Overlook Film Festival Opening Day Celebrates Genre With Chills and Community: ‘It’s the Worst Year of Our Lives, but a Great Year for Horror’

On a day when many parts of the U.S. grappled with the terror of potential economic downfall, enthusiasts of horror flocked to New Orleans to relish in big-screen frights.

On Thursday, the 2025 Overlook Film Festival kicked off, a four-day extravaganza bursting with screenings of new films, retrospectives, and immersive experiences. The festival’s co-founders, Landon Zakheim and Michael Lerman, warmly invited everyone to the opening night film, Christopher Landon’s “Drop.” They took a moment to express how this year’s festival boasts more titles than ever before – offering a welcome escape from the world outside.

“It’s the worst year of our lives, but a great year for horror and genre,” Zakheim said.

The film titled “Drop” was warmly welcomed by the audience on its premiere, who appreciated the blend of suspense and comedy in the techno-thriller. Following the screening, Landon participated in a Q&A session with Lerman. During this discussion, he reminisced about filming movies such as “Happy Death Day” in New Orleans. Additionally, he disclosed that the ending twist in “Drop” significantly differed from the original draft of Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach’s screenplay.

Following the movie’s conclusion, a line formed and wound its way around the Prytania Theater uptown, as enthusiasts queued up to witness a special 40th-anniversary showing of the cult favorite “Re-Animator.” Actress Barbara Crampton was present at this event.

In a true New Orleans spirit, the evening was filled with festivities to honor Shudder’s 10th anniversary in the horror streaming world. Kicking off with a haunting second line parade winding through the French Quarter, the celebrations continued at the Toulouse Theater. Here, attendees showcased their creative cosplay and enchanting costumes, with many donning Shudder star costumes and the horror drag duo, The Boulet Brothers.

The celebration carried on late into the evening, with fans dispersing to various post-events, before retiring for the night in preparation for the initial day of the festival on Friday.

Read More

2025-04-04 19:18