Skip to content
Culture

Wizard World Horror Fest Featuring Chuck Russell, Kristy Swanson

June 2, 2026 – June 4, 2026 Philadelphia, PA
Get Tickets

About this festival

A landmark appearance by NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS director Chuck Russell plus special screenings of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER with special guest Kristy Swanson, THE MONSTER SQUAD with stars Andre Gower & Ryan Lambert highlight the schedule as the lineup of films featured in next month-s Wizard World Horror Fest in Philadelphia has been set. Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB:WIZD) and Bloody-Disgusting (www.bloody-disgusting.com), the most trafficked horror site on the Web, are teaming to present the first edition of the festival in conjunction with Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia, June 2-4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Russell, who also directed THE BLOB, THE MASK, THE SCORPION KING, ERASER and more, will join NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET star Heather Langenkamp for a live commentary of DREAM WARRIORS followed by an acoustic performance by Don Dokken! After the performance at Underground Arts, the festival will host a midnight screening of 1988-s THE BLOB! Chuck will be available for autographs & photo ops at Wizard World Comic Con (his first convention appearance ever!) on both Saturday & Sunday. In addition to the previously announced films, the festival is excited to announce the Philly premieres of BETTER WATCH OUT (previously known as Safe Neighborhood) and LET ME MAKE YOU A MARTYR starring Marilyn Manson. All screenings will be held at the Nutter Theater (Room 114 of the convention center) unless otherwise noted below. For the full list, visit http://wizd.me/WWHFPhila. June 2, 7 pm-11pm June 3, 12pm-2am June 4, 11am-5:30pm The schedule is as follows: Friday: 7:00 PM - Better Watch Out D: Chris Peckover | W: Zack Kahn On a quiet suburban street, a babysitter must defend a twelve-year-old boy from intruders, only to discover it's far from a normal home invasion. $12 9:00 PM - Monster Squad (Introduction and post screening Q&A with actors Andre Gower & Ryan Lambert) D: Fred Dekker | W: Shane Black, Fred Dekker A young group of monster fanatics attempt to save their hometown from Count Dracula and his monsters. $12 Saturday: Noon - World of Death Shorts Program Horror short film selections from around the globe, curated by Tony Wash of Bloody-Disgusting. $12 1 PM - Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Q&A with Kristy Swanson following the screening) D: Fran Rubel Kuzui | W: Joss Whedon A flighty teenage cheerleader learns that she is her generation-s destined battler of vampires. $12 3:30 PM - 68 Kill (Philadelphia Premiere) D: Trent Haaga | W: Trent Haaga A hard-working man's inability to say no to beautiful women gets him in trouble when he agrees to steal $68,000. $12 5:45 PM - Dark Signal (U.S. Premiere) D: Edward Evers-Swindell | W: Edward Evers-Swindell, Antony Jones The spirit of a murdered girl returns with the message for the staff of a local radio station. $12 9:00 PM - Special Wizard World Horror Fest Event At Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Dream Warriors (Featuring Live Commentary w/ Heather Langenkamp & surprise guest & a live performance by Don Dokken) D: Chuck Russell | W: Wes Craven, Bruce Wagner, Frank Darabont, Chuck Russell Survivors of undead serial killer Freddy Krueger - who stalks his victims in their dreams - learn to take control of their own dreams in order to fight back. 11:00 Don Dokken performance 12:00 Midnight Screening THE BLOB (1988) D: Chuck Russell | W: Chuck Russell, Frank Darabont Remake of the 1958 horror sci-fi about a deadly blob from another planet which consumes everyone in its path. $19:50 Tickets are $19.50 and on sale here: http://www.undergroundarts.org/event/1486310-don-dokken-nightmare-on-elm-philadelphia/ Sunday: 11:00 AM - Let Me Make You a Martyr D: Corey Asraf, John Swab | W: John Swab, Corey Asraf A cerebral revenge film about two adopted siblings who fall in love, and hatch a plan to kill their abusive father, Starring Marilyn Manson. $12 1:00 PM - Super Dark Times (Philadelphia Premiere) D: Kevin Phillips | W: Ben Collins, Luke Piotrowski The '90s-set feature follows two teenage boys as they attempt to cover up a gruesome accident. $12 3:30 PM - Found Footage 3D (Philadelphia Premiere) D: Steven DeGennaro | W: Steven DeGennaro A group of filmmakers sets out to make the first 3D found footage horror movie, but find themselves IN a found footage horror movie when the evil entity from their film escapes into their behind-the-scenes footage. Winner of Bruce Campbell Horror Festival, Chicago 2016! $12