screenings, “they were so receptive and so cool that there was no trouble at all.”
For Sweeney, their grace reflects something that horror fans and the church have in common – a commitment to community. “It’s a fellowship,” he said, “and a really cool way to share in this legendary genre that continues to grow.”
It’s all part of a busy scary season for the Austin-created Phantom Fest. Not only will Sweeney and his team be hosting two days of celebrations at Sagebrush (Oct. 26-27) including live podcasts, debates, a haunted honky tonk, and a Midsommar fifth anniversary movie party, but they’re also shaking the bones of Cincinnati with their CinCity Edition. Meanwhile, Garth Manor – which is also a production studio – is also busy on its own slate of movies, such as their most recent short, “Skeeter,” which premiered last month at Fantastic Fest.
However, everyone leapt at the chance to do more Horror Church events. The only question is: What movie to pick to begin the series? Last year, The Exorcist was an easy and apt selection because it’s arguably the most religious horror movie ever made. (The heroes are priests, for crying out loud.) But while Carrie is best remembered for its high-school bullying and prom night insanity, the team also felt that its slow-burn plot, leading to its gonzo, pig-blood-soaked denouement, is somehow perfect for the contemplative space of Central Presbyterian. “We’re very aware of the religious and hard-hitting topics that Carrie brings up and represents,” Garth Manor’s Travis Jones said, “and to present it in a church and create those places for conversation, if we can facilitate that then it would be an awesome bonus for us.”
“I think Carrie is a perfect movie,” Yerkes said – but it’s not just about his fandom. “We wanted to show something that is popular but you’re not necessarily going to see every week.”
And you’ll definitely never see it like this anywhere else, with that added Garth Manor experiential twist. Sweeney said, “Without spoiling anything, we plan to take the elements and characters and iconic moments of Carrie that are scary as hell and bring them off the screen and into the church and beyond.”
Horror Church Presents Carrie
Oct. 18, Central Presbyterian Church
This article appears in October 11 • 2024.
