Fan conventions have unfairly garnered a negative stigma unparalleled since Grampa’s gonorrhea. Whenever I announce that I’m off to the latest horror movie convention, which include Horrorfind, Chiller Theater, and Cinema Wasteland, I get ridiculed and ostracized by friends, family, and even fellow geeks. I then feel low and ashamed for attending my fan fests - and this is hurt coming from a guy who wears a wrestling mask for a living! I suppose the source of nerd abuse is directly linked to Star Trek fans whose social awkwardness, pimply virginity, and general creepiness has fed the endless supply of can’t-get-a-date, living-in-the-basement-with-Mom jokes. But really, what’s the difference between some nerd in a Captain Picard uniform and some idiot fully painted from bald head to beer belly in New England Patriot colors?
Answer: None!
Anyway, one of the cooler fan conventions is Fangoria magazine’s Weekend of Horrors. The west coast version was recently held in
Highlights:
- Chit-chatting about laserdiscs with George Romero.
- Judith O’Dea (Barbra from NOTLD) looking spectacular.
- A Joe Dante spotting!
- Ron Jeremy giving me the stink-eye.
- Lots of these:
- Peeing next to Syd Haig.
- The purchase of kick-ass Winchester Tavern pint glasses!
- Danielle Harris hotness.
- A nice appearance from Ray Wise.
- Running into a cast member of Cannibal Holocaust, whose name I’ve forgotten.
- Richard Kiel!
- Lots of celebs: David Naughton, William Forsythe, the indestructible eye-patch guy from Lost, Eileen Dietz, the goateed guy from Clerks, and some dude from Diary of the Dead.
Lowlights:
- A pack of yakking witches in the back of the room that nearly ruined the 40th anniversary NOTLD panel.
- Screening of a terribly unfunny torture-porn parody Otis, starring Daniel Stern and Ileana Douglas.
- Over-priced movie posters, toys, and DVDs. These cons used to be the place to get some deals that you can’t find online, but no longer.
- Terrible food in the convention center food court.
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