Batman, Mario and a hippie were all present at the Student Video Network Horrorfest Wednesday night. The event consisted of games, face painting, food, students made short horror films and ended with the showing of a classic scary-flick, “The Shining.”

“This is a good turnout and people are really excited that this is a Halloween-themed event,” media production manager senior and SVN member Vicky Hernández said. People’s reactions ranged from ‘What’s going on?’ to being excited as if it were a Rocky Picture Horror Show.

Students were invited to come in costume, but only a few obliged. Free food, which included pizza, popcorn and candy, was what attracted people to the event, but the films SVN showed got them to stay. They had a horror short film contest and showed the top three films.

The winner of the film contest was Gilberto Garza. His film, “Taylor,” was deemed the best and scariest out of the three.

“It was really fun to have made this movie and it’s an honor to be ranked in the same place as the other place,” Garza said.

The films were shown on a big inflatable big screen under the stars. The cool breeze that rustled tree branches created the perfect atmosphere to get peoples’ scare on.

Trivia games about horror movie titles were part of the festivities. Students were awarded mini pumpkin buckets, SVN shirts and treats. There was even an impromptu Michael Jackson dance contest to while waiting for “The Shining” to come on. The two winners were given movie passes.

Although the mood was meant to be that of being set up to be scared, students were laughing and having a good time.

“SVN is my personal favorite because they play films outside all the time,” post-bac Kennia Martinez said. “They kick it old school, and who doesn’t like kicking it old school?”

Students were most looking forward to was “The Shining.”

“When I was passing out flyers, students were specifically asking about the movie,” anthropology junior and SVN volunteer Gian Cárdenas said. “They wanted to know when the film started.”

Cárdenas was spot on about this because more people showed up when the movie finally came on.

For the main event, students brought blankets to sit on and hide under if the movies became too frightening.

“I think it’s great SVN does this to get the students take a breather from the stressful times,” Martinez said. “After being in the library for hours, [students] need that human interaction.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

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““Horrorfest” gives students an opportunity to relax” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar