Awesome Fest Hosting Horror-Themed Sleepover at Prince Theater

I never actually watched a single A Nightmare on Elm Street movie, but all it took was one peep at Freddy Krueger to keep me rattled for years. I spent nights wide-eyed in my sheets, jumping up to flip on the lights so I could check under my bed and in my closet to make sure he wasn’t there. I knew he only visited people in their dreams, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I eventually grew a pair and pushed those thoughts out of my mind, but I wouldn’t be lying if I said I still turn away when Krueger pops on the TV screen.

With that being said, you can be sure that I won’t be anywhere near Awesome Fest’s upcoming sleepover at Prince Theater that will feature six of the seven films in the Wes Craven-created Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, plus a handful of others from the thriller king’s catalog. It’s taking place on Halloween day, October 31st. 

“A Very Scary Sleepover: Wes Craven’s Halloween Nightmare,” a collaboration between Awesome Fest and Philly Film Society that runs in conjunction with the Philadelphia Film Festival, begins at 11 am and will run through 6 am the following morning. Eleven films will play back to back, starting with Craven’s debut film, The Last House On the Left, shown in 35mm.

After that, Awesome Fest will screen The Hills Have Eyes and The People Under The Stairs before welcoming actor Jamie Kennedy who will be in attendance for a showing of Scream. I could actually stick around through that, but from then on the A Nightmare on Elm Street marathon begins and I’m getting the hell out of dodge. The marathon kicks off with the original A Nightmare on Elm Street and will end in the wee hours of the morning with 1994’s A New Nightmare. They’re skipping Freddy vs. Jason and the 2010 A Nightmare on Elm Street remake for obvious reasons.

Tickets (available here) to the 19-hour horror fest are $25, which grants you a second admit-one pass. Ticket holders can come and go as they please and, if you’re having trouble staying awake, there will be free Stumptown java from Ox Coffee in the lobby.

You must be at least 18 years old—and preferably not a huge wuss like me— to attend.