Horrorfest

Overview

If you have an interest in guts, neighbourhood murder clowns, burnt serial killers with razor gloves, or a general fascination in being scared until your blood curdles, then Auckland's first Horror Fest is the thing for you.

This isn't your average stroll through a spook house — though it does include something like that too — the aptly-titled festival is a celebration of all things terrifying. It descends on Auckland's ASB Showgrounds from October 31 to November 4, 2017.

A different theme will be adopted each night of the festival, all based around classic gore flicks that will screen at the openair drive-in theatre. Screaming across the big screen will be Wes Craven's slasher classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, plus fresh 2017 releases including the eighth instalment in the Saw franchise, Jigsaw; Happy Death Day, which puts a murderous theme on the 'Groundhog Day' concept; supernatural horror and The Conjuring spinoff, Annabelle: Creation; and the remake of Stephen King's IT.

Before victims take their popcorn to the backseat, they will get to try their luck through a purpose-built horror maze — complete with multiple room and corridors and featuring some of the country's best scare actors. The theme of the maze will match the movie.

Backed by Hell, there will be a generous supply of pizza on offer and takeaway fireworks — which may result in a literal horror show.

Image: Thomas Hawk