Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors

 

Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. Directors Kerry O Quinn/Mike Hadley. (1986). 

I rented this on VHS back in the day. Just like Terror in the Aisles it gave you a crash course in gore movies. This promotion video showcases the greatest horror, monster special effects make-up magazine in existence (at least to this writer)! 

At first we’re greeted by one of the M.C.'s Mr. Chas Balun who proclaims this is Fango in 3D! Balun if you weren't aware was a writer and film critic for the influential magazine. This man is also the sole reason I discovered so many underground flicks from around the globe. His impact reaches into today's technological world because companies like Grindhouse Releasing and Vinegar Syndrome often churn out upgraded versions of trash Chas bootlegged off a laserdisc and dubbed onto a VHS tape in the 90s. 

Bitchin' 90s high tech shit!

There’s some prime convention nerd people watching in this videotape, which I saw on Internet Archive. The ravenous fans are here to see all the usual Fango faves like Freddy Krueger, Tobe Hooper and Elvira. The con is all presented by publisher Kerry O’ Quinn who wears a cheap looking pastel banded hat. He says "You people seem too normal to be into blood and guts"! "How insulting dude"!

Just took a paycheck, never looked at an issue. Too scary.

When I initially saw this video, I remember thinking they couldn’t show enough Nightmare on Elm Street clips to my satisfaction!

Howard Kaylan from The Turtles even gets Robert Englund’s signature—I shit you not! 

Flo and Eddie more like Flo and Freddy

 

Craig Reardon the FX artist does foam latex appliances on people. His impressive work ranges from Deep Space Nine(1993) to The Gate (1987).

 

Oh, I should mention I spotted Deep Red interview specialist and "shit flix expert" Kris Gilpin in the crowd. Read some of his past reviews here.

Kris is on the right next to someone in a purple jacket.

A young Rick Baker gives advice on breaking into the horror biz. Next we enter the Star Trek portion of the tape. One of my fav random weirdos is Nichelle Nichols former con booker. He's covered in buttons and has two homemade antenna protruding from his head.

I wasted my life (SIGH).

Chekov (Walter Koenig) and son show up and say "They love Monsters", which is just nice! 

John Carl Buechler (1952-2019 R.I.P.) briefly introduces himself as the director of Troll (1986) and we see a clip.I rented the movie he directed at a grocery store in Florida and absolutely loved it! That film has Harry Potter and Harry Potter jr., sound familiar? There are tons of people who saw the sequel first but I'm not one of them. Buechler is so much more to me than merely Troll (86). I love his warped looking Ghoulies (1985), the GPK Movie (1987) and The Cellar Dweller (1988). 

Demonic Toys and Seed People, can't all be gems!

 The stunningly attractive Jewel Shepard gushes over Dan O Bannon’s ROTLD in front of a Young Sherlock Holmes (1986) cardboard ad. Anytime I see O’ Bannon I can’t but think of him as the space hippie in Dark Star (1974). 

I'd jump his bones!

Forrest Ackerman talks about his famous mansion and all the collectables. 

Jenny Aspinal who mentions her first film was The Toxic Avenger (1984, which makes her Toxies mommy)! She just finished Street Trash (1985). Gosh, she’s so talented. Erok dissolves into a puddle of envy and admiration. 

AHHH She's soo fuggin' cool!

Whew, OK I’m back. Next up to the podium is Elvira who thinks Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978) is thee worst flick she’s ever seen. I heard she refused to host Cannibal Ferox (1980) on Thriller vid. Whatever, her loss. 

Quit talkin shit about my woman!

Next is Steve Miner’s House (1985) with William Katt who appears to sign headshots. I love the William Stout designs for Big Ben (Richard Moll's character). Miner seems very cranky and later on ditched horror for shit like Dawson's Creek (1998-03) and (GASP) Soul Man (1986)!

Tobe Hooper who holds a big ass cigar, gives low budget film advice. There are clips of a few shorts films and awards are given. Hooper later on talks about recreating segments from Invaders from Mars (1986). 

Clu Gulager, yet another ROTLD alum speaks. He says horror gives him an erection! Ha!

Alex Gordon, whom I remember as the guy who writes the Pit and Pen articles on classic horror for Fango. Stan Winston is briefly interviewed about the effects. Dick Miller shows up for a few mins. One Freddy Krueger superfan applies their own makeup and mentions how they get an adrenaline high off chasing people in costume.

Yo! I get high on my own supply

I’m glad to see Fangoria evolve into this new LGTBQ plus friendly magazine. It's quite remarkable. I read in Bill Landis’ biography (given to me by my pal Rob Fletcher), that in the late 70's Landis wanted Bob Martin head honcho of Fangoria to allow gay porn reviews. Unc Bob freaked and it soured their relationship. It’s insane how ahead of his time Bill Landis was even if he was kind of a wacko. He was also a gay stunt cock but that’s spoiling the book, read it yourself. 

I love Fangoria with all my heart and soul. I have 3 plastic bins full of 70s. 80s and 90's issues under my bed right now! I wanted to work as Tom Savini's apprentice at some point in my preteens. Support the magazine, be on the right side of history. Watch this time capsule right now I highly recommend YOU GET UNDER THE INFLUENCE BEFOREHAND. 

WATCH HERE

Trick or Treat (1986) 2024 Blu/4K Re-release

Super Fan Alert!

Trick or Treat (1986) Dir Charles Martin Smith. 

Now here is a perfect Heavy Metal “Halloween” themed horror treat that can’t be beat! "Hey what am I the corpse of Gene Shalit"? Wait, don’t tell me he’s still alive! No, its Erok forcing himself to write once again now that we’re in the future of 2024 and all the rare films of the past are now available in pristine format. 

Synapse Films really brought out the colors and majesty of Trick or Treat, a film I’ve watched over 100 times. Why am I so obsessed with this particular Satanic Panic infused flick that features a flamboyant barbecued rocker named Sammi Curr? You tell me, just go and watch it right now I’ll wait. If you’re not sold on this one just stop reading here. 

Sammi Curr Lives

I initially saw this in middle school and related to it hardcore because I basically was Ragman! I still wear flannels and horror movie graphic tees and eat Twinkies. I currently own the VHS Tape and remember when the cheesy DVD from Target came out with the goofy photoshop clip art of Ozzy and Gene Simmons. That was the only legit version available before until now that is. 

Not available as an alternate cover thankfully.

This movie planted the seed and it made me wonder if I played certain records backwards (like a rare acetate),could you conjure up the dead? We pondered this theory on me and Bobby Hazzard’s podcast Five Minutes After Midnight. This radio show is no longer available because hosting got too pricey. We almost go to the end of the movie, maybe just credits left.

Eddie Weinbauer (played to perfection by Marc Price aka Skippy from Family Ties steals the show and I really had empathy for his situation). I mean he is viciously humiliated by these brutal tyrannical thugs! There are “New Wave” Jocks in this film, a concept I’ve seen in a few others teen flicks like “Just one of the Guys” but none as menacing as Tim Hainey (played by Doug Savant from Melrose Place). These jerks despise heavy metal and their school is basically a warzone where Eddie and his crummy friend Roger (played by Glen Morgan writer and director of the Black Christmas remake) have to battle their way through. 

Shops at Retail Slut!

Sammi communicates byway of the acetate record “Songs in the Key of Death” and all of his advice starts to benefit Eddie. One of the oddest and horniest scenes happens with nubile actress Elise Richards who listens to a dubbed recording sent to Tim as a “Peace Offering”. Green fumes envelope her nude body and a giant demon puppet slobbers and melts her ears off. 

Skeezix the demon with FX Wizard Kevin Yagher (Nightmare 2, Child's Play, 976-EVIL)

I have to mention the soundtrack by Fastway to me it fits perfectly with every scene. The way Tony Fields twirls and lip synchs on stage is just shockingly infectious. Fields early demise from the AIDS epidemic was a tragic loss. The dance scene is a highlight and has never looked better than on this new Blu-ray. I always wondered if the singer of Fastway, who went onto Flogging Molly prevented the release because of music issues. Who knows what the hold up was but it doesn’t really matter now. 

 I’m really glad that this film in finally available in all it’s glory from Synapse Films. The package comes with a lot for fans of this film. There’re cool lobby cards, a Sammi Curr poster, booklet and tons of interviews and commentary tracks. Marc Price and Elise Richards are featured but sadly No Leslie (Lisa Orgolani or Doug Savant). I’m sure a standard edition will be out soon. I would highly recommend owning this film in any format. HAIL SAMMY CURR! BUY OR DIE. PLAY THIS TAPE OR DIE!

AVAILABLE SOON IN STANDARD FORMAT.