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As Halloween looms over us like a full moon on a blustery autumn eve, we find ourselves in the mood to curl up in front of our favorite slasher film for a healthy dose of murder and mayhem.

But if you dare to leave the comforts of home and celebrate the seasonal bloodlust with likeminded souls, the Sacramento Horror Film Festival is here to provide the scares. Now in its third year, the four-day event will be sure to fill your every dark desire.

“The city of Sacramento didn't have anything resembling a horror film festival," said Tim Meunier, founder and festival director. "And with my past experience I decided it was time to give the city what I felt it needed. I grew tired of going out of city and state to visit sub par horror film festivals and give them my tourist dollars. I felt I could provide a better experience back in my home town."

Meunier founded the festival in 2007. It was an immediate success, drawing horror icons such as Tony Moran (the unmasked face of Michael Myers in “Halloween”) and Tony Todd (the title role in “Candyman”) to sign autographs, take pictures and participate in Q & A sessions.

This year will feature WWE wrestler Chris Jericho, who stars in “Albino Farm,” on Friday, Oct. 23. The creators of “Repo! The Genetic Opera” will attend Saturday’s marathon. On Sunday, Oct.ober 25, William Lustig will be in attendance to voice his commentary on his slasher film “Maniac."

The event has not only attracted celebrities, but filmmakers from all over the world.

“We are an international film festival,” Meunier said. “We screen films that originated from Brazil, France, Japan, all the way back home coast to coast. We are screening more than 50 independent films and out of those 50, 13 are local."

Meunier’s said his preparations for the festival are grueling, beginning with a call for entries and the subsequent reviewing of the films for about 10 months.

“I do a survey among fans and peers and decide on which film to attempt to acquire for our 'retro' screening,” Meunier said. “Once we have some ideas, I contact the actors and directors of that film and attempt to book an appearance at the festival for them to do a live commentary of the film."

When asked which of the films he has seen are his favorite, Meunier refused to play favorites.

“Being asked that is like being asked which child is your favorite," Meunier said. “They all are special. I had to review hundreds of films over the past year to select the 50 best of the best and so I really enjoy all the films we screen."

Meunier realizes that even the most rabid horror fan may not be able to sit through the festival’s proposed gauntlet.

“The live commentary is a very popular program at our festival,” Meunier said. “We then begin contacting local bands that fit within our horror demographic as well as potential other forms of live entertainment to help break the monotony of film viewing for the patrons at the festival."

Average audience turnout for last year’s three-day event was 2,100 people, but Meunier expects more this year given the extra day to make room for even more films.

There’s no rest for the wicked, and Meunier lives the adage to make sure he can put together the best string of scares he can.

“Our third annual event hasn't even gone underway yet and I'm already planning exciting things for our fourth annual event,” Meunier said. “I'm always thinking ahead. It’s a challenge, so at minimum it's a year's worth of dedication."

The festival runs Oct. 22-25 at the Historic Colonial Theatre. Tickets are available at R5 Records and at the theatre's box office during the festival. Four-day all-events passes are $50, but individual day tickets are available as well.