REVIEW: WB's Horror Made Here - A Festival of Frights

When it comes to the LA haunt scene, we may not have much in the way of mazes set in actual abandoned or historical buildings, but we do have one asset that sets us apart from pretty much every other city in the world: Hollywood, baby! This is the epicenter of The Industry, and if you've seen it on screens big or small, there's a pretty good chance it was made on a lot in southern California. Small towns especially; from Haddonfield to Stars Hollow, your favorite quaint suburbs may look like middle America, but they're actually as West Coast as you can get. So it's actually kind of surprising that more movie studios haven't gotten in on the act for Halloween. In fact, for years Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights ran pretty much unchallenged as the Hollywood Home of Halloween Horror. But no more.

Universal, keep an eye on that crown of yours, because Warner Bros. is hot on your heels with Horror Made Here.

HHN Choose Your Scare Zone: And the Winner Is...

...MASK-A-RAID! I'm totes pleased, because Mask-a-Raid happens to be the scare zone I voted for. Power to the people, the system works!

More info on the scare zone and what's in store for this year's Halloween Horror Nights (Hollywood):

The new Scare Zone, staged in the theme park’s French Street location, will transport guests to a time when masquerade balls were a staple of the social calendar in pre-Revolutionary War France. However, visitors will soon learn that behind the elaborate, jeweled masks of powdered and perfumed party-goers are members of a blood-thirsty cannibal cult. 

In addition to the new Scare Zone, and after rave reviews from fans, Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” is bringing back AMC’s “The Walking Dead” for an unprecedented third consecutive year. A terrifying maze – “Walking Dead: End of the Line” – and “Terror Tram: Invaded by the Walking Dead” will be inspired by Season 4 of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award®-winning television. 

This year’s bone-chilling maze will place guests at the heart of a harrowing journey to seek sanctuary at Terminus, an elusive destination that promises community for all. Meanwhile, “Terror Tram: Invaded by the Walking Dead” will send guests on the road to Terminus, interspersed with landmarks and walkers from Season 4, including the “burned moonshine cabin,” “charred walkers” and “mud walkers.”

Halloween Horror Nights: CHOOSE YOUR SCARE ZONE

Summer has just begun, so naturally my thoughts are turning to...Halloween. And it looks like, as usual, I have plenty of company in southern California, because I just learned that Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is about to launch a voting competition so all you spookies can choose one of the new Scare Zones for HHN this year!

Here are your choices (descriptions and concept art courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood):

• Option 1: Corps - “The War to End All Wars” has left a swathe of destruction through battle-torn France, and on French Street at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, World War I-era soldiers have returned from the dead. The constant artillery bombardment has turned the twisted network of trenches into a sprawling graveyard, and now “The Lost Generation” is rising from their muddy graves and coming home to haunt the streets of “old Paris.” 
• Option 2: Mask-a-Raid - Masquerade Balls were a staple of the social calendar in pre-Revolutionary War France; a time for the members of the French aristocracy to misbehave behind the cover of elaborate, jeweled masks. But “mask-a-raiding” among the powdered and perfumed party-goers are members of a blood thirsty cannibal cult. Bon appétit! 
• Option 3: Ghoulz - In 19th century France, restrictive laws and social norms prevented medical colleges from acquiring the one asset they need most – human cadavers. To solve this “body shortage crisis,” universities employed “unsavory characters” to do their dirty work and steal corpses from cemeteries in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the grave robbers on Universal Studios Hollywood’s French Street have developed a morbid fascination with the dead – and a taste for human flesh. 

Voting starts this Wednesday on the HHN Facebook page, and the winner will be announced on June 19th. Cast your vote and then watch the mayhem come alive at Universal Studios this fall.

THIS WEEKEND: Spider Baby & Carnival of Souls

Thanks to Ms. Merricat Blackwood for alerting me to this weekend's amazing double feature of Spider Baby and Carnival of Souls, two black-and-white horror films from the '60s that are screening at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' "Film-to-Film Festival." Both movies, which are screening Saturday, September 29th (tomorrow!), were recently restored by the Academy from the original negatives, and the Spider Baby screening will have writer-director Jack Hill on hand as a special guest.

If you've never seen Spider Baby - one of my personal favorites - you're doing yourself a serious disservice. It's a groovy weirdo movie about a family that suffers from a terrible curse - a disease that causes them to regress to some sort of bizarre primal state, indulging in their every disturbed, childlike whim. It has a young Sid Haig, an old Lon Chaney, Jr. and two of the creepiest ladies ever to wield knives. Carnival of Souls is subtler and slower, but it's also chilling and eerie, and the perfect kickoff to October.

Spider Baby screens at 7:30pm, and Carnival of Souls at 9:30pm. Tickets are $5 each per feature (so $10 per person to see both).

Screams and moans and bats and bones
Teenage monsters in haunted homes
The ghost on the stair, the vampire's bite
Better beware, there's a full moon tonight!

Cannibal spiders creep and crawl
Boys and ghouls having a ball
Frankenstein, Dracula and even the Mummy
Are sure to end up in somebody's tummy

Take a fresh rodent, some toadstools and weeds
Add an old owl and the young one she breeds
Mix in seven legs of an eight-legged beast
Then you're all set for a cannibal feast

Sit around the fire with the cup of brew
A fiend and a werewolf on each side of you
This cannibal orgy is strange to behold
And the maddest story ever told!

Review: Theatre 68 Haunted House

As a Halloween fan in southern California, it's easy to get caught up in going to the same professional haunts year after year. They're always fun, but after a while they do start to get stale. The maze layouts, the props and set pieces, even the scare tactics all start to feel rather...predictable. And predictability is not conducive to terror. That's why it's so much fun to discover a smaller, more unassuming haunt; you have no idea what to expect, and suddenly you're vulnerable again! Like a virgin...scared for the very first time.

So yeah, it was indeed a "white wedding" for me when I visited Theatre 68's 6th annual haunted house in Hollywood last night. Located on a rather nondescript block of Sunset Blvd. - east of the Sunset Strip, west of Sunset Junction - across the street from a Food 4 Less and tucked in the back of a small strip mall, the theatre sure didn't look like much from the outside. But once you walk down a short hallway festooned with cobwebs, you'll find yourself in a lobby decorated with photographs and mug shots of famous serial killers, an appropriately unsettling choice of decor. The best part of this haunted house is probably the fact that you are only allowed to go through 2 at a time, so you'll be able to enjoy the atmosphere and relish in the fact that the monsters are working to scare you, and you alone.

There were so many unique touches to this haunted house. You begin by being escorted into a dark room where you watch an introductory news bulletin on TV about a serial killer who is loose in the area. After the broadcast is abruptly cut off, a frantic reporter runs into the room and tells you where to go next - and then the experience truly begins.

I have no idea how they crammed so much haunted house goodness into such a small space, but we were going upstairs, downstairs, into rooms that appeared to be dead ends (but weren't, thanks to a mysterious moving wall), through closets filled with clothes on hangers, and more. I loved the ghoulish glowing bride and the poor fellow who "lost his head," but all of the sets were very creative and different from anything you can expect to see at Knott's or Universal.

If you don't have a lot of cash to spend on a "pro" haunt, I definitely recommend Theatre 68: Tickets are only $12, and if you bring a canned good you'll get $1 off. (Food will be donated to local organizations that serve the homeless for Thanksgiving - and, of course, your admission will help fund a small local theater instead of merely lining the coffers of a corporate conglomerate.) Another benefit of visiting Theatre 68's haunt is the fact that it's open seven nights a week, so you can check it out anytime.

Theatre 68's haunted house proves that passion, ingenuity and genuine enthusiasm can still be found in the heart of Hollywood for under 20 bucks. It's a Halloween miracle!


Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Universal Halloween Horror Nights 2011 - Part II

I was crazy excited to go to Halloween Horror Nights this year, not only because it means that the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR has arrived, but also because I missed last year's HHN thanks to one super bitchy ruptured appendix. (Yes, that's right - my appendix decided to burst halfway through October last year, and the subsequent two weeks that I was forced to spend recovering in bed put a serious damper on all of my 2010 Halloween plans.) I was particularly excited for this year because there are six mazes in addition to the Terror Tram - all of them new, apart from the Rob Zombie maze, which I obviously missed last time around. If your Halloween activity funds are limited and you have to choose between Universal's HHN (the hotshot upstart) and Knott's Scary Farm (the venerable haunt institution), it usually comes down to quality vs. quantity - do you prefer to have your pick of a dozen or more mazes at Knott's, or would you rather enjoy the crazy high quality of the makeup and sets at Universal? But with six mazes plus the tram and five scare zones, Universal is making a genuine effort to "up their game," as it were, even further.

In Part I of my coverage of HHN this year, I explored the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making each blood-spattered rotting corpse look just so. But we all know you really came here for one thing: To find out how everything looks in action. To that end, here are my thoughts on each maze, ranked in order from favorite to least favorite:

1. La Llorona: Villa De Almas Perdidas: For some reason that I can't figure out (apart from the obvious link that he is a Mexican movie star and La Llorona is a legendary Mexican ghost story), Diego Luna served as the creative consultant on this maze. Well, I no longer care why or how he was recruited - all I know is that he did an awesome job and that this was my favorite maze of the night! La Llorona is a story more sad than scary, in which a lovestruck woman drowns her children to please a man and then is cast aside by him, but the maze manages to squeeze every last drop of terror out of the premise. From the candlelit adobe church facade to the lake where the children were drowned (and their lifeless bodies still float, face-down and motionless), this maze has both understated ghostly scares and classic funhouse "JUMP OUT ATCHA!" moments. Loved it, and hope there's a movie in the works!
2. Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses: In 3D ZombieVision: While Knott's usually offers 2 or 3 3D mazes each year, this is the only one I've ever experienced at Universal. (By the way, THANK YOU, Universal, for offering 3D glasses free of charge! Loved not having to rummage around for that extra dollar. Seriously.) As always, I am a sucker for all things Rob Zombie, and therefore I totally enjoyed this walk through the twisted Technicolor world he created in his first directorial effort. The 3D was a nice touch, and the Captain Spaulding stand-in was particularly inspired. (But what was up with Otis's wig?!) This wasn't excruciatingly scary - although I did jump and scream during an encounter with Dr. Satan - but I loved every second of it.
3. The Thing: Assimilation: I'm going to confess something: I'm not that familiar with The Thing. I love John Carpenter, but somehow I managed to avoid this movie until just over a month ago. I actually really dug it, even though it's basically Alien in Antarctica, but I'm no lifelong fan, so my opinion is pretty unbiased. And let me tell you, this maze rules! This was the longest line of the night for us by far, but I have to say it was worth it in the end. The frigid, snowy setting and the claustrophobic unpleasantness of being stuck in a room with a giant, bloodthirsty, shape-shifting alien make for a great maze, and the creature itself was huge and scary and constantly popping out where you'd least expect it. You may want to tackle this one toward the beginning of the night to avoid those outrageous lines later on.
4. Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare: The second maze of the night (along with La Llorona) that's not, to my knowledge, based on a film. Instead, this one is "a terrifying trip through Alice Cooper's twisted mind." From what I can tell, Alice Cooper's fears include spiders, snakes, sexy nurses and his own face, because nearly every actor in this maze has been made up to look like Alice himself. The theme for this one wasn't as focused - basically, just nightmarish scenarios set to Alice Cooper's music - but it was still a lot of fun. Warning: You will probably get his songs stuck in your head after this. I've had "Welcome to My Nightmare" in mine for five days now. Gahhhh!
5. The Wolfman: The Curse of Talbot Hall: I loved this maze, but I had to put it near the bottom of the list simply because it's the maze that takes place inside of Universal's year-round House of Horrors, and any HHN fan will tell you that they don't change the House of Horrors too drastically for the Halloween season. Basically, they take their standard House of Horrors, with its regular props and layout - which, don't get me wrong, is super fun and well-done and open all year round to boot - and integrate a character by throwing in a few more vampires or evil Chucky dolls (or, in this case, Wolfmans - Wolfmen?) than usual. Still, seriously, the House of Horrors rules and so does the Wolfman! It's always nice to include a nod to one of the classic Universal monsters at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, for this maze we had the incredible good fortune of being behind a very skittish boy in his early teens. If you ever get the chance to go through a maze with a 13-year-old male who screams like Ned Flanders, don't pass it up!
6. Eli Roth's Hostel: Hunting Season: Sorry dudes - I skipped this one. It was a combination of very long lines, the fact that it was almost 1 AM and the fact that, you know...I just don't care for this sort of thing. At the makeup demonstration, John Murdy said that year after year, fans want their horror and their mazes to be "more and more extreme." I am not one of those fans, but if you are, I'm sure this maze will be right up your alley. [Fair Warning: Prepare to have a gun pointed in your face. My friend who did walk through the maze was quite disturbed by this, so I figured I would pass the word along.]
   

In addition to the mazes, there's also a brand new theme for the Terror Tram this year: Scream 4 Your Life. I dig the Scream movies, although I have yet to see the 4th installment (out on DVD next week!), and the Terror Tram is the most unique "maze" experience that Universal has to offer, but it was essentially the same as in years past. I'm not complaining - in fact, I don't think I'll ever get tired of walking past the Psycho house and interacting with "Norman Bates" in person, because I'm just that big of a Hitchcock geek - but it lacked the thrill it had for me in 2008 and 2009. It was also crazy crowded this year; it felt like the entire population of the San Fernando Valley was trudging slowly across the backlot while the monsters stood by, unsure of how to pace their scares with such a huge glut of people to contend with. Despite these minor quibbles, the Terror Tram is still an absolute must, especially if you've never been to HHN, or haven't been in a while.

The "Scare Zones" this year were pretty straightforward: Scream (i.e., Ghostface Killers with knives), Freakz, Klownz (with chainsaws), Reapers (with chainsaws) and Zombieville. I loved Zombieville, which recreates a town overrun by - you guessed it - the undead, and Freakz, which has that "dark carnival" vibe that I dig so much, the most.

Overall, Universal's Halloween Horror Nights continues to reign supreme when it comes to seasonal scares in southern California. HHN has the best mazes, the best makeup and the most talented actors. When it comes to scaring the shit out of people, they're still the ones to beat.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary passes to review this event.

Universal Halloween Horror Nights 2011 - Part I

Halloween is here! Yeah, it's still September, but Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights opened for business last Friday, and that means the season is officially upon us. Before I get into my review of this year's offerings, I wanted to do a quick recap of the very cool fx makeup demonstration I was invited to attend at the beginning of September.

After a quick intro by HHN creative director John Murdy, we were ushered into a room filled with costumes, prosthetic devices, wigs, false teeth and several live actors being transformed into hideous ghouls by nimble-fingered makeup artists. It was fun to witness the painstaking process of turning otherwise pleasant and attractive people into terrifying creatures or extraordinarily unfortunate victims. All makeup is custom-created for Universal, which makes the work of the makeup artists absolutely invaluable. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day (photography credit goes to Mr. Spooky):

Eww! I believe both of these were for the Hostel maze.

Now this dude is definitely from the Hostel maze - a maze which features "props cast from Eli Roth's personal collection of original Hostel movie props."

Dr. Satan on the right, scary horse-faced lady in the middle. She made a couple of appearances in the La Llorona maze. Very creepy!

Everything is custom-made by hand, right down to the false teeth!

Poor Brain Surgery Jerry, getting prepped for the House of 1000 Corpses maze.

La Llorona in progress.

And finally, an actor being transformed into Alice Cooper for his "Welcome to My Nightmare" maze. P.S. I love the makeup artist's hair and glasses!

"But Spoooooky," I hear you pleading, "how were the mazes?!" Okay, seriously. Calm down. I'm getting to that...but not in this post. Horror fans love sequels, right? So stick around for Part II!

Coming Soon: Night of the Living Dead at Hollywood Forever

After years of clamoring by horror fans, the good people at Cinespia Cemetery Screenings are finally giving the public what they've been so anxiously awaiting: A zombie movie screening at Hollywood Forever. And not just any zombie movie! On Saturday, September 18th Cinespia will project George A. Romero's 1968 masterwork Night of the Living Dead - the grandaddy of all modern zombie movies - onto the side of a mausoleum in the dark of an autumn night. Tickets are $10, and guests are welcome to bring their own food/booze. Gates open at 6:30 with the movie starting at 8 PM, but given how crowded these screenings have become in recent years, coupled with the insane genius of showing a movie about the walking dead in a place where the dead have been laid to rest, means that you should probably start lining up...oh, right about now.

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights 2009

Oh, Knott's...you know I love you. You'll always hold a special place in my heart - you were my first, after all. But when it comes to southern California amusement-parks-turned-haunted-attractions, you've got some serious competition from Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights.

Admittedly, I'm a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to HHN. Apart from one lone year of attendance some 15+ years ago, which I remembered as vaguely disappointing, last year was my first HHN experience, and to say that I was blown away would be an understatement. First of all, when compared to other haunts in the area, Universal is absolutely terrifying. Granted, they have fewer mazes than Knott's - only 4, plus the amazing Terror Tram (and 6 scare zones) - but what they lack in quantity they more than make up in quality.

What is it about Universal's take on the Halloween season that makes it stand out from the crowd? Part of it is the setting: The Psycho house, the Bates Motel, a plane crash set from War of the Worlds and the park's House of Horrors attraction are all used to maximum effect. Part of it is the attention to detail; the mazes here are immersive and all-encompassing, tantalizing (and terrifying) every sense. Part of it is the caliber of actors they hire at the park. Is it because these "scareactors" are Hollywood hopefuls or simply because Universal has higher standards? Either way, every last chainsaw-wielding maniac in the park seems admirably committed to staying in character. And, finally, part of it is the fact that Universal has the luxury of creating mazes that evoke specific horror movies, which gives the proceedings a unique thrill. I don't know about you, but seeing Norman Bates and Michael Myers in the flesh is a little bit like a celebrity sighting for me. I practically want to ask for their autographs.

Here are my detailed reviews of the mazes, ranked in order from best to worst, according to my personal preference:

1. Terror Tram: Live or Die! Last year, the Terror Tram was loosely Freddy Krueger-themed; this year, the host/primary antagonist is "Billy, Jigsaw's messenger of doom from the Saw horror film franchise." [Full disclosure: Despite the fact that I absolutely love horror, I can't stand the Saw movies - I find them completely uninteresting.] Obviously, last year's Terror Tram was better. That being said, holy @#$!, the Terror Tram is awesome! This is the best maze/haunted ride I've experienced to date, bar none. Lots of scares, a creative use of the Universal backlot's natural terrain, and yes, the opportunity to see the Bates Motel and the Psycho house up close and personal. It warms the cockles of my heart - until I run away screaming, of course. Oh, and it lasts a good 15-20 minutes. Honestly, if this were the only attraction that Halloween Horror Nights offered, I would still want to go.
2. Halloween: The Life and Crimes of Michael Myers: OMG OMG A HALLOWEEN MAZE!! My anticipation level for this maze was off the charts. As I remarked to my boyfriend in line, "I'm so happy right now. How often do you get to see your favorite movie of all time in maze form?!" The maze begins when you cross the threshold of the Myers house, but the fun begins before that: Michael's murder of his sister plays out in silhouette on one of the home's upstairs windows. Once inside, you feel instantly transported to 1978 Midwestern suburbia. (Is that The Thing I spy playing on the television?! That is, of course, the movie playing on TV on Halloween night in the original film.) You wind your way past little Michael standing over the body of his sister, Michael's bedroom door (plastered with photos of clowns and "KEEP OUT" scratched into the woodwork in a nod to Rob Zombie's reimagined version), a creepy kitchen, etc. There is a very convincing Dr. Loomis warning you not to enter Smith's Grove, the asylum from which Michael escapes. You'll see Lynda strangled by ghost Michael, wearing Bob's glasses. They even remembered Halloween III: Season of the Witch, also known as "the Halloween without Michael Myers." Brilliant! If you're a fan of the series, this maze is a must. You won't be disappointed.
3. Chucky's Funhouse: Okay, I feel the need to clarify something here: I'm not a fan of Chucky or the Child's Play movies - but especially Chucky. Last year, his role at HHN was to hurl insults at the crowd very, very loudly; this year, he gets his own maze. Luckily for him, it's housed inside of the House of Horrors, a year-round attraction that Universal jazzes up for the holiday. (Last year it paid tribute to classic monsters, which is far preferable...but I digress!) The House of Horrors is inherently spooky and an effective setting for a maze. Thus, Chucky's Funhouse scared me silly. Fortunately, like the Saw-themed Terror Tram, you can certainly enjoy this maze even if you don't enjoy its namesake. Watch out for the line, though - that's where Chucky gets his big opportunity to, you know...hurl insults at the crowd very, very loudly. Ha ha?
   
4. My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever: Despite the cheesy name, this is a very cool maze. The movie on which it's based is a fun but forgettable little trifle, but the mine setting really works. Watch out for that pickaxe!
   
5. Saw: Game Over: I've already made my feelings about Saw abundantly clear, so it should come as no surprise that the Saw maze (not the same as the Terror Tram, mind you!) was my least favorite of the night. Still, it was a lot more fun than watching one of the 4,527 Saw movies - but when set against the other mazes, this one pales in comparison. Oh, and the whole thing smells terrible. Yes, I know it's intentional, but ugh!

In addition to the mazes, there are a few really cool scare zones. My favorites were "Freakz," featuring demented carnival escapees including one spectacular stilt performer, and a positively inspired tribute to Shaun of the Dead, which has a real-life Shaun brandishing a cricket bat and leading Zombie Ed around on a kiddie harness. Brilliant!

If you only visit one Halloween theme park attraction this year, make it Halloween Horror Nights. It is truly as close to actually being in a scary movie as one could hope to get - and I, for one, can't wait to see which horror movies they'll bring to life next year.

TONIGHT: Rosemary's Baby at the Cemetery

If you haven't been to one of Cinespia's famous cemetery screenings yet, I demand you go tonight. Why? Well, for two reasons, really: First and foremost, they're showing Rosemary's Baby, Roman Polanski's 1968 masterpiece of witchcraft, pregnancy and paranoia starring Mia Farrow and her notoriously short hair. In addition, this will be the last cemetery screening of the season, which means you'll have to wait until next summer if you don't get your fix now. As always, don't forget the booze and the picnic dinner!

More info, from the Cinespia website:

directed by Roman Polanski (1968 136 mins)

gates 6:30 pm movie 8:00 pm NEW TIME!!
no reservation necessary
$10 donation tickets available at gate
as a courtesy to other moviegoers: NO TALL CHAIRS!!

Terrifying, hallucinatory and brimming with dark humor, Rosemary's is nothing short of a masterpiece of suspense. Farrow is an unsuspecting wife who believes her husband has become involved with a modern day witches coven. Is she being paranoid, or do they have diabolical plans for her baby? A brilliant performance by Mia Farrow made her a superstar overnight, John Cassavettes is phenomenal as her suspicious husband, and the incomparable Ruth Gordon (Harold & Maude) is hilarious as the next door neighbor. Join us under the stars for the last screening of the season!!

dj gas lamp killer spins before and after the screening

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., near the intersection of Santa Monica and Gower.

THIS WEEKEND: Greystone Mansion Tour & Werewolves in the Cemetery

It is with a very heavy heart that I have to report that the following event is already sold out, so I hope that you already have your tickets! (I don't. I suck!) This gathering will also be a GHOULA meetup, so wear your pins (if you have 'em) and keep an eye out.

Friday Night Fright Night

at Greystone Mansion (Beverly Hills)

From the Beverly Hills website:

Join the Greystone Park Rangers around an old-fashioned campfire and indulge in gooey smores and spooky stories at the historic Greystone Estate. A tour of the deserted old mansion will follow the campfires.

Fridays, July 31 and Aug. 28
7:30pm-10:00pm
$15 per person

Not recommended for children under 10 years old. Ten to 16-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult.

In case you're unaware, the Greystone Mansion was the site of a controversial murder-suicide back in the 1920's, and is purportedly haunted as a result. Read more about it on the GHOULA website.

Then, on Saturday, we have a classic werewolf film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery...

An American Werewolf in London (1979)

From the Cinespia website:

directed by John Landis (1979 130 mins)

gates 7:00 pm movie 8:30 pm
no reservation necessary
$10 donation tickets available at gate
as a courtesy to other moviegoers: NO TALL CHAIRS!!

Two American backpackers are attacked by a mysterious creature on the moors, and when one begins to show signs of lycanthropy, he starts to believe the local superstitions might be true...Terrifying, but with a sharp sense of humor, John Landis (Animal House) directs this beloved cult favorite with a fine balance of horror and comedy. Oscar winning special effects make it a full blooded horror film, but the eerie dark countryside, terrifying creature, and walking dead are balanced with the hilarious banter of the main characters. Truly genius!

dj dave orlando spins before and after the screening

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., near the intersection of Santa Monica and Gower.

Movie Review: Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN 2

As previously mentioned, I was fortunate enough to attend the red carpet premiere of Halloween 2 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Monday night. There seems to be a little bit of confusion about how, exactly, this entry can be called "H2" when it is, in fact, the tenth - count 'em! - film in the Halloween series, so here's the skinny: Rob Zombie's 2007 take on Michael Myers was not a sequel, it was a "reimagining." Thus, this film is a sequel to that reimagining, not another entry in the series started by John Carpenter. Got it? It might sound a little strange, but the truth is that the less you think about Carpenter's movie, the more you'll enjoy this one.

How did I feel about it? Overall, I liked it. But I should preface this by saying that I am, in fact, a Rob Zombie fan, and I did like his first Halloween. What I like most about him is that he genuinely seems like a fan of horror and of these movies. Whereas the Texas Chainsaw and Friday the 13th remakes seem like they were made by people who were, at best, ignorant and, at worst, disdainful of the films they were revamping, I think Zombie has the proper reverence for the original Halloween, which just so happens to be my favorite film of all time. True, he has made a lot of changes, but I actually find that more respectful than trying to do a shot-by-shot remake a la Gus van Sant's Psycho; it was perfect the first time, so if you don't have something totally different to bring to the table, why bother?

Okay, now that we have that settled, on to the movie itself. I read somewhere that Zombie conceptualized his first Halloween as two movies, with the first focusing on Michael Myers as a child up until his escape from Smith's Grove, and the second dealing with "the night he came home." The general consensus is that he succeeded far more with the first half of the movie than he did with the second half, and I'm guessing he agrees, because H2 is essentially a remake of the second half of that first film. (Woo! Confused yet?!) It's basically Laurie's friends getting slaughtered one by one as she tries to avoid the same fate herself; however, it is scarier and more interesting than it was in the first movie. There are a few flashback sequences and some very bizarre glimpses into the psyche of Michael Myers; these are less successful than in the first movie, I think mainly due to the absence of Daeg Faerch, a.k.a. young Michael Myers. He's been replaced in this film, and the new kid is way too cute to look adequately disturbed.

Scout Taylor-Compton plays Laurie Strode, and while I wasn't particularly impressed with her in the first movie, I think she did a fantastic job in this one. There's also a nice twist near the end that calls Halloween 4 to mind. Oh, and as for the kills, which Zombie has trumpeted as particularly brutal this time around? They are - mostly because of the sound! As my boyfriend put it, "It's like he's punching people, but with a knife." Prepare yourself for lots of crunching, snapping, squishing noises, and a lot of jump moments (including two that actually made me clutch my chest and hiss, "Oh my God!").

The premiere itself was rather thrilling; we managed to spot a number of the film's stars, including Malcolm McDowell, Danielle Harris (who was sitting two rows behind us!) and, of course, Rob and Sheri Zombie. My favorite celebrity sighting of the night, however, was Ace Frehley of KISS, who was practically anonymous without his signature "Spaceman" makeup.
I did like this movie, but I'm not sure it was better than the first. However, if you enjoyed that film, I would definitely recommend this one, but I don't think it's going to win over any Zombie detractors. You have to be a fan of his whole mean, dirty, disgusting aesthetic...which I am. One note: While I think Zombie is a very talented director, sometimes his dialogue can be a little cringeworthy. It works in a movie like The Devil's Rejects, which centers on a family of deranged outlaw serial killers, but it seems a little out of character for suburban, Midwestern teenage girls.

Essentially, here's how I view "the two Halloweens," Carpenter vs. Zombie: John Carpenter's original version is a masterpiece, a love note to autumn and the terror of childhood/adolescence, a fantastic example of elegant filmmaking that illustrates just how far the economy of imagery can take you. Nothing goes to waste. Every shot is a keeper. Rob Zombie's version, on the other hand, is in your face, over the top, loud, wild, colorful, filthy and bizarre. While Carpenter's Michael Myers is a boogeyman, "the Shape," Zombie's is a crazy, hulking, angry monster. They're both scary, but Carpenter's is iconic. You may not want to marry them, but if you take Zombie's movies for what they are, they can definitely show you a good time.

Halloween 2 opens everywhere this Friday, August 28th.

Recap: Vampire Con 2009

I had high hopes for the first ever Vampire Con, which took place last weekend in Hollywood. First, because I love vampires. Who doesn't?! They're sexy. They dress really well, especially for supernatural creatures. They'll gladly nibble on your neck. And, hey, they might not even kill you! Instead they'll just make you young, beautiful and hypnotically seductive for the rest of eternity. Sounds good to me. Also, I've always wanted to go to a horror convention. Every year I eye the lineup for Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors in Burbank and wonder if this should be the year that I finally bite the bullet and go. So when my buddy "Madame Magnet" (ahem, not her real name) over at Magnets de los Muertos announced that she would be selling her awesome macabre magnetic poetry at the Vamp Con, I naturally volunteered my services to help her man the table.

Magnets de los Muertos' Vampire Poetry! (Top two pics by me, bottom pic by Gendy Alimurung for LA Weekly.)

Here's a little taste of what we were selling. (If you'd like to see other poems put together by guests at our booth, click here or here.) People seemed to respond really well to the magnets, and we made several sales, including MdlM's first ever sale! (Yes, it's a very, very young company. In fact, the Vamp Con was MdlM's public debut!) Why only "several," you ask? Well, the fact of the matter is, there just weren't very many people at the convention. Here are my guesses as to why:

• It was the first Vamp Con ever! Subsequent years will see more attendance, I'm sure.
• It was a weekend-long event, but it changed venues. While Friday and Saturday featured film screenings at the New Beverly, Sunday was the only day vendors were allowed to pimp their spooky wares, and that was at the Henry Fonda. Somewhat confusing.
• The vendors were on three different levels: The ground level, where the panel discussions were taking place, the mezzanine level, where we had our booth, and an outdoors balcony area, which was unbearably hot and bright. Hello, vampires don't want to stand in the August sun!
• It started way too early. Vendors were only allowed to sell from 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Who's up that early, especially on a Sunday, especially to shop for vampire merchandise?!

Case in point: I dressed up as a vamp myself for the occasion, but I have to admit it was really hard to get into the right frame of mind at 9 AM.

SLG working the booth, fangs in tow. Blah, blaaaah!

Looking at this now, I'm like, "Hmm, I should've worn more eye makeup." But, again, it's really hard to get all gothed out right after you roll out of bed! Boo to that. You would be surprised how many people didn't dress up for this event at all. I can't even count how many people asked me if my fangs were real, and when I replied, "Of course!" (real answer: "Of course not!"), they were awed and asked to take my picture. One dude interviewed me and asked if I drank blood. Uh, no, see my vendor pass? I'm selling something! I'm not here because I'm one of those people you see on A&E specials about "Real Vampires!!1" around Halloween! I think everyone was just starved for freaks because, alas, the freaks come out at night...not 10:30 AM-4:30 PM. SIGH.

On the left: Nella, your new Vampirella. On the right: Girl who can't believe Nella is walking around with her rack hanging out like that. (Pic by Gendy Alimurung.)

That's not to say, however, that there was nothing interesting to see at Vamp Con. For example: Feast your eyes on Vampirella Nella! They were holding a contest downstairs to see who should be crowned the new Vampirella, and this girl was the only one who actually came upstairs to tell us to vote for her. And then she won! Yay! She seemed like a nice girl - she even turned around and showed us her ass as per Mdm. Magnet's request. (Nice ass, too!) I'm glad she won.

Sweet little pup, all vamped out!

Anytime an event inspires people to put their pets in costumes, it can't be all bad, right?

Hell-ga, Satan's barmaid. (Pic by Gendy Alimurung.)

This lovely lady was making the rounds to promote her Halloween-themed polka album, Polka Haunt Us. (Good name!) The tagline was: "If Hell had a polka soundtrack, this would be it." My response: "What do you mean if?!" Har har. I can't tolerate an entire polka album, but if I could, I would buy this one. At least her heart's in the right place...and her outfit was awesome.

How did I miss this vamp?! (Pic by Gendy Alimurung.)

You know, I didn't even see this woman on Sunday, although I wish I had. Now this is the level of commitment that I expected from Vampire Con attendees! Well, there's always next year.

In addition to the excitement of actually making some sales and meeting a few interesting characters, the best part of the con was the freebies we snagged right at the end. A charity was distributing vampire doggy hand puppets, complete with felt fangs and cape, and we each got one for free! (Their names are Count Dogula and Lord Barkington.) Also, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab was distributing tiny vials of their "Blood" fragrance, which I love and must now own. It smells kind of like clove cigarettes and kind of like incense - deep and mysterious, and dark. Would I go back next year? Of course. I'm excited to see how this event will progress as the organizers work out the kinks and figure out how to make it flow. (One idea: Allow vendors to set up shop on the film screening days!) Until then, there's always Fangoria...

Graffiti I spotted on the way to Hollywood. Also, this is just good advice.

Did anybody else attend Vampire Con last weekend? How did you feel about it?

TONIGHT: Bride of Frankenstein at the Cemetery

Revel in one of L.A.'s most unique summertime treats tonight: Cinespia is screening James Whale's 1935 masterpiece Bride of Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. That means you can watch this:While chowing down on snackies and a picnic dinner (including alcohol - we're bringing absinthe just to up the goth factor another notch) here:A truly glorious prospect, no? Here are the details, from the Cinespia website:

directed by james whale (1935 75 mins)
gates 7:30 pm movie 9:00 pm
no reservation necessary
$10 donation tickets available at gate
$5 parking available inside
as a courtesy to other moviegoers: no tall chairs!!

sparkling wit, monster pathos and mad science, bride has it all. directed with an easy playfulness, it is suprisingly sharp, sophisticated and funny, and truly one of the great horror films of all time. starring boris karloff in his most famous role as frankenstein, the film is as compelling now as when it was first made. elsa lanchester is brilliant as the bride of frankenstein, the best monster of all time!

dj dave orlando (dr. who, dubclub, punky reggae party) spins before and after the screening