A trashy tradition returns to the Crest.

It’s a great time of year for Sacramento’s horror-loving, trash-talking, cult film buffs.

The Trash Film Orgy 2014 kicked off Saturday and runs weekly through Aug. 15 at the historic Crest Theatre on K Street. In its 14th year, the midnight movie film fest is a city staple that celebrates exploitation and cult classics. It features a live bloody stage show before the film complete with sexy ladies and rock ‘n’ roll, photo booths, costume contests, and plenty of rowdy audience participation.

This year’s midnight series:

Saturday, July 19 – Pink Flamingos

Saturday, July 26 – Cannibal! The Musical

Saturday, August 2 – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Saturday, August 9 – The Thing

Friday, August 15 – Showgirls

If you expect an atmosphere of respect for conventional movie theater etiquette, Trash Film Orgy is not for you. But all are welcome who want to one-up fellow moviegoers’ lowbrow commentary, yell at characters, or add to the general raunch.

According to Christy Savage, an organizer Trash Film Orgy, about 2,000 people attend the six-week festival. Opening night, which this year featured the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake, typically draws a larger crowd, with the participants in the preceding Zombie Walk through downtown filling the Crest.

An element added this year was the Carnival of the Dead in Roosevelt Park, a zombie gathering with games, fortune telling, live music by Tragically White and more. When the walk had outgrown the ability for participants to meet in parking lots, Savage and other organizers asked to use a park.

“The City of Sacramento loves zombies and they hooked us up,” she said.

 

Ymani “Panda” Wade of Sacramento volunteered at the Feed the Evil Clown game, a beanbag toss game for kids.
“I love horror, I love fun and I love children,” said the 22-year-old dressed as a creepy jester.

Brothers Otto 5, and Fenton, 3, stopped to play the game with their dad Josh Coleman, who said his sons love zombies.
“I told them it’s a zombie party, and we have to dress like zombies so they don’t know we’re humans,” he said.

 

The film festival runs Saturdays at the Crest through August 15 and is 18+. Doors open at 10:30pm, live show at 11:30 and film begins at midnight. Advanced tickets and more info on the Trash Film Orgy Midnight Movie Film Fest can be found on its website or Facebook page. Click here to learn more about TFO Productions.

Photos and words Kate Gonzales