First Guests Announced For The 2008 RUE MORGUE FESTIVAL OF FEAR!
When it comes to horror events here in Canada - and quite possibly in all of North America - it simply doesn't get any bigger than the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear, a simply massive fan event loaded with guests and screenings. The first block of guests have just been announced and they're looking good. Confirmed so far: Wes Craven, Sid Haig, Brad Dourif, Rugero Deodato, Tura Stana, Kristy Swanson, Shawnee Smith, Lloyd Kauffman and more.
Read on for the full announcement.
WES CRAVEN (Guest of Honour)
(A Nightmare On Elm Street, Scream, The Hills Have Eyes)
Wes Craven has clearly established himself as an intellectual artist and pioneer of the modern horror film. He entered filmmaking as an editor on low-budget comedies with Sean Cunningham - creator of the Jason character for the FRIDAY THE 13TH movies. Wes then graduated to the position of writer-director with a grimly potent shocker in 1972 called THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. His infamy grew with the extraordinary thriller THE HILLS HAVE EYES, which has become a horror genre classic of the 70's, spawned a Hollywood remake and a subsequent sequel. By the end of the 70's, Craven was firmly branded as a serious horror filmmaker, and gained worldwide recognition in the 80’s with A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, and five popular and increasingly camp sequels followed the strikingly surreal original. His status and success was then re-enforced with the hugely popular SCREAM films in the ‘90s. Additional Wes Craven classics include THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW, THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, DEADLY FRIEND, THE SWAMP THING, SHOCKER, RED EYE, and many more. Rue Morgue is proud to present Wes Craven as ‘Guest of Honour’ of the 2008 Festival of Fear.
SID HAIG
(House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Reject's, Spider Baby)
Sid Haig has provided hulking menace to many low-budget and high-priced exploitationers. Haig has been in films since 1964, where he played a lobotomized miscreant in Jack Hill's cult horror classic SPIDER BABY. Then, Roger Corman noticed him and cast him in the cult classics, THE BIG DOLL HOUSE, and THE BIG BIRD CAGE. Sid has also graced the screen in many other genre classics such as the George Lucas sci-fi masterpiece THX 1138, and the 1970 James Bond opus DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. After decades of b-movie roles Haig received a career nod in 1997 with a part in Quentin Tarantino's film JACKIE BROWN. In the ensuing years, he would again work with Tarantino in KILL BILL VOL. 2. Sid's current rise to infamy and most popular roles to date, have been in Rob Zombie's HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, and THE DEVIL’S REJECTS. Other notable Haig films include, GALAXY OF TERROR, FOXY BROWN, ROB ZOMBIE’S HALLOWEEN, and most recently Rob Zombie’s new animated opus, THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO.
BRAD DOURIF
(The Exorcist III, The Lord of the Rings, Child's Play)
Brad Dourif is acclaimed by his peers as an acting powerhouse who transcends the conventional acting approach. In 1975, Dourif's big-screen debut came with his portrayal as the vulnerable Billy Bibbitt in Milos Forman's timeless film, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, earning Brad a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Dourif frequently plays demented, deranged, or disturbed character's which include jaw-dropping performances in such classics as THE EYES OF LAURA MARS, John Huston’s WISE BLOOD and RAGTIME. In the 80’s, Dourif teamed up with Director David Lynch for DUNE, and BLUE VELVET. Dourif's unique intensity can be found in many other genre films such as the voice of Chucky in the CHILD’S PLAY movies, THE EXORCIST III, Stephen King's GRAVEYARD SHIFT, ALIEN RESURRECTION, and last but not least, as the sinister character Grima Wormtongue in Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS movies.
RUGGERO DEODATO
(Cannibal Holocaust, Cut and Run, Phantom of Death)
Ruggero Deodato grew up in Rome and learned how to direct films under Roberto Rossellini and Sergio Corbucci. In 1976 he directed the acclaimed ultra-violent police flick LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN. But in 1977, he made what many consider his ultimate film...CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. With this film, Deodato had instantly reinvented the cannibal film genre, and had caused massive controversy and censorship issues all over Europe. The film was wrongly claimed by press to be a genuine snuff film. Subsequently, Deodato was forced to reveal the secrets behind the film's special effects and parade the lead actor's before an Italian court in order to prove to the world they were still alive. By this time the film was banned in more than 30 countries. But untarnished by controversy, Deodatto hit the big-time in the 80's with the film PHANTOM OF DEATH, starring Michael York and the late Donald Pleasance. Deodato's amazing film oeuvre also includes, HOUSE BY THE EDGE OF THE PARK (an homage to Wes Craven's LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT), JUNGLE HOLOCAUST, BODY COUNT, and many more.
TURA SATANA
(Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, Astro Zombies, The Doll Squad)
Tura Satana is a Japanese-born, American actress, former exotic dancer, and cult film iconoclast. She began her carreer in movies appearring as a dancer in WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED? starring Dean Martin and Elizabeth Montgomery, and had a cameo as a Parisian protitute in the musical IRMA LA DOUCE, starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine. But it was Tura's role as Varla, the badass tough as nails vixen in the cult classic FASTER PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! which is forever cemented as one of the greatest bad-gril roles in film history. Just ask Quentin Tarantino, who cites Pussycat as a huge inspiration for his film ‘Death Proof'. Tura went on to star in Ted V. Mikels classic cult films ASTRO ZOMBIES and THE DOLL SQUAD and recently completed her new film called SUGAR BOXX. Tura has also signed on to lend her voice in Rob Zombie's new animated movie THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO.
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS
(Blade Runner, Wolfen, American Me)
Edward James Olmos is an Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated American actor and director. Some of his most memorable roles were Gaff in BLADE RUNNER, Lt. Martin Castillo in MIAMI VICE, Jaime Escalante in STAND AND DELIVER and Admiral William Adama in the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA the re-imagined series. In the late 1960s and the early 1970s, Olmos branched out from music into acting, appearing in many small productions, until his big break portraying the narrator, called "El Pachuco", in the play ZOOT SUIT, which dramatized the World War II-era rioting in California brought about by the tensions between Mexican-Americans and local police. The play moved to Broadway, and Olmos received a Tony award nomination for his portrayal as El Pachuco. He took the role to the filmed version in 1981. Other films that featured Olmos followed, including WOLFEN, TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT, and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF GARCIA LORCA, and many more.
KRISTY SWANSON
(Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Deadly Friend, The Phantom)
Kristy Swanson began with several one-off TV appearances including an early role in ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. Her first starring film role came in Wes Craven's horror film DEADLY FRIEND, and next she played Cathy in the TV adaptation of V.C. Andrews best-selling book FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC. By 1992, Kristy had landed the starring role in the now cult classic film BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. In later years, the huge popularity of Buffy the film, spawned Buffy the television series. Kristy has also appeared in many other famous comedy films including HOT SHOTS, PRETTY IN PINK, and FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF. Outside of film, Kristy has posed nude on the cover and inside the pages of PLAYBOY.
SHAWNEE SMITH
(Saw, Saw II, Saw III, The Blob)
Shawnee's film achievements began in 1982 when she appeared in the John Huston's epic kid-classic ANNIE. Her foray into television saw her appear in Steven King's THE STAND, and THE SHINING. But Shawnee is best remembered for her roles in the gritty and terrifying SAW film franchise, which has won her international recognition and fame. Shawnee continues to push extremes in film, and with her acclaimed punk/metal rock band ‘Fydolla Ho’. Shawnee is currently working on a solo record with 'Queens of the Stone Age' music producer Chris Goss.
LLOYD KAUFMAN
(The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo & Juliet, Poultrygeist)
Lloyd Kaufman is the certifiable granddaddy of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the early ‘80s. He is a director, producer, actor as well as the president of Troma Films, which has done much to influence many an independent filmmaker, including Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, and the creators of South Park. Kaufman then achieved new levels of success with his 1984 breakthrough movie THE TOXIC AVENGER, which spawned three sequels and an animated series for kids. He has also directed the Troma faves TROMEO & JULIET, TERROR FIRMER, POULTRYGEIST and many many more.
SEAN ASTIN
(Lord of the Rings, The Goonies)
Sean Astin was born in California to famous actress Patty Duke. In 1985, Sean starred in a film called THE GOONIES that would forever change the way we look at modern genre films for children, and also because the Goonies appealed to adults. A steady stream of roles complimented Sean’s career, and in 2001 he landed the role of a lifetime as Samwise Gamgee in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Sean can also be seen in many notable films like ENCINO MAN, THE WAR OF THE ROSES, TOY SOLDIERS and BULWORTH. Look for Sean in the new film SPIRIT OF THE FOREST, also starring Ron Perlman and Anjelica Huston.
THE CREEPSHOW
(Canada’s Horrorbilly Musical Sensation)
Welcome to the world of southern Ontario’s horrorbilly sensation The Creepshow! A music group whose fiendish mix of 50’s influenced rockabilly and energetic punk rock sensibilities will have you shaking your thang and howling at the moon. 2008 marks The Creepshow’s second live appearance at Rue Morgue’s Official Festival of Fear Expo party. Look for The Creepshow band members to be signing autographs in person at the Rue Morgue Ground Zero Booth, and don’t miss them performing songs from their forthcoming album at the Saturday night party.
JOHNNY HOLLOW
(Sonic Musical Alchemists)+
Johnny Hollow is a Canadian band whose dark blend of electronic and orchestral sounds has been described as ‘Gothic Chamber Music for the 21st Century’ by Rue Morgue’s Liisa Ladouceur. Their sound is a lush mix of electronica, exotica, gothic and classical compositions with an emphasis on keyboards, cellos, and haunting voices. Johnny Hollow founder and composer Vincent Marcone’s talents can also be seen in the incredible new short film THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MISTER HOLLOW co-directed with Rue Morgue founder and president Rodrigo Gudino.
SUICIDE GIRLS
(Wizard of Gore)
Suicide Girls are part alternative cult community, and part pin-up girl showcase for close to one thousand fantastic tattooed and pierced bad girls, from Finland to Columbia and beyond. They are a throwback to the glamorous days of retro poster vixens when models were beautifully imperfect but stunningly hypnotic. Suicide Girls are artistically bent emo, goth, and punk rocker women, and an international sensation. A selection of the SG damsels can also be seen in Jeremy Kasten’s remake of the H. G. Lewis horror classic THE WIZARD OF GORE.
MALANTHA BLACKTHORN
(Death Race, Sinners and Saints)
Melantha Blackthorne was recently named “Scream Queen Of The 21st Century” by Scars Magazine. In 1999 she created the web character Countess Bathoria, and quickly gained popularity and legions of fans. Melantha has starred in such films as SHE DEMONS OF THE BLACK SUN, PRISON OF THE PSYCHOTIC DAMNED, COUNTESS BATHORIA’S GRAVEYARD PICTURE SHOW and many more. She co-owns Robomonkey Productions, which released her directorial debut SINNERS AND SAINTS and most recently INBRED AND UNDEAD, both of which received much critical acclaim from numerous horror magazines and websites. Melantha also appears in Paul (Event Horizon, Resident Evil) Anderson’s DEATH RACE remake of the Roger Corman’s classic Death Race 2000.
GORD ROLLO
(The Jigsaw Man)
Gord Rollo’s was born in St. Andrews, Scotland, but has lived in Dunnville, Ontario, Canada since 1971. His short stories and novella length work have appeared in many pro and semi-pro publications throughout the genre but THE JIGSAW MAN is his first novel published in the mass market. His follow up, CRIMSON, will also be published by Leisure Books in the spring of 2009. Besides novels, Gord edited the acclaimed evolutionary horror anthology, UNNATURAL SELECTION: A Collection of Darwinian Nightmares. He also co-edited DREAMING OF ANGELS, a horror/fantasy anthology to raise money and awareness for Downs Syndrome. He’s hard at work on his next novel and can be reached through his website at www.gordqrollo.com
GASLIGHT STUDIO
(Special Effects Team, 300, Diary of the Dead)
Gaslight Studio Inc. was established in 2006, and has offered years of combined international experience in high-end animatronics, special make-up effects, creature design, and human replicas, for the cutting edge genre film and television industry. Meet them in person, and check out their amazing work in such films as LAND OF THE DEAD, DIARY OF THE DEAD, 300, SILENT HILL and many more.
