Filmmaker and podcaster Julia Marchese will bring her celebration of Stephen King and cult horror to three cities this autumn, with appearances at Kingcon in Atlantic City, the Halloween Hullabaloo in Somerville, and a 500th episode celebration of her podcast Horror Movie Survival Guide in Ottawa. The events underscore Marchese’s growing influence in genre cinema and her commitment to communal moviegoing.
From October 22–24, Marchese will attend the second annual Kingcon, a convention celebrating the work and legacy of Stephen King. Her Dollar Baby film adaptation of King’s short story, I Know What You Need, will screen during the event. Kingcon will also feature a limited edition of Keys to the Kingdom, a short story anthology featuring work from Dollar Baby filmmakers inspired by Stephen King. Marchese’s story, The Lime Acid Lovers, marks her first published short story.
Next, Marchese heads to Massachusetts to program the sixth annual Halloween Hullabaloo at the historic Somerville Theatre, running October 27–30. This year’s lineup includes a special appearance by Victoria Price to celebrate the legacy of her father, iconic actor Vincent Price. The series pairs classics: Night of the Living Dead with Hausu, Killer Klowns from Outer Space with Phantasm, Cujo with Pet Sematary, and House on Haunted Hill with Dragonwyck, the latter two accompanied by Victoria Price.
Finally, Marchese will travel to Ottawa with her long-running podcast Horror Movie Survival Guide to celebrate the show’s 500th episode at the Mayfair Theatre. The celebration features two screenings: Carrie on November 2, celebrating the film’s 50th anniversary, and Out of Print on November 4, Marchese’s feature documentary about revival cinema and the experience of watching films communally in independent theaters, preceded by her second film.
These events highlight Marchese’s dual role as a filmmaker and a champion of physical media and communal exhibition. Her podcast, co-hosted with Kate McEdwards, has become a staple for horror fans, and reaching 500 episodes is a significant milestone in the crowded podcast landscape. Additionally, her involvement in Kingcon and the Halloween Hullabaloo demonstrates her curatorial eye and dedication to preserving genre cinema history.
Marchese is also known for co-hosting The Loser’s Club, a Stephen King podcast, and JodoWOWsky. Her work frequently explores nostalgia, genre cinema, physical media culture, and the communal power of moviegoing.
