The weekend of March 12 & 13, 2022 marked the return of WinterCon to Resorts World NYC in Queens, New York. The last time the event had been held was way back in December of 2019. Thanks to COVID it wasn't held the following year. Then, in 2021, it was set to take place in December, but Omicron changed those plans. And, it was postponed till this month. But, the end result was more than worth the wait!
The guest list was awesome! With the main appeal, to me, being the Aliens cast reunion. That James Cameron sci-fi/ horror/ action classic is my second favorite movie of all time. I had been wanting to meet the cast forever, with Jennette Goldstein being at the very top of the list. She played the badass and tough as nails Private Vasquez, one of my favorite characters in a film filled with incredible characters. She was super sweet in person.
The other person I was looking forward to meeting was the original Michael Myers from John Carpenter's Halloween, himself, Nick Castle! He also played him in parts of the last two entries in the franchise, Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills. While, I had seen him at various horror cons, I never did go up to him till now. He was really nice in person.
Basically this means that I got autographs for two of my favorite movies of all time! You can see them in the pic below.
The Aliens cast was reunited onstage for a really cool and informative panel.
As you may have noticed, I was in my Captain America, Avengers: Infinity War cosplay. And, as always I was really excited to see other people's cosplays. While there wasn't a whole lot of them on Sunday, there were some cool ones on hand. Was there more on Saturday? If you know this to be the case let me know in the comments section below. Anyway, here are some of my favorite cosplays that I saw on Sunday:
I also got to run into my friend and all around awesome cosplayer, Miss. Cheng. We chatted for a bit catching up since the last time I saw her, coincidently was at the last WinterCon. As always, her cosplay was cool as hell! She was D.Va from Overwatch, this time around.
Finally, I got to buy some cool toys and got some killer deals on them! I picked up Funko Pops of Fantastic Four's H.E.R.B.I.E. and a Walmart exclusive of Chatterer from Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (even though he isn't in that movie, but I digress) and an Ultimate Macready from John Carpenter's The Thing by NECA (which I actually scored for $25!).
I had an absolute blast at WinterCon, which remains one of my favorite conventions around. I hope this upward trend continues, and we will have more cons. Were you at WinterCon, and if so what did you enjoy the most? Let me know in the comments section.
It has been a long time since I have picked a Horror Crush induction or, to be honest, written much of anything. A big part of that is that I have and am going through a very rough time. The passing of my six year old terrier mix, Zoey, who was my absolute everything, has devastated me. I am finding it very hard to cope, but have been feeling the inkling to slowly start writing again has been itching me. A recent revisit of one of my favorite movies, Lucio Fulci's Zombie further cemented this in mind. Or more so, this piece that you are about to read. And, so I wanted to show some love and induct one of that masterpiece's beautiful stars, the stunning Olga Karlatos and make her the next official Horror Crush inductee!
Olga Karlatos was born in Athens, Greece on April 20, 1945. Between the 60s and 70s, she had a short lived music career, in which she sang in both French and Italian. Her acting career began in 1975 in the movie My Friends.
Her first horror flick came in 1978's Italian movie, Damned in Venice. Like most of her movies, I haven't seen or really heard about this one before. It's about a kid getting warned about the birth of the Antichrist. In it, she plays a character named Madeline Winters. If you have seen it let me know your thoughts on it and her performance in it, in the comments section below.
Later that same year came Mexican horror movie, Cyclone. This one, I have heard in name but, regardless, never saw it. It is apparently about a crashed plane, and its survivors resorting to cannibalism. Karlatos plays a character named Monica. Again, if you've seen it tell me your thoughts on it in the comments section.
Then in 1979, came her most famous role, Lucio Fulci's classic Zombie (AKA Zombi 2, Zombie Flesh Eaters). After a zombie appears on a boat in New York City and cops shoot into the water, a daughter (Tisa Farrow) and reporter (Ian MacCulloch) go to a island to look for her missing father. There they discover the dead are rising.
One of Fulci's finest movies, this atmospheric and ultra- gory splatter film fucking rocks. While, essentially a Dawn of the Dead rip-off, it sets itself apart, as it embraces a more supernatural element and feel. It also features explicit gore with excellent make-up FX by Giannetto De Rossi. The flick is drenched in atmosphere with an exciting and rousing climax, thanks to Fulci's excellent directing.
Karlatos plays the wife, Paola, of a Dr. David Menard (Richard Johnson) who was friends with the missing father. Karlatos does a fine job here, as a beautiful wife who knows the horrors that are going and doesn't wanna be there anymore. She also takes a shower, to allow for some nudity, which I assure was absolutely necessary to the plot! This leads to her famous demise, which is the movie's most infamous splatter moment. As a zombie chases her, he grabs her by the hair, and drives her beautiful eye into a large splinter. The scene is audacious, harrowing, and never loses its power, not even in the many repeated viewings that I have given this classic! She is later devoured, showing us that zombies don't let food go to waste!
In 1984, Karlatos did her final horror film, Murder Rock, which suitably enough was also for Fulci. I have not seen this Giallo, but as a fan of Fulci, and hers, I do want. It deals with the owner of a prestigious New York ballet school teaming up with a male model, as they try solve who is killing students. Karlatos plays a character named Candice and gets top billing in this. That alone make me want to see it even more! Are any of you fans of this Fulci flick?
Also, that year she appeared in what might be her most famous role for mainstream audiences, Purple Rain, in which she played Prince's mom. Her last acting role was in 1986 for an episode of Miami Vice. In 2007, she graduated from Kent University with a law degree, and in 2010 was allowed in the Bermuda Bar Association. Karlatos may long have left the acting world, but she will always be remembered and loved by horror fans. Her role alone in Zombie will forever hold as a part of genre history. And, so with that having been said, it is my honor to official induct the absolutely gorgeous Olga Karlatos into this site's Horror Crushes!
This weekend of March 12-13, 2022, marks the return of one of my personal favorite conventions in the East Coast, WinterCon at Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York! After getting postponed from last December due to COVID, its back baby! And, it has one hell of a guest list!
Among them are a KILLER Alienscast reunion, as seen from the above pic. Long time readers and followers may well know my love this sci-fi/ horror/ action classic. So, you can only imagine how freaking pumped I am for that alone! Plus, they will also have Nick Castle who played Michael Myers in John Carpenter's Halloween, as well as in the 2018 movie and its sequel, Halloween Kills, cast members from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (including the lovely Kristana Loken who I met some years back at Chiller is so freaking awesome in person!), cast from The Warriors, and so many more celeb guests!
Not to mention all the awesome dealers (I have found some killer deals at this show), artist alley, and, of course, cosplaying! The later of which has me pumped to get back into, as I have not done that since last year's New York Comic Con. I will be Captain America, once again. So, if any of you reading this are there, don't be a stranger! Come and say hi!
Who amongst my readers will be there? What are you most looking forward to? Are you gonna be in cosplay? If so, as what? Let me in the comments section below!
Director: Thomas Hamilton Writers: Thomas Hamilton, Ron MacCloskey Cast: Peter Bogdanovich, Ron Pearlman, Guillermo del Toro, Sara Karloff, Stephanie Powers Year: 2021 Min: 99
This 2021 autobiographical documentary is about horror legend Boris Karloff's life and, in particular, his career. In the pre-credits, it mentions and talks about the later part of his career: IE Mario Bava's classic anthology Black Sabbath, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and Peter Bogdanovich's Targets. From there it goes back in time, into his early work discussing his breakthrough role in James Whales' Frankenstein and his follow-up role in The Mummy. It is from here that we go into his rough upbringing and journey into his acting career, including his involvement with SAG, and his following roles, right into his passing.
Throughout its running time there are some great interviews with experts and legends on the genre and Karloff, as well as those who knew and/ or worked with him. Those interviewed include, but are not limited to David J. Skall, John Landis, Guillermo del Toro, Karloff's daughter Sara Karloff, Joe Dante, and many more. These interviews are informative, entertaining, and loving in nature. And, to be honest, I could listen to guys like Skall, del Toro, Landis, and Dante talk horror movies all day long!
Learning that he had a rough childhood, thanks to his father who was abusive to him and his mother, was wholly new information to me. In fact, I knew nothing about his pre-Hollywood days, till watching this douc. But, then there are many fascinating facts that are revealed both through interviews and the excellent narration. The documentary is never boring and always feels like you are learning something new about this legend or basking in the glorious admiration so many rightfully have for him.
A couple of moments even hit me and really warmed my heart, as in when the late, great Dick Miller (a cult horror legend and favorite in his own right) talking about working with him in Roger Corman's The Terror. Corman, himself, appears, and as is the case with any interview with him, provides truthful and insightful facts about movie productions. In this case being in reference to the aforementioned The Terror and the preceding flick The Raven, both of which, of course, featured Karloff.
Other captivating moments include the scene where Karloff, as the monster, throws the little girl into the water in Frankenstein. I knew the scene was cut back then but didn't know the exact details. And, I certainly didn't know Karloff's thoughts on this classic moment in the genre. Later we have various interviewees discussing one of my favorite movies of Karloff' and Bela Lugosi's career, The Black Cat. They mention its boundary pushing subject matters of Satanism and necrophilia.
Then there is talk of the struggle Karloff had finding work in the early days of the horror hating Hays Code. As well as, his work for horror producer Val Lewton, and so many more great moments. In fact, the discussion on the the three Lewton movies is extensive and fully engrossing. And, finally, as a long time convention goer, the part where his daughter Sara Karloff speaks of meeting fans and seeing and hearing their love for her father, is a truly touching highlight all its own.
It's also great to hear how TV airing classic horror movies revitalized his career the 50s and 60s . We learn that thanks to this, he got to do a lot of television roles and appearances and a string of movies in this later part of his life. Among these include the beloved Targets, highlighted by an interview with its director Peter Bogdanovich. His words on the making of it are inciteful and captivating. The fact that he so recently passed away makes this interview with the legendary and respected director that much more memorable.
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster is a wonderful, informative and, above all, affectionate documentary. It serves as both a testament to Karloff's incredible body of work and as a loving tribute to him. The interviews speak with a great amount of deserved reverence and admiration for him and his movies and roles. The facts revealed are illuminating and fascinating. The docu, itself, is never, not even for a split second, boring, as it is always entertaining watch. As such, its an absolute must watch for fans of Karloff and classic horror, in general. The documentary also ranks as one of the finest, utterly enjoyable, and perhaps most heartwarming ones on horror movies. You'll be able to see it and enjoy it yourself, when it begins streaming on Shudder on January 27, 2022.
Sunday, October 10, 2021, was the final day of the returning New York Comic Con (NYCC), and it was actually the most packed day! Yes, that means even more so than Saturday was! I don't know if they suddenly opened up more spots or not, but my friend was abele to get a ticket just the day (despite it being declared as "sold out"). And, like I said there was definitely more people than I saw on the previous day. Now, this was still less than in the pre-pandemic days but still.
Anyway, my friends and I had a great time. As the con was in full swing, and we took full advantage of all the fun there was to be had.
There was lots of cool cosplay to enjoy. Here are some of my favorites that I caught:
My friends are big fans of Sunny in Philadelphia, so they were, understandably, flipping out over this fun and humorous cosplay that brings to life one of the net's most famous memes.
I actually just saw Black Widow, earlier this week. And, I quite enjoyed it, save for the overdone, overblown climax. Anyways, these lovely ladies did an incredible job with their cosplays. They looked and felt very much like cinematic counter parts. Every time they would pass me by, I would be blown with how fucking accurate they looked!
Speaking of be blown away, this incredible Zatana cosplay is one of the absolute best cosplays that I saw all of the days, at this con. The gorgeous cosplayer really did an amazing job bringing a favorite character of mine to life. Her poses further added to her look and representation of the character. She looked just like Zatana would on the cover of a comic-book. I don't know the name of her, but if you do, please let her how fucking cool and awesome her work is!
Despite being a life long horror fan and writer on the subject, I have yet to see Midsommar. Admit ably, I am not a fan of most, if any, of the so-called "elevated horror films" (Jesus fucking Christ, how I HATE that term!). In fact, I thought the same director's, Ari Aster, Hereditary was only alright and mostly overrated. Whatever, the case maybe, this cosplayer's Midsommar inspired cosplay is fucking incredible! The amount of time and work that must have gone into making this is, alone, worthy of admiration. It's beautifully done, too. I don't know if she had to ride the train with it on, and if so how she did that. But, either way all of my compliments go to this amazing and jaw-droppingly great job!
As a life long Godzilla fan (who was coincidently wearing my recently purchased Godzilla: King of the Monsters baseball tee from Cavity-Colors on this day) I had to get a pic with this Godzilla. Based on his Legendary Pictures look, he was fucking awesome!
Finally, I did get to do a little bit of shopping on this day, as well. I picked up the NYCC exclusive Funko Pop of Paulie Pigeon, which I got to do thanks to lucking out and gaining a scheduled time on this day. Even better, they still the exclusive Pizza Rat, which wasn't available when I had signed up for being able to shop on Sunday. I also finally got the NECA Halloween II Michael Myers, at a different booth, of course, which I had been meaning to get for the longest of time.
And, that dear friends and readers, is it for this Comic Con. I am so glad that cons are back (and hope that this recent Omnicom variant doesn't fuck things up). I look forward to next year's NYCC, when I expect to be back to three days of cosplaying. Until, then thanks for reading and let me know if any of you went to this con, and you're experiences in the comments section below.
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