When economic conditions are bad, not just in the United States but around the world, it might be a good time to be in the business of marketing and distributing films. Even during the Great Depression, people flocked to the movies.

With the world economy teetering precariously because of debt crises in Greece and Italy, just to pick on a couple of failing nations, the annual American Film Market (AFM) gathering in Santa Monica is boasting of greater general attendance and an increase in participation by film buying companies.

I’m thinking attendees may have been enticed by the Thai Night festivities on the opening day, as the result of a formal invitation sent by Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi.

Unable to accept the summons from the princess, I missed out on something good from all accounts. In the past, I have observed that AFM, a marketplace for film sellers, buyers and industry leaders, lacks the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival.

But seriously, how does George Clooney or Angelina Jolie compare with royalty? Next year, I will keep my schedule open, lest I have to settle for a press conference with director Rob Reiner (aka “Meathead”) as he pitches a film called “Summer at Dog Dave’s.”

Once again, AFM is screening more than 400 films over the course of the eight-day event. Of those, 69 movies are world premieres and 310 are market premieres. Every two hours, 29 films are shown by exhibitors from 35 countries.

Even those challenged by math can figure out that a brief window of time permits only a limited sampling of the cinematic fare on offer. In many cases, you are better off for missing out.

The best way to get a flavor of the film offerings is to visit the hotel rooms and suites where independent film companies peddle their wares like a swap meet in the elegant surroundings of the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.

Over the years, AFM has grown in stature so that quality films made independently from the studio system are sold. Recent examples include “Black Swan,” “The King’s Speech,” “Limitless” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.”

Thankfully, the basic staple on display is the usual schlock cinema of B-grade horror and cheesy action, with some sex comedies thrown in for good measure. It’s a lot more fun shopping for junk.

The undisputed king of tacky cinema is New York-based Troma Pictures, purveyors of classics like “Surf Nazis Must Die” and “A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell.” And through an extensive film catalog, Troma is still peddling “The Toxic Avenger” and its three sequels.

It was disappointing to discover that Troma’s new venture is a film with the benign title of “Father’s Day.” Yet, the poster art, illustrated by chainsaw-wielding maniacs and half-naked girls, proves to be reassuring that Troma has not lost its touch.

Not only won’t the zombie film genre just die, it remains very much alive at AFM. “Gangsters, Guns and Zombies” takes the craze of the undead in a new direction. Meanwhile, “World of the Dead: The Zombie Diaries 2” is more traditional.

“The Dead Undead” combines both zombies and vampires into one colossal epic battle. When campers are pursued by a ravenous zombie horde, they take refuge in a deserted town that harbors a secret vampire community. The vampires take the defenseless humans under their wing and all-out war between vampires and zombies begins.

The best vampire trend may well come from “Vampire Dog,” a family film about a 12-year-old boy who inherits a dog named Fang when his grandfather, a resident of Transylvania, passes away. I’ll bet those kids in the “Twilight” movies come up short against the canine.

The comedy horror genre takes a stab at zombies with “Dead Before Dawn 3D.” College students uncover a curse that causes people to kill themselves and turn into Zombie Demons, aka Zemons.

The combination of vixens and werewolves takes an interesting turn in “Strippers vs. Werewolves.” A stripper kills a misbehaving customer who turns out to be a werewolf; complications ensue when the dead lycanthrope’s friends swear bloody vengeance.

AFM is not just about campy horror films; it’s also the place where forgotten stars attempt to resurrect their careers. Eric Roberts, true to form in the role of a sleazy character, plays a greedy casino owner fleecing his own employees in “Stealing Las Vegas.”

There are even comedies about Viagra. The most promising is “Hard Times,” the story of four young bachelors stuck in a remote Irish village who decide to hijack a truck load of the erectile dysfunction pills to sell on the black market in Amsterdam.

AFM is irresistible fun because you learn a lot about what sells for the popular taste around the world.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.