Thriller! Chiller!: So much more than just cult films

There is no shortage of genre cinema that one can access and stream as you lay in bed. But what fun is that, when just down the street in East Hills is an opportunity to experience a film within the setting it was created in the first place? And a favorite world festival, Thriller! Chiller!, is returning to Wealthy Theatre.

Thriller! Chiller! is Michigan’s original international film festival celebrating the world’s best independent action, sci-fi, horror, suspense, thrills and chills movies screened in a neighborhood cinema of Grand Rapids. 

Thriller! Chiller! returns starting Tuesday, October 8 and will over the course of five days screen 64 independent movies from eight countries at East Hills’ Wealthy Theatre.

The lineup includes 13 features and 40 shorts, including 10 Michigan movies. Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the U.S., and the UK are the countries represented at this year’s festival.

One of my favorite aspects of the 2019 festival is the chance to see five classic cult films projected on the big screen.

1. “Night of the Living Dead”
2. “Shaun of the Dead”
3. “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah”  
4. “Bride of Frankenstein”
5. “The Evil Dead” (EXCLUSIVE screening of the digitally remastered version, with a new reimagined score)

In 2013, this locally organized film festival was named as one of the Top 20 Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festivals by Moviemaker Magazine.

To read more about all the films, see trailers, special guests, and awards, please visit Thriller! Chiller!’s website.