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HORROR 101: THE A-LIST OF HORROR FILMS AND MONSTER MOVIES VOL 1
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HOME - INTRO - REVIEWS - FEATURES - MYSPACE - BLOG - STAFF - CONTACT HORROR 101: THE A-LIST OF HORROR FILMS AND MONSTER MOVIES VOL 1
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JUNE 13-15, 2003
We were there at the 2nd Annual Flashback Weekend convention, in which we had been anxiously awaiting to arrive, since this was our first big show of the year. And like last year, we did have a good time. It’s always nice to see friends that you usually don’t see until its convention time. Such as Ken & Pam from Cinema Wasteland, and Jill and company from Lix. They always make the show a fun time, not to mention the after hours.
Yea I know, the other celebs were also charging for their autograph as well. But they were only charging $10 each to sign something that you brought up. While I still think that’s a bit too high (by about $10), compared to $25 it doesn’t seem that bad. Remember here, this is all about meeting the fans that made them celebrities, right?
Making his first convention appearance was Bill Johnson, who was the guy who picked up the chainsaw and bloody apron and became Leatherface in TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2. He was a super nice guy, very friendly, and very interested in what the fans thought of the TCM2. Other guests at the show included Bill Moseley, Jonathon Breck, P.J. Soles, Lisa Wilcox, Ken Foree, Linda Harrison, Robert Z'Dar, and Kevin McCarthy. And once again, Tom Sullivan and his traveling EVIL DEAD museum was there as well. For fans of EVIL DEAD, you can not miss seeing the original props, photos, and tons of stuff that Tom brings in his little museum. Not to mention that he is also one of the nicest guys out there, ready and willing to hear from the fans talk about the film, and ready to answer any and all questions. Just like last year, there were plenty of films being shown at the Picwick Theater throughout the show. The only problem is that the Flashback crew really got us spoiled last year when they screened BUBBA HO-TEP and BLOOD FEAST 2. So this year’s selection, while pretty cool, just didn’t have the attraction to me like it did last year. They did screen HALLOWEEN, WES CRAVEN’S NEW NIGHTMARE, INVASION OF THE BODY SNACTHERS, PLANET OF THE APES, THE TWO TOWERS, and also a newly re-mastered print of THE HILLS HAVE EYES. We would have loved to see HILLS, but it didn’t start until 9pm on the Sunday night, which was a little too late for us.
So all in all, while I don’t think it was as good as last year, we still had a good time. I think they had set the bar up so high last year that it was going to be pretty hard for them to top it, not that they didn’t try. And while it’s always cool to get a big headliner, like Englund, I would suggest someone maybe a little bit cheaper for the fans to meet. BRAD DOURIF
ROBERT ENGLUND
KEN FOREE
BILL JOHNSON & BILL MOSELEY
KEVIN McCARTHY
TOM SULLIVAN
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One of the main headliners for this show was Robert Englund, out promoting the
new FREDDY VS JASON movie. From the few minutes that I was able to catch the
panel discussion with him, and from what I heard from the fans, he was a very
nice and friendly guy. But then again, when you’re charging your fans $25 an
autograph, one would think that you should be. Sorry people, but time for just
a bit of rambling. Now that’s $25 even to sign your own items that you brought,
such as a poster or photo. Let’s put this in perspective, shall we? If there
were only 500 people that went up to get an autograph that would come to $12,500
that Mr. Englund pocketed. Not a bad little chunk of change for a day or two
of a meet-and-greet-the-fans, huh? Still boggles my mind how they can look a
fan straight in the face and do that. I guess being a fan has turned into a
business. Oh that’s right…we’re just going to sell all of this stuff we’re
getting signed on ebay anyway…I keep forgetting that.
Okay, enough complaining. Back to the show. Another one on the guest list who
is a personal favorite of mine was Brad Dourif. While probably most known for
doing the voice of Chucky in the CHILD’S PLAY movies, Dourif has been in tons of
other films, including exceptional roles in EXORCIST 3 and DEATH MACHINE (look
for that uncut version!). So it was cool to meet him.
But one attraction they did have was the last ever presentation of EVIL DEAD:
THE MUSICAL. You heard right…THE MUSICAL. This was a musical parody that was
performing at a little theater in Chicago over the late spring. But during the
run there, they got a little letter from Mr. Raimi’s lawyers telling them they
need to stop since they were infringing on copyrighted material. After some
time, they were allowed to finished their theater run, and also perform this
last showing at the Pickwick Theater for the Flashback Weekend show. And
needless to say, it was pretty damn funny. It’s a shame that they couldn’t tour
the convention circuit with it, because it would be pretty popular, poking a lot
of fun at this classic film. From the Ash character singing “I’m kind of a wimp
and I have a girl’s name” to them blatantly stealing the zombie dance from
Michael Jackson’s Thriller, it was a very entertaining show.
