SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Frightful weather did not keep true horror enthusiasts from across the region from trekking to Premiere Cinemas in the Eastern Shore Centre for “Horrorfest IV: Eight Movies to Die For.”

Will Sanders, director of the Spanish Fort theater, said about 150 moviegoers attended the weeklong festival, billed as the largest film festival in the country. The Eastern Shore Centre location was one of only 39 theaters nationwide tapped to host the event.

In addition, the theater partnered with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to host a Jan. 31 blood drive in tandem with the festival that netted five donations for its mobile unit.

Sanders said the majority of Horrorfest patrons came from out of town, demonstrating the strong word-of-mouth following the event has generated.

“It gives us a chance to show our guests something besides the regular mainstream films, and After Dark Films does a great job at giving a chance for indie filmmakers to have their films shown nationwide to audiences that may not get to see them,” Sanders said in an earlier interview.

Featuring films from the work of both mainstream and independent filmmakers—including horror icon Clive Barker of “Hellraiser” fame—the eight features alternated in one auditorium from Jan. 29 until Feb. 4.

Independent motion picture studio, After Dark Films, was formed in 2006 by director/filmmaker Courtney Solomon and Hoang Kong-based real-estate magnate Allan Zeman. In November of that year, Horrorfest debuted, grossing more than $2.5 million during its inaugural weekend.

According to the Horrorfest Web site, the intention was to “create value for titles that otherwise would have been direct-to-video releases which would have shipped on average 25,000 units per title, and in all other ancillary markets. By theatrically marketing the ‘Horrorfest’ brand and event, greatly increased value was created for all titles.”