Film Threat | San Diego Comic-Con 2025

 

Film Threat originated as a xeroxed fanzine created by Chris Gore and Andre Seewood in 1985. The very first issue, limited to just 500 copies, was distributed on February 6th, 1985 at Wayne State University. On that campus, Gore and Seewood quickly became known as provocateurs, notorious for pulling pranks on the film department—including an audacious stunt where they faked Gore’s death to promote a film screening. After a year, Seewood departed, leaving Gore to transform the publication from its humble xeroxed beginnings into a professionally printed magazine.In 1989, Gore relocated Film Threat to Los Angeles, setting up shop in the Cherokee Building on Hollywood Boulevard. Two years later, Larry Flynt acquired Film Threat, resulting in the magazine splitting into two entities: the original, now owned by LFP, and the Film Threat Video Guide—a newsprint sister publication focused on underground filmmakers, edited by David E. Williams and championed by Gore.Gore temporarily stepped away in 1995, with Paul Zimmerman taking the helm. When Larry Flynt decided to cease publication in 1996, the rights reverted to Gore. Amid the late 1990s paper crisis, Film Threat published its final print issue in 1997.Just before the print magazine ended, the Film Threat website launched in 1996. Only two issues of this new phase, led by Gore, were published, with a third completed but never printed. Gore shifted focus to the website, introducing an email newsletter with reviews and news, and expanding coverage of independent films and festivals. In 2010, Gore sold the site to Mark Bell, who managed it for five years before returning the rights to Gore in 2015. After an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign that year, the site was shuttered. However, strong public demand led Gore to launch another Kickstarter in 2016—this time successfully—culminating in the site’s relaunch on February 6th, 2017, exactly 32 years after the debut of the original fanzine.Despite its turbulent journey, Film Threat’s enduring mission remains unchanged: to champion emerging indie filmmakers striving to leave their mark. The legacy continues...