Monster-Mania August 2025

This past weekend of August 15-17 held the latest edition of Monster-Mania in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. My friend Freddie and I attended that Saturday the 15th and had fun as we always do. 

I was short on cash, so I only met two celebs, but they were both awesome. First up was Paul Kratka who played boyfriend Rick in the always fun to watch Friday the 13 part 3. He was really nice in person and talked to me for a bit. We discussed the enduring popularity of the franchise and Jason, himself.

The other celeb that I met was the great Joseph Whipp. He played police Sgt. Parker in Wes Craven's masterpiece A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). He also appeared in Scream, The Hidden, and more. In person, he is one of the nicest celebs I have ever met! He talked to me for a good bit asking me about my shirt (I told him it's The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs where he plays horror movies) and if my Nightmare box set that I gave him to sign was new (I told him no, but, I ran out of space on the inlet card and was now getting the cardboard slipcover signed). The Monster-Man employee who took the pic, then made us pose for a bunch of pics: normal, pointing, fist bump, and drunk! And, then he still talked to me about how amazing it was to work with Craven! Meeting him was definitely the highlight of the day for me.

Sadly there was far less people in attendance than I have ever seen, at this con, but there was still some amazing cosplays on hand. Here are some of my favorites that I saw on this day:

Writer and cosplayer Crystal Rose Cardano

We stayed for the Friday the 13th part 3 cast panel which was fun to listen to. Though, we did leave right after that.

Here are the two autographs that I got:
Friday the 13th part 3: Paul Krakta
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Joseph Whipp

The only thing I bought was something from Vinegar Syndrome's booth. It's Fatal Delusion on Blu-ray. I never seen this W.A.V.E. production, but it stars gorgeous scream queens Deana Demko and Tina Krause. So, I was like, "Sold!"

Did any of you guys go to this Monster-Mania? If so what were the highlights for you, and who did you meet? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Monster-Mania March 2025

This past Friday, March 14, 2025, my friend Freddie and I headed down to Cherry Hill, New Jersey for the latest edition of Monster-Mania. And, while I am  still struggling financially,  somethingwhich definitely cut back on what I could do at the con (on the bright side, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel, even if it might be a rather small flashlight), I still had a hell of a time. We both did!

The first person that I went up to was the lovely Dana Kimmell who played final girl Chris in Friday the 13th Part 3. She rarely does cons, so she had a long line, all day I was told. She had to do a photo-op, so I had to wait an extra 20 minutes on top of what I would have had to wait. But, it was worth it. She was so sweet and down to earth in person. She also still looked beautiful! Sitting next to her was her son, Kyle Dane, who wrote his mother's biography The Brightest Star. His wife and his sister (her daughter) were also hanging around her table. I let Kimmell know that she was the celeb I most wanted to meet that day. I also told her how much I loved her climatic battle with Jason, which I definitely think is one of the best in the entire franchise.

The only other celeb I met was Mike Martinez, who played the Killer Klown known as Slim in Killer Klowns from Outer Space. There were actually three Klowns on hand, but alas, I am poor (as I said earlier). So, I could only afford one. Slim is probably my fav, so I went with him. Hopefully, they will return and can meet the rest in a near future.

On a side note, I wanted to meet cast members of The Return of the Living Dead, a film whose love for I have mentioned many a time here. But, they were charging too much (each of them!), so I opted out. However, I must say that it was cool that scream queen royalty Linnea Quigley was only charging $20 for a selfie. She left before I got to do that, but it's fine, as I've met her twice before. Also, it was the return of the gorgeous Jewel Shepard to east coast cons, who hadn't done one since Saturday Nightmares 2011, when I met her. My friend did go up to her, which is awesome, cuz she is the fucking coolest!

There was some cool cosplay on hand. Here are just some of my favorites:

These are the autographs that I got on this day:
Friday the 13th Part 3: Dana Kimmell 
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: Mike Martinez

And, this is the swag that I got:
Trick or Treat (Synapse Films regular edition 4K)
Zero Woman: The Red Handcuffs (Blu-ray)- both of these came from the Diabolik DVD table, which had an amazing selection of movies (as they always do) and a couple of good deals. Like these two, which were both cheaper than they were on Amazon!
Funko Pop Ash Vs. Evil Dead: Kelly- This is an older OOP (out of print) Pop of one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite shows ever. As such she goes for at least $38 on Amazon. And, this awesome dealer at this con had her for $10!! This dude had the best Pop prices that I have seen in ages. If I wasn't broke I would have bought more. But, there was no way I as letting this one slip by. On a side note, the actress who played Kelly, the gorgeous Dana Delorenzo rules! As did that time that I met her a few years ago. 
Rats: Night of Terror- Free mini-poster/ slick handed out by Severin Films at their booth

And, that is it. We had an awesome time. Did any of you go to this edition of Monster-Mania? What were your highlights? Let me know in the comments section below. Anyways, I, now, look forward to the next con: Chiller Theatre next month! Any of you guys going to that? Also, let me know in the comments section.

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Monster-Mania 61, November 2024

 In what was kind of a last minute decision, my friend Freddie and I headed off to Monster-Mania in PA on November 10, 2024. This would only be my second time to this version of this convention, and my return to it after a two year hiatus. Since New York Comic Con (I am still working on editing pics, for those of you waiting to see my coverage on it) and Chiller were so recent, and still not having regular work (if one of you guys could help me to find one that I can work from home/ is good for someone who suffer from severe anxiety, please let me know!), I knew that I would be low on funds. Regardless, I knew we would still have fun. The good time we had ended up surpassing me expectations!

There was a Killer Klowns from Outer Space reunion, which was what main reason for me wanting to go. That cult classic is one of my favorite movies of all time. Three of the stars would be there, but I could only afford two. First, I met the lovely Suzanne Snyder. She was so sweet and personable, being all smiles and talking to us for a good amount of time. She also told us that she did the whole set-up for the Killer Klowns cast photo op, that was to go on a bit later that day. I am not one for photo ops. but it's clear that she did awesome work. As based on the pics she showed, it look like it would be cool as fuck for anyone who did take part in it. 

The other cast member of that classic that I went up to was John Allen Wesley, who played her character Debbie's ex and current cop. He was also so nice! In fact, he was awesome and fun to talk with. Both were great to talk about my love for this masterpiece with.

My friend met a lot more celebs than I did, among them was the gorgeous Samantha Scaffidi of the Terrifier movies. The true highlight of the day came when the three of us were talking to her. I mentioned last seeing and meeting her at the first, and sadly only, Brooklyn Horror Con. She said that she remembered me! That was so awesome! Scaffidi is so sweet and amazing in person. If you have never met her, you totally need to change that. 

Speaking of Terrifier, I got this awesome pic with a quartet of Art the Clown cosplayers! They looked so cool and the look of joy on my face is genuine as hell!

Below you will see the only autographs that I got. Both Suzanne Snyder and John Allen Nelson signed my Blu-ray copy of Killer Klowns from Outer Space (with the limited edition Halloween cover exclusive to Best Buy, you back when they carried movies and didn't suck ass):

And, being poor as fuck, I was only able to buy one thing, but man was it ever cool! It's this kick ass and super cute Mothra plushie! I actually saw it an earlier Monster-Mania, but was like oh that's cool let me get it later. When, I went to that dealer's booth get it, it had sold out! I was so disappointed. I kept looking for her at different cons (like this year's NYCC and Chiller) but to no avail. Until, I finally found her on that Sunday! I was so happy that I pretty much immediately bought her. I love that she has a long string to her hang her from, so that she can "fly" and protect my room from evil Kaijus!

And, so ends another great con. Did any of you go? If so who did you meet, and what where the highlights for you? Let me know in the comments section below. Also, this might be the last con that I will be attending this year, if so it was a good one to end on. 

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Monster-Mania March 2024

This past weekend marked the latest edition of Monster-Mania in March. My friend, Freddie, went on Saturday, March 9. 2024. And, while there was the looming threat of a rain storm in the afternoon and for our return home (spoiler alert: it hit us), we still had a total blast!

John Philbin, who was there as part of the Children of the Corn reuion, was the first guest we met. He was so incredibly nice in person! I met him for The Return of the Living Dead, which is one of my personal favorite movies. He got a kick out of the fact that Jewel Shepard wrote the "I never did like you" quote on my DVD (you can see towards the end of this article). He also talked to us about how much he loved working on movies like Point Break, cause of his love for surfing.

Speaking of that Children of the Corn reunion, both of us together, met Isaac, himself, John Franklin. He was also incredibly nice, being personable and very friendly with us.

The coolest, most awesome, and nicest celeb we met, I think, had to be Lou Taylor Pucci. He talked to us for a bit, as we discussed how awesome Evil Dead (2013) is, how he got the role in Fanboys, how much he liked my patches, especially the Elvira one, as he too, had a childhood crush on her, and more. He was so friendly and personable, and was one of the coolest guests ever!

The last celeb that I went up to was the one, I was most excited to meet, one of our Horror Crush inductees, the lovely Jane Levy of Evil Dead (2013), Don't Breathe, etc. She was mostly quite in person, but thanked me when I told her about my love for Evil Dead. She also told me that she liked my patches and was all smiles. I know she cancelled on Sunday, so we lucked out on meeting her when we did.

Here are some cool cosplays and stuff, that I saw on this day:

Without a shadow of a doubt, this Opera cosplay was my favorite of the day, and honestly, one of the coolest I have ever seen! She was very grateful and flattered that I knew and liked her cosplay. But, you guys already know my love for Italian horror don't you? I mean, I was wearing a Lucio Fulci's Zombie Fright-Rags long sleeve on this day!

The two things of mine that I got autographed are:

-The Return of the Living Dead by John Philbin
-Evil Dead (2013) by Lou Taylor Pucci

If you're curious why I didn't get Levy to sign my Blu-ray of it, it's cause her autograph was too expensive.

The only swag that I bought were movies. For what it is worth, of these three, I've only seen is Existenz before. Anywho, they are:
- David Cronenberg's Existenz 4K at Vinegar Syndrome 

- Lucio Fulci's Contraband (Cauldron Films, slipcover edition) at Diabolik DVD 

- Dracula Vs. Frankenstein (limited edition, slipcover with bonus movie also from director Al Adamson: Brain of Blood) at Severin Films

About the only complaint we had was the shuttle that we had to take after parking at a school. This is a new thing that they have started for Monster-Mania. While we lucked out both times, we think that they need to run more than fucking one at a time! The ride back home sucked having to drive in the rain storm with heavy traffic. That has nothing to do with the con, itself, though, and we simply had a blast. We already look forward to the August edition!

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Horror Crush: Daphne Zuniga

It's time to induct another beauty into this site's hollowed halls of the Horror Crush section! Toay's inductee is an actress who has been a big crush of mine since childhood, Melrose Place beauty: Daphne Zuniga!

Daphne Zuniga was born on October 28, 1962 in San Francisco, California. Her mom was a Unitarian minister of Polish and Finish decent, and her dad, from Guatemala, and was an emeritus professor philosophy at California State University, East Bay. In her early teens, she began to show an interest in acting and attended the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She would later enroll in the University of California to study theater.   

While, she might be best known for her mainstream work, in particular the aforementioned Melrose's Place, she has actually appeared in a decent amount of horror. Far more than I even thought she had. In fact, her first acting gig was in a 1982 slasher movie The Dorm that Dripped Blood. Also known Pranks, I've never seen this one, but I already knew that it actually made Britain's infamous Video Nasties list. She plays a supporting role in this tale of college students who stay over Christmas vacation to clean out a condemned dormitory. They get killed one by one, of course. Only 19 when she appeared in it. Any, fans of this one? And, how she is in? Let me know in the comments section below.

Two years later she appeared in another college centered slasher movie, The Initiation. This time, though, she had the lead role, as Kelly Fairchild. In it, she's been haunted by a nightmare since childhood were some dude gets immolated in her parents (played by Clu Gulager and Vera Miles[!!!) room with both of them present, post-coitus. Meanwhile, an inmate said parents fear has escaped from a sanitarium. People begin to die, of course, as a mysterious assailant keeps knocking them off. 

I actually only saw this a few days ago and quite enjoyed it. It isn't that gory or innovative when it comes to the kills, though one or two are pretty good. What it is, is suspenseful. And, while it is a bit on the slow side, it builds up nicely to a really good climax with a great setting: a mall. The slow pace does allow for likable character development and some good acting from Miles and Gullager. Zuniga is especially good as the lead, making for a believable final girl that we actually care about.

It goes without saying that Zuniga looks absolutely gorgeous. She also appears in her panties with a quick plummer's crack shot. The other girls in the flick are also pretty and, in keeping with the sensibilities of slashers back in the day, do get nude.

In 1987, she appeared in what is probably her most famous movie role, Princess Vespa in Spaceballs. This is where I first saw her in and first crushed on her. But, it's her role two films later, in 1989, that solidified my crush on her: The Fly II. Dealing with the rapidly growing and mutating son of Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), Martin (an excellent Eric Stollz), is looking to cure himself of his genetic curse. But, the bad guys wanna study and use him. He isn't happy about that to say the least, especially cause these assholes lied to him and even experiment on his doggy damning it to a deformed hell. Said scene is absolutely heartbreaking and soul crushing. It always makes me sob, even though I can't  actually watch the scene on top of having watched it many times.

Look this movie is no where near the level of David Cronenberg's masterpiece of a first film, arguably the greatest remake ever made. So, don't waste your time comparing it, OK? Instead, enjoy for what it is, a fun monster movie. It has incredible FX, but then again, it's directed by and has FX handled by Chris Walas (who also handled the FX on the first movie). So, it obviously would be. It has some incredible gore, including two scenes, a face melting and a crushed head via elevator. that really push the R-rating at the time. 

It's also really well acted. Stollz is great, of course, as is Lee Richardson as Anton Bartok, the flick's truly despicable main villain. Also, good is Zuniga. She plays the very sweet and likable love interest to Martin, Beth Logan. Watching this as a kid, I was blown away by her beauty and their sex scene. Actually said scene shows no naughty bits, but it somehow still caught my pre-teen brain/ hormones attention (not that hard to do back in those days, to be honest).

Her next two horror roles were both on TV. The first was for a short lived show that I never heard of before, an anthology called Nightmare Classics (1989). 

The other was in an episode of The Outer Limits (1999). I haven't seen this one either. But, if any of you guys have seen either, let me know in the comments section. Let me know how the episodes were and how she was in them.

I met her at an August 2017 Monster-Mania. She was all smiles and seemed to be having a lot of fun at the con. She also still looks absolutely gorgeous!

 

To mainstream audiences she maybe best known for Melrose Place and Spaceballs, but she'll always be best remembered by me, and probably other genre fans for her horror roles, in particular, The Fly II. For her breathtaking beauty and great acting skills in said roles, I am proud to induct Daphne Zuniga to be an official Horror Crush!

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