Fango Con 2006 coverage

I
must say that overall, last weekend’s Fangoria Weekend Of Horrors
event (June 2-4) was not all that spectacular.
(And not just because them good folks over at Fangoria
refused to give a press pass to JoBlo.com, forcing little old
me to take money out of my own pocket for the event and have less
access!)

The
vendor’s rooms were small; the goodies for sale a little
lackluster and the main room presentations were riddled with
technical difficulties. (Things
like loud feedback, mics shutting down while people on stage were
speaking, plus no mic for the question asking audience – a major
disaster that lasted the entire weekend!)
But in the three days of being surrounded by all things
macabre (should have squeezed it into two days, guys!), I managed to
find some scraps of rotting flesh. Here’s
a best and worst overview of the three days that made up
Fangoria’s Weekend Of Horrors.

Best
Guest: A
tie between THEY LIVE’s Roddy Piper (“I have come here to chew
bubblegum and kick ass…”) and RE-ANIMATOR’s still uber hot
Barbara Crampton, both of which were super cool.

Still sexy, Re-Animator’s Barbara Crampton

Worst
Guest:
Full Moon’s Charles Band, who was high on something and that
wasn’t the worst of it.

Best
Panel:
“ABOMINABLE” Panel, which had everything from clips where
a guy’s face gets ripped off, to a sentimental moment during the Q
& A where composer Lalo Schifrin lovingly said “he’s my
man” of his son, Director Ryan Schifrin, plus scream princess
Tiffany Shepis’s firm ass. Life
is good. Read the Arrow’s review HERE.

Worst
Panel:
Charles Band’s (yes, him again!) Full Moon Road Show.
An unbearable (over 80% of the crowd left before it was
over!) and completely unwatchable show, where Band proved that any
filmmaking talent he used to possess was officially gone.
Horrible highlights include Band gloating that author J.K.
Rowling stole the character of Harry Potter from a character of the
same name in the 1986 film TROLL, which he produced (“Everyone
says I should sue her” – what an ass!) and two unsexy bimbos
coming to the stage and screeching into the mic, while trying to
teach the audience about stage fighting.
(Bro, take a leak BEFORE
the show!) Band even had the
balls to screen an entire video showing how major stars, like Demi
Moore and Viggo Mortensen, started in his movies first. 
(How much credit do you want Charles?!)
Can’t believe this was the guy who directed my all time
favorite film TRANCERS, oh, how the mighty have fallen!

Best
Movies To Watch For:
The interesting documentary DEAD ON: THE LIFE AND CINEMA OF GEORGE
A. ROMERO, ABOMINABLE, and the vampire flick BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD.

Worst
Movies To Avoid:
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 3D (why can’t they come up with something
new, dammit!) and the stupid looking NIGHTMARE MAN (except for the
parts where Tiffany Shepis shows ass!).

Most
Memorable Moment:
Getting a squeeze by the lovely Tiffany Shepis!
(Hey, I’ve been married a long time!)

Me with the sexy princess of scream Tiffany Shepis

DAY

Best
Guest:
As always, the man himself, Bruce Campbell, aka Ash, aka don’t
call me Ash, was the hit of the day, slinging wit, charm and insults
to a full house of fans. (And
they loved it!)

The man, Bruce Campbell

Worst
Guest:
Actor Ernie Hudson, who was there to promote the film HOOD OF
HORROR. When asked about
anything, he kept answering “I just want to work.”
Way to dish that dirt Ernie!

Best
Panel:
By far the FEAST Panel, which was moderated by master
showman/director John Gulager and totally dominated the whole day.
Fun discussion (I ribbed producer Mike Leahy with a question
about his lack of faith in Gulager!), a kick ass trailer (that JoBlo
already reported on back on Dec. 9/2005), and a full action-packed
clip from the film that rocked the house.
I don’t know what the Weinstein’s problem is, but the
flick looked like a guaranteed box office winner.
Release it already, before everyone forgets!
(Gulager rocks!) And if you want to see great FEAST released some time this century, go to
Feast
at MySpace where you can voice your opinion, let the powers that be hear you loud and clear.

Full Project Greenlight Feast Panel with (from right to left)
Director John Gulager, writer Marcus Dunstan, writer Patrick Melton,
Actress Jenny Wade, actor Clu Gulager, actress Diane Goldner,
producer Mike Leahy, and F/X creator Gary Tunnicliffe

Worst
Panel:
The Masters Of Horror Presentation and not because of guests
Mick Garris, Stuart Gordon, William Malone and David J. Schow.
It was very interesting (Schow said that he had originally written the
part of the serial killer in PICK ME UP played by Michael Moriarty
for actor Michael Ironside!), right up until the point where the
fire alarm went off for no reason and forced the annoyed greats to
leave the stage. (Thanks
Fangoria!)

Masters of Horror panel with Mick Garris, Stuart Gordon, William
Malone, and David J. Schow

Best
Movies To Watch For:
The fascinating soon to DVD documentary HALLOWEEN:
25 YEARS OF TERROR, which covers all the films and has over 80
interviews (I saw clips and I was riveted!), REEKER, which had both
cool effects and Michael Ironside (a winning combo) and of course,
the fast paced and great looking FEAST.

Worst
Movies To Avoid:
Troma’s latest opus entitled POULTRYGEIST (don’t ask!), HOOD OF
HORROR (read the Arrow’s review of that HERE),
a TALES FROM THE HOOD rip-off (and Snoop Dog is no Clarence Williams
III!) and alien face-hugger monster rip off called UNEARTHED.

Most
Memorable Moment:
Getting a squeeze from an unknown horror chick, whose cleavage was
only covered by some evil monster hands.
(I really have been married a looong time!) 

A very hot chick who knows how to cover those nips

DAY

Best
Guest:
Actor David Arquette, who was showing exclusive clips from his
directorial debut THE TRIPPER. A
stoner film, with a black sense of humor, and some righteous kills.
That combined with a candid Arquette (“I loved SCREAM #1
cause it got me my wife!”) made for a fun time.

Worst
Guest:
THE OMEN director John Moore, who was one of the only panelists to
not take any questions from the audience, talking only to a boring
mediator on the stage. Guess
he was just too important! (Stuck up bastard!)

Best
Panel:
KNB EFX Panel, where my hero Howard Berger talked about the many
different projects KNB has worked on and are currently working on.
In my book, KNB could do no wrong! 
(Let me tour the damn studio already!)

Worst
Panel:
Surprisingly, the Previews Panel, which should have shown brand new
Trailers, but instead showed ones already seen during previous panel
discussions and repetitive Anchor Bay stuff. 
This should have been the best presentation of the weekend,
it wasn’t! (Shame on you!)

Ze Candyman, Tony Todd

Best
Movies To Watch For:
Arquette’s THE TRIPPER, a cool bounty hunter flick with a satanic
twist called SIN-JIN SMYTH with Roddy Piper and Richard Tyson and
HELLBOY director Guillermo del Toro’s knockin’ looking PAN’S
LABYRINTH (read Arrow’s review HERE).

Worst
Movies To Avoid:
The boring looking FURNACE (what happened to poor actor Michael
Pare?!), and the very unoriginal remake of THE OMEN (don’t be
lazy, just rent the original!) Read the Arrow’s review of the rehash
HERE.

Most
Memorable Moment:
Hearing from Director Guillermo del Toro that he wants to direct the
second HELLBOY no matter what, which he says is being looked at over
at Paramount studios. (Keep
the faith!) Plus hearing that
Rob Zombie will direct the next HALLOWEEN film, which might actually
be good now! (via la DEVIL’S
REJECTS!)

Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro

So
that’s all she wrote, folks! Overall
some good, lots of bad; meaning next year, I’ll save my money and
just visit a creepy cemetery! Stay
scared!