What is Horror Film Roulette?
HORROR FILM ROULETTE, created by Erik Steele, Terri Steele, and Brandon Mata, is an annual horror film competition based in Metro Detroit. Filmmakers have four weeks to create a five-minute horror film that will be entered into our contest.
THE CATCH? Each team must create their films based on a genre they spin on our roulette wheel, and will not know what genre they will receive until the beginning of the competition. Please visit our Facebook page for the latest news and event information.
The Genres
Includes a NON-HUMAN creature such as vampires, werewolves, water monsters, mummies, wendigos, tree monsters, goblins, trolls, chupacabras, etc.
Examples: Dracula (1931), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Tremors (1990)
Includes the undead/corpses that are reanimated.
Examples: Night of the Living Dead (1968), 28 Days Later (2002)
-Emphasizes the unstable or delusional psychological states of its characters.
-Relies on mental, emotional and psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle the audience.
-High tension environment/situation; Provides an overall unpleasant, unsettling, or distressing atmosphere.
-Could include sociopaths, stalkers, hallucinations, falling into madness, phobias, mind tricks, etc.
Examples: The Shining (1980), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Blair Witch Project (1999)
-Manifestations or events attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
-Events can include hauntings, strange happenings, curses, possessions, telekinesis, etc.
-Could include ghosts, demons, entities, or other spirits, etc.
Examples: The Exorcist (1973), Paranormal Activity (2007)
-Uses scientific advances or futuristic settings as a source of fear.
-Events can include invasions, experiments gone wrong, non-zombie viruses, rogue technology, time travel, etc.
-Could include aliens, robots, mad scientists, rogue technology, etc.
Examples: Aliens (1986), Cloverfield (2008), The Human Centipede (2009)
-Antagonist uses a sharp object to cut, torture, and kill their victims.
-Weapons could include knife, machete, axe, chainsaw, sword, claws, etc.
-Movies include large amounts of blood.
Examples: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Halloween (1978), Friday the 13th (1980)Â Â
Urban legends are contemporary, folklore-like stories that are often presented as true and typically involve elements of mystery, fear, and the supernatural. These tales are usually set in familiar, everyday settings, making the terrifying events more relatable and believable. They often involve cautionary tales, where characters encounter eerie occurrences that reflect deeper, underlying fears of the culture in which they originate.
Examples include: The Ring, Candyman, The Blair Witch Project.
The Wheel
Genres are chosen by spinning the WHEEL OF HORROR. Each year a Kickoff Event occurs in mid-September and each team is given the opportunity to spin the wheel. The space the wheel lands on determines that team’s genre for the competition.
The Showcase
Films must be submitted by 11:59pm on the due date to be a part of the competition. The top film submissions will then be viewed at our Showcase Event which will occur by the end of the month. The films are viewed, judged, and the winners of the competition are selected. Winners receive a trophy, an assortment of horror goodies, and bragging rights for the year! Â
IN THE NEWS
Horror Film Roulette has stirred up quite a buzz throughout the years. Check out their interviews with creators Erik Steele and Terri Steele including producer Josh Taube!
