You know, my life is busy.  Very busy.  Also, my handwriting is sloppy when taking notes quickly.  Very sloppy.  These two factors contribute to me taking over a month to write this (and the next one about a con I went to the week after this one).  I uploaded the pics to facebook fairly early on (if you've added me, you've can see them) with captions but not with full report notes.  I saved those for here to save time.  Then life intervened.  But now, I have a spare moment, and I've transcribed three days worth of notes from a tiny press notebook into 6 pages of singlespaced Word notes.  So, let's get started.

FRIDAY:

It should be noted that Fangoria this year returned to Manhattan for the first time in at least a few years.  (They'd been in Secaucus for some time.)  They held their event in the Jacob K. Javitz Center, about 10-11 blocks south of Madison Square Garden.  It looks like this:

 

   

 

Ooo...modern-arty.  And yes, the quality of these shots is quite subpar and there's a reason for that, which we'll come to.  Now, before someone thinks this was a big convention, that registration table is for a home design and decor expo that was setting up for the coming week.  To reach Fango, you walk around that....go down an escalator...down another escalator...and into the room.  To put that in perspective, I was told at one point that the room in which they held the convention was the room in which they held JUST the panel discussions at the East Coast Comic-Con.  For the love of God, use the space. 

Now you might be thinking this is just the vendor's room.  You'd be wrong.  To the right (off camera) is the screening room (small).  To the left (off camera) is the photo-op room (small).  Inside is the vendors room....and the panel room.  In one.  Separated by a black curtain that only covers half the space, vertically between the two rooms.  Repeating.  Vendors room in SAME ROOM with the panel room.  Let the numerous flaws of that sink in for a second.  Then take a closer look.  See those little pink lines in the room?  Those are T-Mobile Mobile Makeover sales people.  Yeah.  One of the vendors at a HORROR CON....was T-Mobile wandering around asking people to change service.  Which tells you how much trouble they must've had getting vendors.

First thing I did when I went inside continued to set the tone for how angry this convention made me:

 

BETSY PALMER

 

 

Ms. Palmer was very nice (she does that pose without being asked....don't look at me like that).  There's also a reason these photos look better than the others...again, later.  But I also learned some very important things from her.  See, in order to do this convention properly, I learned last year to use package deals.  Last year, I was able to get a Silver pass and get into the party (saving a ton of money on photo-ops).  This year they closed it to all but Gold people.  So I bought a gold pass.  As part of that pass deal, you get a card.  Like so:

 

 

 

That card represents complimentary autographs...from basically everyone.  Now here's the flaw.  This pass cost me a substantial amount of money.  Enough that it was feasible that my theory that a buck or two would go to each celeb who agreed to the deal would make sense.  Which was why I was angry all weekend (and grew more annoyed as the same thing kept happening to Danny Manfredini, the cast of Last House on the Left, and Ari Lehman) when I found out from Betsy Palmer that either they did not tell the celebrities about the gold passes or did not make their benefits clear to the celebs.  This meant the celebs, who normally might charge 20 or 30 for an autograph...were getting no money for this.  Creation Entertainment and Fangoria took all the money from the tix.  Ms. Palmer left within the hour after the con began on Friday.  She didn't return until after her panel on Saturday...for a couple hours.  Then she was gone the rest of the weekend and frankly I don't blame her.  It's insanely disrespectful to not tell celebrities about this aspect, whether you agree with them charging for autographs or not.  Thus, the sad sorry state of this con (in terms of logistics and organization) began.  Moving on, I headed.....through the curtain (the pure unmitigated idiocy of that will become apparent more and more)....to the panel room.

 

GUILLERMO DEL TORO AND CHUCK HOGAN

 

(L to R:  Tony Timpone, Chuck Hogan, Del Toro, and the head of Creation whose name I don't know)

Let's get something out of the way right now. I really dont like Tony Timpone.  One of the many reasons I read Rue Morgue is because its current editor-in-chief is a tattoo covered woman with flamingly orange-red hair who speaks to her readers like one of them.  Their previous editor went on to make award winning horror shorts and still writes for the magazine from time to time.  As is obvious, they both have a love of the genre.  Tony Timpone dresses like a used car salesman.  He looks like a used car salesman.  He acts like a used car salesman.  At a convention, I have never once seen him effectively guide a panel.  I've also never once seen, on any level, him show true, honest, heartfelt love of the genre.  I.  Don't.  Like him.  Moving on.
Del Toro and Hogan were there to discuss their new vampire novel "The Strain".  They were on a book tour and literally ran in just to do this panel (which shows a lot of respect for fans that seems to jive with how unbelievably kind I've heard Del Toro is.)  As I usually do, here's stream of consciousness as to what was discussed:  Originally the novel's idea was pitched to Fox by Del Toro as a series idea.  After they declined it, Fringe mysteriously had a premiere involving a 747 much like the opening of The Strain does...but he's not claiming plagiarism.  Because Del Toro would not go PG13, The Strain did not become a movie instead.  Del Toro on Twilight:  "Vampires are brutal creatures, they do not fucking sparkle, they want to rip your throat out." and "I'm too fat and ugly to believe in beautiful vampirism." and finally, that Twilight "doesn't fucking peel [his] banana.".  The book, however was not writtten as a response to Twilight.  The book does go into detail about vampire biology and as Del Toro says, ""If you want to know what happens to vampire's peepees, this is the book.".  The novel's characters include a Mexican gangbanger and vampire hunters who are not professionals.  The idea of the novel was also based in the idea of the reality of coming home and feeling like you want to eat your family.  One of Del Toro's greatest vampire influences was a book called "Living Vampires, Dead Vampires".  They were stories told as matter of fact and "fuck you if you don't believe them".  There is humor in The Strain, but it isn't necessarily intentional.  Del Toro also believes that mystical creatures should be treated like real animals and like they exist. The Strain is the first part of a proposed trilogy.  The second book is well on it's way, and the third will begin after he films "The Hobbit".  Del Toro is also a gamer, having finished Call of Duty 4 and is currently playing Left 4 Dead.  Bookwise beyond the afforementioned stories, Del Toro was influenced on vampires by Dracula, I Am Legend, Count Magnus, Carmilla, and Salem's Lot.  Moviewise, his world is based in Let The Right One In and Martin (for it's portrayal of the loneliness of that life.  He loved the power of Martyrs but won't watch it again (much like he felt about Funny Games).  He loved Firefly, but True Blood didn't grab him and as for Buffy, "[he's] waiting for a boner to watch it, but it hasn't happened."  Del Toro called working on "The Hobbit" very nice karma and related a story of how Peter Jackson met him at the airport in New Zealand with a gift of Warhammer models that he has since painted and used.  He mentioned that his favorite special effects were in The Thing, saying "Bottin is a sick bastard" and his favorite prosthetics were in Amadeus and The Exorcist.

NOW.  About that panel room.  About midway through the panel, one of the members of GWAR took it upon himself to stand at one of the openings and yell that people should go to the GWAR table.  At what point did it seem like a good idea to the organizers to connect the rooms?

 

HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS

 

 

Hey, you know what's funny?  When you put a panel room RIGHT NEXT TO A VENDOR ROOM.....the vendor room gets noisy.  And when the vendor room gets noisy, it drowns out the panels.  In theory that defeats the purpose, which is why you DONT FREAKING DO THAT.

 

So, the Godfather of Gore.  Smartly, they basically just gave Lewis a mike and let him roll whichever way he went.  Super nice guy (I'd talked to him beforehand at his table in the vendors room about the Grand Guignol).  First, he previewed his upcoming new film "Grim Fairy Tales" with a clip of a person playing on a game show called 'Uh-Oh" during which she loses an arm.  (and later has it sewn back on).  He says the movie is about a channel that discovers it has a hit with the violent game show "Uh-Oh".  In response, they request a new show called Grim Fairy Tales (that is also of course violent) from which the movie gets its name.  I asked him during the panel if he had a favorite current director to which he replied "Anybody who puts their head in that lion's mouth has my respect."  Lewis says the idea in Grim Fairy Tales is that no one gets killed.  It's more to make people say "Isn't that ridiculous."  Lewis believes that digital is the future (over film).  Lewis also mentioned that it is his voice on the soundtrack to 2000 Maniacs and proceeded to lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of the theme complete with yeeeeeehas.  The original guy they were going to use had a voice that was too high and Lewis took no screen credit for doing the song.  In terms of his impact, Lewis said that it made no difference how primitive the movie was back then and that as a result of their work, certain special effects and gore effects exist and are able to be purchased.  Interestingly, Lewis also mentioned that people protested his movies but that there was no legislation in place against violence (just sex and language).  As such, the government's hands were tied.  Lewis also mentioned a movie he's in development on and filming called "Mr. Bruce and the Gore Salon", about a weight clinic that removes fat from people and replaces with stainless steel. It has a London Sheraton character that is analogue of Paris Hilton.  Lewis believes the main idea of his movies is to have a good time.  On Wizard of Gore, Lewis called it Murphy's Law in movie form. Mitchell camera was supposed to be built to last but left them with a full day's worth of dead film, for example.  Also, a carcass was supposed to be ripped from top to bottom.  In so doing, they got carcass all over rug of house they were using, cops were called.

 

LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT VILLAIN REUNION:

 

(L to R, not guy on right:  Marc Scheffler, David Hess, Fred Lincoln)

Three of the four Last House on the Left villains were there (Jeramie Rain was having knee surgery).  Regarding the remake they thought the direction and camera were good, but that that was to be expected, and the rest was crap.  Also, they believe the original was a product of it's time and had chemistry the remake did not.  Also, in the original people talked less about the rape (which was more implied) and more about the film as a snuff film (according to them).  In the remake, critics focused on the rape.  The actors bonded during the original and had lots of fun when they weren't acting.  Regarding the movie's ad campaign, the men said that it worked particularly because of the movie's verite style. There also was no true story, it was all advertising and the film originally had 3 other titles that failed before the actual one and the advertising campaign.  The film was originally inspired by Ingmar Bergman's Virgin Spring.The men are also pursuing a lawsuit over residuals.  Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham originally wanted this film to be a porno, but the actor's refused leaving us where we are today with both their careers.  Last House was also funded with money from a Marilyn Chambers movie.  The actors also believe that their characters never intended to kill their victims.  In terms of quotes, Sheffler said this has had the most impact of all the TV he's ever done, David Hess said in terms of acting, "It's easy to get into the dark side, but it's hard to get out without changing.  Lincoln was the most talkative and interesting.  He's still involved with the adult industry ("I'd rather fuck, kiss, suck, etc. than kill").  He also said the original script was one of the most disgusting things ever and mentioned he was supposed to decapitate someone and have sex with their neck and body ("Who does this?").  But the message that should be taken away from how they felt and feel about the role was probably when Lincoln said "If one asshole sees this and does something, I'd be ashamed for the rest of my life."

I then left the panel room to hit the film room to see the highly anticipated....

 

DEAD SNOW

 

Dead Snow, reviewed elsewhere on the site quite effectively by Will from the UK, is amazing.  Pure and simple.  Full disclosure, I missed roughly 10-15 minutes of the opening due to the other panel, but it appears all I missed was footage of them frolicking in the snow really.  This movie...is the Norwegian version of what happens when Evil Dead meets Dead Alive....with NAZIS.  The characters are engaging, the movie is fun on every level and the visuals are amazing (can you say on-rushing batallion of Nazi zombie soldiers?).  Best of all though is that Dead Snow has some of the most inventive gore shots in my recent memory and a brilliant sense of humor.  This is the tip of the iceberg:  machine gun snowmobile, hammer and sickle, chainsaw, beating zombies with parts of other zombies.  This is not just a must see.  This is a holy mother of God why are you still reading this go see it now movie.

 

SATURDAY

 

 

 

On Saturday, I met Marilyn Burns and saw a bit of a panel for the new Jack Ketchum adaptation "The Offspring".  I remember nothing of the panel as it was early, so I do apologize for that but I do have....

 

TRAILERS

 

There was a long...LONG...trailer reel.  I tried my best to pick out the ones that seemed either interesting, different, or new and I've uploaded my picks for the best to the video section for your perusal.  I make no claims on the movies themselves (with the exception of Dead Snow and as you will see momentarily, Dead Air) but the trailers do look good for low-budget movies, independent movies, documentaries, horror-comedies, and straight horror films.  My picks for the best trailers:  The Children, Grace, Hysterical Psycho, Skeleton Crew, Pig Hunt, Not Quite Hollywood, I Sell the Dead, George's Intervention, Dead Air, and Dead Snow.  I'd link to them, but it's just as easy for you guys, when this is done, to go take a look at the video page since they're all there, one after the other.  After that it was time for....

 

TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL

 

Also known as:  two understudies (maybe?) perform songs out of costume on stage without any set pieces at all.  Don't get me wrong, I love the musical and will see it again before it leaves NYC, but this was just sad.  They performed "The Legend of the Toxic Avenger", "Evil is Hot", and "Hot Toxic Love".  Jesus, get a guy in a Toxie suite at least!  It was at about this point I realized just how stunningly empty this convention was for a Saturday.  Moving on was:

 

HELLRAISER REUNION PANEL

 

 

Doug Bradley and Ashley Laurence (who's wearing sunglasses because of cornea issues).

Doug Bradley's Favorite Hellraiser parts:  The tortures in 1 and 2 and the audience of death in 3.  For the most part, he's happy with the series but wishes some hadn't been taken to theaters.  Said 5 6 and 7 were all made into Hellraiser movies from pre-existing screenplays.  Ashley Laurence's first screen test was with Doug playing her father and Pinhead. Barker's initial direction to her: "Your uncle's in your father's skin and he's trying to have sex with you and kill you, maybe not in that order. Go."  Bradley also believes Pinhead's voice goes between a monk and a butcher, not like voice in hellbound heart who is supposed to be light and breathy.  It's also lower than his regular voice and played with in post.  Clive's one note on Pinhead to Doug: Do Less (was nudged toward standing in one place, no movement). Tribal makeup and scarring were an early Pinhead idea.  Regarding Hellraiser 4, Bradley wanted the unhappy ending with the merchant and Pinhead destroyed (welcome to Oblivion) instead of the corny pin on the floor ending they used.  Regarding Hellraiser 6, it originally had a character named Kirsty with a dog named Cotton. Bradley got Laurence back in on the condition she'd only do it if her sequence were to be a dream because she believed the character wouldn't act that way.  On the idea of a Hellraiser Remake: Laurence: "Shouldn't be made but there's a built-in audience."  Bradley: It's in Development hell, chaos and confusion, they don't know what they want to do. Every exec wants their snout in the trough. It's an admission of a failure to do your job which is to find the next Hooper, Craven or raimi. Money Is everything, and he's had no calls about the movie.  For fun on the set of the movies, Bradley enjoyed doing Monty Python sketches as Pinhead (this parrot is no more...).  Facts about horror you never realized you needed to know:  Pinhead could easily get through airport security after the first two movies because the pins were plastic thereafter.  Currently, Doug Bradley is working with Renegade Arts doing readings of Lovecraft and Poe.  I asked Laurence about being coated with blood for Hellraiser 2.  She discussed how she was coated with corn syrup and food coloring...and then they broke for lunch which she shivered her way through.  Regarding fan fiction, Doug Bradley said it was gratifying people cared enough about the universe to make their own version.  Finally, whats the status of Pinhead v. Myers you might ask?  Originally Doug Bradley was interested as an actor, Barker was going to write and Carpenter direct.  Barker wanted to make that world where they could coexist.  Pinhead mightve had a problem though since he likes a good conversation.  In the end, Moustapha Akkad kiboshed it.  (And for the record, Doug Bradley did not like how Rob Zombie removed the supernatural element from Michael Myers.

 

Then while I waited in line, it was DENNIS PAOLI:

 

 

Paoli wrote From Beyond, Re-Animator, The Dentist, etc. alongside Stuart Gordon.....but since Fangoria can't allow one line to die down, and since HAVING THE PANEL ROOM NEXT DOOR MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR, I have no info on Paoli since I couldnt hear him.  Up Next:

 

GLASS EYE PIX:

 

 

In this case, again, because it was a bit disorganized and hard to hear, I have no real info other than who everyone is and what they're involved with. From left to right:  Jim Mickle, Nick Damici, Glenn McQuaid, James Felix McKenney, Joe Maggio, Larry Fessenden, Graham Reznick, and Jeff Grace

And what they are involved with:
I SELL THE DEAD (Glenn McQuaid), SATAN HATES YOU (James Felix McKenney), STAKE LAND
(Jim Mickle, Nick Damici), BITTER FEAST (Joe Maggio) and I CAN SEE YOU (Graham Reznick), plus composer Jeff Grace (THE ROOST)

Want more info?  Google their upcoming movies:  Satan Hates You, Bitter Feast, Hypothermia, I Sell the Dead, and The Viewer (which I do have info on that will come up momentarily).  Up next,

 

JASONS

 

 

L to R: Kane Hodder (7-10), Warrington Gillette (2), Betsy Palmer (1), Ari Lehman (1), CJ Graham (6)

 

There is no greater craziness than Jason related panels at cons.  Palmer doesn't know how she had so many children. Didn't think anyone would see the movie, said "what a piece of shit". (always says those lines)  Lehman thinks he's a comic....good guy, but seems to almost think he's a standup comic.  Kevin bacon and Betsy Palmer got into the movie via NYC. Betsy Palmer, aka, how you can tell how crazy these get: "I never had sex on any playhouse, I had it out on a lawn."  Remake thoughts; Lehman: Fun film, Palmer, they're trying to make money (sean Cunningham and tom savini) Hodder, will see it and probably like it.  Lehman thought Jason lived, Savini said it was a dream. Lehman turned out right in the end.  The Friday the 13th 2 controversy over Jason is that Warrington Gillette is credited as Jason, but Steve Dash did all the stuntwork.  Kane Hodder's Favorite kills: Sleeping bag and frozen head.  Part 7 is his favorite.  CJ Graham was the second choice for his movie.  Palmer's seen the original movie three times, twice under duress.  Also, according to Betsy Palmer; In Ecuador they call it Tuesday the 13th (due to their superstition).  Warrington Gillette auditioned for John Furyk's role in the movie, but ended up as mongoloid hillbilly Jason.  And finally, Palmer did not originally know how Ari Lehman would look and was a bit offput by his mongoloid look.

 

So, much like the previous night where I avoided a fashion show hosted by GWAR, I then avoided a tattoo contest....mostly.  I went back out into the vendor's room.  I managed to meet up with Tatyana Kot, star of "Blitzkrieg:  Escape from Stalag 69":

 

 

And then a very important panel....

 

TRICK R' TREAT

 

Michael Dougherty and Dylan Baker

 

I SAW 20 MINUTES OF TRICK R'TREAT!  HA!  And all I will say is I saw a segment, very gory and darkly funny, based in the razor blade in the candy legend, a flashback story of a group of deformed children in halloween masks, and Brian Cox doing battle with Sam, the film's mascot.    The film looks absolutely amazing.  The film is a throwback to anthologies.  It is the holy grail of current lost horror films, having been sat on for 7 years after it was written in 2001.  Dougherty believes this is because studios don't know how to properly market anthologies.  Dougherty also believes the film fits because we're entering a fun cycle again (hardcore 70s, fun 80s, cycling around to fun again now.)  The character of Sam (see poster) is peripherally in every story as a spirit of the holiday.  Merchandise is out in stores (it came out before the movie by accident).  Dylan Baker's "Principal" character is said to be a cross between Norman Bates and Norman Rockwell (I saw it in his clip).  Which brings me to current release plans:  A road show started this month and will include ComicCon, Fantasia, After Dark, London, Toronto, and Fantastic Fest.  It will be out on dvd b4 halloween.  Also, comic books will be out in early October as a single graphic novel, and the soundtrack will be out in Late Sept.  The DVD, at least, will have commentary, a doc on halloween and its history, and the original short film that led to this.  Oh...and for you Spidey fans, Baker's been told The Lizard is coming...but has not been told when.  Up next:

 

PANDORUM:

 

 

We have Ben Foster of X-Men 3 (who seemed drunk) and mixed martial artist Cung Le.  I missed almost all of this panel while getting my free autographed Trick R' Treat poster (hell yeah).  But what I did see, and the trailer, failed to impress at all.

 

Then after a Walking Distance panel (Adrienne King's first movie in a long time), my camera died.  Hence the terrible quality back at the beginning.  It really sucked for a reason to be apparent.  So I went to the Hudson news inside the center and got a disposable.  Got back in time for:

 

DEAD AIR:

 

 

 

After a panel with some footage, I was actually very amped for this.  I went and saw it as a time filler before the Saturday night party.  (That's Josh Feinman and Elle Travis btw).  My opinion on Dead Air:  Well, you might want plot....it's the story of a grizzled radio veteran doing his show the night of a mass zombie outbreak in his town that threatens his and his team's survival...wait....*flips flips flips* oh these are my Pontypool notes.  Let me try again.  It's the story of a grizzled radio veteran doing his show the night of a mass zombie outbreak in his town that threatens his and his team's survival.  That's better.  In all seriousness, Dead Air is like the unintentional American remake of the great Canadian film Pontypool.  Here's the real shock though...IT'S BETTER THAN PONTYPOOL.  Bill Moseley nails the radio host role and the film also has a slightly different, more political, more conspiratorial tone that is very interesting and won't be for everyone.  A great, highly recommended movie that seems a good directorial effort by CORBIN BERSEN!

 

VAMPIRE BALL:

 

 

So then I headed to the New Yorker hotel.  Here's an idea...hold the party in the place you're holding the Con...LIKE YOU DID LAST YEAR.  And give info as to where to go when you reach the hotel.  NO wait, i'm not done bashing this party yet.   Last year, it was an ice cream social with cash bar.  at 10 o clock, ice cream's good.  This year, it's a VEGGIE AND CHEESE PLATE THING IN A TINY ROOM WITH A CASH BAR.  And of course the shitty distorted posters and fango covers projected on the walls did NOTHING to make this seem like a "Vampire Ball" (though two people did have the balls to appear in costume).  I can't complain too much though...as it allowed me once again to save a load of money on photo ops even if I was still using the disposable out of necessity:

 

     

 

In order:  Coralina Cattaldi-Tassoni and Dario Argento (I think she was his date since I never saw her the rest of the con....and HELL YEAH), Doug Bradley, Tobe Hooper, and Ari Lehman.

 

I repeat...I hate the disposable camera so much.  Those photos at the top were me just burning film since I'd charged my camera before sunday:

 

SUNDAY:

 

Sunday began with the costume of the Con.  It's not often you see an age 10 or less Leatherface:

 

 

Then SMASH CUT:

 

 

Other than that the trailer looked hysterically funny and bloody and HG Lewis and David Hess are involved (as seen above), I don't know much about this one.  But I mention it here....BECAUSE SOME MORON DECIDED TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB IN THE VENDOR'S ROOM WITH A CHERRY PICKER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANEL.  THATS NOT DISTRACTING AT ALL IS IT?

 

Then it was LYNCH MOB:

 

 

With Tony Darrow of Street Trash and Paul Borghese of Sopranos.  I feel bad for Borghese, his name wasn't even on the screen.

 

This was a weird one.  The trailer never worked, Tony Timpone couldn't run this panel if he tried since no one asked a thing.  The info I do have though is that it was filmed in Lynchburg and has lots of gore, mobsters, and T&A.  The panel was filled with insult comedy and self-deprecating humor.  Regarding Street Trash, Darrow was told he'd ruined James Munro, Jr's movie since he'd made it into a mob film.  They also arrived at the premiere on a garbage truck.  His part was also 90% ad-libbed and his cane was due to a malignant melanoma in his foot.  Finally, Lynch Mob's promotional material says they used real blood.  What happened was Darrow was injured in the head on an effect, refused treatment, and his blood was part of the makeup they used in the shot.  Up next:

 

VINDICATION:

 

 

I'd give names but I lost track. Far left is definitely Alan Rowe Kelly, woman after Rowe Kelly is I think Zoe Chlanda, then Jerry Murdock, then Keith Frazer, then I'm not sure, then the far right bald guy is director Bart Mastronardi.

 

Vindication is an indie film about a boy tormented by his guilt.  It also has touches of discussions of sexuality in it as well.  The film recieved a great blurb from Clive Barker who got a hold of it through his life partner who knew Mastronardi.  More information later on.  (and I got another free awesome autographed poster)  Next (in case you couldnt tell, I'm getting tired.)

 

WILLIAM LUSTIG:

 

 

 

The owner of Blue Underground and director of Maniac brought release and remake news.  Blue Underground is moving toward blu-ray: current blu-rays: Stendahl Syndrome, Dead and Buried, Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Two Evil Eyes.  Coming soon: The Crazies, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue, The Toolbox Murders, and New York Ripper.  In July: Bad Boy Barny.  In August: Fire and Ice.  In September: New York Ripper.  The company is now focused on repurposing, not gaining new stuff.  Maniac may be on blu-ray in a year. Caroline Munro, Tom Savini, and Joe Spinell all came onboard for the movie originally through Creation entertainment (the company who runs this con).  Lustig also says a Maniac remake is increasingly likely with at 12 million dollar budget.  He also thinks Joe Spinell's character could be played by Tom Sizemore.  Maniac's 16mm print was thrown out in the 80s, so the Blu-ray will be made from the negative.  New York Ripper will feature a new featurette comparing NYC of the movie's time to NYC now and the changes.  AND NOW THE MAN OF THE HOUR:

 

DARIO ARGENTO

 

 

 

Dario with his translator Paolo on his left, and Maitland McDonald, the moderator on his right.

 

Quick thoughts because i'm tired:

-"You're free to do what you want" on Masters of Horror. "You're sure?" ->The discussion that occurred before he made the censored ep Jenifer for MOH.
-Jenifer, Pelts, and Mother of Tears to a lesser degree were an experiment in blending sex and horror.
-Finishing trilogy: Suspiria, Inferno 2 years later, and then takes break to avoid having to expand on it over and over again. Seeing the restoration of Suspiria brought him back into the trilogy.
-Agatha Christie's 10 Little Indians was a big influence.
-Giallo: Didn't know what had happened to the film at the time. Doesn't speak with producers. Adrian Brody was very good and he had no problems with him. He knows music and cinema and he was friends with Asia Argento.
-Same thing on Two Evil Eyes with Harvey Keitel, he was very good.
-Actors he's had problems with: Tony Monsanti in Crystal Plumage. Had problems the whole film and afterwrs. Also, the Girl lead in Opera to whom he had to speak through an intermediary.
-"I do films because I like to do films. It's my life. Without films, it's nothing."
-Suspiria was inspired by school days, believed school was full of witches. "we were slaves of the teachers".
-Shot Do You Like Hitchcock and Stendahl Syndrome in Turin due to it's strange architecture.
-Martyrs is dedicated to him. Believes its similar to Spanish wave "interests"
-He's happy we have new people doing films similar to the way he did them.
-Digital is flat, 35 gives deeper bigger color, wanted to do same style as old Technicolor.
-Bava was not as much an influence as Hitchcock. He considers Bava too jokey.
-Ending of Suspiria and Third Mother: they laugh because it is finished, or because it's not real, it's a film.
-Never wanted to actually do a zombie film, only produce. Considers it romero's area.

And finally on the right, Dario recieved the lifetime achievement award (it's a hand clutching a heart)....BUT WE'RE NOT DONE!  After people paid too damn much for stuff at the auction and random time filler with new spooksmodel Danni Doll (it shouldve been BHM forum member Kaci),

 

TOBE HOOPER

 

 

 

More quick hits due to fatigue:

-Influences: Robert Weiss, Fellini, Antonioni, Welles, Hitchcock, Corman.
-His mother went into labor in a movie theater.
-Eggshells: Experimental comedy, first movie. Grueling difficult production whose nature helped the movie gain power.
-His films tend to have difficulties
-Masters gave him final cut and a budget.
-Working on From a Buick 8. Screenplay is done, and is working on casting.
-Lifeforce: mancini requested the scoring job, hooper liked him. Great experience. Blu-ray is in the works. Shouldve been called "Space Vampires".

-He likes adapting stepehn king because he loves his work. He tries to produce the feeling he had when he read the book.
-Invaders from Mars: Guy who installed a satellite dish on his house ended up doing the score for him.
-Craft services is better and you have more time on a big budget but the challenge is the same.
-Hooper's recorded a commentary for a new funhouse bluray or dvd but they're probably hanging on to it.
-"Rob Zombie is a dear friend and I sanction what he did. He's a cool dude." (On House of 1000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects)

Also, above is the Texas Chainsaw reunion panel.  Marilyn Burns, Tobe Hooper, Caroline Williams, and Tom Savini.  Me, I left.  Went to go see:

 

THE VIEWER/VINDICATION:

 

The Viewer, which I mentioned briefly earlier, is a 3D horror short by the people at Glass Eye Pix.  In it, you're accused of a crime and a profiler is attempting to read your mind and find out what happened.  The visuals get crazier and crazier and the whole short has a distinctly Warhol-esque feel to it.  It's very well done, both in terms of 3D and overall.

 

Vindication is a very unusual, very different film.  It's the story of a guy tormented by a violent visualization of his own guilt and inner feelings (sexual and otherwise).  It's a very interesting film and very well done considering we're talking a 3 year labor of love filmed on weekends made on a shoestring with paychecks.  It's very ambitious, very deep, and tends to stick with you a bit after the fact.  While it's, of the three movies I saw, the worst, it's still better than a lot of mainstream hollywood pablum that does hit theaters and deserves to be seen.

 

And with that, i'm done.  It's midnight here and my head hurts.  Overall, Fangoria massively disappointed me even while having a ton of amazing things.  It's like Chiller with more focus...and that's not a good thing.  Unless they pull something utterly amazing out of their ass next year, I ain't shlepping up to NYC for this next year.  So I leave you with a final thought.

 

When gothically designed and "Horror"...toilets....are your vendor....YOU NEED.  MORE.  BETTER. VENDORS.

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