Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors 2007

I'm still reeling from the nonstop 3-day weekend, where I put more miles on my high heels than what you'd find on the odometer of a Grateful Dead groupie's panel van. But it was all in Fango-fun and I, on behalf of Horror.com, got some hellaciously fine exclusive interviews with a veritable who's-who of horror (on camera chats being posted soon!), not to mention attending several of the to-die-for panels.

Here's a basic rundown:

FRIDAY, May 18

• THE NEW ZOMBIES: Host Max Brooks welcomes DAY OF THE DEAD screenwriter Jeffrey Reddick, BRAIN DEAD director Kevin Tenney, DIARY OF THE DEAD producer John Harrison and FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD director Scott Thomas.

Actually, I counted more heads than what's listed above, but the crowded stage was so wall-to-wall with talent I was too dazzled to write their names down. (OK, I forgot my pen!) Packed panels such as these are always difficult to dissect, because you can never remember who said what, and additionally the audience has a hard time directing their questions. I do remember Reddick got some razzing, which he took in humorous stride, and Brooks did a great job of moderating, making sure that each scribe got their moment in the spotlight.

• THE THIRD MOTHER PANEL: Screenwriter Jace Anderson and actress Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni preview the new Dario Argento movie.

Anderson, guarding the never-before-seen clips with her life, was proud to show off Argento's upcoming masterpiece, explaining that even though the movie is the third in the witch trilogy, the Italian director ditched the famous color scheme he used in Suspiria and Inferno: "I have done that," she quoted. "It was 25 years ago."

Anderson explained that this film is also much larger in scope, not concentrating on one dwelling. "It takes place all over Rome, and winds up in the catacombs."

Cataldi-Tassoni, who's worked with Argento quite often in the past, revealed that she plays a character named Giselle, and it is she who leads Asia Argento's character, Sarah, unwittingly into doom. She herself doesn't fare too well: "He [Argento] kills me. It's great."

The film clips are quite enticing. Anderson said that Argento told her he wanted The Third Mother to be his most violent film, ever, and it certainly seems so: Every orifice that you can imagine being stabbed, is! While perhaps the colors aren't as vivid, some other Argento trademarks certainly emerge strongly: you'll see eyeballs, boobs, blood, simians, witches, POV shots, and bravura cutting which will surely leave you breathless.

• PARASOMNIA PREVIEW: Director William Malone, veteran screen heavy Patrick Kilpatrick and young leads Dylan Purcell and Cherilyn Wilson on their scary sleeper.

An action-packed, quick-cut teaser was shown to start things off, and the audience seemed quite enthused with the unusual (not to mention gory and creepy) theme of Parasomnia. In a nutshell, Parasomnia is the story of Laura (Wilson), a young woman afflicted with the title sleep disorder, and her dangerous and deadly foray into the real world where she encounters a deranged serial killer / mentalist (Kilpatrick) who tries to bend her fragile mind to his will. Purcell plays Danny, the man who loves Laura and must find a way to stop the preternaturally ingenious slayer.

Malone fielded quite a few questions from his fans about some of his previous works — The House on Haunted Hill, Fear-Dot-Com, and The Fair-Haired Child — but those in attendance were mostly interested in the film at hand. Unfortunately, a release date has not yet been set (but sometime around this Halloween is the target).

Also…

HEADLESS HORSEMAN rides: Director Anthony C. (BOO) Ferrante, producer Ken Badish, composer Alan (HALLOWEEN 4-5) Howarth and actors Steven Felty and Trish Coren tackle the enduring legend.

REVAMPED PREVIEW: Writer/director Jeff Rector and the cast (Fred Williamson, Martin Kove, Reggie Bannister, Jason Carter, Christa Campbell and Alana Curry) of this all-star vampire horror/comedy stick their necks out.

BRUTAL MASSACRE PANEL: Star David Naughton, producer Tom Bambard and EVIL DEAD actresses Ellen Sandweiss, Theresa Tilly (a.k.a. Sarah York) and Betsy Baker give us the scoop on this slasher satire.

THE BELIEVERS PANEL: Director/co-writer Daniel (BLAIR WITCH PROJECT) Myrick and stars Johnny Messner, Saige Ryan Campbell and Deanna Russo preview the new Raw Feed movie.

BEHIND THE MIST: Director Frank (GREEN MILE) Darabont, star Thomas Jane and concept designer Bernie Wrightson with the first news on the ultimate Stephen King film!

DOUG BRADLEY, HELLRAISER: The man who is Pinhead discusses his career in fear.

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SATURDAY, May 19

• HOSTEL: PART II PANEL: Director Eli Roth and lead gals Bijou Phillips and Vera Jordanova unveil the latest terrors in traveling overseas.

Why make a Hostel: Part II? The box-office success notwithstanding, the writer/director said that ultimately, it was Rob Zombie's follow-up to House of the 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, which inspired him to build on his original idea, to see if he could make it an even more layered cinematic experience.

Fans asked Roth questions ranging from everything about acting for David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino in their most recent films (it was great), to dealing with the MPAA (he really has no problem with them), Cabin Fever 2 (Roth's not involved, but he did recommend the director), to the possibility of doing a Masters of Horror episode (he doesn't have time, now).

Roth further revealed that currently he is working on his adaptation of Stephen King's Cell, and wants to do something he calls Trailer Trash, which is a compilation of phony movie trailers ala his short Grindhouse film, Thanksgiving.

Actresses Bijou Phillips and Vera Jordanova were also on the panel, but nobody really asked them anything. Roth stepped in, graciously "interviewing" each of them at regular intervals, and there was a surprise appearance from Michael Madsen (for no apparent reason…).

• FIRST LOOK AT WRONG TURN 2: Director Joe Lynch and stars Henry Rollins and Erica (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE) Leershen give us the scoop on the gory sequel.

Well, some people got a "first look" — not me, I was late to the panel and sat down just as the final frame was fading on the teaser trailer. It looked awfully good, and brutal, though!

Rollins appreared bored most of the time, while Leershen tried in vain to keep up with her director's antics. Lynch was clearly the star of the show here, and if the movie is half as fun as he is, I'll pay to see it twice.

• PHANTASM REUNION: Creator Don Coscarelli reunites with the stars of his classic 1979 film and part III, including Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury, Kathy Lester and Gloria Lynn Henry.

Still crazy, after all these years. The audience about the movie, that is! The panel seemed quite mentally composed, thank you very much. Coscarelli was his usual wry, witty self, and the lovely ladies — Lester (who wore a skintight lavender dress, natch) and Lynn Henry — had some sexy, silly stories to tell about their nude- and sex scenes. Thornbury had an amusing story to tell about a particularly fanatical Phantasm fan, while Bannister reminisced about those famous balls.

Mainly, the talk was about the newly remastered DVDs of Phantasm and Phantasm III, where some excellent commentaries can be heard — after the panel, there was a huge line at the Anchor Bay booth for autographs and photos with Coscarelli and crew.

• HATCHET PANEL: Writer/director Adam Green, star Kane Hodder, actors Joel David Moore, Tamara Feldman and Tony Todd and FX creator John Carl Buechler spill their guts on the emerging slasher icon.

Green clearly loves his movie. And not in a pompous, pretentious auteur kind of way — he's plainly a fan of the genre, like all of us. He drew wild applause and cheers from the crowd when he disparaged PG-13 horror, and promised that Hatchet, due to be released in the fall, will be the hardest R we have seen, "without rape or torture."

• ROB ZOMBIE: The musician/moviemaker reinvents Michael Myers! With special HALLOWEEN stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Danielle Harris, Scout Taylor-Compton, Hanna Hall and Daeg Faerch (young Michael Myers). [pictured, © Staci Layne Wilson]

This was arguably the hottest ticket at Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors, but seems to be the most disappointing according to the subsequent Internet message board reaction. Personally, I did not have time to stay for the whole thing, but what I did see seemed fine to me. I guess the main complaints were 1) The trailer wasn't new, 2) The new Laurie Strode, Scout-Taylor Compton, has not seen the original Halloween, and 3) the entire panel didn't stick around to sign autographs.

As was the case with Roth's panel, everyone wanted to ask Zombie the questions to the exclusion of everyone else. The truth is, no one else really had a lot to add (though young Faerch certainly seemed keen, and he's got a great look) — but still, the parts of the Q & A I did see were informative enough. (Horror.com was on the set of Halloween, so be sure and stay tuned for our exclusive report.)

Also…

HEATHER LANGENKAMP: Meet the lovely star of NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET!

FANGORIA COMICS PANEL: Actor/comics co-creator Michael Madsen (!), editor Scott Licina, artist Mark Kidwell, writer Robert Kurtzman and co-creator Patrick Durham preview our debuting horror comics label.

MANHUNT 2 PREVIEW: A look at Rockstar Games’ new videogame sensation!

CABIN FEVER 2 PANEL: Producer Lauren Moews, director Ti West, actors Marc Senter, Noah Segan and returning CABIN FEVER stars Rider Strong and Giuseppe Andrews on the new infection.

BORDERLAND PANEL: Actors Jake Muxworthy, Brian Presley and Rider Strong, as well as producer Lauren Moews and director Zev Berman, discuss their true-life shocker.

ADI FX: MOVIE MAGIC: Monster maestros Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. give us the skinny on ALIEN VS. PREDATOR 2 and other FX secrets.

HORROR COMPOSERS PANEL: Listen to macabre music maestros Nathan (HOSTEL) Barr; Christopher (HELLRAISER) Young; Richard (RE-ANIMATOR) Band; MAY’s Jaye Barnes-Luckett and John (CREEPSHOW) Harrison. Hosted by Dan Goldwasser

SHAWNEE SMITH: The lovely actress of the SAW trilogy answers your questions.

PAUL NASCHY: The king of Spanish horror, best known as werewolf Waldemar Daninsky, tells us all about his career in fear!

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SUNDAY, May 20

• MASTERS OF HORROR PRESENTATION: Creator Mick Garris joins fellow directors Tom Holland and Peter Medak for a discussion of the series' hit second season.

Garris said there will be a Masters of Horror Season 3, but mostly Medak talked. And talked, and talked…

• NEIL MARSHALL: The acclaimed director of THE DESCENT and DOG SOLDIERS delivers the first news on his epic DOOMSDAY!

Neil Marshall was careful about revealing too much about his upcoming film, but did say that the story centers on a virus that takes over Scotland; Scotland is thereby isolated in the confines of a giant wall, until years later when a strain of the virus is found outside and a group of scientists must climb the wall into the danger zone in order to find a possible cure.

Furthermore, Marshall talked about filming Doomsday in South Africa and fielded the usual questions about Dog Soldiers (working with all all-male cast) and The Descent (working with an all-female cast).

• CLIVE BARKER: The master of dark fantasy gives us the skinny on all his new projects, including the MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN movie.

Clive Barker showed off some of artwork, talked about sex and love, and said that he is working on new stories from the world of Cabal, is still planning on doing a screen version of The Thief of Always, plus stated that there's no Rawhead Rex sequel in his future.

He also spoke a little bit of the main attraction, Midnight Meat Train, which is to be the English-language directorial debut of respected Japanese director, Ryuhei Kitamura. (Horror.com was on the set, so be sure and stay tuned for our exclusive report.)

Also…

RUSSELL MULCAHY: The director of HIGHLANDER and THE SHADOW now tackles RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION.

THORA BIRCH: The lovely actress of AMERICAN BEAUTY and GHOST WORLD gets her fright on for the new DARK CORNERS.

WORLD OF BOLL: Actors Zack Ward and Jackie Tohn preview Uwe Boll’s riotous new films BLOODRAYNE II, SEED and POSTAL.

THE BREED: Director Nick Mastandrea takes us behind the barks of his killer-dog movie.

BEHIND THE MASK PANEL: The slasher mockumentary is talked up by co-writer/director Scott Glosserman and stars Nathan (INVASION) Baesel and Angela Goethals.

HORROR COMICS PANEL: 30 DAYS OF NIGHT creator Steve Niles and Bernie (CREEPSHOW) Wrightson discuss their new projects.

SUMMER SLEEPER: “THE SIGNAL”: Hear the sounds of terror with co-director Jacob Gentry and actors A.J. Bowen and Chad McKnight

MAX BROOKS: The author of WORLD WAR Z and THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE in the non-rotting flesh.

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