I can understand your complaint, but again, when it comes to television, networks have to sure up TV rights to films in order to show them... unless they are public domain films that is (i.e. Night of the Living Dead, Dementia 13, Giant Gila Monster, etc.) And films like The Omen, Halloween II, and Psycho all are properties of film studios. AMC would be sued faster than you can say "Braiiiins" if they ignored those boundaries and showed you the films I know AMC would love to show.

Do you really think they're happy playing one of the weakest Friday the 13th films in the franchise with Jason Goes to Hell? I hope not, because that is a bad film, but my guess is they were trying to reach out they best they could to the Friday hardcores. Then again, maybe the TV rights to Jason Goes to Hell was very cheap. Who knows?

I'm not saying that AMC couldn't have better films, because they probably could, but this is just how the cookie crumbles in television. Besides, they have stronger competition now with IFC, TCM, FEARnet, and even Chiller to an extent. If you think AMC is bad with what they show, then you need to turn the channel over to Turner Classics, where they have some good films in their vault but rarely show 'em. Very rarely.

As for the name change (already sick of talking about it) from MonsterFest to FearFest, at least AMC is still giving us more than a week of horror. TCM had a good thing going with their Underground program before they slowly started to scrap it.

Lastly, the films could be better and the name change is a mistake (blasphemy), but I'll still tune in this Halloween season because AMC is still the closest thing to an ally that horror fans have on cable television as far as horror marathons go. Although I do agree with everyone that AMC needs to dump Pinata: Survival Island. That film should never have been made and AMC should be given detention for even considering showing that piece of crap. It's not a film, it's just junk. I've seen 8-year olds make better films with G.I. Joe's and WWE action figures.

Wrong wrong wrong!! Now if I read your Blog correctly you are stating that the following have never been aired nor can be aired on AMC? Is this correct?
Well I am sorry; all of the following you have mentioned have been aired on AMC at one time or another. A few Friday the 13th ago they aired an entire marathon of Friday the 13th movies starting with one and so on…. Halloween 2, and three have been on AMC along with The Omen and many many more. AMC is just being cheep or really trying to accommodate all their horror fans but just having a difficult time doing so.

On one final note. I subscribe to TCM monthly schedule and unfortunately the movie picks for Halloween are also lame. I am very sorry to have to say this. I did not see ANY Universal Monsters on their October list. Very very sad. There are a few golden goodies such as the original classic, “The Haunting” and “Freaks”, which is always a treat. But the rest are to be desired. Not that I don’t love old B/W classic movies, I do, I just need to see a marathon of the Universal Monsters.
As far as the other networks in question, they to need work!

Wow. That was a bit harsh, but I won't take it personally since you didn't read what I was saying or perhaps I could have worded it a little better.

What I meant was that when it comes to TV rights to films that are owned by film studios, TV networks such as AMC have to sign and pay for said rights. And that simply means that it could be anywhere from a one time showing or even a one to five year contract for the film. Heck, in some cases, multiple networks can purchase TV rights (it just depends on the film, the film studios and the circumstances). Ya dig?

Just because Halloween II and Friday the 13th have played on AMC before does not mean AMC still owns the TV rights to those films. The rights could have shifted to another network, maybe no one has the TV rights or perhaps AMC still owns those rights but chooses not to show them. It could be a number of things. But I just can't see AMC not showing some of these films most of you are screaming for if they did own those rights.

I've been watching MonsterFest (yes, I said MonsterFest, because it will always be that to me no matter what you say AMC) since it began. I remember some years better than others, but not once do I ever remember being disappointed enough to kick sand on AMC and tell them I'm taking my ball and am going home (i.e. Boycott).

Go ahead, boycott AMC's annual horror marathon and when it doesn't return at all, then what will you do? Go to the theater? I don't think so, because Hollywood had to listen to years of complaining about too many sequels and then what did we get? An enema full of unneccessary remakes. Then it went to crying about remakes and what happened next? Hardly any horror films and a few more remakes. Which led to 2008 where pretty much nothing happened horror-wise and 2009 doesn't really look much better outside of a few films.

Look, I understand the passion that you all feel for MonsterFest, because I have those same feelings. I just don't get all this hatred toward AMC. They're the one and only network (outside of the premium circle) that caters to we, the horror fans. The economy sucks right now, so who knows, maybe AMC is feeling that crunch, too, and had to cut back on their spending this year. Maybe they're in the process of revamping for next Halloween with the best MonsterFest ever delivered. We don't know what they're thinking/doing. So, just enjoy the films you want to see and when Pinata comes on, pop in a DVD or turn the channel... Actually, no, the best thing to do is get sloshed and watch Pinata: Survival Island with some friends... Never tried it, but it could be fun. Definitely couldn't make the film any worse than it already is when you're sober or tired. Could it?

Personally, I like this list of films. I love Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, AWIL, and even Bordello of Blood on a good day. This is decent line-up. I, for one, have been waiting for MonsterFest to go back to the old days when black & white ruled the fest. And like Jack, I'm actually anxious to see Return to House on Haunted Hill. It might be bad, but it's a good mixture for the fest. Although Constantine and Pinata won't get my viewership.

King Malice - I appreciate your explanation. I may not be a horror expert, but capitalism I understand. Rebecca is right in that they have shown these films in the past so we can safely assume that the decline in quality and duration of Monsterfest is probably a simple response to the market, which of course represents a bit of a catch-22. AMC will not be able to improve the quality without adequate viewership and they will not be able to gain adequate viewership without better quality. Therefore, Monsterfest (or Fearfest) will likely continue to alienate more horror fans, resulting in increasingly lower ratings, resulting in a slow decline until it disappears altogether.

King, I am so sorry if I came across harsh. I am reading and writing these Blogs from work since I do not have a computer at home, so I guess I am not all that focused. Shame on me! You are very well written and correct. By no means do I want to piss off or take advantage of a good thing such as Monster Fest (AMC) I too enjoy this each and every year and look forward to 24/7 horror movies. I guess I became a little spoiled like the rest of us. As Julian made a valid point I would hate to lose Monster Fest all together. This would majorly suck! I just wish/wonder if AMC is listening to us and see how important this yearly fest is to all us horror buffs? It just seems that it’s getting shorter & shorter each year, but the audience seems to grow via word of mouth. Maybe I am wrong, but I don’t think so. I have spread the word via email to advise friends, family and co-workers aware of Monster fest dates and movies and all are excited!
The list of movies is not that bad, but could be a little better. I myself have no problem watching The Omen, The Exorcist, and Friday The 13th etc., over and over again during the month of October. Way to much fun to see those movies!!
Hey everyone is a critic in their own right, which does not make them right just an individual.
Lets all enjoy Monster Fest with bells on and scares…
Everyone out in AMC land and all the Bloggers… Have a Happy Wonderful & Safe Halloween..
Love, The Queen of Scream xoxoxo

I still just have to laugh at the comments about Monsterfest getting "shorter and shorter every year". Again, I'm not trying to attack anyone here, but if we're going to complain, let's at least be accurate and fair about those complaints. I will repeat, last year was the first year, at least in the past 7 years, where Monsterfest was almost 2 weeks straight of horror. The year before, Monsterfest X, was only 9 days long. Therefore, in one year Monsterfest increased by about 4 days. It increased, it didn't decrease. Before Monsterfest X, there was no 24/7 marathon, you got a few horror movies a night for about 6 or 7 days leading up to Halloween, so hey, you got even more movies and time to watch them. Last year was an odd year and AMC actually pulled through big time. Halloween was on Wednesday, and rather than start Monsterfest on a Wednesday before (which would have been weird), it started it the previous Sunday night. In no other year do I remember this happening. Let's not forget, as I mentioned, until the past few years, Monsterfest was NOT a 24/7 marathon, it was more of a primetime event. If anything, Monsterfest has been increasing the amount of movies we see. Yes, this year is shorter than last year. It kind of makes sense, sure... they could have it be two whole weeks, but can they afford that? Again, remember, AMC is NOT just a horror channel, they can't just blow everything for Monsterfest, as much as we'd like them to. I'd almost rather have it be just the week leading up to Halloween, from Friday to Friday and get less repeats this way, but I digress...

You can type in a search for Monsterfest X and see that it was 9 days ( I think it claims 10, but it started at around 9 on a Sunday night, so it wasn't really a whole 10) This year is 8 days... not exactly a precipitous drop off. As you can see, Monsterfest most certainly has not been decreasing in the amount of time it's on, it's actually been pretty constant, if not increasing (with the exception of last year to this year) Like I said, you can complain about the movie selection or other aspects of Monsterfest all you want, that's your right, but if you're going to bash it, at least be fair and bash the true problems you feel Monsterfest has, not the ones you can't substantiate.

As far as "alienating horror fans", I don't see how that's possible. Horror fans are not that hard to please, in general. Heck, we like the kinds of movies that others see as silly and ridiculous. Any opportunity to see horror on TV is pretty well accepted by most horror fans. In actuality, horror fans have very little access to horror unless they pay for DVDs or theater tickets. What horror channels are available are either difficult to get (Like MonstersHD and others) or just aren't that great (Like ChillerTV), so any horror movies on TV are a pretty big deal. The fact that AMC still shows horror movies 24/7 for over a week during late October, despite horror being a marginal genre (whether we like to admit it or not), is a testament to them.

Again, I don't mean to criticize anyone here, but the unjustified "sky is falling" routine over Monsterfest is getting more and more odd and upsetting by the day.

Not a problem, Rebecca. Like I said, I don't take thing's personally on message boards/blogs because I know words can be mistaken. I, too, was in your shoes at one time about crappy films being on MonsterFest until I met a guy that worked in television (nobody big) that explained the whole TV rights deal. I don't know if any of you have being paying attention to the whole debacle over the upcoming super-heroes film "Watchmen" where Fox and I believe Warner Bros. are arguing over who has the official rights... anyways, not important (I'm not into those kind of films) but the issue is TV rights are sort of like that. But enough, I'm sure we're all sick of talking about this, so... onto greener pastures.

By the way, just so some of you know, I haven't been running my mouth for the sake of disagreeing with any of you... just trying to shed some light from my own past experiences. AMC is still the best pal we have on cable TV as far as horror goes. Sure, they may run Mad Men into the ground, but that's their moneymaker and who can blame them for doing so? At the end of the day, yes AMC wants to pleae as many fans as possible, but it's still all about the MONEY!!

On a final note, I have noticed something interesting during all of this horror marathon talk... A lot of us seem to enjoy A Christmas Story as well. Is it because horror director/icon Bob Clark was behind it or is there something deeper? I don't know, I just found it interesting.

I really wish that amc would play the MonsterFest through the beggining of October or the end of November... I love the fact that I can sit at home and watch movies like that without renting or buying them, but this year I am VERY dissappointed, as are many others. I wish they would have made a better discision on what to play and when to play it.