By Mike Lera
From what began as a simple little “mask” convention on the east coast in 2008 to what is now considered an epicenter for horror fans, Monsterpalooza celebrated its 15th year May 31-June 2 at Pasadena Convention Center (Pasadena, CA), adorned with its usual (and unusual) array of costumes, makeup booths, artwork, collectibles, T-shirts, vendors, screenings, signings, panels and cosplay.
Slasher films took center stage, beginning with a Terrifier panel, the films’ stars David Howard Thornton, Catherine Corcoran, Leah Voysey and its writer/producer/director Damien Leone chatting with “Art the Clown” groupies about the mini-franchise.
Other “slice em n’ dice ‘em” showpieces included the cult classic Hatchett, where Kane “Victor Crowly” Hodder (also famous as Jason Vorhees in Friday’s VII, VIII, Hell, and X) joined writer/director Adam Green for a Q & A.
Asked about his inspirations for creating Hatchett, Green responded, “In the early 2000’s, everything was either remakes, PG 13 or torture porn, and I just missed what I grew up with. So I wanted to do a slasher film like an 80’s horror comedy like An American Werewolf In London or Fright Night, which were both really entertaining and fun.”
It was also a weekend for Clive Barker buffs, Candyman star Tony Todd and writer/director Bernard Rose dropping in and connecting with Candyman fans at signing tables.
Recollecting his famous “mouthful of bees” scene at a Candyman panel, actor Tony Todd stated, “I was stung twenty-six times by baby bees throughout the first film. My agent at the time got me a grand for the stings, so that took some of the pain away. (shrugs) As actors, we do the things we do to make a movie.”
The show also featured stars from the original Hellraiser, Doug Bradley (Pinhead), Ashley Laurence (Kristy) and Andrew Robinson (Larry) reuniting for a discussion on the original film, reflecting on behind-the-scenes shenanigans and on the mastermind himself, Clive Barker.
“After university, Clive, myself and others formed a theater group based on stories of his, which were largely ignored – brand new plays by an unknown playwright with a theater company filled with unknown actors – what could possibly go right?” Bradely reminisced. “Years later, I was at a birthday party for our costume designer for these plays, where Clive says to me, ‘Oh, by the way – I’m trying to put together a low budget, independent British horror movie and I think there might be a part in there for you.’ And I casually said, ‘Wow… cool.’ Remarkably, that was the moment that Hellraiser walked into my life.”
Other honored guests to grace ‘Palooza’s gates included Linda Blair (The Exorcist), Melissa Barrera (Scream 2022 & VI, Abigail), Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ed Wood), Michael Ironside (Top Gun, Total Recall), Bradley Whitford (Get Out, Cabin In The Woods) and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian), to name a few.
Monsterpalooza’s museum, a centerpiece of the show, featured new artwork from creature creator Casey Wong, including a life-size, rotating mannequin of “Dr. Jekyll” drinking his special potion and in mid-transition into his “delightful” alter ego! Other life-size (and life-like!) figures in the walk-thru odditorium included retro characters from Michael Jackson’s Thriller, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Shining.
Of special note, the Monsterpalooza team paid a special tribute in their program book to pop culture icon/B-movie king Roger Corman, who passed on May 9th. In writer Joe Sena’s words, “[Corman] left behind a legacy rich with innovation, inspiration and an indelible impact on the film industry.”
Congratulations to Monsterpalooza founder Eliot Brodsky and crew on their 15th anniversary!
Feeling like rigor mortis for missing this year’s Monsterpalooza? Unbury yourself – the con’s sinister offspring, Son Of Monsterpalooza, will be slithering its way to the Burbank Marriott (Burbank, CA) October 11-13. Miss it not!
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