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13X Studios Empire Expands

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Business owner Rick Styczynski began 13X Studios, a mask making company, 3 years ago.  From an idea that started with the sale of only a few masks over Etsy, he has now sold thousands!

1. What was the reason behind starting 13x Studios?

Rick: 13X Studios came from very humble beginnings.  Three years ago after Halloween 2016, I decided to make a few masks and put them on Etsy After 2 weeks I sold a few. After few months I sold hundreds. I felt I found my calling. My previous jobs included Poker, DJ and Bartender. They all took a bit of a toll on me, so I wanted to try something new, and I found it; from there13X Studios was born!

2. What has been your largest order?

Rick: In the past 3 years I was lucky enough to get into retail stores. Initially I got into Gods and Monsters in Orlando, followed by Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, Halloween Mega Store and Nightmare Toys.

All of these retailers always put in big orders, but out of the blue I met a guy who owns Wall Street Cattle company, and he was opening a ranch on Halloween.  After talking a bit he told me he wanted to send out masks to clients. He ordered 400 masks! That was my biggest order to date.

My Silent Bob Mask at Stash has sold out 16 times already. I feel my product has been loved by many.

It’s a great feeling, and I put my heart and soul into each and every mask I make. When I started making masks I decided that I wanted to put my spin on them with keeping them affordable and good quality.

3. Have you ever received backlash from any of your masks, especial the real life killers?

Rick: Since 3 years ago when I began I haven’t had any backlash for my masks. However, I did feel I went a little overboard when I did a lot of the serial killer styles. I decided to stick to Manson and Gacy, then drop everyone else, from Dahmer to BTK. I just feel I crossed the line. When I do cons and kids walk up to my Manson mask I just tell them it’s angry Jesus.

4. Did you expect this business to get this big?

Rick: I feel I have made great business decisions so far. Not every convention I have done was a monster, but I now know I have to cut down on pop culture cons and focus more on horror cons. I definitely will be thinking outside of the box in the future, and doing many other things with 13X.

5. What have been some of your most rewarding and memorable moments running 13X Studios?

Rick: There have been so many memorable moments from 13X in the last year.

In the first 2 years, the deal with Kevin Smith was hands down my most memorable, always and forever. The Secret Stash is so good to me. They are amazing people.

This last year I got a partnership with Kane Hodder. He was one of my idols growing up and now we are in business. It started at Mad Monster Charlotte when I asked Kane; how would he see a mask through his eyes?

I wanted to do a limited edition run. It was called “Kwaj” mask, and I took all his inspirations and made 13 of them. They sold out in 1 day! A percentage of the mask went to Friday the 13th part 7 Director John Beuchler’s Go Fund Me Memorial page. I know how close Kane and John were and I thought this was the right thing to do.

After that I had an idea of doing a limited edition mask with partnership with him. The mask was called “Kane Part 7 Kill Mask”. I took the part 7 style and made it red and used dirt from the actual Friday the 13th part 7 camp, and weathered it into mask.

We did 100 of these masks and they were sold at 2 separate conventions, and all of them sold out. Mayra Cruz who is Kane’s handler at cons is also a part of our deal. We are doing a Kane Part 8 Kill Mask very soon. There will be 2 different versions.

My other memorable moment this year was doing a limited edition Art the Clown mask from Terrifier. It had disgusting bloody feces spelling Art’s name on the mask. This has been one of my favorites that I created.

I became friends with Damien Leone who is the director of Terrifier. We are surprisingly similar. We love movies, and we both have this huge positive drive. I love surrounding myself with likeminded people.

I will also be in Terrifier part 2! I have no idea what I’ll be doing, but just to be part of one of my favorite horror movie sequels will be amazing. I also hang out with David Howard Thornton who plays Art, as we both attend many of the same cons.

Lastly, one of my personal coolest moments of the year is when Director Adam Green emailed me as I sent him a Kwaj mask since he and Kane are friends.  He hung up the mask in his studio, so when he does Facebook live I always see my mask!  That makes me happy.

6. Where do you want 13X Studios to go from here?

Rick: I feel like I’m really starting to get everything I’ve planned for in this business.

The last 2 years I was just having fun, and doing my own thing. Now I realize that I have a legit business. I’m building 13X as a brand, and who knows what I’ll do next. Movies. Music. TV. I have so many things that have popped in my head and have resulted from this business.

I have been jotting them down and see if I can make them happen. I’m planning on getting into more retail stores for sure, and primarily focus on the bigger horror cons.  I love meeting new people, and this is something I will never get sick of.

I have many supporters and fans everywhere in the country, and I hope they know how much they mean to me.

I know I will definitely keep adding new ideas for masks from pop culture to horror. And keep growing!

7. What are your next events?

Rick: The next event I have is Days of the Dead Charlotte at the end of September. Next will be the Terrifier 2 shoot and Florida’s Spooky Empire in October. Then I’ll be taking November through January to focus on family and online sales.

I’ll be back at it in February with Days of the Dead Atlanta and Mad Monster Charlotte.

8. Where can readers find you online?

Rick Styczynski
13X Studios
www.13xstudios.com

Instagram-Facebook (13Xstudios)

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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