The Horror Crowd

The Horror Crowd is a 2020 documentary directed by Ruben Pla that explores the horror film community in Hollywood. The film includes interviews with Lin Shaye, Darren Lynn Bousman, and Chelsea Stardust, among others, and asks them about their attraction to the genre and their defining experiences within it.

Pla developed the idea for the documentary while living in Hollywood, where he frequently interacted with people working in or passionate about horror cinema. He decided to interview them, and co-producer Hank Braxtan suggested filming these conversations professionally. Pla defines the "Horror Crowd" as encompassing filmmakers, directors, writers, producers, and actors. During the interviews, he noticed that many subjects connected their love of horror to their parents, leading him to dedicate a section of the film to that influence. One of Pla’s motivations for making the documentary was to demonstrate that horror filmmakers are not all "freaks and weirdos," but have families, friends, and enjoy ordinary things like anyone else.

The film premiered on August 29, 2020, at one of the two digital editions of the FrightFest film festival.

Critical reception was mixed. *Starburst* and Kim Newman offered favorable reviews; *Starburst* called it an enjoyable, well-put-together documentary that makes for an easy watch, noting it might not teach viewers how to succeed in the industry but could make them feel less alone in trying. *Nerdly* rated it 3.5 out of 5, describing it as not life-altering or massively inspiring, but packed with intriguing anecdotes and enjoyable chats about the horror scene. *Flickering Myth* criticized the film for its uneven pace, calling it "fitfully interesting though shapeless and technically slapdash," and recommended it only for the most ardent genre enthusiasts.