This was definitely one of the hits of Fantastic Fest, and a happy confirmation that documentary filmmaker Michael Stephenson and his team are a real force for joyful documentaries about quirky subjects. The American Scream is a step-up for the team, which have moved on from the ironic cult of Troll 2 to the more personal, passionate folk who spend much of the year prepping their backyard haunted houses for Halloween.

The film is fabulous, delving into the sometimes uncomfortable aspects of these people’s lives, which they’ve for one reason or another dedicated to this yearly event. At times ugly, always funny, and ultimately pretty triumphant on a personal level, The American Scream is sure to be a Halloween favorite from here on out.

The film debuts on the Chiller network, but the filmmakers have retained the theatrical and disc rights, so you’ll see the film in theaters, on VOD, and on Blu-ray as well.

Here are the dates they have already set-up:

October 5 – Hollywood Theater (Portland, OR)
October 5 – Music Box Theater (Chicago, IL)
October 6 – The Grand Illusion Cinema (Seattle, OR)
October 13 & 14 – Cinefamily Theater (Los Angeles, CA) w/ Dir. Michael Stephenson
October 16 – Roxie Theater (San Francisco, CA)
October 19 – Coolidge Corner Theater (Boston, MA)
October 20 – Nitehawk Cinema (Brooklyn, NY)
November 1 – Alamo Drafthouse Mason Park (Houston, TX)
November 9, 10, 12, 14 – Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Austin, TX)
November 3 – Alamos Drafthouse (Winchester, VA)
November 6 – Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes (San Antonio, TX)
November 20 – Alamo Drafthouse Park North (San Antonio, TX)
November 28 – Alamo Drafthouse Stone Oak (San Antonio, TX)

You can find all that info on the film’s website, or you can go ahead and start requesting a screening near you on Tugg.