all photos by Nicko Ferguson, courtesy Telluride Horror Show. Read the recaps for Day 1 and Day 2!
The final day of Telluride Horror Show 2026 brought light rain, rad films, and the thrill of a lifetime for me.
Horror Show founder Ted Wilson reached out earlier this year with a very generous idea: would I want to host a screening and Q&A based on one of my conversations with horror luminaries for the book First in Fright: The FANGORIA Compendium? I knew at once that I wanted to speak with Ernest Dickerson, because the hilarious and insightful stories he shared with me needed to be heard by this audience. Also, what better way to captivate a crowd than with a big screen viewing of Ernest's rowdy flick Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight? The opportunity to program one of my favorite films and speak to one of my favorite filmmakers, while the logo for my book was projected behind me!, is one I'll never, ever forget. Only at the Horror Show.
Ernest and his wonderful wife Rose Geddes fell in love with Telluride, and they spent the day hanging out with guest authors Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes. Sitting in the green room with these four was a riot – so many stories, so many jokes. And turns out When the Wolf Comes Home author Nat Cassidy is the world's biggest Demon Knight fan! He had the best question during our Q&A.
Immediately following our Demon Knight screening, Fango was further repped at the fest with a First in Fright sponsored trivia competition hosted by our own Brian W. Collins. BJ and I pitched in with patter and scoring, but Brian put a ton of prep into this event, and it showed. Telluride’s Elks Lodge was full of savvy contestants, and we gave away heaps of FANGORIA swag. It was a hell of a good time, and the Flying Purple Fetus Eaters walked away with first prize.
Day 3’s film programming included repeat showings of Breeder, Ghost in the Cell, Kylgor, Blood and Guts, Rubberhead, Erie, Breeder, all the shorts blocks, and The Glorious Dead (I got to sit in on this deliciously fun film from the Adams Family, and I enjoyed BJ’s Q&A with the fam tremendously). Attendees also showed up for premiere screenings of Maya Annik Bedward’s illuminating documentary Black Zombie, presented by Tananarive and Steven; Marq Evans’ fascinating (and thematically appropriate for this year) Capturing Bigfoot; Henry Chaisson’s supernatural mystery Recluse; Jonathan King’s hilariously titled sequel to Black Sheep, Black Sheeps; and the closing night film, Zachary Wigon’s gothic nightmare Victorian Psycho.
The fest closes every year with a party, Last Call at the Last Dollar Saloon. It’s a chance for us hosts to meet the folks who have been sitting in the audience, to catch up with each other for longer than the hi-byes we exchange while running to different screenings, and most importantly, for the hardworking staff and volunteers of Telluride Horror Show to take a load off and celebrate their success. This felt like an especially triumphant year, an effortlessly smooth and joyful experience. That’s due to a lot of people (this festival has the best volunteers, venue staff and audiences of any I’ve attended), but it’s due most to these people right here:
Founder Ted Wilson, programmers Erik Cooper and Brady Richards, and Director of Communications Anna Wilson put everything they’ve got into this festival. They’re working their asses off, but we never see them sweat. Every time I get a chance to hang with the Horror Show bosses, they’re relaxed and chatty, all smiles. As a person who used to work for a film festival and remembers how taxing the job can be, I find that incredibly cool.
Every year I go, I find myself trying to capture in these recaps what makes Telluride Horror Show so special. The location certainly doesn’t hurt – Telluride is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever been, and as a reminder I live in the freaking Alps. The programming’s always exemplary, not only the features and shorts but the literary and experiential stuff, too. Everything is convenient, well-run, easy to navigate, and comfortable.
But the real reason Telluride Horror Show is such a dream comes down to the people. I love these folks, the staff and guests and other hosts, the attendees who never fail to compliment us on a good Q&A. I met a woman yesterday who told me the festival has become a family reunion for her kin, who live all over Colorado and meet here every year to watch scary movies. How great is that? And it feels correct, because this festival – in its 17th year and as casual and companionable as ever – has the atmosphere of a family operation. There’s no pretension or drama, just good humans who love horror and want to celebrate it together in this tiny, idyllic town.
If that sounds good to you, and why the hell wouldn’t it?, consider making the trek for 2027. Follow the Horror Show and nab your badges when they go on sale. Come party with us in the mountains next year. Once you’re there, you’ll get it.
