SILVER SCREAM CON 2025: Worcester’s Horror Haven Thrives Bigger and Bolder

Silver Scream Con 2025: Chaos, Community, and the Beating Heart of Horror

By Klep Napier | WeAreCritiX.com & Xscream

This year’s Silver Scream Con brought back its signature brand of chaotic yet positive energy and somehow managed to dial it up even higher. Hosted at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, the festival buzzed with nonstop panels, celebrity signings, packed showroom floors and killer concert by show creators and guest ICE NINE KILLS.

What surprised me, though, was how many local faces were missing. As a hometown Worcester native and lifelong horror fan with thousands of local friends online, I couldn’t help noticing that many of the city’s loudest horror voices weren’t present. Instead, Silver Scream has become a magnet for passionate out-of-towners, pulling in fans from Connecticut, New York, and even as far away as Florida. While it would be great to see more Worcester locals showing love to their own scene, there’s no denying how exciting it is to see so many new eyes discovering the city and its potential.

While cosplay was scarce this year, what the fan community lacked in costumes they more than made up for in dedication. The lines for autographs and photos were intense stretching long and moving slow yet filled with fans who radiated nothing but patience and joy. Horror icons like Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, David Howard Thornton, Kane Hodder, John Kassier and Doug Bradley drew crowds that never wavered. Watching attendees wait hours just to meet their heroes proved that the spirit of real horror fandom is alive and well. Their enthusiasm gave the whole event a heartbeat, and you could feel it in every corner of the con.

As press for WeAreCritiX.com and our horror subsidiary Xscream (Where Horror Nerds Talk Slash), one of the weekend’s biggest thrills was the chance to interview some true genre legends. Our own Nicole Coleman sat down with Greg Nicotero, who spoke about the legacy of George Romero and the craft of special effects; while I, had the honor of sitting with Terry Kiser, who reflected on his career and cult-classic status; and Damien Leone, who gave us insight into the upcoming Terrifier 4 and his thoughts on the current state of violence in America. These conversations weren’t just interviews they were meaningful exchanges that deepened our connection to the community. Silver Scream has always been one of the few conventions that truly fosters that fan-first, media-friendly atmosphere, and this year was no exception.

Beyond the workload of interviews and capturing B-roll, there were plenty of unexpected highlights. One of the biggest shocks came when WWE star Rhea Ripley appeared — not as a guest, but as a fan. She spent the weekend mingling with attendees, cheering on her friends from the Terrifier team, joining them onstage during Ice Nine Kills' performance of their Terrifier 3 anthem “Work of Art,” and even getting a tattoo right on the showroom floor. (Yes — like many other conventions, at Silver Scream, you can actually grab a tattoo on-site!) Surprises like that helped make this weekend unforgettable, proving that even the stars are still fans at heart.

What impressed me most was how smoothly Silver Scream 4 ran overall. After last year’s massive success, I worried the “Hollywood bug” might creep in — bigger space, bigger names, bigger egos but instead the convention doubled down on what matters: fan experience and media access to spread the good word. The expanded floorplan and programming only made it feel more inclusive, safe, and community-driven. It still feels like family within these walls, and that’s rare. As Silver Scream 2025 comes to a close, we want to thank the entire team for letting Wearecritix.com and Xscream cover another incredible year. While nothing is official yet, word from a little birdie says Silver Scream 2026 is already gearing up to return to Worcester next year — and when it does, you can bet we’ll be there.