Horror directors: Tim Sullivan, Tom Holland, Darren Bousman, Adma Rifkin, Mick Garris, Tobe Hooper & James Wan!
So your boy here was lucky enough to attend the red-carpet premiere of Tim Sullivan’s 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS in Hollywood Thursday night. The shindig went down at the famed at Egyptian Theater, such legends as James Cameron and Mel Brooks immortalized in a bronzed side-walk star out front. As you can imagine, I was wracked with both alacrity and trepidation to see what would unfold in the hours to come. Little did I know that it would turn out to be one of the absolute best premieres I’ve had the opportunity to crash!
Arrivals were directed for 7 PM sharp. Incoming 15 minutes early, the SoCal sun still blazing at 85 degrees, my sister and I check in and get our VIP press tickets. Noticing an already unfurled dual-track of red-carpet, we scurried over to the what was akin to the velvet ropes and proceeded to get our Paparazzi on. I can’t thank our man Arrow enough…here’s a cast primarily comprised of young hotties, and with the event occurring in the throes of a mid-July L.A. heat wave…you can bet your blistered balls there was more skin on display than a f*ckin morgue. Don’t believe me, make eyes with the photographic evidence below!
But before we ogle at all the beautiful people, let’s give the uninitiated a rundown of the film. Written and directed by Tim Sullivan (along with Chris Kobin and Chris Tuffin), 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS is a follow up to Sullivan’s 2001 MANIACS, a loose remake of Herschell Gordon Lewis’ hillbilly cult-classic 2000 MANIACS. This time around, naive young Yankees skip their annual Guts N’ Glory Jamboree, and the Southern residents of Pleasant Valley take their cannibalistic carnival on the road and head to Iowa where they encounter spoiled heiresses Rome & Tina Sheraton and the cast and crew of their “Road Rascals” reality show. If that sounds rad to you, trust me it is!
And just like the film itself, the red-carpet atmosphere was pretty damn awesome. It was a lot fun, excitement buzzing in the air, people were good humored, filled with smiles…completely antithetical to the jaded, self-interested Hollywood stereotype you may think of when it comes to these kinds of galas. This had more of a class reunion or graduation feel…where cast and crew members reunited after months apart, doing so in a way that you could sense authentic excitement. Directors mingling, parents smiling proud upon their kid’s screen debut, actors congregating with a tale or two from the set…all of it lent to a palpable feeling of joy and happiness. Who knows, maybe there a few angels in the city that day!
Starring in and attending the film, in order of appearance below, are as follows: Katie Lohmann, Brooke Lewis, Alana Curry, Alex Luria, LaRayia Gaston, Katy Marie Johnson, Asa Hope, Kathryn Le, Sandra Taylor, Nicholle Tom, director’s group shot: Tim Sullivan, Tom Holland, Darren Lynn Bousman, Adam Rifkin, Mick Garris, Tobe Hooper and James Wan. Bill Moseley, Lin Shaye, Clifford Allen Wagner, Ahmed Best and Christa Campbell.
As the final photo snapped, everyone more or less milled about for a bit until finally proceeding into the theater. My sister and I, Stacey, rocked second row from the very back, sharing the row with Katy Marie Johnson and other actors from the “”Road Rascals” portion of the cast. Pretty thrilling to see some of them appreciate their work on the big screen, perhaps for the first time. Mr. Sullivan drolly introduced the flick before heading off into the wings. The lights dimmed, the images flickered…now wait for my review mothaf*ckers!
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