News

Midsummer Scream Returns To Long Beach, California July 28-29 For A Weekend Full of Frights & Fun!

Published

6 years ago

July 21, 2018

The Halloween and Horror convention Midsummer Scream returns for a third year in beautiful Long Beach, California and is looking better than ever! This festival packs all the scares, thrills, and October adventure into just two days! Presentations, performances, walk thru mazes, horror-themed VR, escape rooms, and dozens of haunt and Halloween themed attractions only scrape the surface of what will be available this year!

Check out the press release below for more information. #StayScary

MIDSUMMER SCREAM RETURNS TO LONG BEACH WITH A VENGEANCE IN 2018

World’s Largest Halloween and Horror Convention Set to Terrify and Thrill More Than 20,000 Guests at Long Beach Convention Center July 28-29 with Biggest Production Yet

LONG BEACH, CA – Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, returns July 28-29 to the Long Beach Convention Center for a weekend of chilling delights. More than 20,000 fans of all things macabre will descend on Southern California from near and far to witness and participate in Midsummer’s biggest production yet, returning for its third year to Los Angeles.

World-Class Panels and Presentations

Midsummer Scream features unparalleled presentations all weekend on two stages within the convention center, the largest being the Grand Ballroom, which seats 2,000 cheering fans. The show features exclusive productions by Southern California’s major Halloween destinations including Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood’s Horror Made Here, Knott’s Scary Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest, and Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor – as they unveil what horrific surprises they have in store for the Halloween season!

For the first time ever, Midsummer Scream is actively bridging the gap between East and West Coast haunters and fans, with the inclusion of several prominent individuals from the Central Florida community on hand. These special guests include Mike Aiello, Senior Director of Entertainment Creative Development, Universal Orlando Resort; Scott Swenson, beloved by fans for his involvement with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Howl-O-Scream, and Vault of Souls haunted attraction; and Ricky Brigante, Founder of Inside the Magic, and Producer at Pseudonym Productions.

Other presentations for 2018 that will thrill audiences include an Elvira, Mistress of the Dark 30^th Anniversary career retrospective with Cassandra Peterson; a 25^th Anniversary of Hocus Pocus presentation featuring a panel of creatives responsible for bringing the classic movie to life; various immersive experience discussions with leading industry pros; an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming documentary Epic Home Haunts; exciting presentations by media powerhouses Buzzfeed Unsolved, and Shockwaves LIVE! featuring filmmaker Tom Holland; and much more!

Massive Show Floor

This year’s vendor show floor will feature over 250 spooky vendors and talented artisans selling everything from unique art to clothing, jewelry, decorative sculptures, Halloween decorations, professional haunt props, and everything in between.

In addition to an amazing array of shopping options, the show floor is abuzz with fantastic activations as well, including a children’s arts and crafts area, escape room experiences, virtual reality exhibits, stunning makeup demonstrations, make-and-take classes, photo ops, and even an on-the-spot interview center for Knott’s Scary Farm where they will be seeking numerous souls to hire for this year’s Haunt event.

Thrilling Hall of Shadows

Midsummer Scream’s thrilling Hall of Shadows will return in 2018, taking up residence in its own 80,000-square-foot hall within the Long Beach Convention Center. This extremely popular component of Midsummer Scream is a virtual Halloween theme park set in the dark, where brave visitors can trek through more than a dozen haunted house attractions, check out stunning live performances by the high-energy Decayed Brigade “slider” team, and enjoy a creepy assortment of artists on the Hall’s first-ever performance stage. This year, the Hall of Shadows will also include a hand-picked selection of exhibitors and vendors showing off their wares under very dim, ambient light.

All the thrills and chills of Hall of Shadows take place behind a massive Castle Frankenstein façade and entry experience celebrating the 200^th Anniversary of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, brought to life by the incredibly talented men and women of CalHauntS.

Ghastly Entertainment Options

Guests attending Midsummer Scream will find all areas of the venue oozing with live entertainment, from the Hall of Shadows to the Theatre Macabre. Force of Nature Productions returns for its second year at Midsummer with a chilling new experience, and Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group returns once again to shock and delight with yet another installment of their wildly-popular, adults-only show, Urban Death.

HorrorBuzz.com once again will host Midsummer’s “Screaming Room” featuring short horror films and special programming throughout the weekend.

In addition, to live theatre, scary flicks, and twisted performances, Midsummer Scream encourages – and attracts – cosplayers from across the United States dressing up as favorite characters, horror icons, and just about everything else scary or sexy… or both!

Black Cat Adoptions

Midsummer Scream proudly partners with Kitten Rescue Los Angeles once again, creating the fan-favorite Black Cat Lounge – an adorable free-roam kitty zone where guests can play with, cuddle, and adopt very special pets in need of forever homes. While the Midsummer Scream team loves everything scary, they firmly believe no animal in need of love should live in fear, which is why they invite guests to open their hearts and homes to these wonderful kitties each year.

Special Guest Appearances

While Midsummer Scream isn’t an “autograph show” and it doesn’t feature a “celebrity row” like other conventions, the show does attract celebrities who often appear with vendors at their booths on the show floor. In some cases, celebrities attending Midsummer will sign autographs and take photos with fans for an additional fee. Confirmed special guests for 2018 include Cassandra Peterson (Elvira, Mistress of the Dark), Bela Lugosi Jr., Robert Mukes (House of 1000 Corpses, Westworld), Philip Friedman (Insidious), LeeAnna Vamp (actress, cosplay queen), Kimberly J. Brown (Halloweentown), Barbara Magnolfi (Susperia), and more. Keep your eyelids peeled… you never know who you’ll bump into at Midsummer Scream!

Midsummer Scream After Dark

When the sun goes down on Saturday, July 28, things really get wicked at Midsummer Scream After Dark. This after-hours party for guests 18+ will include a live DJ spinning a ghoulishly fabulous catalog of darkwave and goth favorites in the Grand Ballroom, a costume contest where the winner will crawl home with a $500 cash prize, a special screening of Child’s Play with director Tom Holland giving live commentary, an extra-naughty magic show by Mudd the Magnificent, and ample space to chill with a cocktail and network the night away with friends old and new.

Tickets for Midsummer Scream 2018 are now on sale at MidsummerScream.org, including a special Gold Bat Weekend Pass, which gives guests priority entry to all panel presentations, front of line access to each of the haunts in Hall of Shadows, an hour early entry each day at 10 AM to the show floor and Hall of Shadows, and complimentary admission to Midsummer Scream After Dark!

Halloween 2018 begins July 28 in Long Beach – we’ll see you there!

About Midsummer Scream

Midsummer Scream is presented by David Markland and Claire Dunlap of Black Cat Orange (formerly CreepyLA Productions), Gary Baker, Johanna Atilano, and Rick West of Theme Park Adventure. Its goal is to showcase the diversity of Southern California’s haunt and horror community as a welcoming beacon for fans around the world to converge on Los Angeles for a weekend of excitement, networking and non-stop spookery! Be sure to follow Midsummer Scream on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Periscope for breaking updates and information.

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News

“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: A Horrific Clash of Icons from Director Glenn Douglas Packard and iHorror

Published

4 mins ago

May 1, 2024

Anthony Pernicka

iHorror is diving deep into film production with a chilling new project that’s sure to redefine your childhood memories. We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Mickey vs. Winnie,’ a groundbreaking horror slasher directed by Glenn Douglas Packard. This isn’t just any horror slasher; it’s a visceral showdown between twisted versions of childhood favorites Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh. ‘Mickey vs. Winnie’ brings together the now-public-domain characters from A. A. Milne’s ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ books and Mickey Mouse from the 1920s ‘Steamboat Willie’ cartoon in a VS battle like never before seen.

Set in the 1920s, the plot kicks off with a disturbing narrative about two convicts who escape into a cursed forest, only to be swallowed by its dark essence. Fast forward a hundred years, and the story picks up with a group of thrill-seeking friends whose nature getaway goes horribly wrong. They accidentally venture into the same cursed woods, finding themselves face-to-face with the now monstrous versions of Mickey and Winnie. What follows is a night filled with terror, as these beloved characters mutate into horrifying adversaries, unleashing a frenzy of violence and bloodshed.

Glenn Douglas Packard, an Emmy-nominated choreographer turned filmmaker known for his work on “Pitchfork,” brings a unique creative vision to this film. Packard describes “Mickey vs. Winnie” as a tribute to horror fans’ love for iconic crossovers, which often remain just a fantasy due to licensing restrictions. “Our film celebrates the thrill of combining legendary characters in unexpected ways, serving up a nightmarish yet exhilarating cinematic experience,” says Packard.

Produced by Packard and his creative partner Rachel Carter under the Untouchables Entertainment banner, and our very own Anthony Pernicka, founder of iHorror, “Mickey vs. Winnie” promises to deliver an entirely new take on these iconic figures. “Forget what you know about Mickey and Winnie,” Pernicka enthuses. “Our film portrays these characters not as mere masked figures but as transformed, live-action horrors that merge innocence with malevolence. The intense scenes crafted for this movie will change how you see these characters forever.”

Currently underway in Michigan, the production of “Mickey vs. Winnie” is a testament to pushing the boundaries of the horror genre. As iHorror ventures into producing our own films, we’re excited to share this thrilling, terrifying journey with you, our loyal audience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the familiar into the frightful in ways you’ve never imagined.

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Movies

Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’

Published

3 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Timothy Rawles

If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But there’s good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released. Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.

Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic who’s been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.

But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production.

Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end.

“It’s been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “It’s been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chris’ vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”

Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “it’s a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”

Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.

“For a film that had such a hard time getting going, it’s remarkable the doors that then opened to us,” said Koontz. “The success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:

“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Mia’s (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her “Paranormal Paranoids” investigative series. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood may have been real.”

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Movies

New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core

Published

7 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Timothy Rawles

A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.

MaXXXine Official Trailer

His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”

The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.

MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.