Halloween is a time to gorge on candy, dress up in silly costumes and watch scary movies that thrill and delight. However, this Halloween, instead of simply watching the standard classic horror movies, why not also enjoy some terrific fan films produced by independent filmmakers, no different from you and I?
Unlike your typical Hollywood fare, these films are made BY horror fans FOR horror fans with passion, ingenuity and guts - LOTS of guts! Fan films involve the creation of new storylines based on recognizable franchises such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th.
Below is a short list of just some of the terrific horror fan films that are currently available for free viewing online. These filmmakers will undoubtedly be the John Carpenters, Tobe Hoopers and Wes Cravens of tomorrow, and you get to see their work before they hit it big! So sit back, turn out the lights, crack open a bag of popcorn and savor the best that the internet has to offer of horror fan films.
Happy Halloween: A Halloween Kills Fan Film
This film is allegedly a lost scene from the 2018 film Halloween, in which a police officer, a trick-or-treater, and three high school friends have a deadly encounter with Michael Myers.
Never Hike Alone (Friday the 13th Fan Film)
Never Hike Alone is a fan tribute to Friday the 13th that follows an adventure blogger, Kyle McLeod, who uncovers the long lost remains of Camp Crystal Lake while on a solo backpacking trip. Ignoring the campfire tales from his childhood, Kyle's search turns deadly when he makes the grave mistake of crossing paths with Camp Blood’s legendary mass murderer Jason Voorhees. Stranded in the forest with Jason on his heels, Kyle must push his survival skills to their limits if he hopes to survive the night. Otherwise, he'll wind up as another lost victim of the cursed camp.
Nightmare on Elm (A Freddy Krueger Horror Film)
This chilling tale is a tribute to A Nightmare on Elm Street that chronicles the experiences of Johnny, a sleep deprived young man who is trying to escape the clutches - or I should say, claws - of child killer Freddy Krueger.
Voorhees (Friday the 13th Fan Film)
After pulling off the perfect heist, a dangerous crew of thieves flee town and seek out the seclusion of the nearby woods. All they have to do is survive the night in order to make a clean get away, but they make the horrible mistake of journeying into the deserted campsite on Crystal Lake, a place that no longer appears on any maps - and for good reason! Unaware of the location’s notorious past, the fugitives begin to explore their temporary hideout and soon realize that this place has a very dark and violent history that could threaten their lives.
The Confession of Fred Krueger
This prequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street chronicles a series of police interviews with Freddy Krueger prior to his death and reveals the truth about the child killer’s dark past. Director Nathan Thomas Milliner meticulously researched this project and included storylines based on articles about director Wes Craven, actor Robert Englund and others.
Friday the 13th: Vengeance (*warning: adult content*)
Friday the 13th: Vengeance follows the exploits of Angelica, the young daughter of Tommy Jarvis, who is determined to find her missing father. Years earlier, Tommy attempted to kill Jason Voorhees, the legendary killer of Crystal Lake, and vanished shortly thereafter. During Angelica’s journey, she will similarly encounter Jason and wage war with him in order to save herself and the community.
Halloween Night
In this homage to Halloween, we see Michael Myers return to Haddonfield to wreak havoc upon the citizens of his hometown on the anniversary of his original brutal rampage!
Friday the 13th: Return to Crystal Lake (Friday the 13th Fan Film)
62 years after Jason’s death, a group of friends set out to make some fast cash by posing as counsellors to help troubled teens at the infamous Camp Crystal Lake. Disregarding all warning about the deserted site, they lead the teenagers into the woods where they encounter the reawakened Jason. With no means of escape, they will have to fight to survive until morning or else fall prey to the curse of Camp Blood!
Halloween Inferno
Inferno is an impressive fan film that takes place moments after the conclusion of the 2018 movie Halloween. Michael Myers escapes Laurie Strode’s burning house and continues his violent rampage on the unsuspecting inhabitants of Haddonfield before making his way to the sheriff’s department where Sheriff Barker and Lily Hawkins must wage war with him in order to save the town.
Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film
Jason Rising follows Wessex County Police Officer Pete Daltry and his Deputy Eve Glover as they track three escapees from the Corrections Farm. This chase leads them through the cursed campgrounds of Crystal Lake where they are all hunted by the undead mass murderer Jason Voorhees and his deranged mother, Pamela.
Now that you have enjoyed these fantastic fan films, maybe it will inspire you to venture out and create your own. Fan films have become a terrific avenue for enthusiasts to express their love for their favorite movie franchises and simultaneously showcase their directorial skills for the public. In previous decades, the practice of making fan films was a relatively marginal undertaking that appealed to a niche audience; however, in recent years, its popularity has soared and many of these films garner millions of views on Youtube and help launch the careers of emerging filmmakers. So mix up some fake blood and show the world that indie filmmakers can compete with Hollywood using nothing more than raw talent and unbridled passion for the horror genre!
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Note From Tongal: This blog is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here!
