Dread Central

Dread Central
Type of site
 Horror news, interviews, reviews
Available in English
Owner Dread Central Media, LLC
Editor Steve Barton
Website dreadcentral.com
Commercial Yes
Launched July 4, 2006 (2006-07-04)
Current status Online

Dread Central is an American website founded in 2006 that is dedicated to horror news, interviews, and reviews. It covers horror films, comics, novels, and toys. Dread Central has won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Website four times and was selected as AMC's Site of the Week in 2008.

History

Dread Central was founded on July 4, 2006.[1] When a venture to create a horror-themed cable television channel stalled, the web team left and established their own news site.[2][3] In 2012, a negative review posted by Scott Foy attracted controversy when Foy and the film's director, Jim Wynorski, engaged in a verbal altercation online.[4]

Website

The site's staff use horror-themed aliases. The website has a broad focus, and it covers both mainstream and fringe topics that range from horror films to comics to toys. Besides reviews and news, they also host several podcasts.[5] Steve Persall of the Tampa Bay Times states that "if it gushes blood or desecrates flesh, Dread Central covers it."[6] The site is oriented toward a male demographic and favors edgy, exploitative films.[6]

After ten years, Dread Central became reader-supported via Patreon.[7] This would make Dread Central the first genre news site to switch from being ad-supported to being crowd supported.[8] Celebrity supporters include John Carpenter,[8] Gale Anne Hurd,[8] Sid Haig,[9] Adam Green[9] and Darren Lynn Bousman.[10]

Other ventures

In 2007, Dread Central and VersusMedia announced Horror D'Oeuvres, a competition for independent short films.[11][12] In 2008, the site partnered with several other prominent horror sites and studios in a horror-themed auction to raise money for the Entertainment Industry Foundation.[13] In 2013, they partnered with Gas Lamp Museum and the San Diego Ghost Hunters to organize a ghost hunt at the William Heath Davis House. The proceeds went toward upkeep for the historic site.[14] Also in 2013, they began offering the "Box of Dread", a random package full of merchandise delivered monthly to subscribers, one of whom is randomly chosen to receive a "special edition" valued at $250.[15]

CineMayhem

CineMayhem, a film festival for independent genre films, was founded by Heather Wixson in association with Dread Central's Indie Horror Month. The festival, whose inaugural date was March 2–3, 2013, is presented in Thousand Oaks, California.[16] The festival is backed by Scream Factory, Sideshow Collectibles, Magnet Releasing, and Breaking Glass Pictures.[17]

Reaper Awards

Dread Central and Home Media Magazine present the Reaper Awards annually for the best home video releases and direct-to-video features.[18] It is held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and is hosted by Steve Barton, co-founder of Dread Central.[19]

Reception

Dread Central was chosen as AMC's Site of the Week, in 2008.[5]

It was nominated for Total Film's Best Horror Blog, in 2010.[20]

It won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Website for 2009,[21] 2010,[22] 2011,[23] and 2012.[24]

References

  1. ↑ Barton, Steve (2013-07-04). "Dread Central Turns 7!". Dread Central. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  2. ↑ "Viva La DreadCentral! The Horror Channel DEAD!?". Bloody Disgusting. 2006-06-18. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  3. ↑ Brown, Todd (2006-07-05). "Behind The Scenes Photos From Nacho Cerda's The Abandoned At The Re-Launched Dread Central". Twitch Film. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  4. ↑ Singer, Matt (2012-06-20). "'Piranhaconda' Director Lashes Out at Critic". Indiewire. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  5. 1 2 Neuman, Clayton (2008-02-14). "Site of the Week: Dread Central". AMC. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  6. 1 2 Persall, Steve (2007-03-09). "In Gore They Trust". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  7. ↑ Barton, Steve (December 12, 2016). "Help #SaveDreadCentral – Show Your Support!". Dread Central. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (December 21, 2016). "How Dread Central's "Hail Mary" Campaign to Stay Open Could Change Genre Journalism". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Barton, Steve (December 21, 2016). "Patreon Exclusive: Adam Green, Arwen, and Sid Haig Talk #SaveDreadCentral". Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  10. ↑ Barton, Steve (December 16, 2016). "Patreon Exclusive: Darren Lynn Bousman and Joe Knetter Talk #SaveDreadCentral". Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  11. ↑ Wells, Michael (2007-08-17). "DreadCentral.com and VersusMedia Team Up to Find THE Best Independent Short Horror Films". Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  12. ↑ Walkuski, Eric (2007-04-12). "Open Call for Horror shorts!!". JoBlo.com. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  13. ↑ "Horror-Themed Charity Auction This Saturday". UGO. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  14. ↑ "Go ghost-hunting (for real!) with Dread Central in San Diego". Fangoria. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  15. ↑ Miller, Ryan (2013-08-27). "Are You Brave Enough to Open the Box of Dread?". JoBlo.com. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  16. ↑ Zimmerman, Samuel (2013-02-13). "Thousand Oaks revels in Indie Horror "CineMayhem" this March". Fangoria. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  17. ↑ Burkart, Gregory (2013-02-18). "2013 CineMayhem Official Film Lineup Announced". Fearnet. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  18. ↑ Castillo, Sara (2012-09-18). "Voting Is Open for the 2012 Reaper Awards". Fearnet. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  19. ↑ Duran, Marco. "The 2010 Reaper Awards". DVD Verdict. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  20. ↑ "2010 Blog Awards: Best Horror Blog". Total Film. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  21. ↑ "'District 9,' biography of Lugosi and Karloff, Rue Morgue take top Rondo honors". RondoAward.com. 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  22. ↑ "'The Black Swan,' restored 'Metropolis' and 'Art of Hammer' take top Rondo honors". RondoAward.com. 2011. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  23. ↑ "Vincent Price tribute, 'Island of Lost Souls' take top Rondo Award honors". RondoAward.com. 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  24. ↑ Janisse, Kier-La (2013-04-09). "2012 RONDO AWARDS ANNOUNCED!". Fangoria. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
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