After lows of ‘Corn’ series, ‘Now Playing’ looks forward to Nolan films
Artwork for Now Playing Podcast Christopher Nolan Retrospective Series
Now Playing Podcast host Arnie Carvalho once read an email from a listener urging him to review only bad movies because it leads to funnier conversations.
“He said we should just be a comedy show,” the film critic said from his Manhattan hotel room on Saturday, while on a break from covering New York Comic Con.
Did that listener have a point?
“None of us wants that,” Carvalho answered. “We enjoy covering all types of movies, but if we only watched low-rent trash I think our souls would die.”
It’s a marvel he and his Now Playing co-hosts — Stuart Atkinson and Jakob Brewster – even have any life left in them after enduring nine films based on Stephen King’s Children of the Corn.
This week’s review of Children of the Corn: Genesis not only marks the climax of the Corn saga, but also an exhausting exploration of King’s Night Shift collection; more than two dozen reviews of mostly forgettable film adaptations like The Mangler, Graveyard Shift and Trucks.
Few films in the Night Shift series have been worthy of a recommend, but that hasn’t kept hardcore Now Playing listeners from making the show one of the highest rated on iTunes throughout 2014, with seven of the nine Corn reviews appearing in the Top 10 rankings for TV/Film podcasts.
“I really expected listenership to drop off as we got deep in those fields,” Carvalho said. “But our listeners are awesome.”
“I only half-jokingly say more people downloaded our review of Children of the Corn 7 than actually saw Children of the Corn 7.”
With Night Shift in the rear view, Now Playing Podcast launches its next retrospective on Tuesday: A five-episode study of director Christopher Nolan’s filmography, leading up to next month’s Interstellar.
After considering other horror properties to follow Corn — including Hellraiser and The Amityville Horror — Carvalho shifted gears and lobbied hard for a director-focused retrospective, targeting Nolan after Now Playing previously covered his Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception.
“The hosts needed some meatier films to chew on, and I also think listeners want to hear about movies they’ve actually seen,” he joked. “With the good movies we usually can have deeper conversations about filmmaking, themes, and intent.”
“The problem with the Corn series was that by the 9th film there was nothing left to say, it’s like the old joke about the definition of insanity.”
Corn Connection: ‘Revelation’ boasts some of series’ best links
The seventh installment of this Corn Connection series is a step up from the previous one, even if the film we’re talking about, Children of the Corn: Revelation, is every bit as unbearable as Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return.
The difference between the two is variety. While 666 featured seemed to find the same connections over and over (Robocop, Corn), the Revelation cast has connections to more than a half-dozen Now Playing Podcast series’ that haven’t been written about in this series.
So, if you’re wrapping up the latest episode in the Now Playing Podcast Children of the Corn Retrospective Series, here’s where you can find some of that film’s stars in the Now Playing universe.
Michael Ironside (Priest) – Philip K. Dick Retrospective, The Karate Kid Retrospective, Terminator Retrospective, X-Men Retrospective
Let’s start with the obvious; Michael Ironside probably can’t walk down the street without someone shouting, “See you at the party Richter!”
It’s one of the actor’s best known roles, and Total Recall was reviewed by Now Playing back during the 2011 Philip K. Dick Retrospective.
Ironside also had roles in The Next Karate Kid and Terminator Salvation, two films reviewed in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
And he also appeared as the captain of a battleship in X-Men First Class, although he wasn’t credited. Why he wasn’t credited is a mystery I haven’t not yet Googled. It’s almost a distraction that he wasn’t credited, like I’m thinking more about that than I am about First Class.
Ron Selmour (uncredited) – Blade Retrospective, Black Christmas Retrospective, Tron Retrospective, Riddick Retrospective
Selmour had bit parts in The Chronicles of Riddick, the Black Christmas remake and Tron Legacy. But as soon as I saw his face on IMDB and his Blade: Trinity credit I said, “I know that dude!”
He’s one of the “Nightstalkers” that teams up with Wesley Snipes for about five minutes before he gets killed. I think he gets one line and then gets taken out alongside Patton Oswalt. And his character is named Dex. And Oswalt’s character is named Hedges. That movie has the worst names.
There’s nothing I can say about Blade: Trinity that hasn’t been said on Now Playing Podcast, so please, if you like to laugh, take a listen to that show.
Crystal Lowe (Tiffany) – Final Destination Retrospective, Fantastic Four Retrospective, Black Christmas Retrospective
This actress has done a few horror films, including Final Destination 3 and the Black Christmas remake; both covered by Now Playing Podcast.
But I wonder if she gets recognized most for her role as “Hot Party Girl No. 3” in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer? It’s been a while since I’ve seen the picture, but I’m sure she’s the best thing about it.
By the way, Lowe will have another Now Playing mention added to her profile when the show covers Insomnia as part of the upcoming Christopher Nolan Retrospective Series.
Troy Yorke (Jerry) – Final Destination Retrospective
Yorke had an uncredited role in the first Final Destination. Nuff said.
Kyle Cassie (Armbrister) – Lost Boys Retrospective
Hey, it’s the first Lost Boys mention in the Corn Connection series! Cassie played the character “Jon” in the direct-to-DVD sequel, Lost Boys: The Tribe.
Claudette Mink (Jamie) – Philip K. Dick Retrospective
This actress had a role in John Woo’s Paycheck, another film featured in the Philip K. Dick retrospective.
So there you have it. A pretty impressive lineup of links to the Now Playing Podcast archives. I’m still excited that I found that guy from Blade 3. Seriously, that’s a show to listen to.
The Corn Connection is winding down, only two more entries left in the film series, which means two more trips to the corn for the Now Playing hosts. Get the next show Tuesday!
Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!
Corn Connection: Isaac isn’t only one returning for ‘666’
The sixth installment in the neverending enduring Children of the Corn series sees the return of a star from the original film. It’s not Linda Hamilton.
It’s no secret either, as the title gives it away; this is the film that brings back child cult leader Isaac (John Franklin). You can hear the actor introduce this week’s episode of Now Playing Podcast, in which the hosts also explain how Franklin played a critical role in getting the 1999 sequel made.
As it turns out, he’s not the only familiar face (familiar used loosely). Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return features a pair of famous genre stars, along with a few names who are returning to the Corn series as new characters.
That turns out to be great news for this week’s Corn Connection, as you’ll be able to get away from the fields and enjoy some of the better films reviewed in the Now Playing archives.
Nancy Allen (Rachel) – Carrie Retrospective, Robocop Retrospective, Poltergeist Retrospective
Nancy Allen is one of those stars who gets a lot of coverage on Now Playing Podcast. Not only did she make an appearance in last fall’s Carrie retrospective, but her work in the Robocop series was profiled earlier this year, and she showed up in the Poltergeist donation series. The latter was available exclusively to donors.
Stacy Keach (Doc Michaels) – Batman Retrospective
Keach’s resume goes back decades, but the actor only appears one other time in the Now Playing archives; he voiced Carl Beaumont and the murderous Phantasm in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
John Franklin (Isaac) – Children of the Corn Retrospective, Child’s Play Retrospective
It’s all about Isaac.
Franklin, as mentioned above, returns to the Corn series more than a decade after he starred in the original film. Franklin also did voice work for the first Child’s Play film, which was reviewed on Now Playing but released exclusively to donors.
Gary Bullock (Zachariah) – Robocop Retrospective, Children of the Corn Retrospective
Bullock just showed up in the previous Corn film, credited as “Farmer.”
This isn’t the first time he’s appeared in a series as two different characters; Bullock also appeared as “Hack Doctor” in Robocop 2 and then as “Gas Station Clerk” in Robocop 3.
William Prael (Jake) – Children of the Corn Retrospective
This is where it gets silly. Prael, like Bullock and Franklin, also has a previous Corn film on his resume. He appeared in Children of the Corn IV, where he is credited as “Concerned Father.”
It’s not over, there are still three Corn films to go. And, as Arnie teases in this week’s episode, there’s a very familiar face to look forward to next week.
Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!
Corn Connection: Familiar faces in ‘Fields’
The Now Playing Podcast review of Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror went online Tuesday, and while I won’t spoil the review, I will say the film has something going for it; this entry boasts the most recognizable cast in the series.
That doesn’t mean they’re all A-listers. It just means I know who they are. I’ve seen them on TV or film, some in better productions and some in ones less noteworthy than the fourth Children of the Corn sequel.
Still, it’s a welcome relief after desperately scraping the bottom of IMDB to find connections in the previous Corn films.
Check out some of these names: Kane Hodder, Eva Mendes, David Carradine, Fred Williamson, Alexis Arquette, Ahmet Zappa. There are even more; actors and actresses I recognize from Escape from New York and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and Arquette’s not the only Pulp Fiction alum in the cast.
But as much as I enjoy seeing familiar faces, The Corn Connection doesn’t list their resumes, just their places in the Now Playing Podcast archives.
So let’s get started:
Kane Hodder (Bartender) – Friday the 13th Retrospective Series, Daredevil & Elektra Retrospective, Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses & Devil’s Rejects Retrospective Series
I thought it best to get Hodder out of the way first, because he’s Jason Voorhees!
Hodder played the iconic screen slasher in four Friday the 13th films, all of them covered during Now Playing’s first retrospective series in 2009.
I didn’t want to get into Hodder’s stunt credits, because I’m focusing on films where he portrayed a character.
You can also catch Hodder in the Now Playing Podcast review of 2003’s Daredevil, part of the Marvel Movie Retrospective. He also had an uncredited role in Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects, a film reviewed by Now Playing in 2009.
Alexis Arquette (Greg) – Child’s Play Retrospective Series, Sometimes They Come Back Retrospective Series
At the time of Children of the Corn V’s release in 1998, Arquette already had a pretty good-sized resume, with roles in Pulp Fiction and Threesome. He was even the vampire DJ in 1992’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer (something I learned just now).
Arquette’s breakout role would also come in 1998, when he co-starred in Adam Sandler’s The Wedding Singer. But this same year he also had a role as Jennifer Tilly’s doomed neighbor Damien in Bride of Chucky, a film that was covered by Now Playing, but was only available to donors.
The actor popped up again earlier this year when Now Playing covered Sometimes They Come Back… Again as part of the ongoing Stephen King retrospective.
Eva Mendes (Kir) – Ghost Rider Retrospective Series
Fields of Terror was the first film for Mendes, who was just a few years away from becoming a Hollywood star. Despite appearances alongside leading men such as Johnny Depp, Will Smith and Steven Seagal, Mendes only appears once in the Now Playing Podcast archives; when she co-starred with Nicolas Cage in 2007’s Ghost Rider.
Adam Wylie (Ezeekial) – Child’s Play Retrospective Series
Wylie was a child actor in the 90s who many people remember from his role on Picket Fences.
He appeared one other time in a film covered by Now Playing Podcast; 1990’s Child’s Play 2.
Gary Bullock (Farmer) – Robocop Retrospective Series
Bullock has credits in two films covered by Now Playing Podcast, playing separate characters in Robocop 2 and Robocop 3. He’s credited as “Hack Doctor” in the former, and “Gas Station Clerk” in the latter.
Edward Edwards (Lilly’s Father) – Robocop Retrospective Series
Mr. Edwards’ resume include a number of minor television and film credits, including the the role of “Manson” in 1987’s Robocop.
Danny Goldring (Mr. O’Brien) – Batman Retrospective Series
This actor is credited as “Grumpy” in 2008’s The Dark Knight, a film featured in Now Playing’s 2012 Batman Retrospective Series.
I had to research the name Grumpy, and I assumed he was one of the clowns who take part in the bank robbery that opens the film. I was right. Goldring is the one leading the robbery; he’s the one with the most lines, including the memorable, “What bus driver?”
So that’s a pretty good lineup for a Corn sequel. Before sneaking a peek at IMDB for next week’s entry, make sure you listen to this week’s episode of Now Playing Podcast.
Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!
Corn Connection: ‘The Gathering’ surprises with actual stars
“This can’t be right, I know these people.” – Arnie C
Now Playing Podcast surprised listeners Monday night with the early release of its Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering review, the latest entry in the Stephen King Retrospective Series.
The film was certainly not in award contention when it hit video stores in 1996, but many of its stars may look familiar to viewers, and one member of the cast would go on to greater fame and an Academy Award nomination.
In this week’s Corn Connection, we’re taking that star’s resume, along with the rest of the Corn IV cast, and pointing you toward their places in the Now Playing Podcast archives:
Naomi Watts (Grace Rhodes) – DC Heroes Retrospective Series
Naomi Watts is a household name today, but the 21 Grams and Mulholland Drive actress had just a few indie credits under her belt when she headlined in The Gathering. Her most notable role at the time of the film’s release was alongside Lori Petty in Tank Girl, a poorly-received adaptation of the British comic book.
Tank Girl was reviewed in 2013 as part of Now Playing’s DC Heroes Retrospective Series.
Karen Black (June Rhodes) – Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil’s Rejects Retrospective Series
Karen Black, who passed away last year, had enjoyed a long career before appearing in Children of the Corn IV. Today she is celebrated as a pioneering “Scream Queen” and horror fans may know her best from her role as Mother Firefly in director Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses.
Now Playing reviewed House and its sequel, The Devil’s Rejects, in 2009.
William Windom (Doc Larson) – Planet of the Apes Retrospective Series
This actor’s IMDB resume lists more than 250 credits, but he wasn’t a star in the Now Playing universe until this past summer, when the hosts reviewed Escape from the Planet of the Apes, a show that was made available during the Spring 2014 Donation Series.
Marietta Marich (Rosa Nock) – The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Retrospective Series
Marich should be recognizable to Now Playing listeners; she played Luda Mae Hewitt, the matriarch of the crazed clan that raised Leatherface in 2003’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its 2006 prequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.
Both films were covered during 2010’s Chainsaw retrospective.
Harrison Young (Drifter) – Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil’s Rejects Retrospective Series
Another actor who went on to work for Rob Zombie, Harrison Young starred as doomed father Don Willis in House of 1000 Corpses. You might also recognize him as the elder Private Ryan in Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan.
Overall, those are some pretty good connections. Things should pick up next week when Now Playing covers the fifth (of nine!) Corn entries. We won’t spoil it, just go to IMDB if you’re curious.
Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!
‘Corn Connection’ finds A-lister among ‘Harvest’ players
Every actor has to start somewhere, and somewhere is often low-budget horror.
There are plenty of examples; Leonardo DiCaprio in Critters 3, Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander in The Burning, and Jennifer Aniston in a film Now Playing Podcast donors can hear about very soon.
As for this week’s Now Playing Podcast review of Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest, we managed to find some famous faces among the cast. Okay, make that one star, some genre actors and a couple of extras you might recognize if you watch a lot of bad flicks.
But I’m not here to reprint IMDB resumes; the Corn Connection shows you where to find the actors and actresses within the Now Playing archives. So let’s get going.
Charlize Theron (Young Woman/uncredited) – Alien Retrospective Series
Harvest was Theron’s first film, before she went on to become a superstar in movies like Mighty Joe Young, The Legend of Bagger Vance and Aeon Flux. Also Monster.
It’s crazy to think that an actress like Theron was only referenced on Now Playing Podcast once, but it’s true; back during the 2012 donation drive, when the hosts covered Prometheus as part of the Alien Retrospective Series. Unfortunately, that series is no longer available.
Michael Ensign (Father Frank Nolan) – Superman Retrospective Series
Ensign is an actor you’ll recognize, although maybe not for his role as a newscaster in 1978’s Superman. I’m sure he gets more looks from fans who loved him as the snooty hotel manager in Ghostbusters, or in his role as the evil bus driver in License to Drive.
Ed Grady (Dr. Richard Appleby) – Children of the Corn Retrospective Series
Does it count if your Now Playing moments came twice in the same retrospective series? Because that’s the case with the late Mr. Grady, who played the same character in the second installment, Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice. Maybe someday the hosts will cover Grady’s role in The Notebook.
Rance Howard (Employer) – Psycho Retrospective Series
Howard, like Theron, has had roles in major blockbusters (his son is Splash director Ron Howard). Howard, like Theron, only appears once in the entire history of Now Playing Podcast (1998’s Psycho). And Howard, like Theron, appeared in a donation series that’s no longer available on the main feed (bummer).
Rif Hutton (Arnold) – Star Trek Retrospective Series
Hutton’s resume includes a long list of television and film credits, but only one of those movies was featured on Now Playing Podcast. So look for his role as a Klingon guard the next time you sit down to watch Star Trek: Generations.
Anthony Hickox (Hans, also executive producer) – Return of the Living Dead Retrospective Series
Hickox appeared as Dr. Hickox in Return of the Living Dead 3, another film that’s currently locked in the Now Playing Podcast archives. But he’s also a director, with a resume that includes Waxwork, Waxwork 2: Lost In Time and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth.
Brian Peck (Jake Witman) – X-Men Retrospective Series, Return of the Living Dead Retrospective Series
Peck’s resume lists a number of genre films, but his role as Hot Dog Stand Patron in X-Men and News Reporter in X2: X-Men United made him part of the Now Playing universe. He also appeared in the first three Return of the Living Dead films as the characters of Scuz, Special Zombie and Ballistic Technician, respectively. Unfortunately, those Living Dead shows are locked away in the vault.
So there you have it. A few more recognizable actors than the previous Corn film, but many who only have connections to Now Playing donation series’. Wondering how you can become a donor? This way.
Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!
Corn Connection: Thinnest threads in ‘Final Sacrifice’
In The Corn Connection, Venganza Media searches the Now Playing Podcast archives for films featuring the cast of The Children of the Corn series
Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice exists in that very odd place for low-rent horror sequels: It’s not good enough to bring back actors from the first film, and not quite bad enough to draw genre stars willing to sign on for ironic reasons, or for the chance to have their names above the title.
Even Pumpkinhead II had Punky Brewster, and those Prophecy sequels had Christopher Walken.
The Final Sacrifice has… no one.
An exhaustive search through the annals of IMDB turned up only the thinnest threads connecting the “stars” to the Now Playing Podcast archives. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge, and perhaps take a listen to some shows you might have missed along the way.
So, for your listening pleasure, here’s where you can find the cast of Children of the Corn II and the films they’ve appeared in:
Christie Clark (Lacey Hellerstat) – A Nightmare on Elm Street Retrospective Series
Clark was a child when she played Jesse’s sister Angela in Freddy’s Revenge. And you probably thought you could rewind to see her in the pool party scene. Shame on you.
Wallace Merck (Sheriff Blaine) – Friday the 13th Retrospective Series, Robocop Retrospective Series
Mr. Merck was one of the unfortunate paintball players that stumbled upon a resurrected Jason Voorhees in Jason Lives. Spoiler: He didn’t make it.
He also played “Gun Shop Owner” in Robocop 2, which Now Playing covered earlier this year.
Joe Inscoe (David Simpson) – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Retrospective Series
This actor appeared as “Police Officer No. 2” in the first TMNT film. Again, we’re grasping at straws here.
Marty Terry (Mrs. Burke/Mrs. West) – Philip K. Dick Retrospective Series
Terry appeared in a “Pre-Crime PSA” in Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report. You can go back and try to spot her, or you can go listen to the Now Playing hosts talk about the picture.
Robert C. Treveiler (Wayde McKenzie) – Carrie Retrospective Series
This actor appeared in another sequel to a King film that the author wanted nothing to do with: The Rage: Carrie 2. He played a “patient.” One can only assume it’s during the mental hospital scenes. Do we really have to go back and verify?
Bonus! Treveiler does have a role in Frank Darabont’s The Mist, which Now Playing Podcast will get to (eventually) as part of its Stephen King retrospective.
So there you have it. Not too much in The Final Sacrifice to link back to the archives. Perhaps that’s a good thing. Perhaps we should simply thank the actors for their participation, and part ways.
Maybe we’ll have better luck next week with Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest.
Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!
Make the ‘Corn Connection’ with ‘Now Playing Podcast’
Let’s be honest. None of us really expect to see row after row of green arrows once the Now Playing Podcast hosts emerge from their nine-part Children of the Corn Retrospective Series.
If it weren’t for their commitment to reviewing every movie spawned by the works of Stephen King, we wouldn’t, for example, be circling Sept. 23 on the calendar for the release of Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Revenge.
But Arnie, Stuart and Jakob are taking the plunge, and so we will join them on this epic binge of bad sequels. Only this time, we’re going to have some fun with it.
With our hosts seated in front of their microphones, those of us behind the scenes will be playing Six Degrees of Now Playing.
It’s The Corn Connection.
Every week we’ll run down the list of players from each of the nine Corn films, and direct an arrow toward their place in the Now Playing Podcast archives.
When you IMDB the casts of Hollywood horror franchises, you’ll often see familiar faces. Some are names that will soon become household (see Hellraiser: Hellworld), and some once were (Isaac’s Revenge).
So come back to the Venganza Media Gazette each week and take a trip around the Now Playing Podcast archives. And if you spot an actor or actress that’s made an appearance in another film reviewed by Now Playing, leave a comment and help a fellow listener discover what they might be missing.
We’ll start Tuesday following the release of 1984’s Children of the Corn over at the Now Playing Podcast website.
How many connections can you make?
‘Turtles’ Power Now Playing on iTunes, ‘Children’ lurking
Now Playing Podcast is leaving the sewers and venturing into the cornfields.
Venganza Media’s flagship podcast capped its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Retrospective Series this week with its review of the Michael Bay-produced franchise reboot. The film marked the Turtles’ return to the big screen after a 7-year layoff and captured the box office crown on opening weekend.
Now Playing Podcast marked its own triumph on Thursday, when its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) episode debuted at No. 5 on iTunes’ TV & Film audio podcast rankings.
The achievement extends Now Playing’s summer winning streak, highlighted by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II episode, which peaked at No. 2 on iTunes in late July.
Throughout the TMNT series, hosts Arnie Carvalho, Stuart Atkinson and Jakob Brewster have guided listeners through the highs and lows of Ninja Turtles lore, and ventured outside of the feature films to discuss long-forgotten turns in the franchise’s history, including the infamous Coming Out Of Their Shells concert tour.
“Turtle Power is a real thing, it cannot be underestimated,” Atkinson joked. “I give all the credit to those green guys. They’ve been through hell at the movies and they deserve a little Top 10 love.”
With the
Turtles franchise now in their rear view, the hosts are set to begin the next chapter in Now Playing’s massive Stephen King retrospective. The series, which began last fall, picks up again Aug. 19 with Children of the Corn, a nine-episode arc that will complete Now Playing’s coverage of King’s Night Shift collection.
The first Corn adaptation hit theaters in 1984 and was followed by seven poorly-received sequels, as well as a television remake. Fans of Now Playing’s earliest horror retrospective series’ can look forward to the hosts continuing their discussion of Hollywood’s sequel addiction as they try their best to remain composed in the face of mediocre filmmaking.
“Reviewing Night Shift has been a long haul, and I say that as the King fan!” Carvalho said. “I haven’t watched most of these Corn films, but they made nine of them — there has to be something there, right?”
“Nine films? Most direct-to-video?” Brewster added. “I just hope I can come up with enough corn puns to bring a kernel of humor to our listeners’ ears. Sigh.”
The Children of the Corn series will carry Now Playing Podcast into early October, before the hosts embark on a journey through the films of director Christopher Nolan, leading up to the release of November’s Interstellar.
Freddy Fans Delighted at Flashback Weekend
Freddy Kruger (Englund) on stage with three costumed back-ups at the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention
Rosemont IL – Despite being known for his Nightmares, actor Robert Englund made fans’ dreams come true last weekend at the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention.
Three Freddy fans patiently wait to meet their idol
Making a rare midwestern appearance, star of the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series Robert Englund was Flashback Weekend’s headline guest. Englund spent all day Saturday and Sunday meeting fans, signing their memorabilia, and sharing stories of his life from the making of A Nightmare on Elm Street to The Mangler and more. Fans lined up for hours to meet this horror icon.
Though the staff at Flashback Weekend had a convenient ticketing system to minimize wait times, Englund’s autograph line still wound out of his private room. Even those with $110 “priority line placement” tickets stood in line for nearly three hours. Once the fans reached the front of the line, though, the experience was rewarding. Englund is known to have a slow autograph line as he spends a few minutes talking with each fan. I watched as he fawned over one fan’s Japanese theater program promoting the release of 1989’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. “You have some cool shit,” he said to another fan who brought a DVD collection covered in autographs from other stars.
The long line may have had its advantages. One congoer recounted his experience in Englund’s autograph line seven years ago at Flashback Weekend: he met his wife in that line. Now he, his wife of five years, and their daughter returned to again visit their horror hero.
The cost of Englund’s autograph was $50.00 per item–a very reasonable price for con-goers. (For comparison, at the upcoming Wizard World Chicago convention The Incredible Hulk’s Lou Ferrigno is charging $40.00, Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee $80.00, and, at New York Comic-Con in 2013, Sylvester Stallone charged $395.00). While some celebrities rarely look up from their tables, their hands furiously signing item after item, Englund ensured each fan felt they had their moment with him and a story to tell as they left.
Arnie seized the opportunity to get a once-in-a-lifetime photo with Englund in the Freddy makeup.
While the chance for Robert Englund’s autograph was welcomed by the fans, the far more publicized event was Friday’s exclusive photo opportunity with the star–in full Freddy make-up. While celebrity appearances and photo opportunities are regular occurrences at conventions, rarely do the stars dress up for the occasion. On Friday, however, Englund underwent a two-and-a-half hour make-up application transforming him into the onscreen persona of Freddy. The latex prothetics that turned Englund into his on-screen persona were created and applied by 30-year Hollywood makeup effects artist Robert Kurtzman, who worked with Englund on the fifth Nightmare film.
The cost was very high– the photo opportunity, consisting of a professionally lit shot done by Celeb Photo Ops, a single 8″ x 10″ photo printout, and weekend admission to the convention (for one person) cost $365.00. Up to two people could be in the photo, but the guest would have to pay admission separately. The night of the event the photo itself could be purchased separately for $295.00. Additional prints and digital download options added to the cost of the photo. By comparison, at Wizard World Chicago photos with a single celebrity, also done by Celeb Photo Ops, range from $40 to $125, with the average being $55. A photo with all seven stars of Star Trek: The Next Generation is in the same price range, at $299.00 (not including convention admission).
The cost was not due to organizer or celebrity greed. Flashback Weekend started in 2002, run by Mike and Mia Kerz. The event is held annually in the Chicago area., and all proceeds from Flashback Weekend, including the Freddy photo op, go to the preservation and operation of the Midway Drive-In located in Dixon, IL. The Flashback Weekend web site states the philanthropic efforts are to “[provide] a theatrical outlet at the Midway Drive-In for new independent horror films [and maintain] a venue at the Midway for the screening of 35mm horror films.” Englund cited this cause as a motivator behind his decision to appear in full make-up.
Despite the high cost, hundreds of fans lined up for this once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity. Fans came from across the country, some traveling from Tuscon, Pittsburgh, and Texas, for this chance. Englund was in full-on Freddy mode, speaking in the gravely voice and sometimes letting out his trademark scream–acts which must be second nature for the actor who’s portrayed the dream killer for thirty years. Fans hoping for a moment with their idol, however, needed to go to the autograph area as the photo op was a workman-like assembly line. Englund seemed to have four key poses: for photos with one person he would put his blade to their throat. For photos with two people he would attack one–usually the female. For families that snuck a third person, a child, into the photo Englund would grab the young one’s hair, and for those who were wearing their own Freddy glove Englund had a crossed-blades pose.
Englund demonstrated on-stage the problems with wearing his trademark fedora in photos.
The entire photo experience gave fans about thirty seconds with the star before the man behind the camera shouted “next” and fans were escorted out. Englund seemed to barely have time to acknowledge any fans individually, it was enter frame, pose, picture, done.
However the result is a well-lit, framed, and shot photo. Yes, the cost is high, but, as shown to the right, the result is a photo that cannot be gotten anywhere else.
In the weeks leading up to the convention several fans complained online about Englund wearing the makeup and glove, but eschewing Freddy’s trademark sweater and hat. On stage that evening, in a private event for those who purchased the photo opportunity, Englund explained the hat created numerous lighting problems that plagued the filming of all the Nightmare films. For the sake of a good photograph the hat had to be skipped. As for the sweater? Englund explained that fans could find convincing Freddy characters in front of Mann’s Chinese Theater and other locales, and that by wearing the official T-Shirt of Flashback Weekend fans could prove their photo was with the star himself.
Also in that evening panel Englund stated that this was perhaps not, as claimed on the Flashback Weekend web site, the final time the actor would don the make-up; the 68-year-old actor may not yet be ready to hang up his hat and glove. Whether for other fan events or professional Hollywood productions fans may not have seen the last of Englund as Freddy after all.
And Englund wasn’t the only Nightmare on Elm Street star on hand for Flashback Weekend. Also at the event were Amanda Wyss (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Better Off Dead), Robert Rusler (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, Weird Science, Sometimes They Come Back), Jennifer Rubin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Bad Dreams, Screamers), Monica Keena (Freddy vs. Jason, Dawson’s Creek), Katharine Isabelle (Freddy vs. Jason, Ginger Snaps) and Ronee Blakley (A Nightmare on Elm Street and Nashville, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award). Unlike Englund, lines to meet these actors were often short, and autograph prices ranged from $20.00 to $40.00. Some would pose with fans for photos if you purchased an autograph; others had a separate photo charge.
A Nightmare reunion at Flashback Weekend 2014! From left to right: Rusler, Rubin, Blakley, Wyass, and Keena
But like Englund each of the stars were approachable and friendly, engaging with their fans in the short time allotted.
In total, over two dozen celebrities attended the convention, including actress/musician Traci Lords, Gremlins star Zach Galligan, and character actor William Forsythe. These actors filled the end of the convention’s exhibit floor, and while, at peak times, lines became difficult to navigate, the average wait was short.
Aside from Englund, the two most popular celebrities at Flashback Weekends seemed to be Lance Henriksen and Angus Scrimm.
Henriksen is a science fiction fan favorite with appearances in three of the Alien films, as well as Terminator and the TV series Millennium. In total the actor has over 200 on-screen credits in a career that spans more than 50 years. Yet Henriksen engaged fans eagerly, sharing stories of knife-practice on the set of Aliens or “alimony movies” he had to make like The Mangler 2. He had a dry wit which left interviewer “Svengoolie” Rich Coz nonplussed during the Friday night panel.
Scrimm, an actor best known for the Phantasm horror series, had a autograph line second in length only to Englund’s. The actor, who is celebrating his 88th birthday next week, had a health issue that caused him to cancel an Indianpolis convention appearance in 2013. Fans, not wanting to miss this opportunity, stood in a line that at times stretched the length of the convention hall.
Scrimm headlined a 35th Anniversary Reunion of Phantasm stars at Flashback Weekend, which also included Reggie Bannister, Don Coscarelli, Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, and Kathy Lester.
Outside of celebrity appearances, Flashback Weekend had a bevy of costumers and revelers. In addition to Svengoolie, local personalities Kitty Zombie, WGN Radio’s Nick Digilio, and Daily herald film critic Dann Gire helped host the event. While the convention’s exhibit floor was one of the smaller ones for Chicago conventions, fans still could buy toys, T-Shirts, DVDs, and more. For those whose tastes run outside the norm there were also taxidermied animal heads, lifelike silicon werebabies, and replica Freddy gloves.
Details for next years event are expected in the coming months at the official Flashback Weekend website.
See photos from the event in the galleries below.
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- View of the Exhibit Floor at Flashback Weekend 2014
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- More vendors on the Exhibit Floor of Flashback Weekend 2014
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- You could buy this Werebaby at Flashback Weekend 2014
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- You can buy these old trading cards at Flashback Weekend but, as the company name states, Don’t Eat The Gum!
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- You could buy a Nightcrawler bust or, a couple aisles over, buy petrified nightcrawlers.
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- What did the fox say? Nothing after they cut off his head and taxidermied it for sale at Flashback Weekends.
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- It’s a small brain after all with Zombie Mickey Mouse!
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- A fan tries on a prop replica Freddy glove on the Flashback Weekend exhibit floor.
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- The slide before the start of the photo-op only Friday night panel
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- The translator for the hearing impaired seems to have had some bad dreams
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- Svengooli hosted the interviews Friday night
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- Svengooli interviews Robert Englund at Flashback Weekend
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- Svengooli interviews Lance Henrickson
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- Lance Henriksen has some fun with Svengooli on stage
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- Freddy vs Jason’s Monica Keena laughs with Amanda Wyss at Flashback Weekend
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- Nightmare on Elm Street 2 actor Robert Rusler on stage with Dream Warrior Jennifer Rubin
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- A Nightmare on Elm Street stars Amanda Wyss and Monica Keena get serious.
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- A Nightmare on Elm Street star Amanda Wyss at Flashback Weekend
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- A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warrior Jennifer Rubin at Flashback Wekeend
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- Freddy got his Revenge on actor Robert Rusler in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2
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- Robert Rusler asks probing questions of Jennifer Rubin at Flashback Weekend
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- Freddy vs Jason’s Monica Keena at Flashback Weekend
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- Hollywood Monster Robert Englund signs a photo for a fan at Flashback Weekends in Chicago, IL
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- Nancy Booth and Robert Englund greet fans, and their dogs, at Flashback Weekend
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- Lance Henriksen signs a photo for a fan at Flashback Weekends in Chicago, IL
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- Behind Lance Henriksen’s table stood an Alien prop; one of the must-sees on the exhibit floor of Flashback Weekend 2014.
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- Costumed guests at Flashback Weekend, 2014
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- A Jason costumer claims his next victim at Flashback Weekends 2014
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- Freddy vs Jason on the exhibit floor of Flashback Weekend
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- A demonic zombie-girl really plays the part at Flashback Weekend in Chicago
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- Killer Klowns from Flashback Weekend
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