Themed Attractions

The DVD case for the 10th Anniversary Edition of HALLOWEEN: THE HAPPY HAUNTING OF AMERICA proudly proclaims “A Must-See For All Halloween Fans,” and I think I’d have to agree. Though by extension I’d also have to say that it’s probably only for true Halloween fans.

I’m not sure exactly how to categorize HAPPY HAUNTING. It’s technically a documentary I suppose, but it feels more like an episode of a cable infotainment series - kind of a Wild On: Halloween, sans the boozing and bikinis of course.

Our genial host is actor and horror aficionado Daniel Roebuck - who I’ll always remember from RIVER’S EDGE, but many readers might recall as the doomed-to-explode Arzt from TV’s “LOST” - who takes us on a journey across America to visit various popular haunted attractions.

These walk-through segments are buffered with some talking-head bits from Halloween experts and also some horror icons like Robert Englund, Alice Cooper and Tom Savini. This is actually the area of the movie I was most surprised by, as I’d cynically expected it to just be a lame gimmick to get some familiar names on the slipcase. But all involved actually relate some really fun personal Halloween stories, with Englund even divulging the origins of the jack-o-lantern.

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Red carpet zombies at the Eyegore Horror Awards.

The star-studded 6th annual Eyegore Horror Awards kicks off Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights.

How can you not love an event that has a live jazz combo playing splashy lounge versions of horror film theme music from, say, The Exorcist or Nightmare on Elm Street while four huge video screens surrounding the room show a montage of the most memorably terrifying scenes from the very same movies?

How about if it also includes an awards ceremony for the 6th annual Eyegore Horror Awards at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park honoring actors, directors and writers for major achievements in the horror film genre? 

Still not impressed? Okay, okay– how about a batallion of servers swarming the room with trays piled with toothsome hors’d'ouvres and an open bar?

This year’s Eyegore Award honorees included Julie Benz, the actor from Showtime’s Dexter and the upcoming Saw V, and Tobe Hooper, director of Poltergeist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Also honored with awards were actors Bill Moseley, the famous “Choptop” from Texas Chainsaw Massacre II and star of Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and the upcoming Repo! The Genetic Opera, in which he stars opposite Paris Hilton; and Gunnar Hansen, who created the Leatherface character in Texas Chainsaw Massacre and stars in the upcoming Escape of the Living Dead.

Warning: Disturbing photo after the jump; NOT for the squeamish!

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So Friday was the opening night of the Queen Mary’s Annual Halloween “Terror Fest,” Shipwreck. I attended, of course.

If you’re just lookin’ for a quickie review: I’d give the haunted mazes a B, and I’d give the attraction overall a B+.

All the basic info you could want can be found here.

If you need a bit more perspective before you decide to slog all the way down to Long Beach, read onwards for all the gory details (get it? get it?)!

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Copyright 2008 Steve Biodrowski

Steve from Hollywood Gothtique gives Knott’s “Scary Farm” two bloody thumbs up, and says there’s enough good new stuff to recommend visiting even if you went last year…

1. We most enjoyed QUARANTINE (based on the upcoming film), which is shorter than most of the mazes but quite intense.
2. LABYRINTH replaces the old Lore of the Vampire and it recreates much of the same ethereal, seductive atmosphere, with elves and fairies instead of revenants.
3. CORNSTALKERS is an outdoor maze with lots of living scarecrows - much better than the Dark Realm attraction that occupied the same space last year.
4. CLUB BLOOD is a sort of vampire nightclub - hip and trendy.
5. ALIEN ANNIHILATION is lengthy and elaborate: lots of monsters, make-up, props. Finally, T
6. HE SLAUGHTERHOUSEis a sort of generic variation on the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE - pretty effective if your tase runs toward gruesome horror.

Unfortunately, the uninspired Killer Klown Kollege and Lost Vegas in 3D are back this year. Balancing them out is the Doll Factory, which impressed us greatly when it made its debut last year. The Asylum may have worn out its welcome, but 13 Axe Murder Manor is still fun, as is the Black Widow Cavern.

Bottom line: Knott’s 2008 won’t leave you feeling you’ve been there and done that before.

Click here to see Hollywood Gothtique’s videos from opening night along with more detailed reviews of each fright!

What would All Hallow’s Eve be without All Hallow’s Day? As it does every year, Halloween totes its companion All Saint’s Day, or as it is more affectionately known (by me) – Dia de los Muertos!

In preparation for its 35th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration Self Help Graphics is inviting artists to submit artwork addressing the theme, “A Call to Witness.” This exhibition is just one of a slew of DDM themed events, programs and workshops Self Help will be presenting this year. It will run from November 2nd through November 23rd. Find submission guidelines here.

Self Help Graphics has been an artistic and cultural pillar of the Eastside community for over 40 years. This year’s Day of the Dead celebration is very likely to be the last in that location as the building has recently been sold.

An inside peek at L.A.’s creepy-crawliest attraction…

Forget about “Walking with the Dinosaurs.” This weekend, it’s all about “Creeping with the Spiders.” The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opens its annual Spider Pavilion this Sunday at 10am. However, if you are a member of the museum, you are invited to get a sneak peek this Friday and Saturday, 10am -5pm. That’s right, see the gigantic spiders and their gorgeous webs before everybody else unwittingly walks right through them. Eeeek!

golden orb weaver, from wikipedia

This very afternoon I was privileged enough to take a walk through the Spider Pavilion with Spider Curator Brent “The Bug Guy” Karner. Brent is personally responsible for bringing hundreds of spiders into the Pavilion.  As associate manager of entymology at the museum, he hand-picks the spiders and releases them one week before the Pavilion opens to the public.

“The creepiest time to be in the Pavilion,” Brent admits, “is right when all the spiders are released.” Brent says that’s when they are most active, crawling around trying to find space to set up their webs and setting draglines. With so many spiders jumping around and flying through the air on strands of silk, even a “Bug Guy” gets freaked out.

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Club Hell - Every 4th Wednesday

Halloween notwithstanding, have you ever found yourself sitting alone on your couch, on the 4th Wednesday of the month, picking the wax out of your ears and thinking to yourself, “You know, I could go for a really good doll mummification or Latex-themed fashion show right now?”

Club Hell at the Ivar in Hollywood has just the thing for those sort of midweek hankerings. The club plays Industrial, EBM, Futurepop and Noize, has a multimedia Dark Art show and a doll mummification exhibit to boot. And yes, word has it there is in fact, a fashion show featuring the latest in latex attire.

The next incarnation of Club Hell will be Wednesday, September 24, 2008.
For more info on the Club Hellions, check out their myspace site.

Steve at Hollywood Gothtique attempts to answer the oft asked, “Which is the best of the major Southern California haunted attractions?” by breaking down the “big four” in Los Angeles: Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt (aka Knott’s Scary Farm), Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest, and the Queen Mary Shipwreck. According to Steve, each has their own advantage, from more elaborate sets, to more mazes, to simply having a naturally scarier atmosphere.

But what do you think, L.A. Halloween enthusiasts? Do you have a favorite? Share in our poll here, and let us know more in the comments.

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CreepyLA went to Universal Studios Hollywood today to take in the final dance auditions for Freddy’s Fly Girls and other dance roles for the theme park’s upcoming Halloween Horror Nights, which starts October 3rd.

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Universal Horror Nights announced today new features for this year’s Halloween proceedings. Full press release after the jump. Here are the highlights:

• A walk thru maze of “a painstakingly surreal recreation of the notorious house at 1428 Elm Street” called “Nightmare on Elm Street: Home Sweet Hell.”
• “Terror Tram: The Nightmare Tour” doubles the length of the tram tour, incorporating mazes in addition to the usual, but always cool, walk thru of the “War of the Worlds” and “Psycho” sets.
• One of the “scare zones” between mazes will be populated with characters from “The Strangers” - think average dressed people with innocent looking masks. And knives.
• The new Simpsons Ride will be open for business, as will “Revenge of the Mummy.” The Jurassic Park ride will also run… sans lights. And the “Water World” show becomes “Slaughter World.”
• Attendees can also take a break from the screams and liberal use of smoke machines to see a new “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” show.

Full details follow.

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Are you a creepy filmmaker? Universal wants you to prove it.

Submit a film with the theme “Where Nightmares Come Alive” and be eligible for $1000 and to be introduced in front of scores of celebrities, studio execs, and press at the Halloween Horror Nights opening night “Eyegore Awards” ceremony in Los Angeles. (films must be submitted on DVD by September 3rd, and be between 90 seconds and 3 minutes long).

More info here.