Survival of the Film Freaks

This 2018 documentary, directed by Bill Fulkerson and Kyle Kuchta, investigates the evolution and persistence of cult cinema in America from its grindhouse and VHS-era roots through the digital age. Featuring interviews with filmmakers, actors, and fans including Ted Raimi, Lloyd Kaufman, Adam Green, and John Bloom, it chronicles the rise of midnight movies, home video distribution, and fan conventions that sustained underground films amid mainstream dismissal. The film addresses challenges like piracy, streaming disruptions, and physical media decline, while highlighting how social media and festivals foster new communities for low-budget horror, exploitation, and genre works. Archival clips and event footage illustrate the passion of "film freaks" who collect rare formats and champion overlooked titles, emphasizing cult film's role in independent creativity and cultural rebellion.