The Grim Reaper Does Hollywood
The Grim Reaper Does Hollywood
The First Annual Reaper Awards is a Real Horror-Show.
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Writing & Photography by Marco Mannone
October 13th, a dark and stormy night at the Roosevelt Hotel. How perfectly appropriate for the setting of the first annual Reaper Awards. Sponsored by Home Media Magazine in conjunction with DreadCentral.com, “The Grimmys” as the ceremony is affectionately called (based on the name of the award, a Grim Reaper), played host to a number of established veterans and fresh talent alike. The focus of the event was to reward the best and brightest in horror on home video, the first ever to do so. Here’s a run-down of my experience, which started off professionally-enough but eventually ended up with me drunkenly trying to break the door down of producer Chang Tseng’s after-party at 2am.
5:57pm… PRESS CHECK-IN & KNOCKING BACK SOME SPIRITS
With time to kill after checking-in, this writer makes his way to the Dakota bar for some Jack & Gingers to prepare himself for the night of horrors that awaits. Sipping my drinks at the dark, spacious bar, I look out the giant windows at a monsoon of rain pelting Hollywood and muse over the alleged hauntings of the hotel. Apparently, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift both wander around late at night – and it dawns on me that only in L.A. could the dead be more attractive than most of the living. I check my watch, almost showtime. I knock back the rest of my drink and head over to Hollywood Walkway where the gates of hell will open with pride.
6:30 – 8:00pm… THE BLOOD-RED CARPET
The red carpet in the large hall area known as Hollywood Walkway is about as long as most people’s bathrooms, but the sheer amount of talent – young and old – that is squeezed onto it is enough to make any horror fan lick their incisors. Horror.com’s space is reserved for me -- among a cluster of others – but when I arrive there are only a couple photographers milling about, bored. Oh, and there’s also SID HAIG standing there in a sharp black suit, hands in his pockets. He’s arguably the biggest star of the night and there he is, punctual and politely waiting for someone to interview him. At 70, Haig looks like he could crush my hand when we shake, but instead it is firm and courteous. It’s hard to stand inches apart, eye-to-eye with Captain Spaulding, one of the most disturbing characters in cinema history. But Haig is polite and jovial when I ask him what he’s been up to?
SID HAIG: I’m doing a movie called “Go Straight To Hell”, which is a thriller/chiller kinda deal. Basically you’ve got four people that are in purgatory, and they have to atone for their sins before they can get into heaven – and it’s a rough road!
MM: You’ve given plenty of people nightmares, so what’s your biggest fear or phobia?
SID HAIG: Hmm. I don’t really have any. I guess I’m so busy scaring other people I don’t have time do develop one for myself!
MM: So are you excited for the first ever Reaper Awards?
SID HAIG: Yeah, yeah! I have to say, I love to do the first. I did the first Scream Awards, and now this is another first.
And then there is everyone’s favorite creepy uncle, DreadCentral.com’s very own, Uncle Creepy. I ask him about his role emceeing the show.
UNCLE CREEPY: It’s nerve-wracking, but we did this for the fans. Horror is a very personal genre, and we wanted a chance to really give the fans their voice. And also, we really wanted to praise the unsung heroes out there, the people who put together the DVD’s, who bust their ass hours at a time to give us entertainment, ya know? This is for the working-class guy who loves this stuff.
MM: So what’s the next big trend?
UNCLE CREEPY: Ghosts, man. “Paranormal Activity” is going to spawn a series of ghost movies. You’re gonna get “Spooky Activity” and “Haunted Activity”. Just about every kinda “Activity” you can imagine.
MM: Ghosts more so than zombies? Even with the success of “Zombieland”?
UNCLE CREEPY: Being that George Romero is my favorite filmmaker, and that I just had the honor of being a zombie in “Survival of the Dead”, I’d like to think zombies aren’t going anywhere.
MM: What did you do to prepare for that role?
UNCLE CREEPY: I got really fucking hungry! But seriously, I’ve been preparing for this all my life. When George Romero calls you to be a zombie, you don’t go, “Oh, let me see if I can make it”, you go get the fuck on a plane!
MM: How does George Romero direct zombies?
UNCLE CREEPY: The brilliant thing about George Romero, is that he let’s YOU be your zombie. He just lets you do your thing. ‘Cuz if you give a hundred people the same direction, then everyone’s gonna move like they’re in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, you know what I mean? He’s a hell of a director.
“Masters of Horror” writer/director (and frequent Stephen King collaborator) Mick Garris strolls up to me and I ask him if we can expect anything more from “Masters of Horror”?
MICK GARRIS: It’s pretty much done. It kind of morphed into “Fear Itself” on NBC, which I don’t think was quite as successful because of commercial television and the limitations put onto it by that medium. You couldn’t have the filmmakers in control of their own destinies. But I’ve got a lot of things in the works along those lines that aren’t allowed to be announced yet, some feature films where the filmmakers have more control, so I’m excited about that.
MM: What do you think is the next big trend in the horror market?
MICK GARRIS: I hope the next big trend is imagination, but I don’t think that’s going to happen in theatres. I think the PG-13 teen-appeal movies have really gutted the market, and now that’s what the studios think defines a horror film. The good thing about the Reaper Awards is that their saluting films that haven’t necessarily had the opportunity to go on the big screens. They’re made for the big screens, but couldn’t make it because they’re not easy to put in a box, conceptually. In this respect, home entertainment has become the new drive-in theatre for this millennium.
Adam Green, director of “Hatchet” strolls up with his lovely fiancé (and frequent actress in his films) Rileah Vanderbilt on his arm. I ask him what he’s here for tonight?
ADAM GREEN: I’m here to present the award for Best Slasher!
MM: Very cool. So what’s your next project?
ADAM GREEN: I just finished directing a movie called “Frozen” about three skiers stuck on a chairlift that have to make life-or-death decisions to survive, and I’m about to start “Hatchet 2” in three months.
MM: Do you see any new trends in horror films right now?
ADAM GREEN: There’s nothing new coming up. The trend right now is that horror is sort of in the shitter and that Hollywood is doing nothing but bad re-makes. So hopefully they’re almost out of re-makes, and the fans can take it back and start making original movies. We need to show Hollywood that there is still a demand for original horror.
“Wrong Turn 2” director Joe Lynch is next, sipping a cocktail, and I ask him what he’s working on next.
JOE LYNCH: My next movie is “Knights of Badassdom” which is shooting in January, and it’s a heavy-metal, horror adventure.
MM: What’s the state of the horror genre right now, from what you can tell?
JOE LYNCH: Honestly, I think horror is actually very healthy right now. If you look at the two films which made the top five this weekend, “Zombieland” and “Paranormal Activity”, I think there’s gonna be a lot of new filmmakers coming out with a lot of new, great stuff.
MM: Are you sick of romantic vampires, or do you like them romantic?
JOE LYNCH: I am sick of sparkley vampires. They can all go to hell. I like my vampires lean & mean. “Near Dark”, movies like that is how I like my vampires. You can take all of your Team Edwards and all of your Team Jacobs, and you can shove them up your ass! Um, until I’m offered the lead role in the next installment of “Twilight”, then I LOVE sparkley vampires.
The larger-than-life Tim Sullivan (director of “2001 Maniacs”) arrives with his entourage of young actors and I ask him what he’s working on next?
TIM SULLIVAN: “2001 Maniacs 2: Beverly Hellbillys”! It’s staring these lovely people with me. We just locked picture today so it should be coming out early next year.
Around Tim’s arm is scream-queen Christa Campbell, star of both films. I ask her what fans can expect of the next installment?
CHRISTA CAMPBELL: It’s ten times bloodier, scarier and gorier than the first! So if you like the first, you’ll love this one!
Intellectual Siren of Scream Cinema, Horror.com’s very own Staci Wilson, saunters along. I find out she will be presenting the Best Vampire/Werewolf award and I ask what her feelings are on the very first Reaper Awards?
STACI WILSON: I think it’s a great idea! I think we should definitely recognize the genre that has brought so many studios so much money. It’s sort of the red-headed step-child of the business, so horror is ready to finally get its due. Especially now that DVD’s and home entertainment are more popular than ever.
MM: What’s new for you?
STACI WILSON: I’m going to be featured on “Splat”, a new documentary coming up from Frank Woodward, who also did a fantastic Lovecraft documentary last year. “Splat” is a retrospective on the Splat Pack, which is Eli Roth, Darren Bousman, Neil Marshall – the young, new so-called “torture-porn” guys, even though Neil doesn’t really fit into that category, but he’s also in the movie. And then I’m also going to be featured in another documentary called “Into the Dark”, which is a British documentary on horror, mostly focusing on George Romero.
Despite his looming 6’7’’, you would never guess good-natured Nick Principe has just joined the ranks of such psychotic monsters as Jason, Freddy and Leatherface. But Nick has indeed earned his place among the Evil Elite as “Laid to Rest’s” villain Chrome Skull. I asked him a little about his iconic character.
NICK PRINCIPE: Chrome Skull is definitely a female killing machine. He kills a few dudes, but only to get to said girls.
MM: Will Chrome Skull become a franchise, or is it too soon to tell?
NICK PRINCIPE: You WILL be seeing Chrome Skull again, but right about now that’s all I can really say.
The director of “Laid to Rest”, make-up magician Robert Hall, approaches looking like Bille Joe Armstrong’s evil twin brother. I ask what we can expect from him before “Laid to Rest’s” possible sequel.
ROBERT HALL: I’m going to be doing a movie called “Old Scratch” which was something I was supposed to do before “Laid to Rest” and we finally have all the elements in place for that. It’s kind of like a horror-“Memento”, and it’s the ultimate rock ‘n roll horror movie. I don’t think there’s ever been a good rock ‘n roll horror movie. It’s about a guy who plays his own record albums backwards and bad things happen.
Blake Reigle, the young director of zombie movie “Beneath the Surface” arrives with his mother. I ask him if he’s a proponent of George Romero shuffling zombies, or Danny Boyle running zombies?
BLAKE REIGLE: I myself prefer them fast. I like everything a little more action-packed, balls to the wall, running wide open.
MM: Greatest zombie movie ever made in your opinion?
BLAKE REIGLE: That’s a tough one. I’m gonna have to pay homage to the fact that this genre has been around for years and years and say “I Walked With a Zombie”. New zombie film? “28 Weeks Later”. It blew me away!
MM: Has your mother been able to enjoy your film “Beneath the Surface” or is she a bit squeamish?
ANN REIGLE: Well of course I enjoyed it, I was in it!
BLAKE REIGLE: And she made excellent tuna-fish sandwiches.
And then, to book-end my red-carpet experience: the total antithesis to Sid Haig, Ms. Sophie Monk – the Australian blonde bombshell who stars in “The Hills Run Red”. I asked her what the movie is about?
SOPHIE MONK: A group of young horror fans go searching for a film that mysteriously vanished years ago but instead find that the demented killer from the movie is real!
MM: So what’s your favorite horror movie of all time?
SOPHIE MONK: I’d say Stephen King’s “It”. That scared me to death. I could never shower with the door closed for years.
MM: What’s your biggest fear or phobia?
SOPHIE MONK: Clowns! They are the creepiest thing ever. I don’t know why they’re made for kids?
MM: Did you see “Zombieland” yet?
SOPHIE MONK: Not yet!
MM: Well, I won’t give anything away, but you will be freaked out by one scene in particular. So do you have any new horror films coming out?
SOPHIE MONK: I do, I have one called “Murder World” coming out soon where I play a lesbian who finds herself in the battle of good vs. evil after gaining some interesting powers one New Year’s Eve.
You know, you’re typical lesbian-gets-powers-on-New-Year’s-Eve-and-kills-people-story. Uh, what was Mick Garris saying about lack of imagination? Wow.
8:00 – 10:00pm… WHEN DEATH IS A REWARD
Everyone sits down at their dinner tables in the elegant Blossom Ballroom. Our salad and chicken dinners are basked in the deep red lighting emanating from the ceiling. The red wine flows like a recently opened jugular into all our glasses, warming us up for the ceremony. Uncle Creepy takes to the podium like The Dude’s rug: he really ties the show together, man. Beside him is Emma, the voluptuous tattooed Grimmy Girl, presiding over her tiny army of beautifully-crafted Grim Reapers.
But, describing any award show is akin to describing a dream you had last night to your friends. So to spare you the details, why don’t we just list the winners and get to the after-party? One quick note here before we do: I was sorely disappointed that Best Indie and Best Direct-to-Video release nominee “Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer” did not win either category. If a writer can pontificate for a moment about his two cents, I thoroughly enjoyed JBMS and thought it was one of the most imaginative and fun creature-features in I’ve seen in recent years. I mean, come on: a monster movie with men in (excellent) rubber suits instead of CGI? Fantastic. Although rumor has it, “Jack Brooks 2” is in the works, so maybe next time, Jack.
And the winners are…
Best of Show
Hellraiser Box Set, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Best DTV Release
Alien Raiders, Warner Home Video
Best Packaging
Hellraiser Box Set, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Best Boxed Set or TV Series
Dexter: The Complete Third Season, Paramount Home Entertainment/CBS/Showtime
Best Re-release
Friday the 13th: Deluxe Editions (Parts 1-6), Paramount Home Entertainment
Best Blu-ray Disc
Ghostbusters, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Best Indie/Foreign
[REC], Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Best Theatrical
The Last House on the Left (2009), Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Best Zombie
Quarantine, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Best Slasher [tie]
The Last House on the Left (1972), 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment/MGM
Best Slasher [tie]
Laid to Rest, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Best Ghost Story
The Haunting in Connecticut, Lionsgate
Best Vampire/Werewolf
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Best Re-mastering
Hellraiser, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Lifetime Achievement
Michael Felsher, Red Shirt Pictures
10:00pm – 2:00am… THE MYSTERY OF THE 2ND FLOOR
So after grabbing our schwag-bags filled with all kinds of goodies, Staci Wilson invites me to join her and a group of people to “Laid to Rest” producer Chang Tseng’s after-party. Destination: room 213. Only one problem. We need a guest key to use the elevators, and taking the stairs to the 2nd floor only brings us to a wrap-around hall, sans guest rooms, overlooking the spacious main lobby of the hotel. And no, we don’t need to go to any of the executive conference rooms – which is our only other option. When we take the stairs up one more flight, we are among guest rooms as far as the eye can see… but we’re obviously on the 3rd floor. Subtly, our group begins to panic.
“We’re lost,” I tell them, “We can’t use the elevators. Our cell phones don’t get a signal. I think we’re in a horror film right now.”
A round of nervous chuckles as we continue to navigate the labyrinth that is the Roosevelt Hotel. Groups of people from the awards can now be seen wandering around in a total daze, searching for access to the 2nd floor where other after-parties are. Sid Haig is among them, dragging his feet after some friends, muttering, “Man, how many more stairs we gotta take? My knees ain’t what they used to be.”
Captain Spaulding’s human, after all. Eventually, someone leads us to the proper way into an entirely different wing of the hotel where the 2nd floor actually exists. Ah yes, room 213. We squeeze ourselves in and I place my camera and voice-recorder into my schwag-bag by the door. The room is packed with some familiar faces. Chrome Skull, Uncle Creepy, Blake Reigle, Emma the Grimmy Girl, and a dozen others I met in passing.
Chang Tseng hosts the rowdy gathering, bare-footed and wearing an Obama-style t-shirt with the Grim Reaper on it declaring “No Hope”. He’s all smiles and encourages me to raid the bar. Don’t mind if I do! I now measure time in ice-cold Tecates, and after half a dozen cans I have had the pleasure of meeting some really awesome people.
Nick “Chrome Skull” Principe is just a humble sweetheart of a guy from Rhode Island who is honored to win the Best Slasher award – but doesn’t feel as if he’s earned his spot among other famous slashers just yet. Blake Reigle is a little bummed “Beneath the Surface” didn’t grab a Grimmy, but he’s too young and talented to take it to heart. Instead, he encourages me to visit the Angola Prison rodeo show in Louisiana to see “inmates fight for their lives against these raging bulls”. Emma J. Jacobs (the Grimmy Girl -- and I come to find also an amazing makeup artist) shows off her arm tattoo which I first think is Marlon Brando from “The Wild One” but is actually Joe Strummer dressed as Brando’s character.
And then there is Uncle Creepy. Standing outside with me on the balcony -- overlooking David Hockney’s pool threatening to overflow as it is attacked by buckets of rain -- Uncle Creepy wraps his arm around me and asks, “You wanna see me as a George Romero zombie?”
It is the first time anyone has ever asked me this, but I decided to make it a rule that whenever someone poses this question, the answer should always be a resounding YES! He pulls out his iPhone and shows me his pale, decaying, bloody self as a zombie. He looks amazing.
“That is awesome,” I tell him, “You know there’s a billion people who are jealous of you, right? I’m one of them.”
“Shit man! I’M jealous of myself! I can’t believe I actually did it sometimes!”
And then Uncle Creepy, ringmaster of all that is weird (and of one my new favorite people in the world) bestows something that I feel cuts to the core of this whole event, and everyone in it, “You know why we do this? Because we’re all gypsies at heart. None of us could do the 9-5 thing. We need to keep moving, to keep creating. It’s in our blood.”
Our blood, indeed.
2am rolls right passed me as I crack open a fresh Tecate. The party has thinned-out and even Staci Wilson is nowhere to be seen. The most haunting feeling in Hollywood nightlife begins to take hold of me: am I overstaying my welcome? “Laid to Rest” director Robert Hall is lounging on the bed with a different kind of trophy, a stunning blonde in a skin-tight cocktail dress. Chang Tseng is on the phone to room-service, demanding “more hamburgers” be brought up. What the hell am I still doing here? I shake Chang’s hand and pat him on the back, slurring something about “keeping our nightmares alive”. I humbly thank him for his hospitality and wave to the remaining people I don’t know and head down the hall.
Something’s wrong, defined by a terrible pit in my stomach. It spooks me all the way down to the first floor until I realize what it is… No, not the ghost of Marilyn or Montgomery, but something far more frightening: I forgot my schwag-bag in Chang’s room, the one with my camera and voice-recorder, aka “my whole fucking story”. Shit!
I RUN back up the stairs and down the hall like a crazed madman. I control my adrenaline and knock politely on room 213’s door… No response. I’ve only been gone a few minutes, I think to myself, surely they can’t already be in an orgy??? I knock harder… still no response. This can’t be happening. Without that bag, I am as good as dead. I start to POUND the door like Jack Nicholson in “The Shining”. If only I had a fucking ax, I’d rip this door wide open… Heeeeerrre’s MARCO!
The door opens and I lurch forward, sweating and breathless. Chang throws his head back, “Damn it! We thought you were the hamburgers!”
“Sorry, forgot my bag.”
Chang laughs and pats me on the back, a cool cat all the way. He tells me to drive safe as he closes the door behind me, and I steady my racing heart knowing I will live to see another day.
[end]
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