NJ Horror Con: October 2019 Recap

Hats off to Ryan Scott Weber and the team at New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival for pulling off yet another amazing show at Atlantic City’s Showboat Hotel. The layout was a bit different this time around. Apparently, and without much notice, the space on the ground floor of the hotel where the convention is usually held was rented by Netflix for a movie shoot. This forced the main convention area to be relocated to the 2nd floor, with only the panel and photo op room remaining on the lower level.  Despite these last-minute changes, the event proceeded smoothly and without any interference.

Even being in attendance for all three days, it’s impossible to absorb everything. That is a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into planning such a jam-packed convention. Among the wide array of celebrity guests, which included Charlie Sheen and Christina Ricci, the NJ Horror Con crew was able to put together several special cast reunions from a variety of films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Police Academy, Spaceballs, and Frankenhooker. A great mix of vendors was also on tap to display items such as movie props, masks, and other collectibles. But one thing that really makes this particular convention stand out is the film festival which runs simultaneously with the main event. There is always a plentiful selection of independent horror films to enjoy in the screening room, and indie filmmakers have the opportunity to promote new and upcoming projects. Some of the highlights of this October’s film festival included screenings of Todd Sheets’ Clownado, Lee Esposito’s Lillith, and Jeremy W. Brown’s fan film Friday the 13th: Vengeance.

We had a chance to speak with several independent filmmakers while roaming the floor, whose projects are currently in post-production. One of them was Daniel Frankenstein, director of the upcoming feature Fauna. Scheduled for a 2020 release, Frankenstein’s film begins as a crime story involving a band of thieves who pull off a heist against a drug cartel. The group then flees to a far-away island where they hope to retire, but they soon encounter a monster known by the locals as “La Fauna”. Apparently inspired in part by Predator, Fauna was shot entirely in New York (including scenes which take place in the “island paradise”). Keep an eye out for this one next year.

Another upcoming horror movie out of the independent arena which looks promising is the wonderfully titled Human Hibachi. We spoke with actor John Campanile and director Mario Cerrito III, who stood behind a most appetizing display of food and beverage and agreed that the film will assuredly be right up our alley. The story centers around a woman celebrating her 35th birthday at a Japanese restaurant. Her boyfriend uses a cell phone camera to document the evening, and as the night unfolds he captures on video some of the “most disturbing human acts imaginable”. Human Hibachi is now in the editing phase, so be sure to check out the gang’s Facebook page for updates.

Let’s move on to some of the great panels that were featured over the weekend. If you were able to attend the show on Friday night, you may have been witness to the Frankenhooker reunion panel with stars Patty Mullen and James Lorinz. It was nice to see both together in costume to reflect on the film and discuss the ways in which their careers have developed in the years since. (You can view a clip of the panel here.) Following the Frankenhooker discussion was a special appearance by Tristan Risk (Frankenstein Created Bikers) and Jen & Sylvia Soska (American Mary). Saturday attendees were treated to an informative panel with A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss, and Mimi Craven. The three actresses were joined on stage by Mick Strawn who worked as art director on Dream Warriors and production designer on The Dream Master. Among the topics of discussion were the cast’s experiences working with Wes Craven and the process by which they landed their respective roles. Adding to Saturday’s lineup was a Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure panel with Diane Franklin and Kimberly Kates, followed by a Police Academy reunion with Steve Guttenberg, Michael Winslow, Leslie Easterbrook, and Marion Ramsey, and an appearance by Carmen Electra to close things out.

The Sunday schedule began with a Spaceballs reunion, with Michael Winslow once again taking the stage. Also participating in the conversation were Felix Silla and George Wyner (Colonel Sandurz). This was possibly the funniest panel of the weekend, with Winslow adding his signature sound effects whenever the opportunity presented itself. This included the sound of footsteps if any members of the audience decided to leave their seats. The three actors talked about the Spaceballs sequel that had been discussed but never produced, as well as the prospects of reuniting with director Mel Brooks for another film at some point in the future. Rounding out the afternoon was a discussion with actor Craig Sheffer and a Terminator 2 panel with Edward Furlong and Danny Cooksey.

As if two panels weren’t enough, Michael Winslow also hosted the Saturday night “Scaryoke” after party at ACE Restaurant. In addition to working the DJ table, he used his unique vocal talents to enhance the musical experience while participants performed such classic numbers as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”.  Winslow’s Police Academy co-star Marion Ramsey even got to sing Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, and did a fantastic job!

In the panel room, attendees could take professional photos with anyone on the extensive guest list during set times. The famous patrol car from Police Academy was set up for fans who wanted a shot with members of the cast. A DeLorean accompanied by Hoverboard also served as a backdrop for a photo op with Back to the Future‘s Claudia Wells. Most celebrities were available in the main guest room throughout the event for interviews and cell phone pics.

It was a great weekend as always, and the fine folks at NJ Horror Con are already at work planning the next big event which will be held again at the Showboat on March 27th, 28th, and 29th, 2020. Stay tuned to http://www.newjerseyhorrorcon.com/ for updates on the spring 2020 convention. In the meantime, you can scroll down right here for some cool images captured from the October 2019 show.