Another Year Down…
Another year down My Freaky Darlings! 2010 is coming to a close and what a year it has been. Friendships reborn, a website taking off, life starting to get back on track! there are just too many things to mention! As this year comes to a close though, it causes me to think about it and years past. I am so grateful for all the things I have and all the things I’m going to have. May the next year be more epic than the next!!
On that note, I will make a New Years resolution. My resolution is to become better than the year passed! I want to take my writing to the next level, and gain even more popularity than the year that just past. I want Encyclopedia Psychotika to be an infamous name. I want to be notorious! So here’s looking at you 2011!! And what better way to welcome 2011 than to get a little lushed!!
Until Next YEAR, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Happy New Year, from Encyclopedia Psychotika!
Goodbye 2010! Bring it on 2011! Let’s see what you got!
A Holiday Message From Malice Psychotik…
It’s that time of year my freaky darlings! The Chaos is almost over. The last call has rung at most of the stores. If you don’t have it you won’t get it. All you have is tonight and tomorrow, then Christmas is out-of-the-way and the drunken debauchery that is New Years Eve is next. I would just like to take the time now to say something of great importance. A cautionary tale if you will…Beware of the Krampus!
What is the Krampus you may ask? The Krampus is a very old accomplice of our very own Santa Clause. You see the Krampus was who naughty children saw instead of Jolly old St. Nick. Apparently the story goes, if you were a naughty child, The Krampus would come in the middle of the night and beat you with a large hickory stick and a rusty chain. If you were really rotten, he would take you in his sack, and drag you to hell…I’m so not shitting you. To make it worse this is still a current story in most places! Now there are different variations of the Krampus, but this about sums the creepy asshole up.
Now I know most of you out there are scratching you head and calling me full of it, but I assure you he’s not. Google it! At any rate, I wanted to make sure all My Little Freaky Darlings out there knew of this beast. So if you have a little one, makes sure you tell them what Uncle Malice said: If you’re a bad little rotten egg of a brat, the Krampus is going to kick your ass and poo in your stocking (You can leave out the drag you to hell, I want your kid to actually sleep tonight and not shoot you when you walk in the bedroom) I love you all, and have a Merry ChristmaHaunaKwanzika! What ever you celebrate, I hope you have a good one!
Sadistically Yours,
Malice Psychotik
p.s. No I did not go back in time and make this up…not that I know of yet
Dusker of The Month for December: Limpfreak
Article originally posted over on From Dusk Till Con…
It’s that time again! After a long hiatus, Dusker of the Month is back! This months Dusker had to be a person that would really warm your heart, much like when your watching a Christmas special. An individual that has touched our hearts, in ways that can only be described as a touching moment. A truly good person to help bring in the holiday season…well I couldn’t find that person. (Come on do you really think there is such a thing as a touchy feely weirdo like that on FDTC…really?) Instead I bring forward an honest to Cthulhu horror fan boy! You know him…you love him…our one and onlyyyyy….LIMPFREAK!! Yes, Guys and Ghouls and women of all shapes and sizes, Limpfreak has earned the honor of the last Dusker of the month for 2010. So lets break in the holiday spirit, grabs some egg nog…put some whiskey in it…and let’s peep at…
How Limpfreak Stole Christmas
Malice: So Limpfreak, how does it feel to be Dusker of the month in this…the season of presents?
Limpfreak: It’s shocking and kind of cool at the same time. To me it’s a big “HOLY SHIT” moment. I thought to myself why would anybody want to read about me since I’m nobody important.
Malice: What brought you to FDTC?
Limpfreak: I’m going to be honest here. I joined FDTC for a couple of reasons. #1. The Spooky Empire forums that i used to post at started to become nothing but drama. At first everything was peachy but then the drama slowly started. Then the trolls started to pop up and little by little i lost interest in that place.
#2. I came to FDTC because I became friends with one of the forum members on there and we talked in private about how cool it would be to have a “Troll and Drama Free” forum that we could talk about almost anything. Fast Forward to when FDTC was born. I was one of the first people to join FDTC because the people running it were cool and my friend. I loved the idea of a forum that had freedom and didn’t have drama and that we could talk about almost anything.
Malice: You’re a pretty big horror fan, what are your interests as far movie titles?
Limpfreak: I love ALL zombie movies even the cheesy and crappy zombie movies. I grew up on George Romero’s zombie movies and to this day I’m still a fan of his. Besides zombie movies I also grew up on Nightmare On Elm Street. I also love Asian horror movies.
Malice: How long have you been in the horror convention scene?
Limpfreak: I stumbled onto the horror scene back in 2004. One day I was bored so I did a Google search for “Horror Conventions In Florida” and one of the results was Screamfest (now better known as Spooky Empire). I was sick with the flu so I couldn’t go to “Screamfest 2004”. So after “Screamfest 2004” passed I made plans to attend in 2005. I attended for the first time in 2005 and was hooked and since then I have been going back every year.
Malice: Now I know you have a pretty big movie collection, how many do you think you boast?
Limpfreak: I have a lot of movies in different genres and not just horror. I own 150 DVD’s and 255 Blu-ray movies.
Malice: A movie connoisseur such as you self must have some pretty good advice on films, any good releases lately?
Limpfreak: Always do research on whatever movie you plan on buying. Don’t go nuts and buy the first thing in front of you. You never know if you might find it cheaper at some other store or even online.
Don’t be a cheap skate and buy the cheapest version of the movie. It might be cheaper than the “Special Edition but that “Special Edition” might be worth it. It might have some Special Features that the cheap version doesn’t have.
As far as good releases lately on DVD or Blu-ray. Not a lot of people liked it but as far as the Picture Quality and Audio Quality I loved Avatar. I also thought that the Alien Anthology that recently came out on Blu-ray was great. Just too many good recent releases for me to mention.
Malice: Your also a pretty avid gamer, how long have you been playing?
Limpfreak: I have been a gamers since I was a kid. Over the years at some point or another I have owned every video game system that has come out here in the US.
Malice: What is your all time favorite console?
Limpfreak: SNES (Battletoads , ALL of the Mario games , Zombies Ate My Neighbors , F-Zero)
Malice: What recent releases would you recommend in gaming?
Limpfreak: Dead Rising 2 (hours of zombie slaying with lots of combinations of weapons)
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit (Not only can you play as a Racer but you can also play as a Cop)
Call Of Duty Black Ops (hours and hours of endless fun and you also got Zombie Mode) How cool it is to kill some zombies as either JFK , Nixon or Fidel Castro?
Malice: Ultimate question, this separates the boys from men….Playstation 3 or XBox 360?
Limpfreak: First off let me say that i like both systems……But i prefer the Playstation 3 for a couple of reasons. #1. Built in Blu-ray player. #2. Free online gaming. #3. Better graphics.
Malice: In the war over who will win the next-gen gaming remote who do you think will win? Kinect or the Move?
Limpfreak: I don’t care about either one of them. When my cousin used to own a Wii I tried it out to see what the entire Motion Controller deal was about. I was turned off with the entire Motion Controller thing and have not cared to give either the Kinect or the Playstation Move a try or any attention.
Plus i wouldn’t be caught playing either of them and looking like a Dork while playing some game.
Malice: So getting down to you (Yeah I know this should have probably been at the beginning…I’m VERY non-linear..you’ll learn to deal…) Tell us some stuff we may not know about you?
Limpfreak: I used to be a huge Comic Book geek when i was younger. I used to go to Comic Book conventions.
Malice: I know you’ve had it a while, how did you come across your screen name?
Limpfreak: Back in the days I used to be a big fan of Limp Bizkit and since I considered myself a “freak” I combined both names. Limp – Freak = Limpfreak
Malice: Going back to horror conventions, what have been some of your favorite guests?
Limpfreak: Bill Hinzman , Jennifer Rubin (Taryn from A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors) , Tony Todd , Doug Bradley , Dawn Of The Dead cast members (David Emge , Ken Foree , Scott H. Reiniger , David Early , Mike Christopher , Sharon Ceccatti , Clayton Hill)
Malice: Any special memories from a horror con party?
Limpfreak: Every year getting to hangout poolside with Bill Hinzman at Spooky Empire is a Special Memory. Sitting by the pool having some beers with Bill Hinzman and talking about random things was a good feeling to me. It was like if me and him have known each other for years and years and like we were best friends.
Malice: Now for the part that everyone dreads…it’s time for some “Out-of-Hat” Questions…are prepared foolish mortal?
Limpfreak: *curls into the fetal position and cries about the scary questions*
Malice: Let’s begin… Why do you suppose there are never any midget zombies? Isn’t this absence disturbing? How do you suggest we raise awareness?
Limpfreak: There are never any zombie midgets because they are so fast and small that they can go between the zombies legs and get away. LOL
Malice: Your going to be killed by a horror movie icon…which one out of these: Freddy Kruger, The Tall Man, or Pin Head?
Limpfreak: I would want to be killed by Freddy. At least my death would be entertaining and not just some “straight to the point” type of death. My death would involve me watching porn and getting killed in some insane way.
Malice: How long do you think you would last in a zombocolypse?
Limpfreak: I could possibly last a year. Maybe enough to roundup some well-trained survivors and to find a good shelter. But my downfall most likely would be that i would die of starvation.
Malice: You are going to have a date! But you have to pic between these three women: Madame Victoria (A Hardcore Domenatrix), Amber Bamber (a Furrie enthusiast) or Velma Spencer (She’s likes to be peed on amongst other things)?
Limpfreak: As the “ladies man” and the big flirt I am I HANDS DOWN have to pick Madame Victoria the Hardcore Dominatrix because that’s How I Roll. 🙂
Furrie enthusiasts are not to be messed with because half the time they turn out to be “Padded Cell” type of crazy and When you tell them it’s over they keep on coming back.
Malice: You have Uwe Boll strapped to a chair. What are you going to tell him before you force him to watch a marathon of everything he’s ever done (presumably making his head cave in?
Limpfreak: I hope you suffer like you made lots of other people suffer from tricking them into watching your craptastic movies. I hope in hell you get anal raped by Satan himself while he uses a spiked baseball bat without any lube.
Malice: Well Limp, it’s been great! Glad you survived…this round!! Anything you want to add?
Limpfreak: I want to add that……….I HATE ALL OF YOU!!!!…..Not Really 😉
Well, My Freaky Darlings, that wraps it up for this month! Be sure to catch it next year, actually on time!!….Hopefully….
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Need the latest in horror convention? Look no more! Head on over to From Dusk Till Con! They have the latest news in all the greatest horror con’s in the land, including the up and coming titan Days of the Dead. Make sure you also take a look at their ever growing Message Board Forum, sign up and become a Dusker today!!
Welcome to the Grid!…TRON: Evolution
Hello, My Freaky Darlings! So, after an Mansinthe fueled night of fun, I feel like my batteries are charged and I’m ready to blow the whole worlds mind…That being said let me tell you what I have ben doing for the last little bit. For the last month I have been compiling data…I came to the realization I needed some fun material. With that I came to the conclusion that I wanted to review some video games and movies. I needed some time to catch myself up to speed however, and this is where the dry spell has come from. My friends and my lovely have recharged my batteries to past full, and for the first time in a little bit I feel I can sit here and entertain you fine ghouls and freaks! What better way to do this then to open straight into the best gaming experience I had to offer. Not just that but the movie opens tomorrow so really it’s just fitting. So it’s with great pleasure I tell you…
Welcome to the Grid!…TRON: Evolution
This game was a very visually pleasing experience. I really can’t wait untill I get a new T.V. to enjoy this game further! To fully set you in my mind-set, all I have to go into this series is the hype. I have never seen TRON and of course I have never seen TRON: Legacy. All I have to work off of is the hype and the trailer. Also, it is noteworthy that I am never to fond of Motion Picture to Gaming media type games. If it has anything to do with a movie, it usually tends to suck poo covered donkey balls! This game is a true exception. Before I give you my rating I will break things down into groups: Story, Graphics, and Game Play.
Story
The story you follow bridges the gap between TRON and TRON: Legacy. Telling you exactly how the take over came to be and explaining the genocide of the ISO’s and the rise of Clu to power over the Grid. You play a new Moderator Program created by Flynn to investigate the Murder of one of the ISO leaders, Jalen. From here you are thrown into a conspiracy that involves an Evil Program Virus, Abraxas and Clu killing Tron and Flynn. This takes you on a wild ride across the grid to find out the truth and attempt to save the Grid. Not wanting to reveal too much plot, I will stop there.
Really the game does a good job at pacing an interesting story. There really isn’t too much predictability. By that I mean obviously you know a movie is coming out that involves Clu taking over, and Flynn and Quorra fighting him. So realisticly you know what the ending is. There was no way for you not to know how it was going to end, unless you spend your time in a drunken haze (Or with a coat hanger trying to tickle your brain!) The middle story though is pretty impressive! You start out thinking the plot is going to be just he Abraxas Virus, then it goes to Clu double-crossing Tron and Flynn, then to Mass Genocide, then to…I’m not going to ruin it! For a video game based on a movie, they did a pretty damn good job keeping you entertained and then making you think you have an exclusive bit of story. I for one am now going to be able to watch TRON: Legacy with a percent margin of .76% more understanding then the asshole next to me! “Who’s that Quorra girl? Well I know that! Maybe you should have played the game…! MWHAHAHA!!” “How did Clu do it? Why is Flynn in the game!? I know and you don’t! Sit in your confusion and rot foolish mortal!” The only thing l you will find as a let down is the very ending. Mostly this just happened because I was so swept up in the game I lost touch of my original preconceived ending…Why was I so swept up? Well that brings us to the next part of the review!
Graphics
This game is every bit as visually appealing as the trailer to the fucking movie! I’m not even kidding. And this was even on my old Methuselah of a TV which is tiny as all get out! I can’t wait to put this on a flat screen and see how it all pans out. You get so swept up in the pretty surroundings honestly some times that makes you screw up. It just kept me saying “WOW! Look at that!” This even inspired me to want to see a theme park for the Grid. If it looks that cool on a video game, how cool do you think it’s going to be in person?
- He’s stunned by the beauty…
On a more technical note, I didn’t really notice any lag, there were no glitches to speak of, no trapping your self in a wall or falling into an endless abyss the really did good with the surroundings. I understand that the design when you think about it is pretty simplistic, but they went above and beyond to deliver a very visually pleasing atmosphere. This helps so that even when you are getting your ass handed to you, even when you are about to put your head through a wall…you can still look at that screen and say, “It’s just so damn pretty! I want to spend all day there riding my light cycle and throwing my disk at people!” Speaking of Disks, Light Cycles, Getting your ass handed to you, and wanting to put your head through a wall…that brings me to my last section!
Gameplay
The gameplay in this game is the only thing that I had room for improvement on. On one hand the amount of stuff it allows you to do is just awe-inspiring. The way you move through the game keeps you on your toes so that there is never a dull moment. You don’t spend a whole lot of time just straight running through the game. A lot of it is death-defying acrobatics much in the style of say, Prince of Persia. The combat system is pretty simplistic. You cycle through your different disc mods using the D-pad and the other attack buttons remain the same. controlling the vehicles is pretty linear too. More or less they are there to keep it fresh. The Bike is the best one. It is by far the funnest to play with. It’s also noteworthy that the leveling up system is pretty cool. Now for my room for improvement.
- You think my battles are hard, wait till you see my glitches…they will tear your mind apart!
There were moments that you wanted to pull your hair out. If you come across a new enemy, you better pay close attention to the scan read out. If you miss how to kill this new foe, you are going to go through fifteen times of dying and doing it again to figure it out. Maybe even right down a note or two about them as you go so in the final stage when you go through the gauntlet, you will know what to do. Also, if you get Derezzed too many times, the music and sound effects tend to go a little screwy! Some times it would just bottom out and completely throw me off. Also some of the angles will kill you when you are doing a long stretch of acrobatics. Most of that was my fault though. I was spoiled by the navi cube in the very beginning because I was under the impression I was going to have it the whole time. (My bad for paying more attention to the colorful scenery and not enough to the wank talking to me!) The Tank levels also will drive you up a wall! It’s sort of difficult to get the hang of them. Once you do, it’s a done deal. I just feel they could have made it a bit more smooth.
On a separate note I want to mention the Multiplayer. I don’t include Multiplayer in the main reaction from the game, mostly because I think it is utter bullshit for a game to rely on multiplayer to save its ass from having a crappy story mode. Fighting games of corse are the exception to this, but you know what I mean. If you don’t know what i mean again there are three possibilities: 1) you just don’t understand games in general 2) you get your jollies by pouring acid in your ear 3) you love FPS’s, and are going to try to defend to the death their honor! With that out-of-the-way, TRON: Evolution has a really decent multiplayer mode. It plays much in the fashion of an FPS. You run around killing the other hapless gamers on the grid in a timed death match. The added coolness is you can have levels that are just straight forward battles, or you can have a little more open range, and jump on your light cycle to whoop some digital ass! I love how in addition to the awesome concept, you can gain levels and powers for story mode by playing in the gaming grid. So that if you just can’t win against a boss, go spend a little time practicing your mad skills, and then go back a derezz some BASIC scum!
- Let’s see Halo Rock this Hard…Didn’t think so…
Overall Impression
I was really pleased with this game. Decent Story, Great Graphics, and Above average Gameplay make me round this review out at a solid 4 out of 5 Top hats. It comes highly recommended especially if you are a fan of TRON. So go out and rent it or buy it, and see what you think! All I can say is that I’m now fully interested in this series just because of this game! Kudo to you game designers, Thumbs up!
Be sure to stay tuned for more reviews on some newer games and some games that are a little older that I played anyway. Things are going to even out here a little pretty soon. Also, I have not forgotten the comic idea for Shaggy and Todd or my short stories. They are coming along nicely. I just want to make sure that they are more than just “Up to snuff” for My Freaky Darlings.Thats all for tonight, so…
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Dear Freaky Darlings, I do apologize for the dry spell that has taken over the last couple of weeks. recouping the Holiday is rough, and I have many adventures to share with many more to come. Rest assure the time has been well spent! Tonight, I give you this review of a great movie. Let this wet your chops because there is much more including Dusker of the Month for December! I hope this slacks your thirst for blood!
It’s been ten years since the franchise started and now it is all coming to an end. We all knew this day would come, after all, all dynasty’s have to end eventually. Harry Potter is no exception! So how did this glorious beginning of the end go? The only word that comes to mind is Epic! Lord of the Rings eat your heart out, Hit the bricks Twilight…Harry Potter has taken it to a whole new level of cool! I was absolutely wowed just by how good this movie really was. I was expecting a good movie , but for once my high standards were exceeded! There are many things I liked about this movie, and not a lot I think they could have improved upon. So grab your wands Darlings, and hold that broom stick tight! Here’s the Psychotik Review of…
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Let’s start with the story. The movie opens with all of the turmoil that is going through the wizard world. With Dumbledore dead, war is imminent.Hermione has to leave her parents and erase her existence for their sake. The Dursleys are leaving (which I’m sure is more good news then bad). The Order shows up to try to move Harry. In a cool special effect you get to see multiple people turn into Harry (Watch for Fleur-Harry…she is the funniest). After they do this they go on a high-speed broom chase through London in an attempt to confuse the Deatheaters. During this chase Hedwig is killed, George Weasley loses an ear, and Mad Eye Moody is killed. This really sets the tone for the movie. There is a lot of sacrifice and self discovery in this movie. I would go a bit further, but I’m more than positive most of you have either read the book, saw the movie already, or have seen the trailer. If not it will be posted below. Rather, I would like to move into the points I love about this film.
Now I could go on forever on what I loved about the special effects, and the casting, how the composer does a masterful job at creating an epic score…etc…We would literally be here all night! Instead, I would like to talk about the story and how it was presented. It was refreshing to see the series go back to its roots and truly show the friendship between the stories core three characters. That’s basically what this part is about. Reacquainting you with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Not since Prisoner of Azkaban has there been such a focus on the core friendship of the series. It’s understandable to an extent. Movies are different than books. You have to have more about the other characters as well. You should kind of get the picture that those three are best friends.
I also like how the story really paces itself. I was worried about this movie when I thought of how painful Return of the King was to sit through. The last in a series is usually the longest. Thank God they split this into two movies. Regardless of that, the movie does keep you wanting more. Each scene compliments the next. There is a fair amount of action, but it doesn’t over power the plot. The have the perfect mixture of Action, Drama, Special Effects, etc…it all comes together rather beautifully! If these movies don’t end in some sort of Academy Award, I think I will be really cheesed off!
Really I don’t want to give away too much. I would even love to pic out a few scenes for you, but there are just to many! The only thing I can say is if you haven’t seen it you really need to! It’s a great movie, and an awesome opener for the chaos that is going to be in Part 2. I will leave you with the knowledge that Dobby is a little bad ass. You really get to see exactly what those little House Elves are capable of! Also the way they animate the story of the Deathly Hallows is a bloody interesting way to do it. Kind of throws you for a loop! I give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 5 Top Hats out of 5, and Malice Psychotik’s HIGHEST endorsement.
I apologize for the breif-ness, but as I said, there really isn’t much more I can say other than it is a truly epic movie, one of the greatest cinema spectaculars of the year, a life changing experience! Your life will mean less for NOT seeing it!
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Check out the trailer here:
One Hell of a Ride…From Dusk Till Con’s First Year
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of sitting down the masterminds behind From Dusk Till Con. It was there one year anniversary this past Halloween. It’s hard to belive that a site that was never intended to move this far has turned into the massive juggernaut that it is. To become the one stop shop for all things to do with horror conventions is a big responsibility. One that they have taken on like true warriors!! This site has been responsible to inspiring many to venture off into their own. Hell, Encyclopedia Psychotika owes a lot of its success to FDTC! This article was ran originally posted on FDTC November 7, 2010. Journey with me, if you will…
One Hell of a Ride…From Dusk Till Con’s First Year
Malice Psychotik: So, it’s one year since the site has been active…How are things?
Mr. Chainsaw: Well, it’s been one year and we’re still here. To not only still be doing what we’re doing, but have had the fans elevate us to the level we’re at right now where we are THE authority on the horror convention scene as recognized by promoters, manager, celebrity guests, and most importantly the fans themselves, is an absolute honor. What more is there to say?
Malice: Did you ever imagine one year ago, the site would be the juggernaut it is today?
Ricardo del Muerto: I honestly had no idea and I am humbled every time I see the support our community has given us. Walking into a convention and seeing people wearing our shirts and the huge amount of interest the fans have is just amazing.
Mr. Chainsaw: Truthfully? Never. Then again, we never set out to do anything other than create a quaint little corner of cyberspace for friends to get together and share their experiences from other conventions around the country. Apparently others outside of our circle also felt the need for such a place and helped to grow our humble community.
My wife was saying in the early going that this was going to turn into something huge, but I never really thought so. I would have been happy to just make some new friends, attend some cool shows, and have things to write about. Less than a year later, From Dusk Till Con has become its own brand and all these doors have opened up for us that I would have never thought possible. I sometimes think someone is going pinch me and I’m gonna wake up.
Malice: At what point did you realize you “Arrived”? Did you have a moment when you realized “Wow, this shit just got real!”
Ricardo del Muerto: If “Arrived” means creating a site that has helped many horror fans make better decisions on where to spend their hard-earned convention money, then I knew we arrived right away. I think the moment I realized that “Shit got real” was at Wizard Comic Con when an excited fan recognized the shirt and I was able to meet a fellow Dusker who shared my intense enthusiasm about the site. Since then, we’ve seen more and more people popping up on the con circuit representing From Dusk till Con and wearing our shirts. It has also helped when great Vendors have given the Dusker Nation discounts for pointing out that they belong to our forum. I could not ask for stronger loyalty from our community and I look forward to meeting more people who share the love of cons as much as I do.
Malice: To be around FDTC for even a week you will see the community stands apart from other message board communities. What do you think makes The Dusker Nation stand apart?
Mr. Chainsaw: I think the Dusker Nation represents the core of the hardcore convention fans everywhere – the type that travel around the country to various shows or even just support the shows in their own regions religiously. They all love the culture and breathe, eat, sleep, and bleed it as a way of life. In our community there’s no politics, no hierarchy, no leaders – we’re simply all equals and all friends. In the first year we’ve been around, very little moderation has been needed as the community has done a great job of sustaining itself with everyone being respectful and considerate of each other.
Our members meet up at conventions across the country, hang out together, join up to go out and eat together, party together, and all around exist as a nationwide extended family. Other online forum communities may boast larger numbers, but I firmly believe you’d be hard pressed to find a more tight-knit community than the Dusker Nation.
Malice: What are some of your fondest memories from the last year?
Ricardo del Muerto: My fondest memory has been the surprise birthday party at Spooky Empire. It was unbelievable! Chainsaw and I had 2 cakes designed in our likenesses and so many people from the Dusker nation (most whom I have never met) came out to wish us a Happy Birthday. It was an experience I will never forget. Of course having some celebs show up to hang out and share some cake was pretty awesome as well.
Mr. Chainsaw: I think the whole year in itself has been one long fond memory making it impossible to pick out just one moment. A few of my favorites though were: Meeting and hanging out with Mikey Perez, the Return of the Living Dead cast, and Mark Patton at Famous Monsters Con after hours, hanging out with Ken, Lyndell, and Jerry at Flashback Weekend where we had dinner, drinks, met Bruce Campbell, and huddled out in the cold until the wee hours of the morning tailgating at the Midway Drive-In, the entire Texas Frightmare Weekend trip (which we shared with Ken, Stacy and Chris Carbeau, Danny and Jen, Chuck Moran, Target Jon and his brother, and Richard Malone, among others, and finally, Spooky Empire 2010, the site of the greatest surprise birthday party I’ve ever been a part of and the largest Dusker meet-up to date which I’m proud to say went down in my home state of Florida in one of my favorite cities in the country, beautiful Orlando, FL.
Malice: FDTC is known for putting on one hell of a party. Do you have any epic tales of Horror Con glory at these meet ups?
Mr. Chainsaw: We’ve had some great meet-ups this year but the one at Spooky Empire by far takes the cake. Aside from being the largest gathering of we’ve had yet (with over 40 registered FDTC members in attendance along with their guests), we had quite a few celebrity guests come out to the party and make it that much more memorable. You really had to have been there, but between Jason Mewes taking our beer cooler and jumping into the pool with it and using it as a boat, Gary Busey holding court for almost 2 hours off in another corner and talking about his “Buseyisms,” and others like Danny Trejo, Heather Langenkamp, and the Return of the Living Dead cast showing up to hang out and partake in food and drink, it was about as memorable as it can get. My favorite part, however, was the fact that we got to do a raffle and hand out over a dozen cool prizes to our FDTC faithful, including a hand signed photo by none other than the legendary Lon Chaney Jr. Being that our fans have been so great to us over the course of the first year, it felt great to be able to give back to them and show them that they are immensely appreciated.
Malice: With the site growing as fast as it is, where do you see it in a year?
Ricardo del Muerto: Wow, in a year? I think we will continue to bring some hardcore convention coverage because our site is literally run by our fans. We have them to thank for all the great information and support. As many know we trying our hand at bringing some great conventions guests to the Midwest for Days of the Dead. So we have a lot on our plate but we refuse to settle for mediocrity and will continue to push the convention scene for us and many others as hard as we can.
Mr. Chainsaw: If you told me a year ago that FDTC would be where it is now, I would have told you to put down whatever you were smoking – obviously I was wrong. I think I’ll leave it up to the fans to decide where we are in a year given that predictions don’t seem to be my strongest asset.
Malice: Let’s talk about your FDTC’s involvement in Days of the Dead this July. How did this come about?
Mr. Chainsaw: Well, to make a long story short, there was an already established convention from the east coast that was looking to expand and add a new show out in the midwest, particularly Indianapolis. A few other people in the convention business were also on board to handle various aspects of the show. For whatever reason the convention that was going to be putting the show on changed their mind and another entity took over the show. At some point Petey Mongelli of Spooky Empire was brought in as was Bill Philputt of Re-Evolution Management – two guys that are undoubtedly among the best at what they do. From Dusk Till Con was asked if they wanted to be sponsors for the show and we were in the middle of discussing that when the second entity backed out. At that point, someone unrelated to the show threw my name out there as a possible organizer given my background in promoting and management in the music scene when I was living in South Florida and From Dusk Till Con was asked if they would want to be partners on the show. After mulling it over for a few weeks, Rick and I decided to go ahead and get on board. Petey has sadly since dropped out due to time constraints involving planning his two shows in Florida and by default From Dusk Till Con has become the main entity involved with the show.
Believe it or not, it was something we really had to think long and hard about getting involved with, and I especially lost sleep on quite a few nights as I debated whether or not I wanted to jump into this arena. On the one hand, it’s a dream come true for any con fan to be asked to come on board and help create a convention of their very own. On the other hand, I seriously debated whether or not I wanted to make that transition from fan to promoter and risk having the enjoyment of conventions spoiled for me a bit by introducing the business aspect into it. Not only that, but promoters always get so much heat from fans for things that beyond their control, like not getting that one rare Friday the 13th guest who was in the part 7 for all of 3 minutes, or not having enough Italians, or because a guest chooses to charge more than fans think is justified. Finally, I was worried that all of the other convention promoters who I’ve always admired on both a personal and business level, would cease to see me as an acquaintance and begin to view me as a competitor in what is certainly a very aggressive business.
Rick and I consulted with friends, family, and a few of the FDTC faithful in making our decision and in the end concluded it would be ridiculous to not jump on what amounts to the opportunity of a lifetime. We gave it an immense amount of thought and I think we made the right choice.
Malice: What role is FDTC playing exactly?
Mr. Chainsaw: Bill is taking care of booking the talent for the show and providing his connections to help set up some of the events for the weekend – he’s an elite level talent in his field and arguably among the cream of the crop when it comes to talent management. FDTC is pretty much taking care of the rest – marketing, creating a web presence for the show, conceptualizing what the show is going to be like, handling the business operations, and managing the show on the day of.
We’re talking to a slew of other big names in the horror world to come in and assist with various aspects of the show, and we should be announcing those entities as the convention evolves and begins to take form.
Malice: What have you learned from this experience (with Days of the Dead) thus far?
Mr. Chainsaw: I actually have a new-found respect for show promoters, especially the ones that put on great events, and we’ve only just begun planning! It’s seriously some insanely hard work! There’s so many things that go into the planning of a show that it’s really impossible to grasp unless you actually put yourself in those shoes and do it for yourself. I’m also learning how hard it is to nail down guests for a convention and how complicated the business end of that can be at times. Finally, I’m realizing that I’m going to have to accept the fact that no matter how hard you work on something like this, you’re always going to let someone down, whether it be from not being able to get that one guest they asked for so passionately, or because your show didn’t have enough of this, or it had too much of that – I hate letting people down and it’s something I’m going to have to learn to deal with. But I do embrace the challenge of living up to lofty expectations.
Malice: When designing the guest list, what are some deciding factors?
Mr. Chainsaw: I feel so in debt to the fans who supported FDTC to even be in this position to begin with that I’m running Bill Philputt ragged trying to pursue every single guest request that gets made on the forums. Luckily, Bill is a consummate professional with tons of experience and has been very patient with my overflow of ideas and the overly annoying Type A manner in which I go about pushing them on everyone.
Truthfully speaking, we are trying to listen to the fans as much as we possibly can, but there are other criteria that we’re following in putting together the guest list. Firstly, we want to focus mainly on guests that have either never before been in Indianapolis and the surrounding area, or that haven’t been there in a few years – so many great shows already have a presence in the region and the last thing we want to do is reproduce what has already been done. We’ve actually had to scratch a few names off of our wish list as they have recently been announced by other conventions that operate in the area. Secondly, since horror fans are a varied bunch, we’re trying to represent that same variety at Days of the Dead – you’ll see some mainstream names, some traditional convention favorites, as well as some guests with more cult backgrounds. Finally, we’re considering the people that we ourselves as fans would like to see at a show. We go to several shows every year, stand in line for autographs just like everyone else, and have our own ideas for who we would like to meet, whose autographs we’d like to add to our collections, and who we’d like to see at a Q&A.
Malice: How do you think DotD is going to stack up against some of the other shows that are happening that year? What about the talk that you guys are “moving into” HorrorHound Weekend’s territory by doing another show in Indianapolis?
Mr. Chainsaw: I honestly don’t worry about how we’re going to “stack up against other shows.” It’s a notion that really doesn’t cross my mind at all. The main focus with most of our guest list for Days of the Dead is to bring in guests who have not done the region before, or at least not done it in a long time, so as not to replicate what other shows are doing – this, we feel, will be both to our benefit, as well as to the benefit of other shows in the area. We’ve actually had to already cross out several names of our wish list and even cancel a few names because they have been announced by other nearby conventions.
As far as “moving into” HorrorHound Weekend’s territory, that’s just a silly notion. We don’t feel that way and more importantly, I know they don’t feel that way at all. Bill spoke to Nathan about it before FDTC even came to be involved and Nathan gave him his blessing and stated it was ok as long as the new show gave HorrorHound enough of a cushion as to when it was held (a few months apart so as not to cannibalize off of each others potential attendance). HorrorHound is going to have a great show this year and I look forward to attending as a fan and a long time patron. I also think Days of the Dead is going to be a great show, and I certainly think horror convention fans in the region are enthusiastic enough about the scene that they would be more than willing to come out and support both shows.
Malice: As far as events go, what kind of special touch is FDTC going to add?
Mr. Chainsaw: I don’t want to give away too many secrets and spoil any potential surprises, but all of us involved in the planning of the show are HUGE fans of horror in general. We’re the kind of people who celebrate Halloween all year round, embrace all things spooky as a way of life, and just have an all around respect and reverence for the genre that goes beyond words. We really want to make it more than just an autograph show and have it be a celebration of creepy culture that revives the magic we all felt growing up with these films we love so dearly. It’s our goal to make the events just as important a part of the overall show as the guests are.
Malice: Is there anything that you can leak us about the show? Any hints about future guests?
Mr. Chainsaw: We’re in the middle of negotiating quite a few contracts with potential guests at this time as well as speaking to various other entities in the horror business about bringing in various events to Days of the Dead 2011. I wish I had more for you, but right now everything needs to be kept under a tight lid. I will tease that two of the guests that were at this past weekend’s Scarefest show in Kentucky heard about Days of the Dead at the show and want to get on board the guest list by any means necessary. Given who they are, it’s impossible to turn them down so they may likely end up being part of our next batch of guest announcements.
Malice: Time for some “Out-of-Hat” questions!
Mr. Chainsaw: Shit….I knew this was coming. Just kidding…let’s do it!
Malice: What do you think is one of the biggest problems facing the horror community today?
Mr. Chainsaw: I don’t quite exactly know if by “horror community” you mean as it pertains to horror on film or the social aspect and the fans, so I’ll answer about the latter.
It seems to me that horror has fallen into the same trap that some of the other alternative counter-cultures have, particularly the punk culture, where you see a great deal of competing amongst fans over who is “more dedicated” or “a truer fan” or all this other bullshit like getting hung up on labeling horror and fighting over what horror is and isn’t. In the end, none of that should matter I think. Everyone comes into this scene for their own reasons and many of us do so from all walks of life. However, we all share a common bond, whether it be an affinity for the things that go bump in the night, or a love for the monsters hiding just around every corner, or just a taste for the chilling, the macabre, or the outright gruesome. Most people outside of this subculture don’t understand, and will never understand, what we see in it. That’s totally ok. What’s not ok is when horror fans draw lines in the sand against each other socially as if this was high school all over again – if anything, we should all be more accepting of each other given that the outside world often is not.
Malice: What is your definition of “Classic Horror”?
Ricardo del Muerto: Classic horror for me is a film that can transport you into the time frame to which is was intended without you knowing. For example Wolfman, I would normally complain about quality and the black/white but the movie is so poignant that I never really notice. I just respect the medium as is and love the film for all its dated intricacies. I think a great classic film is one that tells the story so well that you do not have time to focus on the aspects that directly relate to you, instead you relate to the film. Oh and anything Hitchcock!
Malice: What are your criteria for an “Epic Party”?
Mr. Chainsaw: I can’t disagree with you there. This is known as “The Sam Raimi Formula” in any circles.
Malice: What is the likely hood that the next FDTC party will involve Midgets, Furries, or a combination of the two? More importantly, will we see the infamous “Horror Filter”?
Mr. Chainsaw: You pretty much just described a Saturday night at Rob Fox’s house.
Ricardo del Muerto: I think the likelihood is very strong that Furries and Midgets will make an appearance at one of our parties. I think that we owe this kind of debauchery to the fans and supporters and as for the Horror Filter, I am not at liberty to talk about that.
Malice: Days of the Dead takes place during July 4th weekend. A time where families around this grand United States of ours partake in BBQ’s and other cook out activities. What say you to a Days of the Dead Cook Off?
Ricardo del Muerto: I would say that a Days of the Dead cook off would be simply amazing! I am definitely for that idea and I hope we have some great BBQr’s in the mix because I would enjoy the Hell out of that! Thank you Malice for getting the wheels a turnin’.
Malice: What is the weirdest idea you have ever had for advertising FDTC? (Make up a real strange one if you have to!) Mr. Chainsaw: We actually have done very little to no advertising at all for FDTC. All the growth has been through the word of mouth of the fans from one convention to the next. In the early going though, when the forum began to really start growing and we wanted to push more interest I had the idea that I could offer to publicly humiliate myself over the internet if certain milestones would be met (such as for new members, post count, etc.). I was desperate back then and was more than willing to offer up my dignity in exchange for some publicity. I’m glad it didn’t come down to that and people found other reasons to check in and grow the site that didn’t involve me making a total ass of myself.
Malice Is it true that FDTC was set to have a guest spot on Sesame Street?
Mr. Chainsaw: This is true. Unfortunately, the producers found Ricardo’s outfit to revealing and provocative and the episode never aired.
Malice: There has been some rumors that there is something big going to be revealed around the first of the 2011? Something big, something “Apocalyptic”! Does FDTC have any connection to this?
Mr. Chainsaw: It’s possible. We seem to find ourselves in all kinds of interesting things lately. Everyone will just have to stay tuned and find out!
Malice: Well, I’m really glad that I could interview the two of you, on this the anniversary of FDTC! It’s been real fun, and I’m glad you have submitted yourselves to this battery of questions! Is there anything out else you would like to add for the Dusker Masses?
Ricardo del Muerto: Malice, you do the best interviews around so the pleasure has been all mine. If I could say one more thing to the Dusker Nation it would be to stick with us, because you ain’t seen nothing yet!
Mr. Chainsaw: I really just want to thank everyone for pushing us to where we have come in our first year – without the support of each and every fan and member of the Dusker Nation, we would not be where we are and there would be no From Dusk Till Con, no Days of the Dead, nothing. This is truly a community that belongs to all of you, and we’re honored to be representing such a great scene.
With that, here’s to the last year of FDTC’s rise to the top! Duskers I salute you! Here’s to 100 more year on top!! If you have never been to FDTC, I urge you to check it out. The have a wonderful message board community. They also offer the latest in news from horror conventions all around the country! They are also host to some other brilliant writers that churn out interviews with vendors, movie reviews, and much more!! Here are some points of interest:
Well, Freaky Darlings, I’m going to go back to the padded room for the night. I’ll make sure to chew through the straps for you again soon. Keep an eye out for some cool reviews to come soon. That’s all for now…
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
P.S. I guess this sort of makes them the Dusker of the Month for November since there wasn’t one!
New Additions to come soon!!!
Yes, you read right My Freaky Darlings!! I’m going to be expanding content very soon to include a little more of the Psychotik touch. The first expansion I’m hoping to get working into before the end of this month. It will be a web comic of the likes you have never seen (And if you have seen it, it’s ten million times better). I’ll break it down for you:
Shaggy and Todd: In the future the world is run by the corporations. Metro cities have sprung up all over the country. Gangs run wild and plenty! In all of this madness, law enforcement and military can’t keep up. Do to the rise in crime, a new set of enforcers have stepped up to the plate: Bounty Hunters. These bounty hunters are fueled by the powers of advanced technology and genetic alteration. With all the chaos in the world, who will stand up? Who will defend the innocent? Who will right the wrongs? Who will stand strong against the evil of the Corporations and the crushing might of the gangs? WHO WILL BE THERE TO BLOW SHIT UP!? Shaggy and Todd are there to answer the call! Two genetically altered action junkies fueled by the desire to kick-ass, make money, and incinerate a city block in the process! You will see Evil Corporate Slim, Twisted Chemists, Insane Engineers, Clown-Motorcycle Gangs, and Super Powered Female Nazis!!! It’s an action packed thrill ride that you won’t want to miss!! So, grab some pop-corn, a soda, and cuddle your favorite explosives! Shaggy and Todd is sure to blow your mind!!
“It’s a Psychotik World“: Tired of your usual animal show? Ghost hunting shows seem a bit stale? Then does Encyclopedia Psychotika have the enema for you!!! Enter “It’s a Psychotik World” where your host (yours truly) takes you on a wild journey to find the worlds most elusive creatures and most terrifying specters! See as me and my crew hunt down the mighty Skunk Ape or catch us as we investigate a haunting that will leave you wanting more. Anything is possible in this messed up world! If it’s out there, we will find it (or make a fool out of ourselves trying)!
Tales from the Malicious Mansion: So long time followers of the site are probably VERY excited to hear this announcement! Tales from the Malicious Mansion is going to be a collection of short stories that you will DIE to read more! These tales are not for the fait of heart (and for some not the week of bladder)! See the horror genre taken back to its roots and rediscover terror. From twisted butchers to chainsaw wielding maniacs to a couple with a penchant for murder, these tales are guaranteed to have you begging like a zombie begs for brains!
These are the big things that I’m wanting to come your way soon enough! I’m sure you will enjoy all of them. I will still be doing interviews, reviews, and a few movie news reports (I realize I’ve been lacking in that department, but get ready for some soon). You may have also noticed that there is no Dusker of the Month this month. No I didn’t forget, you can kind of consider it Mr. Chainsaw and Ricardo Del Muerto. There interview with me posted a little while back on From Dusk Till Con. I will be posting the re-run of that article this Monday for all my freaky darlings that may not have caught it first time round! I’m cooking up a few reviews for you right now, movie and game! So be prepared for those to be coming within the next couple of days! ALSO be sure to keep an eye out for an interview with the newest member of the Madhouse!!
Until Next Time. My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
P.S. I would like to take some time right now to thank all of my readers and the people who have helped me on my way this whole time. Thank you Mr. Chainsaw for getting me to do this in the first place. You took a chance on me, and so far it looks like a good one! I promise I won’t let you down, and this relationship between the sites is going to turn into a MASSIVE juggernaut! Thank You to all of the celebs that I have interviewed! You have all been great. It was so great getting to chat with all of you and I hope you keep us updated so my readers and I can keep up! Thanks to all of my friends out there that shamelessly spread the word! I love you guys! Thank you to Joe for giving me at least one view a day! Back when the site would be lucky to get one view a day, I always knew who that one view was!! Thank you to all of the readers out there that have been blowing up the site and viewing like crazy! Without you guys, there would be no point to my typing! Thank you for reading, and I hope you stay with and spread the infection! Adding in another special thank you…THANK YOU TO THE DUSKER NATION!! You guys are awesome and I will never forget my roots! Expect Dusker of the Month to resume next month! Last and finally I want to thank my girls, Seras and Jazmin. Without you there is not a whole lot of point for this madman to exist. Thank you for helping me through sleepless nights, and putting up with my grumpy ass the next morning! Thank you everybody for the last 5 months and here’s to years more! If you are reading this, know that Malice Psychotik loves you all!!!
“You’re so cool Brewster!”…Story Time with Stephen Geoffreys
Well, my Freaky Darlings, it’s been a rather silent spell from me. I do apologize for that. Old Malice’s batteries have been recharged though, and I’m back ready for more! This interview I’m giving to you was a long time in the works. You’ve been waiting for it for quite some time by me either dropping off hints, or even some I’ve already told. This interview was supposed to be posted before Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear, but alas the world conspired against me, and it was delayed. Well now it is here for your viewing pleasure. I do hope you enjoy it as it has caused me many sleepless nights through the whole process. Prepare yourself…
“You’re so cool Brewster!”…Story Time with Stephen Geoffreys
Malice: This has been a while in the works, but I have to say it’s well worth the wait. I have with me today Stephen Geoffreys of Fright Night and 976-EVIL. Also more recently Mr. Hush and Emerging Past. Stephen, I just want to jump head first into this interview! What made you decide on acting?
Stephen Geoffreys: Well, it’s kind of been what I’ve wanted to do all my life since I was little. I think every kid has that fantasy life going on. With mine it was hyper… I was in my own little world. So I thought, “Why don’t I make money pretending.” So that’s what I decided to do. I went to a performing arts high school. I went to a college and graduate school and studied acting. When I got out, I was ready to dive in. I’ve been lucky! I’ve always had a singular desire to do what I really love. It’s been a lot of fun so far.
Malice: Your known well for your roles in Fright Night and 976-EVIL. However, you have been in a few other roles (Fraternity Vacation, The Chair). Do you have any favorite roles?
Stephen: I never categorize what I am. It’s like when you’re an actor, you get scripts and you either take them or you don’t. It’s really not anymore complicated than that. I just happened to have got hooked into “Fright Nights” and some other horror movies. But, it wasn’t really a conscious decision on my part to become a horror actor. Just if the part is good and the price is right I’ll take it.
Malice: Back when you were filming Fright Night, did you ever think that the movie would stand the test of time? That ‘Evil’ Ed Thompson would still be talked about today?
Stephen: I knew it would, but not to the extent it has. The very nature of movies is something you can watch over and over as long as the technical apparatus is available to watch them. It’s a good thing, as opposed to theater, when the curtain’s down it’s over. Film is forever. I would have never guessed… You know I would have never thought kids would come up and say”My Grandmother showed me this movie you were in!”It’s neat though, it’s really great!
Malice: Do you have any set memories from the movie? For example, how long did the make-up take?
Stephen: Yeah, it was an amazing test of patience to sit in a chair for hours for all the make-up and prosthetics to be applied. But, there was a lot of excitement involved. It was all part of it. I knew I was in great hands as far as the people doing the special effects. Just top of the line great special effects make-up people. It wasn’t to bad.
Malice: What about the contacts used? I’ve heard the special effects contacts used during that period were very painful.
Stephen: Yeah, about that. Around that whole time period, you know around Lost Boys, Fright Night, and when Michael Jackson did the “Thriller” video he had those eyes. They were made using these huge plastic, semi-circle things that they would just shove into your eye. I’m sure it was pretty dangerous. They said you were only supposed to wear them for a little while. Like fifteen twenty minutes at most. I ended up having to wear them for a while. Like the the scene where Peter Vincent thinks he’s waking up Charlie’s Mother and it’s me with the Raggedy Ann wig. I had those things in for at least an hour maybe two. So all the pain and anguish that came across on camera was about 80% to do with those contacts. Then when I did 976-EVIL about a year later, by then they came up with some new technique that they could use soft contacts. I wore them with that movie and they were fine. I think my eye got scratched for like six months after Fright Night wrapped. Talk about suffering for your art!
Malice: What ever happened with Fright Night 2? Why didn’t you reprise your role?
Stephen: I was actually obligated to play in the sequel. The offers for Fright Night and 976-EVIL came the same week. And they said they were going to be starting around the same time. There was no way I could be in both. I had to decide between the two, and I chose 976-EVIL. I would have done Fright Night 2 even though I didn’t particularly love the script. But yeah, that’s why that happened.
Malice: What’s your feeling on the Fright Night remake that’s on the horizon?
Stephen: The way it’s working now is, you take a movie that was successful and use the title. Make another movie, and hope for a really good first weekend and cash in on the notoriety. It’s all about the bottom line basically. You know, it’s a great compliment actually that Fright Night was good enough to be remade.
Malice: Moving along to 976-EVIL. I really feel that the movie doesn’t get the credit it deserved. I personally loved the film! What experience did it offer?
Stephen: Robert was great! We hung out while we were filming. The Highlight was working with Sandy Dennis. She played my mother in the movie. Great, great actress and an Academy Award winner. I’ve always admired her. So playing in front of the camera with her was a real honor. She was great and really funny! She really cracked me up. It’s very surreal, but you get it out of the way, and get down to business. You know everyone is there for the same reason, to make a good movie. I think 976-EVIL turned out pretty good.
Malice: Recently you have start becoming active again in acting. This includes a role in Dave Madison’s Mr. Hush (premiering this weekend at Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear). I’ve been following this movie, and I’m really impressed! How did you come across the role?
Stephen: David Madison, I met him on the set of another indy film, Emerging Past by Thomas Churchill. He was the producer, and I met him on the set. He offered a part on Mr. Hush. I read the script, I thought it was really good, and really liked it. So I did it! I’m really excited and I can’t wait to see it. I hope it really takes off. He wrote a great script and was a great director.
Malice: Is there anything you can tell us about your character “Stark”? What can we expect to see?
Stephen: I’m basically the side kick to the main bad guy. I’m like his little right hand man. Throughout the movie I try to cause as much trouble as I possibly can. I had a blast!
Malice: Let’s switch it up a little. I want to talk about you personally. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Stephen: I’m a runner. I run like twenty-five to thirty miles a week maybe more. I also read a lot. So Reading and running.
Malice: You play mostly Horror roles, but I’m sure that’s not the only films you watch, do you like any genre in particular?
Stephen: I really don’t have any one type of category. The types of movies I like are the good ones. If it’s good and entertaining, it really doesn’t matter what genre it is. I like to be entertained, that’s the bottom line.
Malice: You play a good prankster on film. Is that all acting or are you a prankster in “real” life?
Stephen: No, I’m pretty conservative and quiet. It just so happens I play a lot of characters that are like that for some reason. That’s not really who I am. You know that’s why it’s called acting. You act like something you’re not.
Malice: I’m going to take some time now and ask you some “Out-of-Hat” questions. A few months back I asked Dave Madison who would win between Edward Cullen and David from The Lost Boys. He said David, but David was no match for “Evil” Ed Thompson. So I ask YOU, who would win between “Evil” Ed and David?
Stephen: “Evil” Ed is pretty determined. I would have to say “Evil” Ed without a doubt.
Malice: Are you a theme park man or a beach kind of guy?
Stephen: Definately beach. Without a doubt.
Malice: Do you prefer Main stream Horror or B-Rated?
Stephen: Like I said before, if it’s good. If it’s entertaining. If it’s worth sitting for two hours and watching! There have been a lot of indy films that have been terrible and a lot of main stream that have been really good and visa versa. I don’t really categorize things that way.
Malice: I can’t tell you what a pleasure it was to finally get to talk with you Stephen, a real treat! Is there anything you would like to add to my readers and your fans?
Stephen: I’m getting back into making movies and doing plays. So, if you’ve got any scripts or whatever, send them to stephengeoffreys@yahoo.com or stephengeoffreys@gmail.com.
There you have it people! The masterful Stephen Geoffreys is back in acting! Check out Emerging Past and Mr. Hush for a little more of whats to come. That’s all for now Freaky Darlings, but stay tuned for lot’s coming to you soon. There’s more madness to come…you just wait!
Until Next Time, My freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Who you gonna’ call?… An Interview with The Real Tampa Bay Ghostbusters
A few years back I came across a group of the most awesome cosplayers in the world. That group was The Real Tampa Bay Ghostbusters! Never before had I seen such accurate work outside the film! The attention to detail was amazing, and I just couldn’t get enough. The next year I saw them, they had an expanded their containment grid to this massive display. Adding on an even more elaborate show to go along with it. Easily, any Ghostbuster fans delight. Knowing what a treat it was for me to experience them, I couldn’t go on without sharing them with My Freaky Darlings! So if you are in the Tampa Bay area, and there is something strange in your neighborhood….
Who you gonna’ call?… An Interview with The Real Tampa Bay Ghostbusters
Malice Psychotik: So guys (and girl), how did you get into this?
Patrick Creel: I Had done some costuming before and there were others around me wanting to try prop making and one of my all time favorite films was Ghostbusters and there is no more iconic of a prop than that of a proton pack, and then it was all down hill from there because you meet people in through conventions/Fan Boards that have the same passion as you do. Thus The Real Tampa Bay Ghostbusters were born.
Jason Rawley: I had been building and selling customs and props through Fire Blade Comics for over a year when I started creating props for The Tampa Bay Ghostbusters at the group’s inception. It was only a small matter of time before I knew I had to don the flight suit myself…
Lisa Abney: Being a fan of the film, got me into being a Ghostbuster, but more directly it was Patrick that got me into it. I was officially given my flight suit this year and it was like being a kid again!
Malice: The amazing accuracy of your costumes and props is what I think makes you stand apart from other groups. What kind of research went into it all?
Creel: A lot I do have to credit as much as it pains me so, goes to the internet and fan sites dedicate to Ghostbuster related material.
Rawley: Research is done the old-fashioned way: pausing the movie and going frame-to-frame. In addition, there are many good resources online from other prop builders and Ghostbuster fans who are generous enough to share their findings and inspired props with the rest of us.
Abney: If you really want to stand apart and have your talents as a prop builder seen, you have to research and pour your heart into what you do. Both Patrick and Jason have an incredible talent for making sure EVERY detail is authentic. They are both very inventive, it’s very cool to watch them turn a pile of parts into a movie accurate prop.
Malice: Do you all design your own equipment, or is there one of you that acts as the “Egon” of the group?
Rawley: The Ghostbuster universe is a great place for someone looking to start replicating props and then expand into making their own custom designed gear. The way I see it, there is a lot of room for creative interpretation when it comes to the Ecto Goggles, PKE Meters, etc, because of the ways they’ve been translated from the movies to the cartoon to the comics and then to the video game. Patrick and I both built our own proton packs making them as close to accurate as reasonable. However, I tend to take a lot of liberties when it comes to the goggles and scanning devices. We’re both prop builders who share a healthy respect for accuracy when it comes to the original designs but like to put something of ourselves into everything we create as well.
Creel: As Jason stated there is a lot your own identity that can go into a prop I focus on the whole idea shiny and new or used and battle damage? it kinda says a lot about you as a person… therefore I’m very used and broken most of the time.
Malice: You all put on quite the demonstration. I’m sure there has been a wide range of reactions. Do you have any stories?
Creel: We get it all from all walks of life… You would be AMAZED at the amount of people who think its real… I mean it’s almost scary, when a guy driving past in his new Porsche 911 see the car see us and stops on the side of the road gets out and comes up to us and says “are you for real? cause I need help”… that’s a true a story. My fav is when a kids don’t know who we are and it’s almost an act of self discovery because at first looks to a kid we can look very intimidating but under the right parenting, the parents will normally be very excited to see us and explain who we are and then the kids become very comfortable if not down right glad to see us.
Rawley: Lots of stories, no time to tell them all. We get the full range of reactions from “are you guys pest control?” to “are you guys REALLY Ghostbusters, like, for real?” to “are you guys Nazis?” I usually get kids who are only superficially aware of “Ghostbusters” so they are intrigued, but most of my jokes go over their heads. Their parents however, are usually rolling on the floor. I sometimes tell the little ones “I’m the guy who hunts the monsters who live under your bed” and most people are horrified when they think about the kid’s reaction, but the kid is usually like “oh cool!” And I’ve even had parents say “Yeah, little Timmy, they hunt the Boogey Man in your closet.” Only as a Ghostbuster can we get away with saying the things we do.
Abney: Just hearing people seriously ask us if “it’s real”, is always the best reaction, because you can have a bit of fun and lead them on. Even when you reveal that you are doing a charity or other event they are so glad just to see the suits that there isn’t a negative reaction even when they were just the butt of the joke.
Malice: As a group you do a lot of charity work. What got you into that?
Rawley: My wife Dawn was diagnosed with APL (rare type of Leukemia) 5 years ago. We started supporting cancer research groups and attending local fundraisers and events because research was what made the difference in being able to treat her type of cancer.
Abney: More than anything I think it is utilized as a charity promoter. I mean how do you say no to a Ghostbuster? The least we can do is give back to the community, and if that means walking around with a proton pack on your back while you help a good cause all the better.
Malice: What charities have you done work for?
Rawley: During the first part of the year we raise money for the American Cancer Society and participate in their big event called the Relay For Life which is usually in April. During the summer months we help raise money at Regal Cinemas for their Stars of Hope program. And then for the Autumn months we raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and attend their big event called the Light The Night walk. Then we start all over again next year 😀 and if anyone would like to donate to our team here is our team page.
Malice:What kind of turn out do you usually see at the events you have done?
Creel: Like Jason Said we get all kinds of turns out, we don’t typically do Birthday parties however when we see that a kid is actually a fan and not the parent we will show up. Because god knows we don’t a GB2 situation. A lot of the time events or charities contact us for help, so it’s almost a built-in audience. Sometimes people who see the car have to stop and find out just what the heck is going on.
Rawley: Well we’ve done everything from huge fundraisers and conventions with thousands of people to birthday parties for a small group of bewildered 6-year-olds.
Malice: What kind of attention has your “Ghost Busting” Gotten you?
Creel: The biggest attention it has gotten me, well I managed to become the cover model for Egon for the Ghostbusters comic book published by IDW and am now setting up photo shots with the cover artist Nick Runge. Which is very humbling to me. I also got to have dinner with Michael Gross the associate producer of Ghostbusters, got to go VIP to the Machete just because I was dressed as a Ghostbuster and Michelle Rodriguez is a Huge Ghostbuster Fan. Have gotten to meet Dan Aykroyd 3 times in a row. Please see photos attached to this email, also when I do events or even when I first started do this I always had more of an infinity with Egons character so I wanted to emulate that the best I could with my own personality which is right on Que with my own. He’s silent, strange, smart, but he has what I’d like to call Egon Rage where he just looses it and could go nuts and start beating up bureaucrat like Peck.
Rawley: The ladies love a man in uniform, too bad I’m married. Oh wait, what kind of attention did you mean? 😀 My Ecto gets a lot of attention from the police but so far they’ve all been like “That’s so awesome! Run the lights for us please!”
Abney: I’d say it’s been very positive, when co-workers or family find out the general result is “Oh, I love that movie!”. Then they see what you have on and they are blown away.
Malice: So I know “Busting” isn’t an all day job, what does the team do for a Day Job?
Creel: I work for a large home improvement store company… yes its great for getting materials and have learned a lot about products that work and don’t work on prop applications but I really wish I could be a Ghostbuster.
Rawley: My wife works for the State of Florida as a Tax Auditor and I work two nights a week at a hospital as a Security Officer. The rest of my time I spend making and selling custom figures and props online through Ebay and my Website
Abney: Jill of all trades
Malice: Have any of you ever had someone recognize you out of costume?
Creel: Yes, which is a lot of fun because people have to point blank ask you… “Are you a Ghostbuster?” which I do have to say is pretty damn cool.
Rawley: Actually yes! Several times. It helps that there are a lot of photos of us in action on our website and we leave people with a strong impression with our personalities and ability to entertain.
Malice: So I know this may or may not be a dumb question, but here goes! Whats your favorite movie?
Creel: I have a top 3 and the order always gets rearranged depending whats going on in my life but here it is..
Rebecca 1941 Alfred Hitchcock’s only movie to win best picture. Ghostbusters for obvious reasons Star Wars trilogy and yes I consider all 6 of them one movie and yes… I will even include the prequels in them as well if i have to…
Rawley: Seriously? Star Wars, duh.
Abney: Sure everyone wants you to answer Ghostbusters
Malice: In the tradition of Encyclopedia Psychotika, how about some “Out-of-Hat” questions?
Rawley: Just as long as it doesn’t become “out-of-pants” questions, sure.
Abney: Let’s do it!
Malice: Walter Peck? Hero for the Environment? Or man with no dick?
Creel: Great question…I look at him in a couple of ways and also Venkmans relationship with him, would have peck been nicer if Venkman would have just showed him the storage facility, because Venkman kinda was an ass to him. but it is also very naive to just go some where you don’t know and tell them to shut everything down without fully understanding what is going on. so on one hand yes he is a dick, but on the other could have Venkman been a little more understanding and seen his point of view of just wanting to know what they do there…
Rawley: Walter Peck is a misunderstood man. I think a lot of it stems from the way society projects the stereotype of the angry redhead onto redheads that propelled him into his left-wing liberal environmentalist agenda. A lot like Yosemite Sam.
Abney: Walter Peck? Ideal image of the far left political agenda with a dash of self-righteous indignation thrown in for good measure. Just kidding, seriously though…. man with no dick.
Malice: What would be your dream cast of actors for a new Ghostbuster team? Like using today’s younger comedians?
Creel: I love dream-casting on this level. They have to be unknowns for the most part and mid 20’s to early 30’s, 3 boys and 1 girl. Here are some of my loves of guys Jason Bateman (see Arrested Development.) Simon Peg (See Shaun of the Dead.) Jay Chandrasekhar or Steve Lemme from the Broken Lizard comedy Team (See Super Troopers or Slammin Salmon) as Far as girls go you need almost tough and serious but can also be a goof in a drop of a hat. Michelle Rodriguize come to mind for obvious reasons…
Rawley: I have a hard time imaging any of today’s “young comedians” fitting the Ghostbuster mold. I would prefer they find someone relatively unknown but better for the role, rather than trying to force someone like Ben Stiller into the flight suit. Actually I wouldn’t even mind Stiller in it. I do know who I don’t want involved and that would be Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Jack Black, Seth Rogen, etc.
Abney: The most loaded question of them all! If you could cast it…That is really hard, because of how much “scandal” has already been thrown all over a GB3. If I had to add someone to the GB ranks, I think Zach Galifianakis would be my first choice. He is really funny and can be so Venkman dead pan when he wants to be. As far as this “female Ghostbuster” rumor that has been circulating, It should be a relatively unknown female in my opinion. To switch things up that much you need someone with a clean slate that can steal the show.
Malice: Have any of you been on a straight forward paranormal investigation?
Creel: Yes I have, I do believe there is something else out there. I don’t know what the hell it is, but it’s out there. I’ve done investigations with Haunted South Paranormal Research. Very amazing stuff, and am very great full for the experiences I have had in dealing with the unknown.
Rawley: No, as a christian I do not believe in ghosts, as in the disembodied spirits of dead people returning from grave. However I do believe there is genuine “paranormal” activity out there but it either has a purely scientific cause or is in fact evil spirits (demons). I would warn people that Ghostbusters is simply fiction and entertainment, but trying to consult the dead is just going to get you in contact with things you do not want to be in contact with. A good link on this is here.
Abney: The movie Ghostbusters for me as a kid fueled my interest in the paranormal. I was 6 when the movie came out and I loved anything about Ghost’s to begin with, but after I saw it there was nothing stopping me from finding out more about the paranormal. Eventually in 2007 I started (after I learned as much as I could about paranormal research) Haunted South Paranormal Research. No proton packs just yet, but one day maybe.
Malice: One of Universals Ecto-1’s (from the attraction) was auctioned off a couple years back. Be honest, how close did you come to bankrupting yourself? And if you weren’t then, would you now?
Creel: It’s still a part of history, so if I had the money then or now the answer is HELL YES! its amazing 59 caddy. Its a symbol, no disrespect to Jasons Ecto mobile HHR, but there is just something to the 59 Ambulance Caddy. It just looks so damn cool! I was lucky enough to see the restored screen used Ecto-1 recently when I was in San Diego and the kid inside of me nearly went into overload!
Rawley: To be honest, no. I can imagine myself driving a ’59 Cadillac if I had millions of dollars and had already cured cancer, hunger, etc. Instead I opted to go a more reasonable route and bought a car that fits our needs, the Chevy HHR, and also makes a nice modern Ectomobile with decals and equipment applied. The ECTO-1X can be found on our website http://www.tampabayghostbusters.com or on http://www.Firebladecomics.com
Malice: Well, I would like to thank you for sitting down with me. This has been fun! Is there anything you would like to add before you go?
Creel: There are a lot of people who do a lot for this group with their talents in prop making that have given us guidance with their years of professional work in effects/prop building in motion pictures. I have to plug them so I hope you do as well for without these people we would in my opinion not be as successful as group as we are.
Randy Cooper
Greg Baker
Rawley: Sometimes things happen, someone has to deal with it, and who ya gonna call? Well, hopefully us…
You can find more about The Real Tampa Bay Ghostbusters on their Website, Myspace, or Facebook. This group really just does fantastic work. If you ever have a chance, look them up! I promise you they will not disappoint. I may end u having to employ their services if I catch anymore E.V.P’s!
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Kicking Ass with Fred “The Hammer” Williamson
With Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear coming up Friday, what a perfect time to post this interview. Fred “The Hammer” Williamson has been in film for quite some time. Before that, he was an all-star football player who was on the Kansas City Chiefs when they played Super Bowl 1. On top of that he was in one of my favorite vampires flicks of all time, From Dusk Till Dawn. So when Dave Madison told me I could have an interview with him, I was beside myself with excitement. I was so nervous to do this interview. It was my first phone interview, and to talk to a legend like “The Hammer” was intimidating to say the least. You know what though? This guy is the coolest guy you could ever meet. Very easy to talk to, very straight forward. I could just picture the whole time him just chilling with his signature cigar. So, My Freaky Darlings, put on your gloves and your combat boots….because we will be…
Kicking Ass with Fred “The Hammer” Williamson
Malice Psychotik: You’ve had a very rewarding career: actor, producer, director, writer, football star… Which roll has been your absolute favorite?
Fred “The Hammer” Williamson: Probably sports man. Sports is an individual thing. Your not judged…Your success is not based on how people judge you. Your success is based on your own individuality. You can kiss all the ass you want. but you can’t make a football team kissing ass. You can get a movie part kissing ass. It’s about being rewarded for your hard work, the movie business isn’t like that. A lot of people are working that don’t deserve to be, and a lot of people who aren’t working that should be working.
Malice: Let’s start with the past, your football career. How does it feel being a person that played in the very first Superbowl?
Fred: That’s important because nobody knows who played in Super Bowl 4, and nobody gives a shit! You can name all the super bowls after one, but which one are you going to remember the one that I played in with Kansas City or the one Joe Namath played with The Jets against The Colts. No body remembers the rest of the Super Bowls.
Malice: Which team was you favorite, the Raiders or the Kansas City Chiefs?
Fred: Well I got my reputation being a bad guy with the Raiders and I was on a winning team with Kansas City. So, I think the bad guy reputation is the one that I sustained and been able to carry over into the movie business. So, probably the Raiders is probably were people will remember me most. Other than the fact I was with Kansas City when we went to the first Super Bowl. Which meant we had to kick a lot of butt to get there.
Malice: You are one of the first African-American male action heroes of the “Blaxploitation” genre. What got you into the genre?
Fred: Well, I mean I got tired of being in “Uncle Tom” movies. I got tired of the black guy getting killed in the first 10 minuets of open film, and the other guys would avenge their death. If I wanna be in a film, kill Schwarzenegger and let me avenge his death. Don’t kill me and let Schwarzenegger avenge mine. You know, I was the hero on the football field. I saw my self as the leading man on the football field. So why should I come into the movie industry and take on a lesser position and have a lesser role? When the smoke cleared and the gun fight was over, I wanted to be the one left standing. Not being killed and everyone else is standing around me and say “Ok, now let’s go get the bad guys..” No, no, no, no, no…you guys be laying down there, and let ME go get the bad guys.
Malice: I’ll be honest, I’ve never been able to get ahold of any “Blaxploitation” films. However, I really dig movies from the era of Grindhouse. With your experience, I trust your opinion, what would you recommend?
Fred: They’re everywhere! You can still find them at Blockbuster. They have these so-called “black exploitation” films. I don’t know what that hell that means! The press calls them “black exploitation” films, I never knew what the terminology meant! Who the hell was they exploiting? The actors were working good. The actors were making money. The black audiences were being very satisfied by the heroes being black and winning all the fights and getting all the girls. So I mean, who the hell were they exploiting? You can find em’ at Blockbuster though, they’re everywhere. Get all of them! Black Ceaser, Hell Up in Harlem, Bucktown…There’s a whole slew of them.
Malice: With black belts in Kenpo, Shotokan, Karate, and Tae-Kwon Do I’m sure you’ve earned the nickname ‘The Hammer” in more ways than just a tackle. What got you into it, and did the black belts ever get you a movie role?
Fred: I developed that in off-season football. Working out was just running up a sweat. Lifting weights was not my thing. I never wanted to be a muscle guy. I wanted to be a toned guy. So during the off-season when I was playing pro football, I used Martial Arts to stay in shape. Not knowing that one day I’d use it in movies. At that time I wasn’t even thinking about movies. That was my way of staying in shape. Lifting weights and bench pressing 250lbs. was not something I was interested in.
Malice: I’ve also noticed that you played in the original Inglorious Bastards. Have you seen it? How do you think the new Inglorious Basterds stacks up?
Fred: I made mine in 1975. Quintin for some reason decided he wanted to do a remake of it. I think the general consensus is our film was better.
Malice: You started your production company in 1974 (Po’boy Productions), what made you decide to start-up a production company?
Fred: Well, because of the same kind of roles I’m talking about. They wanted me in the movie for the first few minuets, because they knew I had a black audience that wanted to come see me. Then they would kill me and let the white guy go be the hero. I said no that’s not the way to do it. If I’m going to be the hero, I’m forced to make my own movies, OK! I know if I make my own movie, produce my own movie, direct my own movie I damn sure ain’t gonna die! So I had a rule! I said “OK Hollywood I got three rules for you #1 You’re not gonna kill me #2 I win all my fights and #3 I get the girl at the end of the movie IF I want her. Hollywood wasn’t ready for me, so I said fine! I’ll go raise money and make my own movies. All those things will apply in my movies.
Malice: All right, I’m going to flash forward to one of my favorite movies, From Dusk Till Dawn, what got you the role?
Fred: Quinton was a fan! He was a fan of the genre I was in. He was a fan of my style. He wanted me in the movie. So he said “Hey I want you in my movie. So, what you can do is make a contribution. Why don’t you write the role and tell me what you want to do in the film.” And so, after I reviewed the script and everything, I found out a way that I could put myself in and make a character that would be memorable. Which is hard to do with all the stars around the film. We got George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Selma Hayek and Juliete Lewis. So I had to do something a little outstanding in the film. And I did! I created this character and it worked out. You got to be memorable in a movie. Otherwise why be in it?
Malice: Frost is one of the most ass kicking bad- asses in horror history, in my opinion. Did any of your past roles have bearing on the character?
Fred: Well Yeah! Most definitely, I’m that kind of guy. If I’m in a film you never know what I’m gonna do in it. But you know I’m gonna kick some ass. You know I’m gonna be…I’m not just walking through the film and talking. There’s something that’s going to happen, otherwise I’m not going to be in that film.
Malice: You only really get to see the vampire Frost for about a minute (if that), how long did the make-up process take?
Fred: 4 hours to put it on, and 4 hours to take it off. It was not a mask it was built on piece by piece.
Malice: On your IMDB page it looks like you have 5 films to be out soon. Can you tell us about any of them? Which one’s should we look out for?
Fred: I have two that I’m real strongly committed to. One is a remake of Black Ceaser, it’s called Spatch. The other one is part two of Original Gangstas, it’s called Old School Gangstas. Those are the one’s I’m pursuing heavily right now.
Malice: Out of all the characters you have portrayed, do you have a favorite?
Fred: Not really. I just make sure that the personality is consistent. There’s no surprises when you go see a Fred Williamson movie. I’m not doing and singing, I’m not doing any dancing. I’m doing Eastwood, Bronson, I’m doing what John Wayne did. All these guys made great movies. And none of them died in their movie. I think John Wayne died one time, but the movie was so bad he should have died in it anyway.
Malice: All right, next I want to talk about Mr. Hush Weekend Of Fear. What got you turned on to this show?
Fred: Well you know I like going out and meeting people, meeting my fans. Having people see that I’m pretty close to the characters I portray. I mean in order to be able to kick people’s ass, you gotta look like you can kick people’s ass. You can kick people’s ass on the screen, you got to be able to look like you can do it. I’m in good shape and at any age I’m in damn good shape! So it’s always surprising for people to see me. That’s what I am! I hope will get a real nice crowd, I hope we’ll do that.
Malice: At this point in the interview, I would like to take some time to ask some….”Out-of-Hat” Questions. Football has changed so much over the years. What do you think “The Hammer” from Superbowl 1 could do to the football players of now?
Fred: The players of today couldn’t even make the football team. They couldn’t even make the team 15-20 years ago. Everytime they get a tackle, they get into a fight because “They ain’t supposed to hit me that hard…” Naw, these guys couldn’t even make the team.
Malice: Recently the film Black Dynamite was released. How do you think the hero of that movie would fare against some of the heroes you’ve portrayed?
Fred: No, that doesn’t work for me. Black Dynamite doesn’t work for me. You can’t do a satyr and be taken seriously. He’s supposed to be doing a satyr of the films from the 70’s and that doesn’t work for me. I didn’t like Black Dynamite. Michael J. White can do a better film than that. He has presence, the guy is a good martial artist. The guy is a good actor. There’s no need for him to do a silly movie like that. It was silly. It was a silly movie.
Malice: The vampire you in From Dusk Till Dawn looks like a killing machine. If pitted against Wesley Snipes as Blade, who do you think would win?
Fred: Blade wouldn’t see it coming! That’s all! He would walk through a door and wouldn’t see Frost coming. He’s snap is neck and twist him around before he could even pull out his sword and flash his cape. Wouldn’t see it coming!
Malice: I just want to thank you for sitting down with me today Fred! It has been an honor and a pleasure. Is there anything you would like to add before you go?
Fred: Naw it’s cool, you covered it! It’s cool man.
I hope you all enjoyed the interview. A great man “The Hammer” is indeed! I hope you all keep an eye out for his films, and be sure to check out the original Inglorious Bastards. Also if you are at Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear this weekend be sure to stop by his table and tell him you read the interview here. For more info on Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear click here.
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
P.S Hoping to post this soon, but i actually captured an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) on the recorder during the interview. I’ll keep you posted…
A New Age of Darkness Begins…Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear
For the last Twenty Years, Universal Halloween Horror Nights has terrorized people from all around the world. The event has grown so far from Fright Nights twenty years ago. Even though last year was a low point, this year truly proved why people love HHN. The houses were top notch. The scarezones where the best I have seen yet. Unfortunately this year the shows took a back seat, but we will explore that later. This year I was joined by the lovely Seras Psychotik, and the ever interesting Arnie Freeze! I have so much to touch on, so let’s take the plunge. I had so much fun at the event this year! So it is with great pleasure I bring to you, an Encyclopedia Psychotika Review…
A New Age of Darkness Begins…Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear
This years event revolved around the coming of the entity behind the last twenty years of Halloween Horror Nights, FEAR! Fear has ultimately been the one pulling the strings. With all of the icons being meerly his puppets, you really had to wonder what he was going to be like. For weeks they teased with small flashed of him, and pictures of a rather gnarly looking mouth. When he was finally revealed, I have to say it ramped me up for the event ten fold!! Most were ready to write this off as a carbon copy of Sweet 16, but they were proved very wrong. This year wasn’t about the past so much as it was about A New Age of Darkness. If this year is any indication to the direction of the event, I think we will all be very pleased to see what happens.
First I would like to talk about the media for the event this year. That advertisement campaign this year has me with mixed feelings. I have really enjoyed the commercials, and some of the other videos that they have released. However, I was really disappointed with the website this year. They have only really added one point of interactive content. No back stories, no tie in’s. On the other hand though, they have had some other really cool content in exclusive pictures, interviews, video, etc… so I can’t really say that I don’t like it. I guess I would just like to see more story development than what was given. I’ll let you decide though. Below I have collected some rather interesting videos. The first three are the teasers for Fear. Following those is the media teaser video and the commercial. Enjoy:
Starting into the event, I was pretty jazzed up! I didn’t get to go last year, and this time away from HHN was far to long. I was really intrigued, and couldn’t wait to get in the doors. The archway wasn’t as dressed as it could have been. At night it looked better, but let’s face it the majority isn’t going to see it at night. I want it to look good going in the day when I’m going in, and leave me a strange feeling of foreboding (like I’m going to die!) But, I’m not going to hinge the entire event based on whats outside. They did have the video screen in the arch this year. I have it for you below in its original format as it appeared on the website:
Once we got through that arch, (Took a while being heckled by security. I swear I’ll have my annual passes next year!) we were met by the all to familiar clouds of fog and the Chainsaw Drill Team. In the past I generally over look these guys. Never made sense having a “Drill Team” that wasn’t army fatigued. I got my wish this year. They were marched in front ans center and directed to unleash hell right in front of the Universal Store. It was so fun seeing people scatter! I forgot how good it felt seeing the look of terror on other people’s faces once they see a group of twelve chainsaw-weilding-maniacs disperse in a crowd. This was a good beginning to an epic night.
I’m going to get a little less linear now while jumping into the houses and zones. Instead of discussing them in order of experience, I want to give them in order of bottom to best. Now, keep in mind, just because a house or zone is ranked last, doesn’t mean it was bad! Every house and zone this year has a very well designed, and nicely thought out! That being said let’s start with the Scarezones:
Scarezones
6) Esqueleto Muerte- I think my expectations were just to high for this one! All the things I had read leading to our trip told of how much of a cool party type zone this was. Then when I got to it, yeah the glowing effect was cool, and the costumes were great but it wasn’t party at all. Maybe they tried making it scarier and went the wrong direction. I will give the Scareactors credit, I did se them handing out a few jumps and screams. They looked very creepy, but in a cool sort of way. The overall design was amazing with the theme being a black-light Day of the Dead motif (sort of making it a Night of the Dead?) At any rate it was very cool to look at, and with the scares being abundant, it wasn’t the worst ever, I just think it could have been better. ((The design team get’s an extra nod for originality))
5) The Coven– I actually liked this zone more than I thought I would. Most zones in the Shreck Ally have been known to fall short for me (with the Exception of Blood Masquerade in 06′). The main theming was that of a small witch coven. The area was rather simplistic. You had a nice mixture of old-lady-hag witches and eye-candy witches. Each end had a pilgrim tied up and burning at the stake. I really liked this effect. While were passing through you had one that was playing the suffering victim straight forward. Then at the opposite end closer to the Wyndot Estate, you had a rather comedic pilgrim. I wish i could upload our footage, he was a laugh riot. The main scares were from the two little huts they had in the zone. Taking a page from the old Mole people scare back in 05′, you had these little huts. How they catch you is they had a sheet over the front of the hut, making you think it was more a mound than anything. Then at random timing, and old-hag witch would come screaming out of one of those things like a bat out of hell!! I unfortunately was right in front of one when this happened, and had to jump out-of-the-way! The effect got me and like 5 people around me so Ku-Do to them. The whole zone was finished off decoratively wise with a glowey obelisk in the middle of it. (It was glowing green when we walked up on it, Seras thought we were on Krypton!)
4) HHN: 20 Years of Fear- This zone kicked off the night just right! This zone was the perfect dream for any HHN enthusiast. The coolest thing is walking through and trying to pick out where you know certain props from. The Scareactors in the zone were pretty awesome. You had your all-stars from 16 and a few others from other years. They all utilized the area very well. The Chucky darted out between the props for some good scares. The best ones in the area though are the ones next to the HHN15 banners toward Fear Revealed. Neither one will you really see until it’s too late, they blend in that well! I would also like to note the freak out I got in the area. As you walk into the zone there is what looks like a Crypt Keeper mannequin in a chair. Well I thought it was a mannequin until it started walking next to me. I really wish I could have caught him scaring somebody, because he was so convincing he could have un-nerved the manliest of men!!
3) Zombie Gras- When I first read about this zone, I got giddy! I have a short story I have been working on that is pretty close to the sights seen in this area. If you ever been to Mardi Gras and thought, “You know…this event is pretty cool! But you know what? If we only had some zombies…” The Scareactors were very energetic and were in abundance. The main piece in the zone, is a Mardi Gras float with a sole survivor tossing out beads. Beware! While you may think he is tossing you a free prize, realize not all free things come without consequence. Here’s a hint: Zombies like shiny beads! This gave me some pretty good laughs throughout the night. You have no idea how fun it was seeing hapless saps get lulled into a false sense of security by the promise of Mardi Gras beads. Just to run to get them and find themselves face to face with a flesh-eating monster! Definitely the best Zombie zone they have done to date.
2) Saws N’ Steam- I really thought creative dropped the ball by putting this into Sting Ally. I mea, how on earth could you ever hope to have a good scarezone in such a small area. Let be the first to say I was proved wrong! This was the best as far as scares go. From the menacing leader of people of New Yorkshire to the people getting chopped in the ally ways…it just never stopped. Going through the zone really was like going through a gauntlet. Let me also tell you that if you dwell in the area to long, you will get wet! The chainsaw people in the area are pretty aggressive too. Expect more out of them than The Chainsaw Drill Team! It’s almost like going through a short house is the best way to describe it.
1) Fear Revealed- Why did this area get my number one? It was freakin’ awesome that’s why!! I literally spent all together 45 minuets in this area through out the event and could have spent more. The Icons never break character, not even for a second! (Trust me I tried!!) The little picture areas were a nice touch as well. I wish i could have gotten some more pictures of those. You could even walk over and sit down in them for photo-ops. Was it scary? No! Was it so cool that it made me totally geek out and act like a kid in a candy store? Yes Yes Yes YES!!! Fear was also very photogenic. I have to give the guy credit, it is impossible for him to not have an epic picture. I sort of wish there would have been an arrival show, but this area more than made up for the lack of one. If you know anything about the last 10 years of HHN, you will really enjoy this zone. Bring your camera’s. You won’t regret it.
Houses
As awesome as the scarezones were this year, (The best yet in my opinion!) they were still just the icing on the cake for the houses! The houses this year were fantastic. Not much wrong with most of them. A real good bounce back from last year (or so I have heard). Let’s dig in…
8) HAVOC: Dogs of War- This was my least favorite of the night for several reasons. First off the story was terrible. If you hadn’t looked in the map description you would really have no clue as to what this house was about. There was experimentation, that much is true apparent! Other than that just a series of roided out, bald freaks screaming at you. I’m afraid of UFC fighters like the next guy, but not something I want in my houses. Next big problem is the amount of hanging wires! It was like being walked though a room of naughty tentacles in about every room leading out of the houses. It was like being in a Japanese porn! I half expected them to spring to life and start having their way with some (It would have been an improvement, and at the very least more entertaining!) The hanging wires are really what ruined it for me. Just as you get into a few good scenes in the house, that’s when they hit you. The worst part is they start getting more frequent as you head for the exit!! Universal typically always has a stinker, this one was doomed to be it! I will say that the facade going in was really cool, and the overall theming of the house was that of a mad science lab gone terribly wrong. The gun turret on top of the house was a nice touch. I couldn’t imagine having to stand there for hours on end to make it in. That thing really does start to grate your nerves. As you get closer though, you realize what a great effect it really is. Point made if you don’t think you can make this house, don’t worry you aren’t missing much. It certainly won’t be your…..White Buffalo….(the one that got away)….
7) The Orfanage: Ashes to Ashes- Our first house of the night came in the form of this one. It was very cool getting to see Cindy get some proper treatment in the form of her own house. I will tell you that there are only a few scenes that will really knock your socks of, but the presence of this house is what gets you. The realistically give you the feeling of trying to escape a burning building all the while being haunted by the ever sadistic Cindy Cain! The story you get the feel for is that some how The Caretakers daughter didn’t die all those years ago. More she was sent to an Orphanage, and things didn’t go well. There is a very cool scene toward the beginning where you see little Cindy writing “Do on to others…” on a chalk board. As you pass there is a black light effect that makes words look like they are bleeding. The other scenes involve other children trapped in beds, or in cages while they slowly roast. It is also noteworthy that in these scenes if you’re not careful you will get a surprise from our little demented orphan! The final scene you walk through gives you a pretty “heated” experience, as you are exposed to some real flame to give you one last jump! The house is definitely a good starter if you want to heat things up…you know light your fire….help you feel the burn…OK I’ll stop!
6) PsychoScareapy: Echoes of Shadybrook- If you have been to HHN any number of years from 13 on up, you might have happened across a PsychoScareapy. The Shadybrook has made itself pretty infamous in its previous three incarnations. If you have been to the others I will tell you it has pieces from the other three. It’s not as intense as the original, or as treacherous as Maximun Madness, and it’s definitely not as fun-loving as Home for the Holidays. However, this one does carve out a pretty interesting legacy on its own. The facade you are met with is of course the iconic Shadybrook Asylum all boarded up and falling apart. As you go through the corridors some rather familiar faces are there to greet you again, only this time they are more twisted, and seem to be more blood thirsty! If you listen carefully through some sections you can hear the oh to familiar calming music playing distorted over the disintegrating PA. Some good scenes include some electro-shock therapy, and a caged corridor with many rows of hands…but which ones are real? It made for a very interesting experience, the only thing I could have asked for was more! It would have been nice to have more, maybe a revisit to the good ol’ poo room! I could have maybe asked for a Jack the Clown reference somewhere, but i sort of get why they didn’t…
5) Legendary Truth: The Wyandot Estate- So have you ever wondered what it would be like to go on a paranormal investigation where your provoking has gone a bit too far? Then this is the house for you! The premise of this house is a new invention for drawing out paranormal activity has been put into action…and you get to try it out! This particular house was home to some rather cool effects. Very ahead of itself this house was! The ghoulish glowy faced ghosts were a nice touch. especially when you realize the face is doing a sort of black light glow…and there are no black lights!! A few things to mention is a floating spectre on a wall (I really just couldn’t figure this effect out!), a hologram of the Storyteller that is über realistic, and living furniture! Man, that living furniture will get you eveytime! The distraction to that room is what get’s you. The room with it in there seems pretty normal except a ghost sitting in the corner. Well while you are busy watching him, a freakin’ chair scares you!! The house just has a very creepy feeling to it, and paints a pretty good story. I really can only hope they move forward with the tech in this house!
4) Catacombs: Black Death Rising- If there was an under-dog of the night, it was this house! I really wasn’t expecting much. Most people already discounted the house, said it wasn’t much to see. I wasn’t going to listen to that though, as I used to have a fascination with the Black Death. The story telling at the beginning was a great mood setter. I also enjoyed the accuracy of the Doctor outfits. It only added to the awesomeness when Arnie Freeze pointed out that they looked like Spy Vs. Spy. The house actually provided me with a couple of scares. The best one out of all of them was a three-way scare in the middle of the house. As you walk through a hallway, there is a archaeologist hung upside down twitching back and forth. As you look up one of the doctors takes the opportunity to catch you as your gaze comes down. Seconds after this a Black Death zombie rushes out of a grave hole, and then to end it all another Doctor comes out at you. This house also get’s awesome points because of the Doctor that tipped his hat to me on the way out (I was wearing my Top Hat).
3) Hades: Gates of Ruin- I will always love all things that have to do with Greek Mythology. That being said, I’m also very particular to the point where things have to be perfect. This was a the perfect Mythology house! You couldn’t take a step without their being a scareactor there to catch you. It was very nice how all of the scareactors were very camouflaged. Very nice effects!! One of the best characters was Medusa. That slippery-slithery Gorgon made even the steeleist of manly men crumble at the sight of her! She even sets a nice little trap. After the first main room, you pass into a room with a cut out section in the wall. In this section, Medusa’s head hangs and you think. “Ha, Perseus got that bitch!!” Well you find out exactly how wrong you are when a red strobe activates, the floor buzzes, and she jumps out of that hole for one last horrah!! My next favorite character was the Minotaur. The atmosphere that thing could set just staring you down, get’s you wired! I also want to add one of the parts that made the three of us jump unexpectedly. One of the last rooms we passed had holes in all of the walls. I kept thinking to myself, “I’ve seen all of the worst things mythology has to offer, must be a repeat or something…” Well apparently the Lizard from Spider-Man was a greek myth, because he jumped out of one of those holes and gave us a good shock!!! The only thing I think we missed in the house was Hades on his throne. I saw it there, I just didn’t catch him. If it was anything like the picture that house painted, I’m sure it was epic!
2) Zombiegeddon– This house almost got my number one spot. It definitely has a secured spot in my top 5 ever! I really went into this thinking it as going to be purely slap stick. I was pleasantly surprised to find a mixture of straight forward fear and goofy slap stick humor. As you enter you are met with the signs for Z.A.P. (Zombie Awareness Program) These guys don’t just kick zombie ass. They teach YOU to kick zombie ass! From there you enter a room with a specimen zombie tied up at a cash register with an arsenal of weapons on the wall. Here on out you enter a survival simulator. First lesson, No Mercy! What would it be like to walk into a nursery with an infected zombie baby? You find out here! I think from there you have about 2 more scenes of humor, then that’s when you here it (and see it!) Something smashes into the complex and causes a big disruption in this places harmony! The Zombies are let loose and are infecting the other survivors. The house takes a dramatic twist at this point, going from happy-go-lucky to pretty damn intense at moments! The first room to remind you of this is a containment room where all the zombies are pulling at chain link fences, letting you know incase you forgot that there are plenty of specimens! Most rooms you have the typical zombie is trapped behind something but bangs on shit to freak you out. One of the best freak out moments is in the room with the vehicle that started all the trouble. It’s a pretty wide open room with at least 5 undead in it, and the way they cam at us! Just Wow!!! I give this house an A for Awesome story telling. Of all the houses I have ever put under my belt, never has a house told a story, and in such perfect detail. From survival to shit storm in 2 seconds! I love it!
1) Horror Nights: The Hallowed Past- At last we have arrived at the best house of the night! Why was this one the best you might ask? This house took everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING I love about HHN and rolled into one big fat house! My only regret was this house wasn’t longer! You enter the madness by walking into the prop warehouse. From here you are allowed to journey through twenty years of props and banners. You could spend all day in these opening scenes and still not see and appreciate everything! Then seamlessly you enter a trip down memory lane. The house takes some of the best scenes from Horror Nights past and puts them into action. They replicate these rooms flawlessly. There were moments I honestly had to double take and wonder what year it was. It’s amazing how somehow they could manage to call up not just all the memories from the house, but the memories from that year!! Scenes used were Alice is Wonderland (Scary Tales III, HHN18), Dead Exposure (HHN18), S.S. Frightanic (HHN8), Body Collectors: Collections of the Past (HHN18), what appeared to be Silver Screams (HHN19), and definitely Horror Nights Nightmares (HHN14). Now could I have picked some better scenes? Yes, I would have traded Dead Exposure for something from The Thing or at something from Sweet 16. But, the way they evoked those memories was still too cool to discount the whole house. It gave you the terrible feeling of trying to remember all of those houses you have ever been in and then thinking “God, what will they do next!!?” Then you end up exiting through the Prop Warehouse, which comes as a perfect end to the perfect storm. If you are worried about not having experienced the houses the scenes are from, don’t fret. They are still really good scenes, and you get a small taste of what you missed. And if that is what you missed, think about whats next in this New Age of Darkness…..
So, with the meat and the potatoes discussed, let’s get to the slim pickings…the shows. The last 3 years the shows have sort of taken a back seat. The only two shows they have this year are Bill and Ted and Brian Brushwood. I won’t be able to review Brian Brushwood for you, but I can tell you I saw his act back in 07′ and it wasn’t impressive. From what I understood from other guests walking around the park that night, he hasn’t gotten any better. If you have to choose between a house or even Bill and Ted over Menace or Malice…don’t choose him! (By the way how dare he use Malice! There is only one Malice worth seeing and that is me baby!!) That being said here is my thoughts on Bill and Ted…
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure- First I have to say there wasn’t much to work with this year as far as hit movies go and other pop culture. (There was more than what they used, but I’m guessing that there were some other legalities) But to their credit they did good with what they had. The stage was totally redesigned for the event. Some topics you see parodied include: Iron Man 2, Doctor Who, Twilight: Eclipse, Jersey Shore, Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, The Last Airbender, Toy Story 3, Katy Perry, Seaseme Street (not what your thinking, funnier), Lost, Sorcerers Apprentice, BP Oil Spill, and even Antione Dodson!!!! I’m sure there are a few more that I’m overlooking, but hey be surprised. There is even an old villain revisited (A villain that this show has beaten to DEATH!!!) Not the worst show, but definitely not the best. It’s worth seeing if you have time…
Where do I stand on HHNXX? It is defiantly one of the best years I have been to! If you haven’t gone this year, you need to. The event was crazy funny, and a nice homecoming for me and my group. I could have went back at least 3 more times and been happy. I hope you have all enjoyed the review, and if you go I hope you find it helpful! That’s all for tonight Darlings….stay tuned for more to come this month…Hint: Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear is right around the corner…
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
It’s time…
So today is the day. I can hardly contain myself! Halloween Horror Nights: Twenty Years of Fear. It’s been far to long, but I’m more than ready. I hope you all enjoyed my retro reviews. The next review is going to be all-inclusive and super detailed, so get ready for it. Right now I would like to make my predictions for houses and scarezones. This way everyone can see the comparison…
Houses
1) Gates of Hades
2) Horror Nights: Hollowed Past
3) Psychoscarepy: Echoes of the Past
4) Zombiegeddon
5) The Orphanage: Ashes to Ashes
6) Catacombs: Black Death Rising
7) Legendary Truth: The Wyndot Estate
8) Havoc: Dogs of War
Scarezones
1) Zombie Gras
2) 20 Years of Fear
3) Saw’s N Steam
4) Esqueleto Muerte
5) The Coven
6) Fear Revealed XX
So that’s my predictions. We will see how on I am! I hope HHN is ready for Malice Psychotik. FEAR asks who will face him….I WILL FACE YOU FEAR!! I AM READY!! BUT IS FEAR READY TO FACE MALICE!!! TOMORROW WILL TELL!! MALICE VS. FEAR…..PLACE YOUR BETS!!!
Transmission Established…Come in Green Goblyn Project
Transmission Established…Come in Green Goblyn Project
Malice: Your sound is really something special. How did you find your niche’? What helped you get to your current sound?
Malice: How did The Green Goblyn Project get started? What inspired you all to form as a band?
Malice: When you were starting out did you have any inspirations? What inspired your look?
Malice: Your fan base is a pretty faithful one. Do you have any stories of your fans? Any interesting experiences?
Malice: Looking at your Myspace page you have quite the resume of performances. Do you have any favorite venues?
Malice: Of all the bands you have performed with, which are some of your favorites?
Malice: What are the goals for the band? Where are you all wanting to end up?
Malice: So, your going to Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend again this year. What are your expectations? What can we expect to see?
Malice: I’m sure you have heard of Spooky’s second show, May-Hem. Looking at your Tour dates, I can’t help but notice you have shows in Orlando, May of next year that coincide with the dates of May-Hem. Does this mean you are playing this show too?
Malice: Now I would love to take the time to ask some senseless, rather random questions. Are you interested?
Malice: Would you ever consider covering the song “It’s a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong?
Malice: Just for the sake of coolness, if you were ever approached with this idea, would you do it: Have Willem Dafoe sing a few songs with you?
Malice: Well it was a pleasure getting to do this interview. Thank’s for taking the time to sit down and answer these questions. Before you go, is there anything you would like to add?
Waking The Dead With Melissa Cowan
I’m such a lover of zombie films! I think a lot of it come’s from how they used to scare me as a child. (Hell beyond Spiders, they were the only thing that scared me on film as a child!) So when i get the opportunity to meet or interview a person that was in one of these films, I consider it a real treat. Today I get to show you one of those treats in the form of an interview with “The Walking Dead”‘s Melissa Cowan. Melissa has become quite the rising star in the Horror Con circuit. With Multiple convention appearances, photo shoots, her acting, and being a fantastic mother of two I’m lucky to have gotten the interview at all!! Honestly though people, to get to speak with this woman for any amount of time is to meet a truly lovely human being. So, it is with great pleasure I bring you this interview! Grab your shovels, because tonight we are going to be…
Waking The Dead With Melissa Cowan
Malice Psychotik: I’m here with Melissa Cowan of “The Walking Dead,” AMC’s new series by Director Frank Durabont. Melissa, your role as the “Bicycle Girl” has been causing quite the buzz in the horror community. How has that been?
Melissa Cowan: This has been an amazing experience. I had no idea that there would be so much hype and anticipation regarding my role as bicycle girl. I am thankful for the opportunity and all that has happened as a result of this. This has opened up the doors for me in ways that never crossed my mind, I am honored to have been apart of this and will forever be thankful. So obviously, there is a permanent smile on my face.
Malice: Your make-up in the press pics looks just…awesome!! About how long did it take to get in and out of?
Melissa: All together about 4.5 – 5 hours which is including a few breaks and it actually took another 2.5 hours or so to take all of it off. There were a lot of pieces, glue etc… In my opinion it was easy sitting there getting it applied to me, but as PITA to have it removed, just think what it would feel like to have hundreds of Band-Aids ripped off of your skin, from you arms, neck, stomach back etc…. OUCH!! LOL
Malice: So how exactly did you come across the role?
Melissa: Actually an extras casting company that I had been doing work with for about a year and a half contacted me requesting pictures, they had mentioned it was for a zombie role, however did not tell me for what show or the extent of it. Obviously I sent in my pictures, didn’t hear anything for 2 weeks, then one day got a call for interview/audition. Went in and interviewed/auditioned with Mr. Frank Darabont it was “love at 1st sight” and the rest is history.
Malice: As the first zombie in this series, you’re joining the likes of other first zombies like Bill Hinzman. Do you consider it an honor?
Melissa: Absolutely and I can only hope that I will have the success and adventures that they have, I hope that I can live up to my expectations and please everyone.
Malice: I’ve heard rumors through the ether that you may be getting more screen time on the show. Is this true? Maybe a back story or another part?
Melissa: All I can say at this point without breaking any confidentially agreements, is that yes if you look closely at some of the pictures and video footage that has been released you will see a familiar face. I also will say that I did enjoy working on this production as much as I did. J
Malice: So other than the walking dead, do you have anything else in the works?
Melissa:Yes, There are several interviews, photo shoots etc and also a few new projects that I am in talks of, can’t really elaborate on anything now, but all in due time. ;-P Also, as stated previously, I have been in about 6 TV shows and about 13 movies, most of which I just did background work, I did do a few “featured” roles within those. The next biggest thing that I have done compared to TWD, would be The Vampire Diaries, I was a tomb vampire, unfortunately for me the way that the show was edited etc, I was not “visibly” recognizable, due to lighting etc…. BUT, there is a “possibility” that I will be going back this season as a vampire, still waiting on the phone call, so I am very hopeful for that.
Malice: Are there any past films or shows that we should look for you in?
Melissa: Again, as stated most of these I work as an extra in.
Halloween 2 – coffee shop patron
Past Life – Spelling bee audience member
The Tyler Perry Show – audience member
Life As We Know it – neighbor
Due Date – Driver
Past Life – NY street scene
Past Life – Yoga girl
Lottery Ticket – upscale restaurant patron
Life as we know it – funeral mourner
Tyler Perry’s Hose of Payne – Homeless person
Lottery Ticket – Marta passenger
Vampire Diaries – Library patron
Vampire Diaries – 1950’s high school dance attendee
Vampire Diaries – Vampire X 2 (season 1)
Hall Pass – Neighbor
187 Detroit – street scene
Drop Dead Divas – Club scene
Hall Pass – Baseball game fan
Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns – Hospital patient
The Walking Dead– Bicycle Girl
The Walking Dead– zombie(s)
Coke Zero commercial – baseball fan
The Terminal – airport traveler
Ex-mas Carol – Hollywood party goer
Marry Me – neighbor
Marry Me – bar patron
Footloose – City Council meeting attendee
Malice: What convention appearances do you have lined up? I noticed you have one at Ultimate Horror Weekend?
Melissa: As of right now, I am confirmed for the following:
*Photo Shoot/interview with the magazine Barley Rotten Girls.
Check out the site here or the Facebook here
*Spooky Empire Horror Fest Weekend, October 8th – 10th in Orlando FL.
Check out the site here or the Facebook here
*Rock and Shock Festival, In Worcester, MA on October 15th – 17th
Check out the site here or the Facebook here
There is some more that I have been asked to attend, however I this time I am waiting on all of the details etc, but I should have all of that info posted soon.
Malice: Melissa if you don’t mind I would like to talk some about you. Tell me a little about yourself.
Melissa: I am 29 years old, married with 2 kids. I live in Covington GA. I helped manage a staffing agency for 5.5 years before getting into this work. I quit my job to stay home with the kids after an incident happened at my daughters day-care, started doing this work just to get out of the house and also for extra money. As time went on, I started getting featured roles and “better” things than just extra work, little by things started to go in the right direction for me.
As you can see I am one of those ‘feel good” stories about an “extra” that was able to make a name for myself. I take pride in knowing that all of this didn’t happen because I knew someone or whatever, I can honestly say that I worked my ass off and it’s all starting to be worth it.
This has been an amazing journey for me, one of which I PROMISE is not over, I am thrilled to have the opportunities presented to me that have been and can’t wait to be able to share more news with everyone, when the time is right!
Malice: What do you do for fun? Any Hobbies?
Melissa: LOL, after reading this question I sat here and started thinking and realized that no, I don’t. LOL….. I know how to cross stitch but haven’t done that in a LONG time.
My family loves outdoors and animals so we do spend a lot of time doing things related to that, typically everything that I do somehow or anther revolves around my kids, which at times leaves very little time for “me.”
Malice: Are you a fan of the Horror Genre? If so what are some of your favorites?
Melissa: Yes, I always have been, more so when I was younger compared to now. I don’t allow my kids (ages 3 and 6) to watch “scary” movies or even “violent” movies, so unfortunately for me there is a lot of movies that I want to see that I haven’t been able to, I do try to watch some of the “off limit” ones once they go to bed, but as I said I have a lot of catching up to do.
When I was in High School I watched tons of “scary” movies, including zombie ones, I tended to hang out with the guys that were big time horror fans so we always watched movies after school and stuff.
Malice:What are some of your personal goals?
Melissa: First and foremost, my apparent goals are to keep being a good mom and putting my kids and family 1st, which pretty much goes unsaid. Then obviously to keep making a name for myself, now that I have broken out of “just an extra” I am excited about the offers that I have gotten and would like to continue making my dreams come true. Would like to keep getting bigger and bigger roles, things like that. J
Malice: As tradition I would like to ask you a few “out of hat” questions. You ready?
Melissa: LET’S DO IT!
Malice: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
Melissa: I don’t know if you would consider this paranormal or not, but one night when I still lived at home, before getting married and having kids, I was telling my nephew goodnight (whom was only about 5 or 6 at the time) and he told me to tell the “man in the closet” goodnight to. Of course I was a little freaked out and asked him what he was talking about. He goes on to tell me a name and describe what the “man in the closet” looked like. He described a guy that I was dating years prior before my nephew was even born; actually my sister was pregnant with him at the time that my boyfriend was killed in a car wreck. So when my nephew told me that name and what the person was wearing it freaked me out a little. I got a little emotional, confused, and angry that my nephew might have been playing a prank of me. My nephew goes on without hesitation to tell me not to be scared that he and XX talked all the time.
That’s about the extent of anything happening that I would consider paranormal. I do have some funny stories about me and some friends going to so-called haunted houses, which were anything from old vacant houses no one lived in to houses that were up for sale or rent. Some of these stories I still laugh at when I think about them today, one of my best friends and I actually laugh together about them some times!! LOL Maybe one day, I’ll have time to tell you one or 2!!
Malice: What’s the oddest Halloween outfit you have ever worn?
Melissa: Sadly, I can’t think of the “oddest” one, just normally do simple things. LOL Boring I know!
Malice: Have you ever had one of those awkward moments were you would rather be having a drill boarded through your skull than to be in the situation any longer?
Melissa: Back when I was a teenager and having to listen to the same lecture over and over, just because I was dumb enough to get caught again. LOL
Malice: Well I would like to thank you for doing this interview. It’s been a real pleasure! Is there anything you would like to add?
Melissa: Just would like to thank all of the fans for the support, fan mail, etc… You guys rock! Can’t wait to start meeting you all!
Also I am in the process of getting my website up and running should be completed any day now. It is www.melissadcowan.com
Also I have a Facebook fan page as well. The link to that is here.
There you have it My Freaky Darlings! Be sure to keep an eye out for Melissa in “The Walking Dead” and in “Vampire Diaries.” I hope some of you have the pleasure of meeting her in October.
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Dance All Night, With Vita DeVoid
If you have never had the thrill of sitting in on a show with Thee Vaudvillains, you don’t know what you’re missing. The first time I ever had exposure to this team was back at Screamfest 06′ (Now Spooky empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend). I had never been to a Burlesque show, let alone a Vaudville style one! It was a real trip! All the ladies are very talented, and as the years go on they just keep getting better and the costumes keep getting more elaborate. With Ultimate Horror Weekend coming up on the 8th, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to hunt down someone for an interview. That someone is Vita Devoid. So guys and ghouls wipe that drool off your mouths, it’s time to…
Dance All Night, With Vita DeVoid
Malice: Today, I have Vita Devoid with me of Thee Vaudvillains. Tell us Vita, what have you been up to lately?
Vita DeVoid: Up to no good, if I can help it!
Malice: For those who are not familiar with Thee Vaudvillains, do you care to educate them?
Vita: We are Florida’s longest-running full-scale vintage Burlesque and Vaudeville show – performers come from all over the state to lend their unique and bizarre talents to our stage. We’re part glamour, part vintage, part comedy, and part freak show. Our acts range from drag, cabaret dance acts, singing, striptease, vaudeville comic acts, standup, fire performances, contortion, bellydance…You name it, we’ve probably got it! Our goal is to offer audiences something they’ve never had access to before, and to inspire people to go out there and try something just a little bit different for themselves.
Malice: How long have you been with Thee Vaudvillains?
Vita: I started casting for this production in March of 2006.
Malice: What is your favorite venue to perform at?
Vita: Cold Keg Niteclub in Melbourne. I also really loved The Church in Dallas, TX.
Malice: Let’s get a little personal. I want the readers to see a little more of you. How did you get your start in dancing?
Vita: Well it all started when…(enter foggy therapy session) I was a teenager in Vero Beach, and I got involved with the Swing dance scene. I started meeting dancers from all over the place, and really became obsessed with it. I started practicing every day with my friends and other dancers from the local studio and kept it up after I moved to Tampa. Eventually I started working as a GoGo dancer with different venues around the Bay, mostly in drag bars so that led me an opportunity to get involved with nightclub performance. The end!
Malice: What music do you prefer to use in your performances?
Vita: We try to use music that reflects a sense of nostalgia, modern artists that have a sound from the past. We’ve also branched out and used songs from Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, so I can’t say we’re too strict on era-specific musical tastes, but lately we’ve been keeping it pretty old-school. Lots of Frank Sinatra and Broadway show tunes.
Malice: When you’re not captivating audiences with your dance, what do you do with your spare time?
Vita: What the hell is ”spare time”? That’s hilarious!
Malice: What are some of your favorite movies titles?
Vita: I love the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Wristcutters, To Wong Foo, House of 1,000 Corpses, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice…
Malice: It’s a bit of a tradition around my parts for me to ask a series of “Out of Hat” questions. You game?
Vita: Top Hat? Cloche Hat? Beanie Hat? Bowler Hat? Derby Hat?
Malice: What do you think of the movie Machete?
Vita: I haven’t seen it! But I’d like to – I think the casting is great on this movie, and the production team always pumps out really fun ass-kickery!
Malice:What is your favorite hair color?
Vita: I’ve always been a fan of Violet, actually.
Malice: Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Vita: How guilty are we talking? Eating cookies in bed guilty? Or my ridiculous obsession with cult films guilty?
Malice: Do you prefer Rum, Gin, Wine, Beer, or……Jagermeister?
Vita: It’s Jameson or nothing!
Malice: Do you have a chia pet?
Vita: No, but I think I own a ‘Clapper’.
Malice: Between the movies The Birdcage, To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Which is your favorite?
Vita: Oooh…Crap. I’ll have to say To Wong Foo. I am a Vita, after all.
Malice: Well this has been a very fun time! Can’t wait to see you and the rest of the group at Ultimate Horror Weekend. what can we expect to see at the show?
Vita: Blood, Guts and Glamour!
Malice: Is there anything you would like to add?
Vita: This Spooky Empire Weekend is a five-year marker for us as a production and I’d like to thank our cast and audiences everywhere out there for their ongoing support of our weird little dreams – without all of you, we’re nothing – so cheers to the next five years!
If you want to check out Vita and the rest of Thee Vaudvillains, they will be at Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend in Orlando, Fl at 7pm. You can also catch them at the end of the month Saturday Oct 23rd at The Castle in Ybor City for Taboo Masquerade. Like I said if you have never see them before, you have to try it once. You won’t be disappointed…
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Dusker of the Month for October: Tex
Hello, my Freaky Darlings! You know what time it is. It’s time to announce who the Dusker of the Month is! Now I kept thinking to myself all this month, “Who the hell am I going to pick!?” I mean it’s October for crying out loud. The crown jewel month of the horror community! Almost like Miss November…or Mr November I’m not sexist! So this one was a bit of a thinker, I’m sure you will all love the person dearly. Guys and Ghouls, I present to you the Dusker of the Month for October! The Dusker of the Month is none other than, From Dusker Till Cons very own, TEX!! Yes, our fun-loving puppy lover is getting this prestigious title, and an interview with yours truly! And that interview starts….here:
From Dusk Till Con: Tex’s Bloody Interview
Malice: I’m here with the First Lady of From Dusk Till Con, Tex! How does it feel knowing you are the From Dusk Till Con’s Crown Dusker for the Month of October?
Tex: October is my favorite month, so this is pretty kick ass!
Malice: You excited for the up coming Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Weekend?
Tex: I can’t wait! We’ve had a blast each time we’ve gone and some of the best friends I have, I met at Spooky! It has and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Malice: You are the PR person for FDTC, how has that been treating you? I know you guys are involved with a pretty big convention on the horizon.
Tex: I’m a pretty social person, sometimes TOO social, so it’s come pretty naturally. It feels good knowing that I can help in this endeavor. I can’t wait to see what the future holds! It’s been a helluva ride so far, but I’m having a great time meeting new people and spreading the word any way I can.
Tex: As part of FDTC, you have been able to see the site jump from just a wee little thing to the colossus it is becoming. Where do you see FDTC?
Malice: It’s funny because when Mr. C originally gave birth to this baby of his, I’d say things like, “Wouldn’t it be cool if…” or “Can you imagine if…” speaking of things we thought were many years in the future if they ever happened at all, and in the last year they’ve all started to happen! Mr. C is definitely the more realistic between the two of us, and I’m the dreamer and to see these impossible dreams coming into fruition makes me think that maybe my $5.00 a week lotto habit isn’t so silly after all. LOL
Malice: Let’s get to you, what exactly do you do for a day job?
Tex: I play with puppies. No, seriously, that’s what I do in a nutshell. I’m a dog handler at Central Bark Doggy Day Care, so I basically supervise play time, help the dogs become socialized and keep the facility clean. It’s a dirty job at times, but someone has to do it!
Malice: What do you like to do in your off time?
Tex: I don’t get much of it! I try to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends. I go to a lot of conventions, watch horror movies, and I try to read when I can.
Malice: What are some of your favorite Cult Classics?
Tex: It’s always tough for me to pick favorites. Return of the Living Dead has been on heavy rotation in my DVD player lately. I’m a big fan of Rocky Horror Picture Show and I can watch Repo! The Genetic Opera a million times and never get tired of it, but frankly, my favorites list changes weekly!
Malice: I know back when we had dogs, Seras and me would call them the kids. What are your “kids” like?
Tex: We have quite a few kids! I guess I should go in order of when we got them. Mick and Duker are 7 year old brothers that I’ve had them since they were kittens. Mick is ornery. If he could talk, he’d sound just like Eric Cartman from South Park. Duker is a laid back cuddle bug. He’s the most mellow of our menagerie. Oreo Cat is 4. He (well, she?) is…I think the right word is transgendered. He had a kitty sex change about a year ago. Angus P. Turtle is our Florida Cooter. I found him when he was about the size of a silver dollar and now he’s a monster with an attitude to match. I think he secretly watched Godzilla movies. And finally, our bitches. Ripley is our black and white pit bull. She’ll be a year old on Halloween. She’s a bundle of energy, but she’s afraid of her own shadow sometimes. She tries to act like she’s tough though. And Grandma came into the fold just recently when we found her wandering around our apartment complex. She’s somewhere between 10 and 15 years old. Grandma is fearless, protective and loyal. She’s made herself at home with us, and we couldn’t be happier to give her a loving home to live out her days in. (Might have bit off more than you could chew with that one, eh! )
Malice: I don’t know if this is getting too personal, but how did you meet Mr. Chainsaw exactly?
Tex: We were introduced on a surprise fix up by a mutual friend. To say we didn’t click would be an understatement. We prejudged each other almost immediately and barely spoke two words to one another. A few days later, I made plans with this mutual friend and Mr. C came with. Again, we ignored each other. At the end of the night, when we were all walking out to our cars, I noticed the DVD for The Lost Boys in his backseat and we started talking about horror movies. The rest, as they say, was history.
Malice: What are some of your favorite dishes to cook?
Tex: As Mr. C will tell you, I don’t cook. I leave dinner preparation to him. What I do is bake from scratch, and my absolute favorite is cookies, especially chocolate chip, but Mr. C did say at one point that my White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies were better than sex. Not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult….
Malice: For as long as I’ve known you across the time of two boards, I’ve always noticed the “Free the West Memphis Three” thing on your sig. Want to tell us a little about it?
Tex: How much time have you got? I’ve been known to go on and on about this! Basically, it’s a murder case from the early nineties. Three teenagers were convicted for the murders of three little boys without a shred of physical evidence, in large part due to what amounts to Satanic panic. I’d recommend for anyone who’s even a little curious to visit www.wm3.org for more information. Or at the very least, check out a documentary on the subject titled Paradise Lost.
Malice: So it’s a bit of a tradition for me to ask anybody I interview…well a series of “Out-of-Hat” questions. Well being in since it’s October, I’m not going to ask you a small series…..I’M GOING TO ASK YOU AN ONSLAUGHT OF QUESTIONS!!! Shall we get this party started!?
Tex: Let’s do it!
Malice: Let’s start this party with a bang!!If you were going to die a Darwin Award type death, How would you meet your end?
Tex:I would be standing outside with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other watching a tornado and get struck by debris.
Malice: Would you ever own a Racoon as a pet?
Tex: Sure, but I’d prefer a squirrel.
Malice: If you could tame, and make a pet of any mythical creature, which would it be? Why?
Tex: Hmm…I couldn’t pick a mermaid, cuz I’d have nowhere to keep it. I’d have to say a werewolf, that way when he’s a man, he can help me around the house and when he changes to a wolf, well he’d be just like another dog, and when he changes back, I can make him clean up his own poop. Plus, I could sick him on my enemies.
Malice: You have to choose one! Which would you eat? The Luther Burger (a quarter-pound Angus beef burger, topped with Wisconsin cheddar cheese and two strips of chocolate covered bacon, on a toasted Krispy Kreme doughnut bun), Cow Tongue, Prairie Oysters (buffalo testicles), Pickeled Pigs Feet, or Live Octopus?
Tex: As Mr. C can attest to, I’m a picky eater. I hate Krispy Kreme, so I’d have to honestly go with Prairie Oysters. In general, buffalo is pretty tasty.
Malice: If you could be any Marvel Super Hero out there, who would it be?
Tex: Shoot, I’m not to good with super heroes…I guess I’ve always been partial to Jean Grey.
Malice: What would you think of a Horror Theme Park?
Tex: Well, I like horror, and I like theme parks….so it sounds good to me!!
Malice: What would you call a cross between a Rhino, Puma, and a Coyote?
Tex: Coypumo
Malice: What sounds funnier!? Introducing Piranha to a swimming pool, replacing a scuba divers oxygen tank with Nitrous Oxide, OR replacing someones vitamins with Viagra?
Tex: Viagra. There’s nothing funnier than inappropriate boners!
Malice: Well this has been a truly fun experience! Hope it was for you too. Is there anything you would like to add for the Dusker masses?
Tex: For those fuckers?! Hell no!!! Just kidding, can’t wait to see you guys!
There you have it! Tex, this was a great interview! I hope you all enjoyed it, and find yourself just a little more enlightened. Also, be sure to check out From Dusk Till Con for all of the latest convention news. Including the latest news on the upcoming sensation, Days of the Dead. I’ve got a lot of stuff coming up soon! This month is going to be pretty kick ass! So all of you stay tuned!! You won’t belive what will happen next…
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Here Comes Thomas Churchill!
Here Comes Thomas Churchill!
Pamela Garret (played by Krista Grotte of Hershel Gordan Lewis’ The Uh-Oh Show and Brainjacked), a photographer for a busy newspaper company has just taken a life altering photograph.. After her boss, Cameron (Stephen Geoffreys of Fright Night, 976-Evil) hands her an easy assignment, she takes a photograph that will have her emerged into chaos. As she searches for help within her friend Dylan (Brooke McCarter from The Lost Boys) in a lost city filled with a dark mystery, in this insane situation she soon realizes that no one can help her. When trusting people around you is not an option, it’s her past that can bring her down. ..OK I said too much. Tony Moran (Carpenters Halloween 1 & 2)
, Edward X Young (The Green Monster, Mr Hush) and Mike Marino all have roles in the film. The film was a great project to work on…Paul and Lorie Weinroth of Chocolate Bunny Productions gave me total creative control in allowing me to bring what I wrote to life.
Malice: It looks like there are going to be a few hidden “Easter Eggs” (Example Steve Dash’s Character being named Det. Voorhees) Am I correct in assuming there are more?
Malice: As a writer I love finding out the little ideas that spark a story. What got you started on the idea for the movie?
Malice: I know it’s not out on DVD yet, but do you have any showings coming up on the Film Festival circuit?
Malice: Is there any date set for a DVD release?
Malice: Your also involved with a project I have been following lately, Mr. Hush. What is your take on the movie?
Malice: How did you come across Mr. Hush?Malice: You have another film announced too, Cold Plastic. What is that about?
Malice: Now I want to talk more about you, what got you into film?
Malice: One can only assume, when looking at your film history, that you are a horror fan. How long have you been with the genre?
Malice: What has been the thrill of your career thus far?
Malice: Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger?
Malice: The Crow or The Lost Boys?
Thomas: Wow…You know I will have to say The Lost Boys! Being I have Brooke McCarter (Paul in The Lost Boys) and G Tom Mac (The Lost Boys theme “Cry Little Sister”) are part of Emerging Past. So family stays with family…and Family is Forever.
Malice: “Family Guy” or “The Simpsons”?
Thomas: I love “The Family Guy”.
Malice: Alice Cooper or Marilyn Manson?
Thomas: Kenny G…just kidding…I like Gene Simmons!
Malice: Well that’s about all the time we have for today, Thom is there anything you would like to add before we finish?
Thomas: Yes…go to Emerging Past and Mr. Hush on Facebook, become a fan and suggest it to your friends as well. Go to my official website www.churchhillproductions.com, www.emergingpast.com, and www.mrhush.net for up to the minute news on our projects. Thank you very much.
I just want to say how awesome it has been getting to know everyone from these projects. You heard it here, make sure to check out Emerging Past at Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend in Orlando, Fl October 9th. If you’re not going to be there, hit it up at Mr. Hush: Weekend of Fear in Matamoras, Pa October 22nd-24th.Check out the Trailer below!
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Through the Looking Glass…A Look Back at Halloween Horror Nights: Reflections of Fear
If there ever was a year that I think Universal could have made a script out of the event story, this would have been the one. Reflections of Fear set a new precedent in the event as far as story telling went. Once they started the website, they would slowly peel back the layers of the Legend that is Bloody Mary. To take something as iconic as the Urban Legend of Bloody Mary and make it their own is just…well legendary!! The creative team also kicked it up another notch by having a fully interactive game go on at the same time of the event, The Legendary Truth. Never had Universal went into such detail over one of their characters! Never had they an icon that had been so omnipresent. Belive me when I say she was EVERYWHERE! So, My Freaky Darlings, hold on to your freak hats! It’s going to be a bumpy ride as i take you back…Back through the Looking Glass….
To fully appreciate this event, you have to know what went into it. The website started giving you diary pages of one Dr. Mary Agana. The good doctor was trying a new experimental way of curing fear. Her thesis was, to make her patient confront their fear head on. To put them in an inescapable situation where they either face their fear or die! I’m sure you can imagine what ultimate ends they met. As the journal pressed, you start to see Dr. Agana’s mind unhinge. She actually starts to enjoy seeing her patients suffer. She enjoys seeing them die, and relish in the fear they experience. The journals feature an audio, so that you can really see this take effect. Depending on how into the website you were, you could read into the side story of a Private Investigator, Boris Shuster. It was all just a fully immersive experience that painted such an interesting picture. Thanks to a website HorrorNights.be I’m able to post a link below to not just the Halloween Horror Nights 18 website, but also the Legendary Truth Website. For The Reflections of Fear site click here. If you want to see the Legendary Truth click here. That year they also did a very cool arrival. unfortunately, they didn’t do this for the public. It was a press night only event. Thanks to YouTube though, your able to see it below.
I’m going to start you off with atmosphere first. The whole event was about you being drawn through the mirror and into her world. Bloody Mary made her presence known everywhere. Universal even replaced the medallion that hangs in the archway with a giant LED mirror. In this mirror, Mary would talk to you. It added so much to the event seeing her up there, spreading her message of terror. I’ve taken the liberty of embing this video for you below:
A big part of this atmosphere was the Scarezones. Here’s what you had to expect:
Asylum in Wonderland- This zone took one of my favorite childhood stories in a direction I rather fancied. I loved this whole area! From the foul-mouthed Caterpillar to the demented White Rabbit, this area was some naughty good fun. They had these huge screens all around as you went though that projected various pictures. If you looked closely you might even see the Cheshire Cat. Most of the actors here were on skates. What did this mean? Only that they could sneak in and out of those screens to scare you that much more quickly. there were also a few mirrors in the zone. I wondered if they were just scene decoration or what they would do. My question was answered when a light flashed in it, and you see Bloody Mary. It was like Disney turned on its head!
The Skoolhouse- A very creepy atmosphere this one had. It took the idea that The Skool had in HHN 15 and made it better. They put so much detail into this area it was insane! They had a bus parked to one side, and even had a little walk through School House you could go into for a quick scare. There really is nothing like a group of scary demented kids plotting your demise. Seras assisted in a scare here too! I was filming the school and dropped my guard. The Teacher walked up behind me and just stood there. Of course Seras says nothing, and when I turn around all I can see in my LCD screen is the face of the teacher. This image has to be every paranormal investigators nightmare. I give him credit, but most of it goes to my loving Seras!There was also a very cool attachment to the area where the tree canopy was filled with glowing Jack-O-Lanturns. A very cool visual indeed! Made even better when they would all go out at once to the audio of Bloody Mary being said three times…
Fractured Tales- Another favorite of the night! This was Mother Goose off her meds! It was cool to see how they would take this and run. I belive they even had Mother Goose walking around (with a goose on her head). The had Little Miss Muffit with a giant spider on her, the Pied Pipper with a rat hanging out of his mouth, Little Red Ridding Hood with the Big Bad Wolf’s head in her basket, and many more. It was a laugh riot to see some of them. I kept calling the ogre a pissed off Shrek. He didn’t like that too much.
Streets of Blood- The idea here was really good. Taking history, and turning in the fashion of The Body Collectors. The area was supposed to make you feel like you have been transported to White Chapel where the Ripper murders took place. The story they paint is that it wasn’t Jack the Ripper that did the murders. Rather it wasn’t one person at all. That it was the Body Collectors harvesting organs. The street was populated by the Collectors and by a different Collector you hadn’t seen before. They looked like something out of an insane asylum, and acted almost like a dog. They even had an added element of hookers walking around, and without a seconds notice one of the Body Collectors would attack them in the street. The way this zone looked was very authentic. Even using street candles to illuminate the area in l00 of conventional lighting.
American Gothic- Surprising enough i didn’t spend much time here. I did like it! The dress was very cool, and the Scareactors did a good job. But to be honest I just wasn’t feeling it. I think the concept was great, they just limited themselves to much. Lizzie Borden was the only one mentioned, and best I could tell all the others were civil war soldiers. So if there were more there, I didn’t catch them. I will say the girl playing Lizzie gave quite the few people a good startle. It just wasn’t my thing.
Path of the Wicked- I’m not going to lie, I was giddy when i first heard this announced. The Wizard of Oz is such a cool movie, and the thought of seeing twisted characters from it (and Flying Monkeys) was too much. My only disappointment in this area, was the artistic freedom they took with the Flying Monkeys. They didn’t look like monkeys, nor did they have wings! The were more like demented flying squirrels. The effect that they had though was cool enough. As you walked through, they did have “Monkeys” Flying over head back and forth on a safety line. The Witch up in her tower chastising the passerby was pretty cool too. I loved what they did with The Scarecrow, The Tin-Man and the Lion. It added a very nice touch.
With the Scarezones being what they were this year, you had to figure they would deliver on the houses, right? well deliver they did! Maybe not as hard as I thought they could on some, but still a pretty good line up none the less. Now all of these houses were based off of a victim of Bloody Mary (See her journals on the web page.) To add an extra easter egg to each house as well, there is a hidden Bloody Mary in each. This was a fun little game to play as you went through the houses. Here’s what they had:
Scary Tales: Once Upon a Nightmare- This was the third in a series of these houses. So with a name like this, everyone had very high expectations. It delivered and then some! This was my favorite house of the night. I even had to do it twice one of the nights. In this house you went through Rapunzel, Goldie Locks, Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz…and that’s just to mention a few! My personal favorite scenes was the Mad Tea Party, (Alice, Mad Hatter, and Door Mouse all dance an rejoice over a disemboweled March Hair…intestine strung across the room) The Scarecrows corn field, (With Dorthy mutilated hanging from his post, and a Tin-Man that would squirt you with his Oil Can) and Goldie Locks and the Three Bears (Where you come face to face with a pissed off Papa Bear!) The Secret Mary sighting in this house was good one too. When you are walking through the Alice in Wonderland section, you walk through a hallway filled with mirrors. The only thing that pops out of the mirrors is the Red Queen screaming “Off with your head!”…all except one. When you least expect it, Mary jumps out of this one for the win!
The Hallow- here you take a journey into the heart of what Halloween is all about. Samhain runs free as he shows you the true traditions that forged this holiday. Now to some this could have been confusing. You have to know a lot of the lore to get some of the references. But they manged to still making it interesting enough, to where even if you didn’t know, you weren’t left out. One scare in the maze that got me was a room filled with little statue holding out a Trick R Treat bag. I’m just going through expecting them all to be statues (they are really tiny.) When one of the statues lunges at me. Little person Scareactor For the Win!! I also took the liberty to make goat noises at Samhain. Like most of the Scareactors I mocked that night, he didn’t like it. The Mary Sighting in here was possibly the coolest. They had a see through screen hung in front of you. What this allowed them to do, was project a ghostly image onto it of her walking into frame, smiling, then disappearing. It was very cool!
Dead Exposure- When I heard what this house was actually about, I got disappointed. Se rumors where it was going to be spirit photography. What it actually was is a black light filled house where all the zombies could only be seen when the black light flash goes off. I was surprised to find as campy as this one was, it was pretty damn good! There were quite the many moments where you would get surrounded, and because of the flashes you could see them until it was too late. There was one room in particular that got everyone. The whole room was filled with fake black paint zombies. There was still about five real ones though, and you couldn’t tell until it was too late. The story behind this one wasn’t bad either. Charlie McPherson was supposed to be the reporter covering this mass infection. The journey you take is actually supposed to be a journey through his pictures. This all of corse ends when you get to the last scene to see him being eaten. Great concept, I just wish there wasn’t so much empty space at the end.As for the secret Mary, I didn’t catch her in this one. From what I understand it was very hard trying to.
Reflections Of Fear- In a un explainable move, creative put the icon house in the Jaws que. I didn’t think it belonged here, and was dreading it. To my surprise it worked! It worked so well I couldn’t have pictured it elsewhere. This maze took you through Dr. Mary Agana’s clinic. If you followed Legendary Truth, it was supposed to be like a paranormal investigation gone horribly wrong! Mary drags you into her world, where she shows you exactly what happened there. There was a moment that got Seras and me in this house. One of the last rooms you walk into, there is a Dr. Mary Agana’s standing in the corner. as she gets your attention, a Bloody Mary bursts out of the glass next to you. You got to hate the wonders of misdirection. For an icon house it did wonderfully. I just still have to imagine what could have been better had it been in a Soundstage…
Doomsday- I swear to you I was the only person in the world excited for that house! (Well, Seras too!) I had never seen so many people against a house like this. The concept was great. It just brought you back to enough scenes in the movie to go “Hey, i remember that…” But, for the most part it was a stand alone house. I loved the music in the house, and they way they dressed. I even loved the smell of the Bar-B-Qed man in one room (Offered to stay and help cook) The Scareactors here were as light-hearted as Psychoscareapy the year before. I just really enjoyed this house for what it was. They were my kind of people!
Body Collectors: Collections of the Past- I may have missed the first Body Collectors…my White Buffalo (the one that got away), but i wasn’t missing this one. This became my second favorite of the night! The story takes you back to White Chapel London during the time of the Jack the Ripper Murders. You quickly find out there is no Jack, only the Collectors. You get a chance to walk all the way into their lair, and see a hole room littered with past victims. I loved the buildings in this one. You could really see how hard the design team worked to make this a success.
“Creatures!”- This house had the potential to be the most terrifying one of them all, and dropped the ball!! I can not tell you how disappointed I was. It was set up to be sort of like Stephen King’s The Mist, and fell short about a Green Mile! There was nothing really scary about it. The facade was perfect, there was even a few tentacles taking over the bar from outside, but once you got in there was nothing to be afraid of. You were really confused as to whether you should be afraid of the towns folk or the non-existent creatures. The only scare I remember is a hallway where you are under shot-gun fire. They achieve this with sound effect and air mortar, but it just wasn’t enough.
Interstellar Terror- This pulled in as my third favorite of the night, but honestly the best detail wise. They built a freakin’ scale spaceship facade…you don’t get more detailed than that! Welcome aboard the MSO Columbus, where a strange artifact has turned the crew into maniacs!! Personally, I was more concerned with the crew hurting themselves then me. They were a self mutilating bunch. Carving strange symbols into their skin, blowing themselves out of air locks, and one that just couldn’t get enough of shocking himself (really cool effect.) there was an awesome effect in this maze where they made you feel like you were walking across a cat walk that could drop you hundreds of feet! It was also nifty to find out the artifact was made from an old model of the E.T. Spaceship. Mary was easy to spot in this house as she came of one of the warning monitors toward the middle of the chaos. A good pick me up after the disappointment that was “Creatures!”
So the shows this year weren’t fantastic. In fact there was only one good one worth seeing, and that was Bill and Ted. I don’t really feel that I have to break these down as I can sum up the other two rather easy. The Rocky Horror Picture Show- A Tribute was even worst than the year before. While the Brian Brushwood show was the same as the year before. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure I was really worried about. With rumors flying around about a rather inappropriate Heath Ledger joke, and the election being that year it had the recipe for disaster. But, I was proven wrong for doubting the Wyld Stallions. They pulled together a rather entertaining show. They touched on the political race, just enough to say they addressed it. There was no inappropriate HL joke, and really it went business as usual. I will dare say I enjoyed it better than HHN 17. Sorry I can’t post you a video, but unfortunately Universal Orlando has gotten pretty tight-lipped about video taping the show since 2006. I can tell you it had a few really good Miley Cyrus jokes. She get’s turned into Two-Face (big surprise there!) Altogether though, it was pretty well-rounded show.
My feeling on the whole event was one of wow! Never had I seen such a tight-knit story like this one. Like I said it set a rather high bar in that area! They found out exactly how high the next year for Halloween Horror Nights 19: Ripped From the Silver Screen. That year got some of the worst reviews I have seen in the last 5 years of the event. Fortunately for all of you, you won’t have to hear about it more than this. I did not go, so i can’t give you an honest shot on the event. All I can tell you is that judging from the website and the story I did see, it had nothing on Reflections of Fear. This year’s story will always live on in infamy, and we can only hope that they will met that bar this year with Twenty Years of Fear.
With the finishing of this review, we will start living in the present. Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear was unleashed last night and just finished hours ago. I’m curious to see what kind of FEAR was kicked up at the event…
Until Next Time, Mt Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
P.S. Here is a look at the commercial for that year! Watch and Enjoy!
Welcome to the Show…Recalling Halloween Horror Nights 17: Carnival of Carnage
In 2007, Jack was let back out of his box. What he brought with him, was The Carnival of Carnage! He also brought with him the New Line Cinema slashers Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface. It was a first in Halloween Horror Nights history with 8 mazes, 4 shows, and 1 scarezone that encompassed the whole park!! I won’t lie, it had its problems, but I do believe the scenery that came through and the houses they had more than made up for it. Not one house that year was a loser in my book, stealing my number one vote for houses. The parts that they did manage to dress came out wonderfully as well. It was like you really were walking into this massive Carnival. It even had a ferris wheel. The Website was also kicked up another notch, adding games to unlock content about the houses. They kept Horror Night fans glued to the computer every week in hopes a new game would go active. It was nuts, and the anticipation was off the chains and out of the straight jacket. So, without wasting anymore words, kick back, relax, and let me take you back….to Jack’s Carnival of Carnage!
The main story of the event was Jack taking over his old stomping ground, Oddfellow’s Dark Carnival and Emporium. Becoming the new Ringmaster of this Carnival, Jack felt it necessary to bring his own brand of mayhem to the show. He traveled long and far across the globe, gathering up acts along the way. Among these acts were the like of Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface. You soon found out though, that wasn’t all that was up Ringmaster’s sleeve. He was going to give everyone a show they wouldn’t soon forget…
I want to shake it up a little, lets start with the houses. The houses this year were nearly flawless. Even the one I did have problems with, I found later it was more a timing error (and not any where as bad as People Under the Stairs: Under Construction.) This is what the Carnival had in store for you:
Dead Silence: The Curse of Mary Shaw- I was one of a select few that really liked this movie. So when I heard it was being made into a house, I was just excited! This was an amazing trip through the movie. You go from the mortuary all the way to the Theater where Mary Shaw was murdered. The effects in this house were all-consuming. From the moment you walked into the mortuary, you were blasted with the smell of embalming fluid! Giving it that extra feel of realism. As you journey through the scenes, you have to beware of not just Mary Shaw, but her victims. Whether it be them coming out of a picture or springing from a trap door, those mutilated beings were sure to catch you off guard. One of the coolest effects I had seen at the time was in this house. There is one scene where you are walking across the rafters of the theater (really you are only about 2 feet off the ground.) Using mirrors they make you feel like you are 50 feet in the air with Mary Shaw staring up at you, just waiting for you to fall! The one scare that got me in the house was pretty sneaky. Using a play on the walls, you see Mary Shaw ahead of you coming toward you, in a blink of the eye she’s gone! So when you start looking around, BAM!! She’s right next to you! I thought this was a very cool use of a very old mirror trick. There was even a funny easter egg in the form of a picture of Elsa Strict, the Storyteller on her parlor wall. It was a very fun experience.
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dreamwalkers- My favorite house of the night, Dreamwalkers was a trip through one of my favorite childhood horror flicks. The main story was you being exposed to an experimental drug called Sleepwell. Exposed is an understatement as you walk though a freakin’ fogged out tent of it. Thats when you are “transported” right smack in front of 1428 Elm Street. The House facade was every fanboys dream. Just like walking onto the set of the movie. You walk through a torn sheet, when you realize you are actually walking through Johnny Depp’s character’s bed (yes the room is on its side.) From here you are taken through some of the worst Nightmares in the series history. Complete with a trip deep down to the Boiler Room. One of the cooler scenes in the house is in the Boiler Room. You enter a section like a mirror fun house. If you hit it just right, you see three of you in front. The lights flicker, and one of them is replaced with Freddy. The guy is everywhere, around every turn, giving you no escape! There was a funny moment in particular in this house. When we were walking through the second scene, a Freddy got behind me. Now mind you I’m a fanboy walking in a dream world here, so I’m not paying any attention (although my friends behind me were glued to the action.) He took my pony tail up in his claws and said “How about a hair cut girly?” In retrospect that would have made my night, however I didn’t know what was going on until Seras tells me, “You going to let him talk to you like that?” Freddy if you are reading this, you are going to have to do better than that to get this Psychotik! Still my number one of the night.
Psychoscareapy: Home For the Holidays- This was hands down the most fun house of the night. Not scary, but FUN! Kind of like my perfect Christmas. The story here was the transport from the Shady Brook crashes in the suburbs. Letting loose all of the patients on an unsuspecting neighborhood of rich people during Christmas. The path the maze took was following the chaos they left behind. Memorable moments include a kitchen with a crazy baking cookies…made from skin! A workshop that took a terrible turn for the worse. Even a snowman…with an actually human head….a severed human head. It was funny to see Seras go through this house when she had a few in her. Dropped her guard terribly poor girl. We are walking through this house, and she is just wandering around enjoying the scenery. What she didn’t see was that the room filled with six patients, all circling around her. Needless to say she got had! They got her! Another fond memory of the night was walking through the workshop. I was really getting into it at this point. I started singing “Deck the halls with lower intestine…” When out of no where two maniacs drop from the ceiling upside down while another jumps from behind a box singing, “Falalala la! La La La La!!” That memory to this day still make me smile!
Vampyr: Blood Bath: This house was a vampire junkie delight. Instead of a dessert bar, you are given a Vampire night club (boy do those vamps like to party!) Universal really picked an awesome location for this house, as they landed it in Nazermans or what some may call Sting Ally. It gave the house an awesome indoor/outdoor thing. They even had a door man, and for the facade all they needed was a neon business sign. The entrance already looked like an alleyway. Made for a unique time. I will say though, the female vampires looked like they were trying to turn you on more than scare you. I actually turned to Seras when we first got in and said, “I’ll take the one with the Black hair. You take the Brunette!” In a awkward moment, there was one of the vampires that jumped out to scare Seras, only to stop short and apologize. Why? Well he thought we were two Scareactors. We’ve been mistaken by regular people, but never have we been mistaken by an actual Scareactor. Not really a lot of effects in this one. Although there was a scene with a vampire eating a poodle, and I swear it was animatronics because it moved. Other than that, the realism came from the natural setting.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Flesh Wounds- I went in to this house with pretty low expectations. Boy was I ever wrong! You couldn’t have told that from the facade. It was just a little weak for my taste. But once you got inside, it WAS the Hewitt residence. Complete with the sliding doors that could slide open at any minute. It was really cool to see this effect spring. Usually he had a victim in hand, dragging them back in! There was a scene that stopped a dude in front of us. He even threw his girlfriend in front of him! Leatherface was cutting through a wall with his chainsaw (complete with sparks from the wiring and beams.) When you walked through the kitchen there was a person chained inside the freezer. It was also a nice touch having the smell of soup beans in this area too. Like I’ve said, the smells are what sell you on the atmosphere. Even when you thought you were out of the woods, you still got snuck in for one more scare. As you exit, there is an all too familiar scene with sheets hung up on clothes lines. Well as you are trying to make it through, all of a sudden you hear a chainsaw rev up, and then here comes Leatherface! It made for a nice send off to say the least. I also can’t tell you how incredibly epic it was to turn around and look at him, just to see him spinning in place swinging his chainsaw.
Friday the 13th: Camp Blood- This house was a flop the first time through. The first time I hit it, it was still light out. Being in since it was in the Jaws que, you still see a lot of light coming in. Making a lot of the special effects not work. That being said, there were quite a few that relied heavily on the dark. The main story is, Camp Crystal lake is being reopened under new management. The new counselors, however, give you a proper hazing in the old barn where it is said Jason lives. Big mistake as the prank turns real, and Jason does start murdering people. You are met with several visuals from the series that would make any F13 fan grin ear to ear. this experience even comes complete with the shrine to Pamela Voorhees (how that head is still around, I’ll never know. One of the greatest effects they pull in the house is the one that relied a lot of you not seeing how it was done. The way it was supposed to go is, you walk into a room and Jason is on the upper level. A bright light comes on as he hurls a pulley hook at you, when the light goes out you don’t se it travel safely over head. When the light comes on Jason is no longer there, until you look down and he is right in front of you. THAT is how it was supposed to play out like the second time I saw it. The first time I saw it (with light) I walked into a room to see two Jasons standing there. In which one of the dumb goons tossed a rope at me that was tied to another line pulling it out-of-the-way. It was lame. The second time I went through the house though, when it was dark, I thought it was great.
Jack’s Funhouse: In Clown-O-Vision- You ever wanted to see what it was like to live in a psychedelic acid trip? Or an Andy Worhol taken over by twisted clowns? This was the house for you! This was the first 3-D house I had ever experienced. I really didn’t know what to expect. So I strolled up to it, put on my special Clown-O-Vision glasses and hoped for the best. There wasn’t really what you could call scenes, more like a series of rooms that looked like black light painting come to life. The floors were off set in some rooms, they used mirror tricks, trap doors. Everything you could expect in a fun house. Paintings jumped right off the wall! And then to some peoples surprise, the painting jumped of the wall and ran toward you! It was a real fun time. It definitely kept you off-balance, and I would have hated to do that one drunk! I did this one last on one of the nights, and I have to say it made a perfect end to your night. This house would have been a pretty good opener too, as it sets the whole circus atmosphere.
The Thing: Assimilation- There is nothing like stumbling into one of your favorite movies from the early 80’s. The story behind this house was the tightest of them all. It was sort of like a sequel. An expedition to Antarctica yielded the bodies of MacReady and Childs…but was it really them? What they did bring back to the Florida research facility was the same THING that caused the chaos so many years ago. When you walk into the facility, there are alarms going off and Marines trying to get you to follow them. You walk into the first room and see MacReady and Childs in stasis. However there is another chamber busted open. As you get further in, a lot of THING’s begin to take shape. Many of your favorite creatures from the movie are brought to life using animatronics. It’s really awe-inspiring the level of detail put into this house. During the middle of your escape you start to notice instead of the Marines helping you to an exit, they are SHOOTING at you! There is even a stomach churning part where the Thing is all around you and you feel something drip on to you from above. I was surprised when they decided to do this house (and thankful!)
Now as far as Scarezones go this year, there weren’t many. There wasn’t many because the whole event was one giant Scarezone! This is where the problem came. As good as an idea as this seems, it becomes problematic making sure that the whole park is dressed and there are enough Scareactors. So really it ended up turning into zones anyway. Creative really dropped the ball on this one. The only saving area where the one’s that were able to get the theming. Those areas were all at the front of the park. I did find the areas closest to Jack’s Carnival of Carnage the most entertaining. But beyond that, I just wasn’t wowed by the complete absence in most areas of the park.
The shows this year were a bit lacking too. Not my favorite year for them, but the Jack’s Carnival of Carnage became my favorite arrival show. Still out of four, one good one wasn’t enough.
The Freakshow- The only reason I say this show was lack luster is, it just didn’t deliver like the hype said. It was supposed to be a real Freakshow (or as close as possible.) The only act I really saw that was like a Freakshow was Enigma. He was out there as usual, not a bad thing. But I noticed about two weeks in the whole Freakshow thing was dropped in favor of Brian Brushwood. Not a bad illusionist, and he sort of fit in to the freakshow aspect, but it still wasn’t as grand as it was supposed to be.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute- This was doomed to start. You just can’t condense the masterpiece that is RHPS into a 30 minute slot…you just CAN’T!!! It just felt too rushed. I almost feel they would have done better by just showing clips. I just didn’t feel it at all. In my opinion the worst show in my 4 years.
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure- This was my least favorite year. They dwelled too much on the screwed up wannabe divas (Paris Hilton, Lindsy Lohan, and Brittney Spears) There were a few chuckles, but nothing that floored me. You found out more about a lawsuit over the previous years use of Jack Sparrow. So this year they made fun of it and substituted the characters from Blazing Glory. It just left you with a feeling of, ‘eh it’s ok….”
Jack’s Carnival of Carnage- This show was the best show that year, and my all time favorite arrival show. The level of detail that went into this show was insane. They even brought in an illusionist to work with this show. A damn good one I might add. Illusions included: A man being ripped in half, a person’s head being smashed in, climbing through another one’s torso…and that doesn’t even touch the most shocking. So rather than tell you…why don’t I show you! Look below where you will find the Arrival show in all it’s glory!!
With the short comings this one had, what it did have more than made up for it. In my opinion this was the best year for houses. The arrival show was at such a level it really made up for the other three (and the Enigma was there so hey…) This year was home to 2 of my top favorites (Nightmare on Elm Street: Dreamwalkers and The Thing: Assimilation.) As the Carnival died down though, you could feel something more on the horizon…something you could be sure would REFLECT your worst fears….
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
P.S. Here is an Uncensored version of the commercial! Enjoy…
There’s No Place Like Home…Memories of Halloween Horror Nights: Sweet 16
With the book closed on Tales of Terror, the next volume is Halloween Horror Nights: Sweet 16. That year was the sweetest of sixteen’s! It brought all of the icons of the past together for one mega event. Jack the Clown, The Caretaker, The Director, and The Storyteller met for the first time for an all out blood bath. I really felt they kicked it up a notch this year. It was the first year I really got into the website. I’m glad I did, because it explained so much that was going on. There was a section they ran for the longest time that helped me connect with all the other events I had never been to. Dating all the way back to the very first, they set it up as an archive. As the year progressed, the site started getting more interactive content. Most of which helped you to understand the icon houses more, and how they tied in respectively. This year was also the first year the event had traveled back to the original Hacklot since 2001. So what was it like to have Horror Come Home?….
The whole idea of the event, like I said, was to bring all the major icons together for a Super Sweet Sixteen from hell! The Website was what got me the most. Each week peeling back another layer until the full thing was unleashed. I thought the whole icon get together was a fantastic idea! I had only started the event the year before, but had always seen merchandise from the earlier icons that peaked my attention. I was also pleased to see the event coming back to the Studios. Like I said I really felt that some of the scarezones the year before were hurt because of the already detailed, and very specific theming of the Islands of Adventure. Honestly I could go on and on, but I feel you will get a better feeling from the breakdown. So in the words of The Director, On with the Show…
Let’s start with the scarezones. The zones for this year were very detailed, ranging from Zombie Apocalypse to a Vampiric Masquerade. This year tops out as my second favorite for Scarezones. Here is the run down:
Horror Comes Home (Hollywood)- Right as you went through the gates, you were flowed to the right. This took you down a memory lane of all things Horror Nights. Various characters from the past 16 years were brought back to chill you to the bone! There really was no set dressing to the area. More they relied on it being dark and the thick fog creating a sort of venturing through old memories feel. The scareactors didn’t really jump at you (or at least not me). It was more like they were there on display. The scareactor to the left was my favorite in the area. Alice….with a chainsaw! (The Red Queen never saw it coming) This was my least favorite of the year, but I’m not going to lie, it was still pretty cool.
Harvest of the Souls (Sunset Blvd.)- This scarezone was a throw back the old Field of Screams scarezone in 2004. They more or less took the idea and made it better. The whole area was themed nicely with pumpkins and hay. The idea was supposed to be these creatures were all there to harvest (you guessed it…) your souls. The fog was very thick in this area, so it played on confusion. There was one point where I lost my whole group in the fog and it took at least 20 minutes to find each other. I got a very nice scare as a result of this. I would also like to add (because of my love for them) that on select nights they had a midget in a miniature creature outfit! This little guys had it going. To top things off, when I did see him he was darting around catching people off guard (and doing a bloody good job of it!) When something happened that to this day makes me smile. I’m not sure what this one particular person said to him, but all I remember seeing is this little monster kicking a dude in the shin and then running into the fog. It was one the most epic things I’ve seen! Still though I rated this third amongst the scarezones for me. The Fog was consistently to freakin thick. It really was a hassle losing your friends like I did. Especially when said incident, caused me to miss a showing of Bill and Ted.
Deadtropolis: Zombie Siege (New York)- I love zombies! Zombies have fascinated me from a wee young Psychotik, and it was cool to see them as a reality. To see a zombocolypse in New York City….was like walking onto the set of one of my favorite films. This zone was a tribute to the old house, Deadtropolis from 2004. They did a phenomenal job setting the mood. From the moment you enter you have military telling you to turn back. Spotlights on the roof tops coupled with sound effects gave you the feeling of helicopters zooming over head. Once you got into the heart of the city, you were met with the undead. The actors did a really great job of blending in to the surroundings. If you weren’t careful who you were walking around, you may find yourself walking right next to one. One of my funniest stories comes from this area. We were walking along the zone, my group and I, when I spotted a zombie hooker coming our way. I thought to myself “Dear God she is going to try to grab me, and Seras is going to deck her…” To my surprise (and hers) she attacked Seras. Now when I say attack, what I’m really trying to say is the zombie “Dry Humped”….I would also like to use the word “grind” and the phrase “Shake her fun bags.” It was too bad I didn’t have the camera! I was almost tempted to ask her to do it again. The area was also home to one of the coolest shows on earth! (But I will get to that later…) Still as great as this zone was, I have to say it was the second favorite of the night.
Blood Masquerade (Shrek Ally)- What is more perfect than a Scarezone with zombies? A Scarezone with Vampires!! Modeled after Castle Vampyr from 2004, (Noticing a pattern…?) this area was the most stunning. Both ends of the area had an alluring display of candles complete with a Queen of the Damned-esq vampire. What was cool is the use of special effects. The vampires would be posing all seductively, then without missing a beat lightning would crash, and a gust of wind would blow from under them! The effect sent many people screaming. There were also smaller pedestals set up with vampires dressed all in white. They would stand there, frozen like a statue. Then by hitting a button with their foot the same would happen, but for some reason it was that much worse! The whole thing was just visually pleasing, and they used the size of the area to their advantage. The Shrek Ally can get pretty narrow the more stuff you shove in it. So you were forced to walk right next to these creatures of the night. I saw the most screams delivered here. Easy choice for the favorite of the night.
This was my number one favorite for Houses. I really liked the idea of bringing back some of the older houses. For a Horror Nights freak like me, it was nice experiencing some of the greats that I had missed. The Houses were:
People Under the Stairs: Under Construction (Sprung Tent)- This house was very lack luster. Every event has at least one bomb, and man this was it. This house had not been seen since Halloween Horror Nights 2 & 3. Although the concept was kind of catchy, (walking through a house in construction that was being terrorized by….well you know who) it just never delivered. It’s like they took the old house, half built it, and then tried to use the failed Miner hats from HHN 15’s Terror Mines. The fog was another killer of this maze. It was so thick, you actually would miss scares because you couldn’t see the actors! The only cool thing I can add is the shot-gun effect. There is a guy in a gimp mask running around with a shot-gun. His gun didn’t fire your average bullets, but it did fire a blast of air that would scare the life out of you…if you could tell what it was. Easily the worst house of the night.
Psycho-Path: Return of Norman Bates (Sprung Tent)- This house was at the bottom of the list for me. Not because it was bad like the last one, but more because it just wasn’t as epic as the others. This house was started in HHN 4 and then again at HHN 9. What separates this maze from the previous two is, instead of going through the Bates Motel and residence, you venture though the twisted mind of Norman Bates. You start out walking through the doors of the Bates Motel, where you are greeted by Norman Bates. Two scenes in, it get’s weird. You walk through a vortex of spinning screaming faces and land in a room full of eyes,. That room I found interesting because they used an effect similar to Cold Blind Terror’s. The people in the room wore all black with the same eyes attached to them. Since it was a black light room, you couldn’t see the silhouette, and they could move around the room and you wouldn’t be able to keep up. Basically, one hell of a throwback house.
Dungeon of Terror: Retold (JAWS que)- The story behind this attraction was very interesting. Apparently the Dungeon of Terror, a throw back to the original maze from the first few Horror Nights came under new management. Elsa Strict, The Storyteller, purchased the Dungeon and reopened it promising to show passersby a thing or two about discipline. Now that sort of translated in the beginning. As soon as you walked in, Ol’ Storyteller was there to greet you. Then as you walked through, it just became this terribly gone wrong attraction with back woods murderers in pig masks. There were some nice effects. Of which there was one with a guy on a spin wheel being stabbed (which sprayed you with blood!) The back-wood people eating people. Then to put a nice cherry on top, you walk through an open room with bodies all tied to the roof together spinning. I believe they were made to look like brides and grooms. Mixed in with the dead, were a few alive which made for a good scare. It wasn’t my favorite of the icons house, but it was entertaining. The story was solid, and told you a little more about The Storyteller. (Which I thought needed to be done.)
RUN: Hostile Territory (Earthquake que)- This house was pretty damn cool! Although Eddie wasn’t mentioned in the commercials, he is still an icon. His thunder was stolen HHN 11. And although he had a bit part in a house in HHN 14, he has never been used to his potential. RUN was a lot like taking the bloodiest scenes from Saw and Hostel and forced them together for a battle to the death. Apparently Eddie RUN’s (Hee Hee Get it?) a warehouse where people can pay to watch people die. Well, at some point after entering the door, (I think you make it a foot.) YOU become the victim. There were many good scenes in this house. A lot of detailed gore. One was a room with a man swinging a lawnmower back and forth that would spin the blade and shoot “blood” on you. The best effect in the house was the electric chair scene. This scene you walk into and in the middle of the room there is a man strapped into a chair. As you get into the room, a person flips the switch and cooks the unlucky fellow. It was the strongest visual’s in the maze, and they sold it well. On your way out, you were greeted by Eddie and his oversized chainsaw. I’ll mention also, there were all kinds of trap doors around the house that had people drop it and scream “Run!” At one point we became stuck because of scaredy cats. We were told to Run 3 times. Finally we turned to him and said “Would if I could buster!” It was epic.
All Night DrIvE-In: Take 2 (Soundstage 23)- The Director is just an interesting character. Paulo Ravinski’s brand of realism was too much for his country. So he came to the America’s looking for a place to accept his work. This house was his second installment. This house brought you to The Thing, Hellraiser, Scream, Silence of the Lambs, The Ring and much more. I really loved the idea behind this maze. From the opening scenes where you walk through the directors cutting room, till you come face to face at the end. Each of the movies listed above had their best scenes exploited. In the Scream section you pass through the kitchen as Drew Berrymore’s character begs you for help, and Ghost Face springs from two different areas at random. Also in a moment of hilarity they add in the friend that get’s killed in the garage door (and she was still kicking!) The Hellraiser part was very hardcore, and you get dropped into it pretty quickly. The best visual in the house was for The Ring. You enter a busted up hospital room with strobing lights. I’m not really sure how this girl moved so fast, but she achieved the movie feel of appearing, disappearing, and reappearing before your eyes! And still as good as this house was, it still only made number 3!
ScreamHouse: Resurrection (Soundstage 23)- Albert Cain was the Caretaker of souls in 2002’s Islands of Fear. Twice before this house terrified guests. This Third time though, was something you weren’t soon to forget! One of the most massive of all the houses, Universal really pulled out the stops. The Facade outside was the exterior of a massive mortuary. Once you walked through the doors you entered a massive funeral parlor, where The Caretaker and some of his graveyard ghouls were there to greet you. You even have a cameo of his daughter Cindy preserved perfectly in a coffin. One very cool scene was just before you exit to the underground tunnels. There is a massive casket in the center of the room, with one of his fresher victims screaming to get out. The casket rocked and swayed, keeping everyone wondering what was going to jump out of it! The underground of the mortuary was very realistic. They used some kind of musty cedar smell (I think of HHN every time I walk past Garden Center). One of the coolest experiences we had in this house was with The Caretaker himself. As you would pass him, he would swing and snap his embalming scissors over your head. There was one point when he swung over a banister, and just barely missed us. Gave us a good jump, which is hard to do! As much as I loved this house, and as massive as it was, there was still one better…
PsychoScarepy: Maximum Madness (Soundstage 22)- Welcome to Shady Brook, were the patients are taken over and further warped by the sinister Jack “The Clown” Schmidt. This house was absolutely huge. I swear it took like 8 minutes to get through. This one, like Screamhouse, had a giant facade to help set the mood. You really felt like you were walking into an Asylum. When you walked in, you were greeted by a very disturbed nurse. From there it is a series of corridors and encounters with patients that have started worshipping Jack the Clown. My favorite scenes from this house were the main corridor, the poo room, and final room. The main corridor had a very cool effect. It was just after you met the nurse (who got you with her version of “Pop goes the Weasel”). As you walk down the hallway, you see all the cells are open and empty. As you get about halfway, the music over head dies out, and the lights fail. After a few seconds, you hear the end to pop goes the weasel, the lights come on, and a once empty hallway is filled with patients laughing hysterically. Towards the middle you come to the poo room (wonder why it’s called that?) This room is smeared in feces, and smells like it too! The most disturbing part was the “yum” written on the wall in it. Funny story, my friend Seth went through the house with us. As we got to the room, and smelled what it had to offer, the scareactors started in. He proceeds to lick the wall, where he then goes into a tangent about how it really is shit! I don’t know who was more disturbed us or the Scareactors. The Final scene with Jack the Clown was the most epic! The padded walls were all shredded and there were straight jackets strung across the ceiling. I was wearing my Jack the Clown shirt that night, so when Jack saw it he started pointing and giving me the devil horns. He even gave me a high-five, which was the most epic part of my night. This house has been on my number one for years. What was even better was when the guy behind me tried to give him one and he and three others jumped at him and scared the shit out of the guy! Wonder if someone collected that for the poo room later? Hmm…
So as good as the houses were, don’t you wonder how good the shows are? Well I can tell you they were refreshingly different. From a car-eating robot to a custom Cinesphere Spectacular directed by who else but The Director! This was the best year for shows, they were:
The Arrival- The Arrival show this year was my second favorite. The show was brought to you by Legend‘s Darkness (see left). Darkness would summon up the four icons from the ashes of horror nights past. When they would come forth they would each get a shot at a victim in a way that only that icon could. My favorite involved Jack the Clown…and an oversized blender (See video below). I give the show it’s props I really do. Especially the guy that played The Darkness. This guy had awesome presence and was a trooper walking around on stilts with giant horns on his head! I would like to describe more, but I assure you the video will do more justice.
Sweet 16: The Director’s Cut- This show was a first for Halloween Horror Nights. The year before, Universal added the Cinesphere Spectacular to the Lagoon. Four large movie spheres that they would edit together footage with fireworks for a completely unique experience that is absolutely breathtaking. So they let The Director in the editing room, and the result? A Cinesphere Spectacular with all your favorite scenes of horror, from Universal’s Legacy of Horror. altogether it was an experience like no other! Easily my favorite show in my Horror Nights history.
Robosaurus- There really is nothing like seeing a giant robot dinosaur eat a few cars and breathe fire. Especially when this robot is also eradicating a zombie horde! Robosaurus was a must see event! I really didn’t expect as much from this show. I mean how cool can a Robot Dinosaur be? Well, not only was he a robot Dinosaur, but he had a vehicle form! He was a freaking Transformer!! Anyway, when I saw where the show was on the map, I was curious as to how it was going to incorporate into Deadtropolis. It fit very well actually, and was themed to music from George Romero’s Land of the Dead. Just another epic show to round out a night full of them!
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure- The pentacle of everyone’s night, the slammers of all things pop-culture did again! The night was full of laughter in what was my second favorite Bill and Ted. There were so many YTMND references. Everything from Snakes on a Plane to “I’m the Juggernaught Bitch!” was represented. Universal even landed themselves in an axable position with their version of Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swan. (See Video’s Below. But Beware….you will laugh so hard it will change your world!)
The year was also home to some rather cool roaming attractions. The Chainsaw Drill Team was brought back to terrify guests. They were a group of militantly trained chainsaw weilding maniacs. They would be marched around by their drill sargent, and at his whim, would scatter and terrify those around them! The Rat Lady, was also brought back in a different way. She was carted around in a glass casket filled with her rats. But this time around she was followed by a ghoulish small marching band. Those two roaming shows really added to what became an awesome-dirty fun trip down Horror Nights Memory lane.
I loved this year, and it always gets my number one vote. Generally I tie it between HHN18 and this one. But as far as well rounded year, this one is full of win! Mtv “Super Sweet Sixteen” eat your heart out, because you got NOTHING on this one. So if you watched the Arrival video, you heard the mention of who would reign supreme. The answer to your question, may lie in next years event…
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
P.S. Be sure to check out the commercials for that year below. The first is the original, the one most everybody saw on their TV and on the internet. The second is a fan made commercial that quickly became a favorite in the Horror Nights community. I wish the song in it was my theme song!! Enjoy!
Once Upon a Time…Remembering Halloween Horror Nights 15
So, I told you that Encyclopedia Psychotika was taking a turn for something different this October. That turn is taking me back to my roots. Back to the core that is Malice. Ladies and Gentleman, Monsters and Ghouls, that very thing that is different is….the one….the only….Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights! I have altogether 4 years experience with the event, and that’s averaging 2-3 visits for those years. That doesn’t even include all of the hours clocked sleuthing the old site The Vault and Wiki for all things Halloween Horror Nights. As you can imagine, I’m quite the self-proclaimed expert. That being said, before we jump into this year, let’s take a look back at HHN of old. As you might have guessed, my first folly into the event was Halloween Horror Nights 15: Tales of Terror. Let’s explore…
2005 was an interesting year for Malice. I graduated, I started out on my own, I met the love of my life, and I went to my first Halloween Horror Nights. I had always wanted to go, but never ended up able to. That year I was my own man, and by God I was going! HHN 15 was presided over by the ever watchful Storyteller, Elsa Strict. You really never found out much about Elsa that year. You didn’t even find out her real name until the next year. All you really knew is this creepy old lady was going to aid in dragging you into the world of Terra Cruentus. This world was populated by all different flavors of demons, monsters, and madmen. All of which were under the dominion of the ever sadistic Terra Queen. Now if your kind of confused here, this is why. That year the Terra Queen was supposed to be the Icon. She was even featured on some of the shirts. However, there was trouble with the Queens costume, and the idea was scrapped for The Storyteller. Ultimately the confusion could have been cleared up by simply setting the old biddy at the gate reading a book. Giving you the feeling of as she is telling you the story, you are stepping into the world of Terra Cruentus. Also this year was the second year that the event was spread across both parks. It was the first year though that all the areas were tied in. As random as they may seem, the ideas, they were actually all in different service to the Queen to make the blade for the Ultimate Sacrifice. If you were an avid internet hound, you could have played along on the website and with the event and got to go to an exclusive bash on Halloween night were you find the ultimate sacrifice was the Queen herself! The whole storyline was just nicely thought out, and very interesting how they tied it all in.
Now that you are familiar with the event, let us talk about the Scarezones. Each Scarezone was themed to the houses around it. Overall they achieved greatness with this effect, with the exception of one. Here’s my impression of them.
Terra Guard Run (IOA Port of Entry)- This area was a good mood setter. You entered through the gates and were met by very tall demon-esque creatures on stilts. The Fog was very think, almost giving you the feeling of being transported into the book. As I said before, this area would have been ten times better if the would have added the Storyteller at the beginning of it. This area lead you to the Terra Throne where all the blood sacrifices were made. Like I said, this really set the mood for me.
Blood Thunder Alley (Marvel Island)- My favorite area of the event. An area that looked to be Mad Max and From Dusk Till Dawn’s love child. Vampire Bikers everywhere. Dancing girls in cages. And Chainsaws….oooh the CHAINSAWS!!! Ultimately the best one as far as design.
North Hollow (Toon Lagoon)- This was the coolest area looks wise. An area filled with strange beings that would jump out of the fog at you. The cool part came from the laser light effect cutting through the fog over your head making it look like you were covered in a sheet of green fog. The only thing I would really complain about is the lack of scares in this area.
Cemetery Mines (Jurassic Park)- I feel this one won my vote for the most scares. With the thick jungle atmosphere, it was easy to hide bush men. And the mole people! Don’t get me started. I made a pet of one and named him Spike. All in, I think the scareactors in this area did a good job of reacting to the people (I made my pet attack a flock of blondes…yes I’m that good!). There was a second part to this zone too, although I don’t feel they made it prominent enough. The Body Collectors could be seen marching through the area, after “harvesting” some fresh organs. It kind of made me take a step back at first because they looked like the Silent Gentlemen from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Fire Pits (The Lost Continent)- This area was supposed to be the Medieval aspect of the event. Using the theming of the area, they were able to really nail it on the head. However I was left wondering why this part was so devolved. They were in the middle-ages, and still mastered the craftsmanship to make chainsaws. That part was a bit inconsistent. The trolls were a nice touch, but the stench from the chainsaws and the fumes from the gas torches coupled with entirely too much smoke, I was really never able to enjoy this zone.
South Hollow (Suess Landing)- This area was the problem child. They came up with the excuse about halfway through the event that this area was only to be open on peak nights. I know because I went once earlier in the month and two other times. I only saw them attempt this area once and it sucked. The area was populated with the same characters as the North Hallow. There really was no other theming then that. In fact when I went through, there were no lights, no nothing. I got concerned because I thought the park was closing. They dropped the ball here, that’s for sure.
The Houses that year also hold a special place in my heart. One of my top 5 actually comes from this year. Here was my impressions:
Demon Cantina (Carnage Warehouse)- I loved this house above all others that year. I’m such a fan of From Dusk Till Dawn, there was no way I COULDN’T love this you. Your setting is in an old out west bar (much like the one in the movie). Before you walk in they had a barfing man animatronic outside, giving you either the gross out factor or simply just to distract you. The whole bar is over run with vampires, from the bartender to the patrons. A few scenes to note is the exploding toilet in the bathroom scene (which to add to the gross out factor has what seemed to be a dead body sitting on it). The strobe section is really what caught me and my group off guard. The effect the strobes gave make the vampires look like they were moving around the room at blinding speed. Then the whole house ends with the Devil himself (or what seems to be). I just couldn’t get enough of this house.
The Skool (Thunder Falls Terrace)- The Skool left me with mixed feelings. Although I did enjoy the thought of a Skool being taken over by the students, and the little ones in turn making a mess of everything (and everyone!) I just didn’t feel it was executed as well as it could have been. The maze really relied too much on making you jump because of a loud noise rather than trying for an honest to goodness scare. I did enjoy the teacher being hanged at the very end with a bag over her head. The anything I could think of was Alice Coopers “Schools out.” I will give them kudos for making sure all of the Scareactors were pint-sized. (Not midgets, just really short.)
Blood Ruins (Soundstage 22)- Of course the soundstage houses are generally the best. They have the most room, and creative can get an extra head start on them if need be. Blood Ruins really sold the atmosphere that the Fire Pit was going for a hundred fold! Then you walk in, you are met with the facade of an old village ravaged by the plague and death. Bodies strung in front of the gates and this odd burning smell. (That smell get’s stronger later and you find it’s burning flesh…is it bad it made me hungry?) As your walking through, the villagers reach out for help in some cases. Most though are hell-bent on killing you, or hitting you with a side of beef in one instance. There were plenty of little easter eggs through the house. One of which was the Egyptian Book of Life (the gold one from The Mummy). I’m not sure why it was the Book of Life. Maybe it was for irony? At any rate, it was a solid house with solid scares. The only problem was the amount of stuff in some areas. There was one section of the house where I remember people nearly falling over, because some idiot in front knocked a bunch of props over. Props that you almost couldn’t see because of how dark it was.
Where Evil Hides (Soundstages 18 and 19)- Where do I start? This was a fun house. As close as you could come to an icon house that year. Where Evil Hides was an assault on your childhood fears. Whispers, open doors (a whole hallways of them!), the boogeyman, etc… The facade was that of an old house. Much you would expect to see in any neighborhood. A HHN 15 version of Michael Myers could be seen stalking the front yard (After all he is the boogeyman, right?) The most notable scene was a childs room. You walk into the room to see a little girl sitting on the bed and pointing at the wall. Well, when you fell for it and looked, you were met with a werewolf that would roll out from under the bed and pounce for the scare. (Another time it was a Leatherface-esque maniac bursting out of the closet.) It’s also notable that this house was two stories (You can’t face all your childhood fears without a trip to the Attic). The Trip upstairs brings you face to face with the Storyteller in a scene from the commercial (see below).
Cold Blind Terror (Soundstage 20)- If you have ever dropped acid and been on a bad trip, you’ve experienced this house. Modeled after the Disorientorium from the year before, this maze brought you through a total onslaught to your senses. Unfortunately, at that point in the night, me and my goofy troop put my darling Seras to the front of the line. (We gave the house too much credit!) There were a few scenes that impressed me. One was a black and white patterned room with strobes and people dressed just like the walls. Made the walls look like they were moving. My favorite room had one of the coolest effects in the world. You walk into a solid white room with 2 statues in the middle. On the wall there is a cluster of those really bright 3 million watt flood lights. When those go off, you can’t see because of your eyes being so used to the light. When they come back on the statues are gone and two men dressed like the statues are in the room. This is the part I couldn’t explain. Somehow, one managed to get in between Seras and me, and one in front of Seras. They got right in my face without touching me or Seras, and we were less than 3 inches apart when the lights went out. Other than that room you went through a series of lame scenes (backlight room with scareactors on skates, room filled with bubbles…and nothing else, and a room where I swear the scareactors forgot about, because nobody was there!) I will say it made me laugh though.
Unfortunately, I was unable to hit 2 of the houses. I don’t know how I managed to miss them, I think because my time management skills were not as they are today! I can however tell you what they were about:
Body Collectors (Jurassic Park Discovery Center)- I heard this house was the favorite. It really killed me to miss this one. I think I missed it because I could never find the entrance. The only entrance I ever found was the express, and I kept getting lost finding the other. The story here was about a group of sadistic madmen that call themselves The Body Collectors. (Guess what they did?) These psychos would harvest organs, blood, and bone to aid in making the Terra Throne Blade. I’ve seen pictures, and have gone to the second version of this house (I will get to that later!) That being said I can tell you it must have been super impressive. This house is my White Buffalo (…the one that got away…)
Terror Mines (Poseidon’s Fury)-The rumors of this house is what kept me cautious . The hype however was better than what I’ve heard from others. The hype was you were going through the mines with the only source of light being a miner’s helmet (A light source that would go out in intervals). This didn’t translate well. Only every fifth person got a hat, and it didn’t work all the time. The mole people as cool as they were, never really popped in this house. From what I’ve heard the concept was there, they just didn’t pull it off. Maybe because they had to theme around the ride Poseidon’s Fury? At any rate, this was voted everyone’s least favorite.
I would also like to mention the shows. This was back when there wasn’t a whole lot of emphasis on them. There were only two, and one was more of an arrival show than anything.
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure- There is no HHN without this show. It has become as integral as the houses themselves. This year was one of the best. In some aspects I consider it the best. If you have never been, this show is an assault on anything and everything po culture (NOTHING IS SACRED!!) 2005 gave them plenty of ammo (Star Wars, Batman, Willy Wonka, Dukes of Hazzard, The Ring, Family Guy, etc… and even the Fast Food Icons!!) It was definitely a you had to be there moment. Trust me if you find it on YouTube….it’s worth a watch!
The Terra Throne- Every HHN has an Arrival show. For this year you were welcomed to the world of Terra Cruentus by the Terra Throne. This was where they made nightly (OK Hourly) blood sacrifice to the Terra Queen. The ceremonies were presided over by the Queens lacky Eel Mouth. He would wander through the crowd spouting off his speeches of praise for the Queen. Planted actors were then taken to the altar for sacrifice by different mutilation ranging from knife to chainsaw!
The only thing I have really left out was the Rat Run. It was a large chain link fence area that really had no point. There were air blowers throughout it so people passing by could offer their own little scare. Or sometimes they were on the reverse, and you could get them! The whole thing was built around a tower where Jack the Clown would taunt and harass you. There wasn’t a whole lot of point to it, but it was fun for a laugh.
My overall opinion of the event was one of awe. It has been the last event to be over in Islands of Adventure. I’m kind of glad they stopped the two park thing. It made it very difficult to get from one end to the other. I also feel that you are limited in your scarezones in IOA because of the different island themes. Universal is a little more neutral in that respect. I have fond memories of that year, and as they say you never forget your first. Make sure you check out the commercial below for the event. This is the end of this tale….but only the prelude to the next chapter….
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
A Change in Plans…
Hello, My Freaky Darlings…
Well as some of you may know I had a few plans coming up in October. I was going to Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend. There I was going to get some really good interviews, catch some really good shows, and review a convention. Life it seems has interrupted those plans! That is not what fate has chosen to put in my way. I’m a little disappointed. I was looking forward to meeting some good people and delivering My Freaky Darlings some pretty cool interviews. As those aren’t happening, I do apologize. There is still some rather cool coverage coming up from some rather epic people. But as far as the extra-special cool interview I originally promised you, it is no more…….but did you really think i would let that stop me My Freaky Darlings…..
This Mad Man is cooking up something monstrously epic for you! It’s time this Psychotik goes back to his roots. Back to the start of where my October fun came from. I’m going to offer you an epic review, but it’s going to be on something I’m an expert at. As far as interviews go, hang on to your freak hats, because I’m lining up some stuff I’m sure to impress. My plans might have been changed, but I’ll still deliver you the madness you crave….Hang on to your seats, this is going to be a truly FRIGHTENING ride!
Sadistically Yours,
Malice Psychotik
P.S. I hope you all enjoy the new layout….
Ladies and Gentleman, Steve Dash!
Very few people can start a new in the film business at 66 years old. I’m had the pleasure of interviewing such a man. Steve Dash is a true Phoenix from the ashes. Out of nowhere he has hit the scene again and hard with several lead and supporting roles in up and coming films. So far he has come back with roles as a Mob Boss all the way to a Control Freak Cop. And the man still has more to come! I hope you all find this interview as enlightening as I have. So with out another word or further delay…..
Ladies and Gentleman, Steve Dash!
Malice: I’m here today with Steve Dash. You all may know him as the REAL Jason in Friday the 13th: Part 2, but truth be told he is so much more than that. So, Steve Dash, it looks like you have been busy lately. With several films coming out and more on the way I’m sure. How do you make time for it all?
Dash: Yes I am busy and I am fortunate that I can take as much time as needed to do film work. I worked pretty steady back in the 80s & 90s and had to re-establish my self in 2009 when I got back in the business. Like I said I was fortunate that my reputation preceded me and I was able to work again.
Malice: So I was looking at the trailer for Trust Me, I have to say you make a really convincing Mob Boss. Can you tell me anything about this movie?
Dash: I was doing a film 13 with Jason Strathom, Ray Liotta and several other named stars.
It’s a film about Russian Roulette and gambling on who will live and who will die. It’s not like the Friday the 13, I am one of the many gamblers who is betting on which contestant will win the game. While shooting the film a fellow by the name of Roberto Rizzo, a writer, saw me on set and asked me star in his new film Trust Me as mob boss
Frank DeLeo. He liked the way I carried myself as a bad guy and that’s why he offered me the role. I took it and we shot a short version of hoping to get money to complete the film which we are doing now.
Malice: What kind of research did you do for the role? Any specific inspiration?
Dash: I did nothing, I was just me. I was brought up in an Italian neighborhood in the Bronx and have been around wanna be mobsters all my life, it was easy
Det. Vorhees in Thomas Churchill's Emerging Past
Malice: Another film that looks quite interesting is Emerging Past. How did you come across this role?
Dash: I got a call from my friend Tony Moran who was the first Michael Myers. He told me he was asked to do this horror film Emerging Past and only make a cameo appearance. He told them he couldn’t as he was on the west coast but suggested they call me as I was on the east coast where they were shooting, they were thrilled and didn’t know I was in NY
I called David Madison who was the producer and he explained that they wanted to have several horror names for the film to promote it better for release. He had Tom Churchill the director call me to set up a date we could shoot, we got together and I became Detective Vorhees name taken from the Jason character I played in Friday the 13th: Part 2.
Malice: Is there anything you can tell us about “Det. Vorhees”?
Dash: He is a control freak who comes onto a horrific murder scene in a basement when a photographer comes on the scene and is snapping pictures. The way it was shot is very dramatic and I give kudos to director Tom Churchill for taking such a small part and making it larger than life on-screen.
Malice: I’ve been keeping close tabs on the upcoming Mr. Hush, ever since I had the pleasure of sitting down with the Director Dave Madison. All of the characters in this movie I find interesting. What kind of character is “Mac”? How is he involved in the story?
Dash: “Mac” is a great character, he is the guy in the film that breaks the tension of what is going on and shows the leading character (Brad Loree) in a very personal way. He’s a very take charge kinda guy, when Mac comes on screen the movie moves in another direction and then all of a sudden you are back in the suspense of what is going on
Malice: Having acted in the movie, what’s your take on the movie? What do you think viewers can expect?
Dash: Since I have only read the script and was privileged to be on set during some of the other shots, it looks like a good horror film. I can tell you this, it’s different. I expect it to be good, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it.
Malice: With Weekend of Fear being your last convention, is there anything your going to miss?
Dash: No nothing, I have done so many conventions over the last 5 years to satisfy my ego that I feel it is time to focus on my new film career. Don’t get me wrong Jason was my ticket but I have a lot more to give and hope to go in that direction.
Malice: I’ve always been interested in stunts. To act the hit is one thing, but to take it is a completely different ball game. You were a stunt driver in Night Shift (1982), is it easier doing acting stunts or vehicle stunts?
Dash: Remember I was an actor first and a stuntman second. I was fortunate enough that one of the top stunt coordinators in the country, Cliff Cudney, took a liking to me and helped me be a stuntman. I think being an actor first was a big help. Back in the 80s I was only 1 of maybe 5 guys that could act and do stunts at the same time. Being able to do both saved film companies lots of money because they didn’t have to hire a stunt double.
Malice: I also couldn’t help but notice you’ve done stunts in one of my all time favorite movies, The Ghost Busters. You stunted for William Atherton, also known as Walter Peck if I read correctly. What type of stunts did you do? You weren’t the one covered in marshmallow at the end were you?
Dash: Yes, I was, I doubled him so he wouldn’t get the junk all over him. I also was involved in the big car crash, when all the cars merge into each other as the ghost comes over the building, I was driving a taxi in the mess.
Malice: Of all the roles you have played, which one is you all time favorite?
Dash: I have to say Frank DeLeo in Trust Me, first of all it was my first lead in a film and second a lot of the script was written with my personality in mind.
Malice: It was nice of you to take the time with me Steve, before I go is there anything you would like to add?
Dash: I am now 66 years old and on a new film career. I have decided to do only films where I get a credit in the front of the film not the back, in other words I will only do roles that have some meat in them and I can express my creative juices to show what I can do. You would be surprised at how many characters I can portray. In October I am playing a southern sheriff in a film called Alive in Reywood, I hope you interview then when I am finished with that film.
You heard it Ghouls and Guys! Keep on the look out for Steve in some of his upcoming films. There will be a showing of Emerging Past at the Freak Show Film Festival which will take place on October 9, 2010 at 3:30PM at Spooky empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend. For all of you fans up north,the premier of Mr. Hush at Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear will be October 23, 2010. Both movie’s look to be absolutely incredible, and I can’t wait to review them both! That’s all for today…
Until Next Time… My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
((For the full collaborative interview between Trash Cinema Collective’s Primal Root and myself, head on over to From Dusk Till Con))
Dusker of the Month for September: Athena Hollow
It’s that time again! Time to unveil the next Dusker of the Month. That Dusker is Athena Hollow!! Yes Ghouls and Guys, our very own multi-tasking, super mom, porn star is September’s Dusker. So let’s get to know her. Let’s look a little into the very psyche of her mind. Let’s just….
Take It Off! Getting Personal with Athena Hollow
Dusker of the Month for September, Athena Hallow
Malice: We have a real treat for Dusker of the Month this month. She’s our very own video game loving, anime watching, horror fan, Super Mom, web designing, Adult Model…..ATHENA HOLLOW everybody! So Athena, I have never asked this before….How did you stumble upon From Dusk Till Con? (Yeah, that’s the question…what did you think it was…perverts…)
Athena: Actually, it’s because of my Father in Law. He informed me of the FM convention. I checked out the site, and at the time, the official forum was being hosted on FDTC. I signed up and found myself surrounded by people like myself. That alone is a scary thought… more than one person who thinks like I do. Needless to say, I stuck around and *ALMOST* got to meet a lot of you while in town for said con. Unfortunately, life sucks and it didn’t work out. Oh well, always other conventions 🙂
Malice: One of the hardest things about getting to know someone on a forum is you only see whats posted. You never get to see the whole story! Tell us a little about yourself…
Athena: Well, I live a relatively boring life, all things considered. I used to be fun and adventurous, but then I became domesticated somehow. I do however still lead an exciting life by everyone else’s standards. I guess that’s because I get paid to look at hot naked chicks all day.
I’m 25 years old, have a 4-year-old daughter, I’ve been with the same guy for 7 1/2 years, involved in porn for 7 of that and make websites for a living. Not really glamorous, but it works for me 🙂
Aren't the little ones darling...?
Malice: What kind of music are you into?
Athena: I really listen to a lot of different music. It’s hard to narrow it down. Lots of classic rock like Rush & Skynard. Also, J-Pop/Happy Hardcore and acts like Tub Ring, Mindless Self-Indulgence and mc chris. I’m an oddball and not ashamed to admit it.
Malice: Are there any films that have caught your interest?
Athena: Oh man. LOTS of movies have caught my interest. Lately, movies I *want* to see are Inception, Scott Pilgrim & the new Predator flick. Movies I *have* seen, that really struck me, were Salt, Diary of a Wimpy Kid (hilarious, btw) and I finally watched The Mist. Goddamn that movie is a mindscrew.
Athena as Hinata....
Malice: You’re a fan of anime. Which one’s capture your eye?
Athena: I prefer the more obscure anime and one season mainstream anime. The best I’ve found are FLCL, Saber Marionette series & Angel Sanctuary. If you want super gory anime that makes no sense whatsoever, Angel Sanctuary is where it’s at.
Malice: What about video games. Which ones press your buttons?
Athena: Fallout 3 is one of the best games I’ve ever played. Zombies, Super Mutants and scorpions that can rip you in half with one flick of their pinchers. Currently though, until Fallout: New Vegas comes out, I’ve been playing a lot of Dungeons and Dragons: Online. It’s free, it’s fun and I can get nearly anyone I know to play it for those reasons.
Malice: How often do you frequent the convention circuit? Any favorites?
Athena: I actually am terrible. I have yet to get to a single horror convention. (I know, I know). I am a gaming con kinda girl. That being said, I have gone to Gen Con a few times and there’s a local Bi-Mon-Anime/Sci-Fi-Con that I used to go to regularly.
I do, however, plan on going to the Indianapolis cons next year. Luckily, I *should* be able to get Press Passes and go for free, which means more money for autographs and swag!
Tinker who?
Malice: So I’m interested, what got you into adult modeling?
Athena: Honestly, it started as a 9th grade English assignment. We were told to write an essay on what we wanted to be when we were adults. I wrote mine about how I wanted to become a famous singer. (sidenote: I’ve been involved in music since a very young age. I’ve done talent & solo competitions for years, and actually placed in the top 3 every time, if not 1st.) I knew I’d need some sort of ‘edge’ to get noticed immediately, so I figured “Fuck it. I’ll do porn! It worked for Pamela & Tommy Lee!” So called ‘negative’ publicity is the best way to get your name in every newspaper, tabloid and internet blog. It was a sound theory. My english teacher even gave me an A for such thorough planning and originality.
Once I turned 18, I applied to my first site, got accepted and actually have been active on the site since then. The rest just kind of fell into place.
Malice: How long have you been at it?
Athena: It was 7 years this past July. Long time, for most people in the adult industry, let alone in the niche I work in.
Malice: What made you decide to open your personal website, Geek Girls Online?
Athena: It was actually my fiance’s idea. He’s still not too happy with the fact that I just sort of took over the project, back in the first few months. I knew that if I were running things, it would bode better for the future of the site, since I had a background in the adult industry, was relatively known and had a penchant for ethical pornography.
Malice: Have you gotten any strange requests? Anything just out there?
Athena: All The Time! The weirdest are the guys who want me to ‘laugh’ at the size of their schlong. I just don’t get it. They want me to do this while I’m camming, in public chat, where everyone can hear me laughing. Oh, and the guys that want to roleplay family stuff. Those guys freak me out just a wee bit. Which is an impressive feat, in and of itself.
Malice: What are your hopes for the future of your site?
Athena: Eventually, I would like to integrate a more social aspect of the site. I also have been working on setting up games to integrate into the site, but that has been proven to be a bit more difficult that we could imagine. Also, daily articles for the GeekZine (our currently monthly magazine) would be nice. Oh! And a presence at all major gaming conventions would help to make it a more household name.
Malice: So it’s a tradition here that I ask you a round of totally out the pocket questions….are you game?
Athena: Always!
Malice: A nun and a Trucker walk into a Church….Can you finish the joke?
Athena: The trucker enters a confessional booth and states “Forgive me father, for I have sinned”
The priest responds “What are your sins my son?”
The trucker says “I have cheated on my wife with a man named Sam”
The priest says “Say seven holy marys and all will be forgiven”
The trucker thanks the priest and leaves the booth.
The nun walks to the priest and asks to join his church.
The priest responds “What is your name my child?”
The nun responds “My name is Sam.”
(You never said I had to finish it so it was funny!)
Malice: Would you consider a photo shoot….with a midget furry?
Athena: I most definitely would, as long as they were dressed up as an Ewok.
Malice: Would you rather do a spread as Princess Zelda or Tifa Lockheart of Final Fantasy VII?
Athena: Tifa. Zelda is a bitch that keeps getting hijacked. I assume we’d get halfway through doing it and Ganon would break through the door and interrupt.
Malice: If you got to pick your end would you:
A) Get sucked dry by a vampire B) Be Eaten by a Were-Wolf C) Mauled by a Zombie D) Killed by James “Buffalo Bill” Gumb
Athena: Zombie. I wouldn’t have to chance being a twinkling bastard, no waiting till a full moon and dealing with an obviously painful transformation and my skin is sun damaged, so Buffalo Bill would HATE me.
Malice: In closing do you have anything you would like to add?
Athena: Um. Jeepers Creepers sucks. That is all.
Malice: Where’s your one place for Madness on the Web?
Athena: What’s the best place to go for zombies, insanity and mayhem? Encyclopedia Psychotika! (You mean, there’s other places to go??)
There you have it folks! If you are interested in Miss Athena Hollow and feel you can’t get enough, you can follow her blog, Demented Rants or catch her on Twitter. Also be sure to check out her site Geek Girls Online. Hope you all enjoyed the interview. There is much more madness to come….you won’t want to miss a second. But for tonight…
Until Next Time, My Freaky Darlings,
Malice Psychotik
Encyclopedia Psychotika 