“I got the offer to play a redhead, who can be older, could be any age, and is named Cassandra, and it was like, ‘Okay, yes, I’ll do that.’ I mean, why not?” Peterson shared with Bloody Disgusting in support of the new film. “I could wear comfortable clothes. I don’t know if shooting was so comfortable, night shoots out in the forest, but the rain.”

She added, “I get offered a lot of horror movies — I gotta tell you guys, a lot. And none of the roles that I play really make me feel like they’re a continuation of Elvira …  a strong, feminist, powerful woman, and this was like right up that alley.”

Inspired by R.L. Stine’s beloved The Haunting Hour, R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 follows Sam (Bean Reid) and Becka (Adeline Lo) as they race to stop a new Pumpkinhead curse from claiming the entire town of Redhaven.

Jem Garrard returns to direct the sequel, who spoke about the process of offering up a dark story while still ensuring it was accessible to younger audiences.

“That’s the thing with kids horror, is that you don’t really have to dumb it down for them, and that’s what Stine does so well in his work, as well. What I wanted to bring to these movies, it was [to make] a film that families can enjoy, so there’s genuine scares, as well, for adults,” they explained. “You really don’t have to pull anything back. You can have the jumps and the tension, the suspense; you’re really pulling back the gore, when I compare it to my other horrors. I wanted it to be a film that families can enjoy and everyone would find it creepy.”

The first Pumpkinhead was released on Tubi last year, with it being a quick turnaround for this follow-up. Garrard is confirmed to be returning for next year’s R.L. Stine’s Afraid of Clowns, which is just the next chapter in an expanding world of stories.

Of this franchise, Garrard teased, “We’re definitely excited about building out the world of Redhaven. There’s so many stories in the Stine universe to explore that we would want to bring into this. R.L. Stine and I are chatting at the New York Comic-Con next week and we’ll be chatting more about the slate of movies coming up, but yeah, there’s definitely plans to expand the mythology in the world.”

While seeing Peterson in any role at all is exciting for Elvira fans, we still can’t help but wonder what might be next for the Mistress of the Dark. In regards to updates on a long-awaited animated Elvira project, Peterson confessed, “Unfortunately, no. It’s just something I’ve wanted to do since, oh, 1981, and I just go along with that.”

She added, “I’m working on another book project, my fourth. I’m working on a couple of films, but they’re not animated. I’ve been working on those projects for more than a year now … As far as animated Elvira, my comic books are really the only thing that are going on. And I do have a graphic novel coming out soon that I’m really excited about featuring Elvira.”

R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead lands on Tubi on October 9.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The post ‘Pumpkinhead 2’s Cassandra Peterson on Embracing a Witchy Character That’s Not Elvira [Interview] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This year’s Terror on Tubi celebration will premiere R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 on October 9.

Based on the story by R.L. Stine, this continuation of the wildly popular movie begins when a new Pumpkinhead curse awakens in Redhaven, and Sam (Bean Reid) and Becka (Adeline Lo) must stop it before it claims the entire town. Jem Garrard will be returning to write and direct the sequel.

Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson will play a witch named Cassandra who may be key to stopping the curse.

“Elvira and R.L. Stine each gave me a completely different way to experience horror growing up – Elvira through her unforgettable late-night movie presentations, and Stine through twisty, page-turning novels. Bringing them together in one film feels both nostalgic and completely fresh, which is exactly the kind of surprising combination we love creating for Tubi audiences,” said Josh Van Houdt, Vice President of Original Scripted Content

A feature adaptation of the same-titled episode from the television series “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour,” R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead premiered October 17, 2025 only on Tubi.

In the first film, Sam’s family move to Redhaven is made worse when his brother Finn disappears — and no one else remembers that he existed. Sam joins friend Becka and eccentric Rusty in the race to find Finn and break a harvest curse before Halloween ends.

Joe Lipsett wrote in his review for Bloody Disgusting, “R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is a solid gateway film for pre-teens. It’s clearly aimed at a younger audience for whom a daytime chase by a Scarecrow through an empty field is equal parts scary and exciting. With that said, everyone is apt to be affected by the horrifying spectacle of the screaming titular character, which looks amazing. Add to this two delightful animated sequences and a finale that employs a spell, a ticking clock, and a surprisingly dark coda, and it all feels appropriately R.L. Stine.”

The post ‘R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2’ Trailer Unleashes New Curse and Release Date For Tubi’s Halloween Sequel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson will play a witch named Cassandra in Tubi horror sequel R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2, and you can check out the first images of Peterson in the film below.

“Wise and deeply connected to ancient magic, she understands the dark forces threatening Redhaven and the sacrifice it may take to stop them,” the official character description previews.

“R.L. Stine and I have been in the business of scaring kids for a long time, so joining Pumpkinhead 2 was such a treat,” Peterson says. “Playing Cassandra was the perfect ‘witchy’ role for me.”

Look for R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 on Tubi beginning October 9, 2026.

Based on the story by R.L. Stine, this continuation to the wildly popular movie begins when a new Pumpkinhead curse awakens in Redhaven, and Sam and Becka must stop it before it claims the entire town. Jem Garrard will be returning to write and direct the sequel.

A feature adaptation of the same-titled episode from the television series “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour,” R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead premiered October 17, 2025 only on Tubi.

In the first film, teenager Sam’s family move to Redhaven is made worse when his brother Finn disappears — and no one else remembers that he existed. Sam joins friend Becka and eccentric Rusty in the race to find Finn and break a harvest curse before Halloween ends.

Joe Lipsett wrote in his review for Bloody Disgusting, “R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is a solid gateway film for pre-teens. It’s clearly aimed at a younger audience for whom a daytime chase by a Scarecrow through an empty field is equal parts scary and exciting. With that said, everyone is apt to be affected by the horrifying spectacle of the screaming titular character, which looks amazing. Add to this two delightful animated sequences and a finale that employs a spell, a ticking clock, and a surprisingly dark coda, and it all feels appropriately R.L. Stine.”

“For those who love The Haunted Hour and Goosebumps, this is perfect seasonal fare.”

The post ‘R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2’ – First Images of Cassandra ‘Elvira’ Peterson in Tubi’s Halloween Sequel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Now, you can watch the full panel below.

For a little under an hour, the Mistress of the Dark shares spooky ghost stories involving her former Los Angeles home, revisits her days as a showgirl in the real Las Vegas, charts the rise of horror conventions, and compares Beatlemania to Horrormania.

Peterson also weighs in on how she’s kept the Elvira brand alive for nearly half a century, feats she previously expanded upon in her excellent memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark.  One of our favorite books of 2021, it’s an essential read.

The video was directed and edited by Matt Sampere.

The post Cassandra Peterson on LA Ghost Stories, Elvira’s Evolution, and the Rise of Horror Cons [Video] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

On Friday, Ted Raimi and Screambox ‘s Director of Programming Tony Wash will preview their new original series in a panel hosted by Scare You to Sleep mastermind Shelby Novak and Bloody Disgusting Executive Director of Business Development Michael Roffman.

Saturday will see The Boo Crew dig deep with David Dastmalchian & Leah Kilpatrick then talk shop with Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas before Jose Mangin rounds out the sessions with horror trivia. That’s not all: Emily Kinney will wake the walking dead with a rockin’ aftershow featuring a special appearance by Robert Englund.

Don’t sleep in! Shake off the Sunday Scaries with The Ladies of Elm Street – Amanda Wyss, Lisa Wilcox, Tuesday Knight, Brooke Theiss, Brooke Bundy, Joann Willette, Toy Newkirk – hosted by Diandra Lazor and Michael Roffman. The Boo Crew will keep it Craven with a Scream session feat. Skeet Ulrich, Lee Waddell, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Dermot Mulroney.

Closing out the weekend is the one and only Cassandra Peterson! For the final hour, hosts Shelby Novak and Michael Roffman will revisit the icon’s inimitable career as she laid it out in her excellent 2021 biography: Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark.

Consult the full schedule below.

The weekend will also host a can’t-miss Lost Boys reunion (Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Alex Winter, Billy Wirth, and Chance Michael Corbitt); Evil Dead stars Jane Levy, Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago; Back to the Future buds Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson; Henry Winkler, Linda Blair, and much more.

It all goes down in less than two weeks — from Friday, January 30th to Sunday, February 1st — at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California. Tickets are selling out fast — in fact, all VIP passes are sold and off the table — so secure your passes ASAP before it’s too late. After all, you don’t want to miss the first real horror event of the year!

Get your tickets now!

The post Creep I.E. Con Returns: Bloody Disgusting Hosting Panels with Cassandra Peterson, Ted Raimi, and ‘Elm Street’/’Scream’ Stars appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Elvira also just launched her own gin with As Above So Below Distillery, and she’s joined forces with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group for this year’s Los Angeles Haunted Hayride.

It would seem Elvira isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but Peterson suggests in a new chat with PEOPLE this week that her days of actually donning the costume may be behind her.

“I kind of cut it off,” Peterson explains. There gets to a point where nobody’s going to want to see a really old Elvira.” She jokes, “two big reasons that are really a lot lower these days.”

“There comes a point when you want to get out at the top of your game like Muhammad Ali,” Peterson adds. “Don’t just keep going until people are going, ‘Oh, that poor woman.’ I don’t want to run her into the ground. But yeah, nobody wants to see an 80-year-old Elvira.”

Cassandra Peterson most recently played Elvira on screen for a Halloween episode of “The Goldbergs,” and she’s expressed interest in recent years in bringing the character back to the big screen for a new movie. One thing we’ve learned? Never say never…

The post Cassandra Peterson Says Her Days as Elvira May Be Over appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Hand crafted in Santa Fe New Mexico, the 82-proof artisanal gin is a bewitching blend of autumnal botanicals befitting the Mistress of the Dark.

Delivering a hauntingly smooth flavor profile with a spine-tingling finish, the spirit features juniper, black cardamom, allspice, mugwort, and sage.

Limited edition 750 ml bottles are available for $42.99.

Elvira herself, Cassandra Peterson, recently published the children’s book Elvira’s First Book of Monsters and will release Elvira’s Cookbook from Hell on October 7.

The queen of Halloween has also partnered with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group for this year’s Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, which runs select nights between September 19 and November 2.

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The post Elvira Releases Autumnal Gin with As Above So Below Distillery appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Written by Peterson with Kim Laidlaw (The Rocky Horror Cookbook, The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Cookbook & Entertaining Guide) and featuring photography by Eva Kolenko, the 224-page cookbook releases on October 7 via Grand Central Publishing.

The Martha Stewart of the Macabre delivers the definitive guide to horrifying hosting all year round, from a Beastly Bloody Brunch to a Romantic Graveside Picnic to a Creepy Cocktail Party to Having Your Friends for Dinner.

In addition to wickedly delicious recipes, Elvira’s Cookbook from Hell reveals the Mistress of the Dark’s secrets for the ultimate in goth gatherings, gruesome gourmet meals, killer cocktails, terrifying tablescapes, and funereal floral arrangements.

“Shock your fiends with sinister snacks, demonically delicious dishes, and cocktails so wickedly good they’ll make your head spin! But this isn’t just a cookbook—think of it as your Necronomicon of party planning. Between these pages lies everything you’ll need to make your next get-together a graveyard smash!”

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The post Watch Elvira Prepare Devilish Spider Eggs from Her Upcoming Cookbook appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Priced at $9.99, the 24-page board book will be published on July 29 via ‎ Running Press Kids.

Elvira is on a mission to introduce her favorite classic monster friends—a vampire, a zombie, a witch, a ghost, and more—to darlings young and old alike in the frightfully fun book.

Written by Elvira herself, Cassandra Peterson, and illustrated by Pintachan, it features glow-in-the-dark highlights on the cover.

Peterson is also publishing Elvira’s Cookbook from Hell: Sexy, Spooky Soirées and Celebrations for Every Occasion on October 7.

The post ‘Elvira’s First Book of Monsters’ Will Teach Kids About Classic Creatures in July appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The beloved pop culture icons are set to crossover in a comic book series from DC, Dynamite Entertainment, and Queen B Productions.

“Recently I’ve gotten the chance to have my Elvira character crossover with some other icons of horror and even personal friends of mine, like H.P. Lovecraft and Vincent Price,” shared Cassandra Peterson, the voice and visage behind Eliva. “My fiendish fans may recall that my entry to comics was with DC, and it’s exciting to be working with them again, and with one of their most revered characters.”

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiott, who wrote for Harley Quinn from 2013 to 2018, will pen the comic in which the Mistress of the Dark teams up with the Cupid of Crime.

“What do you get when you slam a Maid of Mischief and a Mistress of the Dark together?” asked Conner. “Sheer chaos, escapades and fun! Holee pandemolee, who wouldn’t wanna see the vivacious Elvira and the hijinky Harley Quinn get together for a bunch of wisecracking and clowning around? And a bit of naughtiness. Okay. Maybe a lot. I can’t wait to work on this book!”

Palmiotti added, “We are super excited to not only revisit our lovely Harley Quinn and her gang in Coney Island, but it seems like a match made in heaven… or hell, having the ever stunning Elvira, Mistress of the Dark along for the ride in this team-up to end all team-ups. We are talking icons here! This is one of those circumstances where the characters have so much in common that the books almost write themselves. The trouble these two are going to be getting in will be epic!”

More details on the story, creative team, and release will be shared soon.

The post Elvira Will Meet Harley Quinn in Crossover Comic from DC & Dynamite appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

We spent July discussing gender in a myriad of ways: cross-dressing serial killers in Insidious: Chapter 2 and Psycho, as well as trans representation in Escape Room: Tournament of Champions. To keep things in theme, we’re closing out the month with a look at Joshua Grannell‘s (aka drag queen Peaches Christ‘s) 2010 horror comedy All About Evil, which is currently streaming on Shudder!

All About Evil sees an unhinged theatre owner named Deborah (Natasha Lyonne) begin making snuff films and screening them at her decrepit San Francisco theater — presenting them as fictional works — in order to prevent the theater from going bankrupt. Unfortunately for Deborah, her biggest fan (Thomas Dekker) catches on to her scheme and tries to stop her before her antics get his mother (Cassandra Peterson) killed.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, and RSS.

Episode 240: All About Evil (2010) feat. Jesse Krempel

Don’t piss yourself while you stuff the corpses in the attic because we’re having a gay old time discussing show business (the business of show) in Joshua Grannell’s/Peaches Christ’s 2010 horror comedy All About Evil. Joining us for the discussion is Jesse Krempel, the host of the Cult Cinema Circle podcast!

Join us as we revisit this campy gem that was very difficult to find until recently. We heap all of the praise on Natasha Lyonne’s absolutely unhinged lead performance, while commending Grannell on his filmmaking craft.

Plus: Elvira out of drag, punny film titles, lots of Thomas Dekker worship, and wondering whether or not Trace knows the word “exorbitant.”

Cross out All About Evil!

Coming up on Wednesday: We’re traveling back to 1978 to discuss the John Carpenter co-written American giallo film Eyes of Laura Mars!

P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for nearly 257 hours of additional content! This month we’re discussing horror tropes that gotta go, as well as episodes on Meg 2: The Trench,  Talk to Me, and The Last Voyage of the Demeter. And to tie in with that last one, our audio commentary for the month will be on Bram Stoker’s Dracula (the Coppola one).

The post The Campy Antics of ‘All About Evil’ [Horror Queers Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

We’ve spent spooky season checking in with an infamous psychopathic bisexual, revisiting a horrendous slasher sequel and heaping all the praise on one of the best genre films of the 2010s. Now, we’re celebrating Halloween by heading to the quaint, puritanical town of Fallwell to hang with Elvira in James Signorelli‘s camp classic Elvira: Mistress of the Dark!

In the film, horror movie hostess Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) quits her job and plans to open a show in Las Vegas. The only problem is she needs $50,000 to finance it! Luckily(?) for Elvira, her dear Aunt Morgana has taken a turn for the worse and…died, leaving Elvira her house, her dog and her recipe book. But when Elvira heads to the town of Fallwell in an attempt to sell the house, she learns that the town’s puritanical residents, led by the overly prudish Chastity Pariah (Edie McClurg), don’t take kindly to her “indecent” ways.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.

Episode 201: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)

Happy Halloween, everyone! Load up your leopard-print convertible because we’re heading to the good, decent town of Fallwell, Massachusetts to appraise Aunt Morgana’s house, book and dog in 1988’s tit-filled camp classic Elvira: Mistress of the Dark! Joining us for this delightful conversation is two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon!

Join us as we give an Elvira primer before discussing the origins of Mistress of the Dark and diving into its botched release that all but assured we’d never get an Elvira sitcom (where the fuck was Fox???). But hey, at least she’s not just a great set of boobs. She’s also an incredible pair of legs!

Plus, evil Russian wizards, magical rings, demonic dogs, babies born with makeup, penis snakes and the joys of a queer, feminist icon who owns her sexuality. Déjà Vu!

Cross out Elvira: Mistress of the Dark!

Coming up on Wednesday: Spooky season is over so we’re kicking off November with Jennifer Reeder’s 2019 hypnotic fever dream of a film: Knives and Skin.

P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for more than 200 hours of additional content! This month, we’ve got episodes on the film adaptation of My Best Friend’s Exorcism, Disney’s legacy sequel Hocus Pocus 2, Hulu’s Hellraiser reboot, the final(?) entry in David Gordon Green’s Halloween series Halloween Ends, and an audio commentary on Gore Verbinski’s The Ring, just in time for its 20th anniversary!

The post The Horror Queers Chat ‘Elvira: Mistress of the Dark’ With Special Guest Jinkx Monsoon! [Horror Queers Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This four-week one-of-a-kind global collaboration between NECA and Target Corporation begins tomorrow, March 18th, and will be available at Target and Target.com within the US and internationally at Haulathon.com. New products will be available to purchase online every Friday at 8:00 am CST.

One of the coolest Haulathon exclusives is the inclusion of NECA’s highly anticipated “Elvira Mistress of the Dark” action figure, which celebrates the character’s 40th anniversary. A limited “Signature Edition” can be found in select packages scattered across the United States, making the rare collectibles the ultimate find for pop culture treasure hunters!

Bloody Disgusting not only has your first-ever look at the “Signature Edition” of the “Elvira Mistress of the Dark” action figure, but our Boo Crew Podcast has also caught up with the icon herself, Cassandra Peterson, to talk about this awesome new collectible!

“What it means for me is a dream come true,” Peterson tells The Boo Crew. “I’ve had a couple of other stabs at an action figure and they were really bad [laughs]. The first one looks like the most frightening nightmare-looking monster I have ever seen. I did not okay that one – I just want everyone to know that,” she jokes. “This one is like my freaking dream action figure of all time. I knew that NECA did fantastic work…and I think they knocked this one out of the park… I’m really, really happy with it.”

Fans will be ecstatic to know that Peterson was intimately involved in the development process.

“[The figure is] based mostly on photos we gave them [and] different poses with the face I really liked – in particular, the winking shot,” she explains. “…the fact that Elvira is winking and looking kind of smart ass like she does… I think that really, really works more than a normal straightforward face. I had a lot of input!

She adds: “My favorite detail on it is that it has my little tiny belt, which almost looks like leather…and then it has a teenie tiny gold dagger just like the dagger I wear to keep the belt together.”

As Peterson alluded to, the figure includes two heads, regular and winking, as well as a handful of accessories including a dagger, goblet, and skull candle.

Wearing a cloth outfit, this is one of the very best Elvira figures we’ve seen to date, with both of the head sculpts perfectly capturing Peterson in all of her iconic glory.

There are two Elvira figures for sale celebrating 40 years of Elvira:

• Elvira – 8” Clothed Action Figure – Standard Edition – Price $34.99: Available to purchase at the start of Haulathon on 3/18 in Target stores only. It will be available to purchase online at Haulathon.com and Target.com starting 4/8.

• Elvira – 8” Clothed Figure – Signature Edition Elvira (Autographed) – Price $99.99: Available to purchase at the start of Haulathon on 3/18 in Target stores only. It will be available to purchase online at Haulathon.com and Target.com starting 4/1.

The post Elvira Talks NECA’s New Action Figure and Shares First Look at the Signature Edition! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Zombie writes on Instagram, “Straight from the set of THE MUNSTERS is your first look at Barbara Carr, the #1 real estate agent in all of Mockingbird Heights. Barbara is played by none other the CASSANDRA PETERSON @therealelvira. Yes, the Mistress of the Dark has joined the cast of THE MUNSTERS. Stay tuned for more exciting news to come.”

Peterson is of course the actor behind the iconic Elvira character, and it only makes sense that Zombie and the “Mistress of the Dark” are finally working together. We love to see it.

Meet Cassandra Peterson’s Munsters character below!

Jeff Daniel Phillips is playing Herman Munster and Sheri Moon Zombie is playing Lily Munster in Zombie’s movie, with Daniel Roebuck co-starring as Grandpa Munster.

Richard Brake (31, 3 from Hell) is playing Dr. Henry Augustus Wolfgang. Catherine Schell (“Space: 1999,” The Return of the Pink Panther) is playing “Zoya Krupp the gypsy queen.”

“Lost” actor Jorge Garcia is playing new character Floop, described by Zombie as “Dr. Wolfgang’s hunchback assistant and Herman Munster’s best buddy.”

Zombie is directing the film for Universal Home Entertainment, and it’s possible that The Munsters may end up being a Peacock exclusive. That last bit has not been confirmed.

Click here for more behind the scenes images from the production.

If you want to revisit the original series, “The Munsters” is streaming on Peacock. That series ran for just two seasons between 1964 and 1966, spawning several feature films and a sequel television series titled “The Munsters Today” (1988 – 1991). Most recently, Bryan Fuller’s “Mockingbird Lane” reimagined the series for NBC, but never made it past a pilot episode.

 

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The post Rob Zombie Shares First Look at Cassandra Peterson in ‘The Munsters’ Movie! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This four-week one-of-a-kind global collaboration between NECA and Target Corporation begins March 18 and will be available at Target and Target.com within the US and internationally at Haulathon.com. New products will be available to purchase online every Friday at 8:00 am CST.

Haulathon product includes figures and merchandise featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Back to the Future, Gargoyles, Hello Kitty, Elvira, Universal Monsters, Evil Dead, Bob Ross, Gremlins, and more.

Another Haulathon exclusive are signed variants by Howie Mandel for Gremlins, Cassandra Peterson for Elvira, Ru Paul for Chia Pet and Kevin Eastman for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Only found in select packages scattered across the United States, these rare collectibles are the ultimate find for pop culture treasure hunters!

Paired with the pop culture icons that helped inspire their creation, celebrities promoting the month-long Haulathon event include Kevin Eastman, (co-creator Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), Howie Mandel (Gizmo from Gremlins), and Paul Fusco (Alf). Panel events featuring talent will be held each week and will stream exclusively on Haulathon’s social media accounts and Haulathon.com.

NECA’s Elvira was revealed last October.

At the time, NECA wrote: “The devilishly delightful Cassandra Peterson has played the part of Elvira for 40 years with grace, humor and more than a little camp. NECA is proud to present this fiendishly fantastic figure.”

The figure includes two heads, regular and winking, as well as a handful of accessories including a dagger, goblet, and skull candle.

Wearing a cloth outfit, this is one of the very best Elvira figures we’ve seen to date, with both of the head sculpts perfectly capturing Peterson in all of her iconic glory.

The post NECA x Target Reveal Haulathon Event; Chase “Signed” Elvira Variant! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The book is titled Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark!

Here’s the official synopsis for the 272-page book…

The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story, filled with intimate bombshells, told by the bombshell herself. 

On Good Friday in 1953, at only 18 months old, 25 miles from the nearest hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, Cassandra Peterson reached for a pot on the stove and doused herself in boiling water. Third-degree burns covered 35% of her body, and the prognosis wasn’t good. But she survived. Burned and scarred, the impact stayed with her and became an obstacle she was determined to overcome. Feeling like a misfit led to her love of horror. While her sisters played with Barbie dolls, Cassandra played with model kits of Frankenstein and Dracula, and idolized Vincent Price.

Due to a complicated relationship with her mother, Cassandra left home at 14, and by age 17 she was performing at the famed Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. Run-ins with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tom Jones helped her grow up fast. Then a chance encounter with her idol Elvis Presley, changed the course of her life forever, and led her to Europe where she worked in film and traveled Italy as lead singer of an Italian pop band. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she joined the famed comedy improv troupe, The Groundlings, and worked alongside Phil Hartman and Paul “Pee-wee” Reubens, honing her comedic skills.

Nearing age 30, a struggling actress considered past her prime, she auditioned at local LA channel KHJ as hostess for the late night vintage horror movies. Cassandra improvised, made the role her own, and got the job on the spot. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is an unforgettably wild memoir. Cassandra doesn’t shy away from revealing exactly who she is and how she overcame seemingly insurmountable odds. Always original and sometimes outrageous, her story is loaded with twists, travails, revelry, and downright shocking experiences. It is the candid, often funny, and sometimes heart-breaking tale of a Midwest farm girl’s long strange trip to become the world’s sexiest, sassiest Halloween icon.

Grab your copy of the hardcover book from Amazon today!

Visit http://elvirabook.com for a list of retailers & Live Signing events.

The post “Yours Cruelly, Elvira”: Cassandra Peterson’s Official Autobiography is Now Available! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“I’m busier than ever writing away on my autobiography,” Peterson revealed. “I now have a DEAD-line from my publishers so no more messing around.”

“My book is due at the end of February so we can have a Halloween 2020 release!”

As for *this* Halloween, Peterson will appear at October’s Salem Horror Fest as Elvira!

The post Elvira’s Autobiography Set for Release During the 2020 Halloween Season appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here’s the full rundown of activities Elvira fans can participate in…

Pro Photo Opp with Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Friday, October 11, 7pm – 11pm
* One photo can include two adults and children under 15.
* Additional photos or people require an additional ticket.

Autograph Signing + Selfies
Saturday, October 12, 10am – 5pm

Tea Time with Cassandra Peterson
Sunday, October 13, 10am – 1pm

Autograph Signing + Selfies
Sunday, October 13, 2pm – 5pm

This year’s Salem Horror Fest will kick off on Thursday, October 3, running through Sunday, October 13, 2019! Head over to the official website to grab tickets and learn more.

The post Cassandra Peterson is Returning to This Year’s Salem Horror Fest… as Elvira This Time! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The original run of Elvira’s Movie Macabre started in September of 1981 and ran for five seasons, launching the B-movie queen to pop culture icon status in short order. The first horror host to be syndicated nationally, Elvira’s off-beat sense of humor, quick wit, and Valley girl persona complemented the B-horror movies featured in the episodes well. While she’d continue on to reign as the Queen of Halloween for decades with multiple movies, books, shows, music CDs, and more, Elvira eventually returned to Elvira’s Movie Macabre for a revival in September of 2010. This time the films chosen were in public domain.

December’s sole episode in this revival brought with it a holiday treat co-written by Elvira’s creator herself, Cassandra Peterson. The film at the center of the episode was the schlocky 1964 sci-fi comedy Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, a repeat offender on “worst movies ever made lists.” The plot saw Santa Claus getting kidnapped by Martians so he could give their kids presents, and it was the precise type of wacky that made for great fodder for Elvira. But what really made this episode special was the animated short film that served as an intro, an homage to classic Claymation Christmas specials. Just with a gothic, Mistress of the Dark kind of twist.

In it, Elvira wades through snow, axe in hand, in search of the perfect tree. She just keeps getting interrupted by ghoulish friends before completing her mission. By the time Santa Claus arrives, poor Elvira’s had one scare too many. The best part about this animated short, titled “Elvira’s Very Scary X-Man,” is that it’s a Chiodo Bros. Production! Directed by Stephen Chiodo and produced by Edward Chiodo, two-thirds of the sibling special effects artists behind films like Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Critters, this short outshines the feature length film attached. Watch it below.

The post Remember When Elvira Killed Santa in ‘Elvira’s Very Scary X-Mas’?! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

During the chat, wherein Peterson damn sure proved she’s still as entertaining and charming as ever, the legendary actress dropped a pretty big bombshell about the future of Elvira. As it turns out, thirty years after her debut movie came out, another one may soon be on the way!

Peterson told us in Salem this past Thursday night that she has written a treatment for a brand new Elvira movie, noting that it wouldn’t play in theaters but rather would (if it happens) be found on one of the top streaming services. Peterson mentioned services like Netflix, Hulu and Shudder, revealing that she’s begun shopping the treatment around.

Mind you, this is one of those “hey, it could happen!” sort of projects rather than one that definitely *is* happening, but now would seem to be the perfect time to bring Elvira back. After all, Shudder recently brought back fellow horror host Joe Bob Briggs, a return that proved so successful that Briggs will be regularly returning to Shudder in the coming months.

If Peterson’s treatment is good, we can’t imagine Shudder (or even Netflix or Hulu) passing on the opportunity to be the official home of Elvira’s return. So keep those fingers crossed!

The post [Salem Horror Fest] Cassandra Peterson Has Written a Treatment for a Brand New Elvira Movie She’s Shopping Around appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark has been restored for this special Blu-ray release. Limited to just 3,000 copies, this strictly limited Dual-Format 3-disc collector’s edition is packed with all-new special features and never-before-seen archive material.

When famed TV horror hostess Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) quits her job after being sexually harassed by the station’s new owner, she forms a plan to start her own show in the heart of Las Vegas. Upon learning that her great aunt Morgana has passed away, Elvira travels to the town of Falwell to claim her inheritance, only to soon find herself stranded in town when her Macabre Mobile’s engine blows up. Once the stuffy locals get an eyeful of the scream queen’s ample assets, all hell busts loose! Will she become Las Vegas’ next big dance sensation or will she get burned alive at the stake?

The 3-disc mediabook packaging is available with a choice of three variant front-cover designs: the original theatrical artwork, the promotional press-kit artwork, and an all-new commissioned retro-inspired piece by German horror director Andreas Marschall. Special metal foil printing on all three artworks is also present and each numbered set is certified by a holographic sticker. Each variant is limited to just 1,000 units.

The bilingual 60-page bound-in fully illustrated booklet features English texts by Sam Irvin and Patterson Lundquist, along with never-before-seen production stills and dazzling international artwork. This material will only be featured as part of the exclusive edition.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark was scanned from the original interpositive print at Deluxe in Burbank CA, using the Lasergraphics Director 4K film scanner.

LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION CONTENTS:

• All-Region High-Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD (PAL-only) presentations
• Original English stereo & 5.1 option audio and original German audio (DTS-HD MA Blu-ray only)
• Optional English and German subtitles
• 60-page illustrated booklet (30 pages English text / 30 pages German translation)
• Three front-cover variant artworks, each version limited to 1000 copies

BLU-RAY ONLY SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Exclusive introduction to the main-feature by director James Signorelli
• 2012 Audio Commentary directed by Sam Irvin with stars Cassandra Peterson, Edie McClurg and John Paragon;
• All-new exclusive 2016 Audio Commentary with director James Signorelli, produced and hosted by Fangoria Editor Emeritus Tony Timpone*
• All-new exclusive 2016 Audio Commentary with elviramistressofthedark.com webmaster Patterson Lundquist
• Too Macabre – The Making of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark: A brand-new feature-length documentary (100 mins) with Cassandra Peterson and actors W. Morgan Sheppard, Daniel Greene, Susan Kellermann, Kurt Fuller, Ira Heiden, Kris Kamm, stand-in Susan McNabb, and writer/actor John Paragon. On the production side, the doc highlights director James Signorelli, producer Eric Gardner, writer Sam Egan, public relations specialist Tony Angellotti, FX team members Steve LaPorte, Mark Bryan Wilson, and Yancy Calzada, as well as visual effects illustrator Larry Nikolai. Together, the 17 craftspeople interviewed share their memories on the making of the movie, as well as providing hilarious anecdotes.*
• Recipe for Terror – The Creation of the Pot Monster: Featurette starring the film’s special effects team, who discuss the development of the film’s memorable monster, from its early draft stage to its remarkable final design.*
• 2012 archive interview with Cassandra Peterson
• 3 never-before released behind-the-scenes clips from 1987:
• Mark Pierson on the Macabre Mobile
• Set-Tour with producer Eric Gardner
• Eric Gardner on preproduction of Elvira, MOTD
• Bally Pinball Video Tours: Elvira and the Party Monsters and Scared Stiff
• Exclusive HD remastered versions of the original theatrical Trailer & Teaser, as well as HD reconstructed US Trailer 2, Teaser 2, US TV Spot, German & French Trailer
• 7 never-before-seen original storyboard sequences
• Original US Press-Kit
• Original Script
• International Promotional Materials and Stills Gallery

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Ever since the second season of AMC’s hit zombie series premiered, companion show “Talking Dead” has provided a post-show insight into each and every episode. Along with special guests, host Chris Hardwick digs deep into the things that go down every week, and guests have to date included both stars of the show and fans like Kevin Smith, Marilyn Manson, and CM Punk.

On tonight’s “Talking Dead,” Hardwick will be joined by Cassandra Peterson, who is of course known and beloved for playing horror hostess Elvira. Peterson, who we assume won’t be in character as Elvira, will sit on the couch alongside comedian Jonah Ray and “The Walking Dead” star Alanna Masterson (Tara Chambler). As always, the episode will air at 10pm EST on AMC.

Don’t miss it!

In tonight’s episode of “The Walking Dead”:

Away from all the tragedy caused by Negan and his Saviors, Tara and Heath run into trouble after crossing paths with a mysterious new group.

The post Elvira Talks “The Walking Dead” on Tonight’s Episode of “Talking Dead”! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take a few minutes of Peterson’s time to chat about Halloween, horror, and some other fun and spooky topics. Hope you enjoy!

If you were to curate your own Movie Macabre of films that came out in the last 10 or so years, which titles would really stand out for you?

Oh god! Well, I like the ‘Paranormal Activity’ movies, although I think the first one is the best. I also really liked ‘Shaun of the Dead’! I was also a big fan of ‘Deathgasm’ and ‘Housebound’. I like when horror movies have some sort of humor in them. I like the rollercoaster of funny then scary and back and forth.

We know that Elvira loves Halloween but does Cassandra Peterson have the same level of passion for the spookiest of holidays? What’s Halloween like for Cassandra at your house?

Well, first of all, I grew up with my family celebrating Halloween as the biggest holiday, which was kind of bizarre back in the lat 50’s and early 60’s. Halloween wasn’t as big of a deal. It was just kids going out to trick or treat. But the reason that it was so big in my house was that my mother and my aunt owned a costume shop. So, from the time I was in second grade, I was the “costume dressing up-ist freak” you ever met! I was SO into Halloween! And I was the luckiest kid in the neighborhood because my aunt and mom would show me the most awesome costume of whatever was the most popular TV show that was on, like Miss Kitty from “Gunsmoke”, which I wore and entered a contest and won a $500 gift certificate. Later on, it was “I Dream of Jeannie” and Ginger from “Gilligan’s Island”.

So, my mom and my aunt would show me these awesome costumes while all the other kids were wearing these really dopey plastic packaged jobs from Sears. So I was the “Queen of Costumes”! People were always wondering what I was going to be wearing, you know? So, no, this started for me with Halloween being the biggest deal in the world. It continued to be my whole life. I would start putting my Halloween costume together in, oh god, Spring! I was born and raised on Halloween!

Can you tell us what you’ll be wearing this Halloween or is that a surprise?

Oh no, I can tell you right now what I’ll be wearing! I’ll be wearing “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark”! [laughs] It’s the only Halloween costume I’ve worn in 35 years! I never get to wear anything else because I always, always, always work on Halloween and I’ve never had a Halloween where I didn’t have a job. So, it’s my only costume. I always talk about if I could just wear something else for a change. I had a fantasy about it on one of my recent Movie Macabre shows where I was dreaming and I saw myself dressed as a nun, dressed in a burqa, dressed in a mumu with flip flops… Something more comfortable! [laughs]

It’s wonderful to hear that your passion for Halloween hasn’t abated after all these years!

Oh yeah! And besides that, because of Halloween connection, I got really into building the Aurora model kits of Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolfman, all that. I was just so into the horror genre. For me, it was all about Halloween, the spooky, the scary. When horror movies that I was allowed to go see, usually with Vincent Price, I was the the one sitting in the front row. I’ve been into it since I was seven or right years old.

What are some of the most entertaining horror characters that stand out for you?

Vincent Price was my number one idol. I was cutting out pictures of him and putting them on my wall. So his characters, like Dr. Phibes, or anyone that he played in the Roger Corman films that were loosely based on Edgar Allen Poe… Oh! I was a huge Poe fan, too! I had poems and books of Poe.

I did like the Universal characters. I loved the Mummy and the Invisible Man I thought was amazing and, of course, I loved Bela Lugosi’s Dracula. I was raised on the classic movie monsters. Those are the ones I still associate with Halloween and “scary”. I like the whole nostalgia throwback thing.

They all have a charm and elegance to them that I feel like we haven’t seen in horror in a while.

Yeah, there are some great characters that are lasting like Freddy and Jason, but I don’t think they’re as much fun because they’re a little hardcore. They’re great, don’t get me wrong! I love them! But for me? I like the classic horror.

It’s wonderful that you mentioned how Vincent Price was a big idol for you. Do you think there’s anyone today that could take up that kind of mantle?

Wow! Oh man, that’s a tough one! This is like taking a test! [laughs]

I can of looked for that person when I made ‘Haunted Hills’. The character I had in mind for the villain was Vincent Price, period. We were looking at other actors, like Richard Chamberlain, who has an elegant style but isn’t known for horror movies, so I thought he’d make a great choice. Also, believe it or not, Mick Jagger. And then we ended up with Richard O’Brien and I have to say that he ended up being the perfect pick. I wouldn’t really compare him to Vincent Price but he had that whole vibe down. He was elegant, he was English, although Vincent wasn’t English, and I think Richard and I really captured that feeling.

I don’t know if I can think of anyone else that could compare to Vincent Price. I love Bruce Campbell but it’s not the same vibe.

What about you? Do you have anyone you can think of?

Well, I asked the same question on Twitter recently and Stuart Gordon replied that Jeffrey Combs of ‘Re-Animator’ already has taken up that mantle.

Yeah, that’s a great suggestion! He does have that kind of vibe. That is a good one, yeah! He’s such a hard one to replace. He was so unique.

I actually not only met him but we became pretty good friends. He was such a wonderful guy. So funny and delightful and so interesting! I could sit and listen to him talk for hours without getting bored or talking back. So, his loss to me was kind of a double whammy. The loss of an actor and the loss of a friend.

His last performance in ‘Edward Scissorhands’ was just so perfect, so beautiful. What a perfect movie for him to go out on. He played this mad scientist but gentle kind man.

He played a mad scientist with the best of intentions, man with a good heart.

Absolutely.

What’s coming up for both you and Elvira?

Well, right now I’m involved with doing my show at Knott’s Berry Farm, which is the largest Halloween venue in the country. The show this year is called “Elvira’s Asylum”, which features singing, comedy, and dancing. So I’m performing four to five nights every week until the 31st. After that, I have Comikaze, which I’m involved in.

And I have a television show that I’m going to be on called “Halloween Wars” on the Food Network and it’s really funny. It has some of the best people in the business when it comes to horror and Halloween. It’s a contest for them to build scenery and food. It’s really awesome and I’m happy to be a judge on that and it’s completely fitting with my appearance.

I also just went to Vegas for the unveiling of my slot machine, which is a pretty freaking state-of-the-art awesome slot machine. It’s going to also entail clips of classic horror films in the slot machine when you hit a bonus. So you’ll see a clip with me commenting on it, which I think is just so awesome!

I’m not a gambler at all…

Neither am I.

…But that might get me to spend a few dollars! [laughs]

I know, right?! I think people are going to come out of the woodwork to play this thing. It’s 10ft tall and it’s just awesome. You can’t imagine. I’ve never seen anything like that.

Sounds like you’re going nonstop!

I definitely am!

Well, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me! It’s been a pleasure and an honor!

Thank you!

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