The Los Angeles Halloween blog

Clockwise from upper left: Chimera, Goliath, Cindy McCain and TVirus.

Sublety is usually not a successful element of Halloween costumes. But these special effects lenses from Coastal Contacts sure are tempting, with dozens more available on their site.

As part of the build-up to the Weho Halloween Carnaval Street Party, the City of West Hollywood is holding an Intergenerational Pumpkin Carving Party at the Plummer Park Community Center on Santa Monica & Vista St.  I believe this title implies, or begs, “Please don’t carve penises or vaginas or put strap-ons on your squash because children and seniors will be present”.  You know, save it for the street party, which never fails to produce several full body penis costumes each year.  Here is the announcement:

Calling all Master Carvers! It’s time to dust off your carving tools and show off your skills in Plummer Park’s annual Intergenerational Pumpkin Carving Party. Compete for best in show and stay for raffle prizes! This event is FREE but space is limited so sign up at the Plummer Park Office beginning October 1st. For more information, please call 323/845-0174. TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing at 323/848-6496.

Another successful year for the horror film festival, plus a list of this year’s Shriekfest Awards winners.

Shriekfest percolated through the past weekend with large audiences lining up to see the latest in indie horror, sci-fi and fantasy films. Raleigh Studios’ Chaplin Theater was the focal point, with most of the movies screening there. Denise Gossett and Todd Beeson, the festival directors were in high gear, meeting, greeting and catching up with filmmakers and festival attendees.

Gossett, who in addition to presenting Shriekfest is a steadily working actor, was aglow over her latest project, her and husband Todd’s new baby daughter, Riley. When asked if she was going to take a breather after Shriekfest said, “I start shooting a western film next week. It’s called A Chestful of Blood. I get to shoot a lot of guns so I’ve been training for that.”

I caught a program of shorts on Sunday that spanned the gamut, from a good natured, gently scary film even young children could enjoy (How My Dad Killed Dracula) to blood-splattered, limb-severing, Grand Guignol-esque, lunatics-have-taken-over-the- asylum horror (Kirksdale.)

Sunday evening, after the last film screened, brought the Shriekfest 2008 Awards ceremony. (List of winners  after the jump.) [click to continue...]

Politics have longed played a role in our Halloween costumes, but things always get extra interesting during an election year. Obama and McCain masks are no doubt selling hotly, and CreepyLA even told you how to assemble your Sarah Palin get-up. But why stop there?

Zombie Pumpkins offers you a handful of political patterns for this year’s jack-o-lanterns. What better way to judge the political mood of your neighborhood than putting Obama and McCain o-lanterns on your stoop and seeing which one gets smashed?

Alas, they don’t have a Palin stencil. And the stencils aren’t free. That said, you have the option of chosing the “sampler” membership. It allows you to download 2 patterns for $2, which is probably all the average person needs.

Have you always wanted to own one of the original puppets from Puppet Masters or the titular bubbler from Evil Bong? How about one of the ghoulies from Ghoulies? Maybe some of Elisha Cuthbert’s clothes from Captivity (stalkers rejoice)?

Well, what are you doing this weekend?

Cause this Saturday the 11th, Fangoria, Dreadcentral.com and ShockTillYouDrop.com are sponsoring a live horror-themed charity auction at Premiere Props in El Segundo.

There will be a preview from 9am – 11am, with the auction begining at 11am. As a special treat, bidders who come down to Premiere Props’ warehouse will have the opportunity to meet Charles Band, producer of such horror classics as Subspecies, The Puppet Master series, Ghoulies, Evil Bong, Trancers and founder of Full Moon Entertainment, the king of early 90’s straight-to-video horror.  

The charity in question is the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

For directions and more indepth specifics, join me after the jump…

[click to continue...]

Metroblogging Orange County has the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland at number 5, followed by the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at the adjacent California Adventure. More being unveiled every week…

Wanna attend SpikeTV’s Scream 2008 awards ceremony? It isn’t a free ride, but it’s close enough. Make sure to read this whole thing if you’re seriously considering. (I love that they specifically ask you not to show up drunk. At least they know their audience.)

Feast!

SPIKE SCREAM AWARDS IS CASTING SEATFILLERS, AUDIENCE & HOOKING OUR FANS UP WITH FREE TICKETS!

THIS IS AN INVITE ONLY EVENT, NOT A CONFIRMATION
YOU MUST BE IN LA/SoCal AREA ON 10/18 OR DO NOT REPLY
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE EMAIL BELOW TO LEARN HOW TO BE BOOKED AS AN OFFICIAL INVITED GUEST/AUDIENCE

[click to continue...]

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!

[click to continue...]

Any upscale Halloween cocktail or dinner party would not be complete without a trip to Z Gallerie this holiday season.

For the discerning Hallow’s Eve hedonist, shopping at Z Gallerie is an orgy of visual delights and elegant iniquity. Serve up cocktails with skull and cross bone ice cubes made from wickedly clever reusable trays. Dine at a darkly adorned table accented by the Jolly Roger on everything from napkins to martini glasses. There are even hypnotizing glass skull napkin rings to take your presentation to a whole new level of death. Wash the room in the lurid light of candles perched upon midnight candelabras. For an evening enchanted by shocking misdeeds, perhaps finger foods presented upon Seven Deadly Sins Mingling Plates will inspire all manner of scandalous acts.

Sign up for the Z Gallerie email updates to keep up on sales. There have been several already (Ghouls are 20% off right now!) and as the nights draw closer to Samhain more sales will surely follow.

Horror fans should instantly recognize the face at right: Jessica Harper starred in Dario Argento’s “Suspiria,” “Phantom of the Paradise,” “Shock Treatment” (the sequel to “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” replacing Susan Sarandon as Janet), and an episode of “Tales from the Darkside.” And that’s not to mention the rest of her work… Jessica toplined Woody Allen’s “Stardust Memories,” “Pennies from Heaven” with Steve Martin, and “My Favorite Year” with Peter O’Toole.

More recently, Jessica has been authoring children’s books - “Underpants On My Head” comes out in January, and adapting entries from her personal blog into “The Crabby Cook Book.” Speaking of, she’s asking CreepyLA readers to submit their own creepy recipes at her site…

On Halloween night, she’ll guest host Fox Legacy’s airing of “Phantom of the Paradise”, hosted by Fox Film chairman Tom Rothman, who also happens to be her husband. (Fox Film Channel, 8pm)

You’ve done your share of supernatural horror, but have you ever seen an actual ghost?

I have never seen a ghost, but if I ever do, I hope it’s Caspar.

Your favorite horror film? Any movie in particular scare the crap out of you?

The first movie that scared the crap out of me was “The Wizard of Oz,” which I saw at age five. When those damn monkeys flew, I knew what it was to be terrified. Later in life, it was “The Haunting.” I practically had to be hospitalized. After that, I decided to stick to Disney movies.

What was your reaction to hearing Juno refer to “Suspiria” as her favorite horror movie?

I fell off the couch.

Any thoughts on the “Suspiria” remake, or rumors that Natalie Portman could be reprising your role?

Geez, am I that old? They’re remaking me already?

[click to continue...]

Scream 2008, Spike TV’s third annual awards show dedicatd soley to horror, sci-fi and fantasy, won’t air until October 21st (on Spike, of course), but leading up til then you can flex your mighty opinion by voting for your favs, if you are so inclined.

While I can’t say the nominee choices are great (30 Days of Night for Best Horror Movie? Are you f’ing kidding?) the award categories themselves are a solid and logical batch - Best Director, Best Villain, Best TV Show, etc - with some uniquely fun ones scattered in too, like “Most Memorable Mutilation” or “Holy S@#$! Scene of the Year.”

For an idea of what to expect from this year’s ceremony check out the highlight montage of Scream 2007 after the jump. [click to continue...]

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?)!

[click to continue...]

How does one get one’s Westside Dia de los Muertos fix during this most wonderful time of the year? Don those calaca shirts! Exhume and exhibit your folk art jewelry! Or don’t!

Either way, while you’re gearing up for Halloween, make the trek to the CoproNason Gallery on October 11th as they welcome artist Laurie Lipton’s show, (conveniently entitled) Dia de los Muertos.

A bit about Ms. Lipton’s inspiration:

When I visited Mexico in order to see The Day Of The Dead festivities some years ago, I couldn’t help feeling envious of their approach to their deceased. Families gathered on graves and picnicked; whole villages turned up with food for households in mourning. Death was treated as normal, even ludicrous. In the words of a TV commercial, death was made into a “totally organic experience.”

Opening reception Saturday, Oct. 11, 8:00 - 11:30 PM; CorproNason Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave. T5, Santa Monica, CA 90404; (310) 829-2156

More info at Laurie Lipton’s myspace site, as well as laurielipton.com and copronason.com.

In this newest of DirectTV’s ads utilizing footage from classic films, Craig T. Nelson reprises his role from “Poltergeist” telling the audience, “Forgetting to switch to DirectTV? Yeah, that’s gonna haunt me,” as Heather O’Rourke stands at the foot of his bed. O’Rourke died at the age of 12 a few months after wrapping work on “Poltergeist 3.”

On a related note of trivia, did you know that both O’Rourke and Dominique Dunne, who played her older sister in “Poltergeist,” are both interred at Pierce Brothers Westwood Memorial Park?

[h/t Hunter Stephenson at Slashfilm]