With Bloody Disgusting’s 25th anniversary on the horizon next year, we want YOU to help us imagine the first ever BD-backed horror convention featuring immersive experiences, never-before-seen guests & reunions, and exclusive moments that will make it a can’t-miss event.

We know that everyone who reads BD has an extreme passion for horror—whether through films, podcasts, collectibles, or immersive experiences—and we want to hear from YOU.

We’re exploring the idea of creating a convention that embodies the scale and excitement of a LeftField Media convention, but is entirely dedicated to the horror fandom that Bloody Disgusting has existed to serve on a daily basis for the past 25 years and into the future.

Your input will help us understand what you love most about horror cons, what elements excite you most, and how we can build something unforgettable for horror fans everywhere.

Take the survey now and help us build the ultimate horror con together!

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Brett Wagner, who donned the Leatherface in the 2003 version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre before suffering from heat stroke during the production, will also be among the celebrity guests. Dubbed “The Lost Leatherface,” he dawned the iconic flesh mask as he claimed the remake’s first victim, played by Eric Balfour.

“We were filming the summer months in Austin,” Wagner explains. “It was so hot. I felt it coming. I hit the ground.” He returned to finish the scene after rehydrating, but he describes the effects of the injury as “the most pain I’ve ever been in in my life.” Unable to wait for his full recovery, the production hired Andrew Bryniarski to replace him.

“I’m Leatherface for a week, as I like to say, but I still got the first kill in the movie!” As a fan who pursued the role, Wagner admits to being “embarrassed” about the situation for many years. He even purged his Texas Chain Saw collection, although he has since reconciled with his part in the Leatherface legacy and is bringing his own collectibles to get signed at Creep I.E.

Creep I.E. Con will also host a Scream reunion with stars Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, and Lee Waddell, who was the first to don the iconic Ghostface mask.

Waddell first worked with director Wes Craven on A Nightmare on Elm Street when his mentor, stunt coordinator Anthony Cecere, hired him as a stunt performer. When Cecere reunited with Craven on Scream, he entrusted Waddell to play the killer opposite Drew Barrymore, with whom Waddell had previously worked.

“Wes knew me, Tony knew me, Drew knew me, so it was a real nice fit,” Waddell explains. “Back then, I’m just a working stunt guy, so I’m like, ‘Yeah, cool. Let’s do a little bit of stunting, a little bit of acting.’ Now, here we are over 25 years later!”

Waddell is relatively new to the convention circuit, but the Scream team welcomed him with open arms. “They all took me under their wing and showed me the ropes,” Waddell adds. “Every time we do a con together, it’s just a big love fest. We have a lot of laughs and a lot of fun. We have a great time interacting with each other and the fans.”

Wagner cites Felissa Rose, Bill Moseley, and Doug Jones as celebrities from whom he learned how to interact with fans. “That’s how I learned to be gracious and humble at conventions. I see how they treat the fans. These conventions are awesome for when you’re not working and to get out there and meet your fanbase. If you’re friendly with someone one day, hopefully they’ll remember when your new movie comes out.”

The I.E. in Creep I.E. Con represents the Inland Empire region of Southern California. It’s a competitive area for conventions, but Waddell asserts that Creep I.E. is already among the biggest and best: “The promoters do a bang-up job. They spoil the guests, they take care of the fans, the price points are good. Usually it takes five-plus years for a convention to get to the status where Creep I.E. is already.”

February’s guest list also features a Sons of Anarchy reunion with Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Theo Rossi, David Labrava, and Emilio Rivera, plus Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth), Dermot Mulroney (Scream VI), Tony Revolori (Scream VI), Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog), Bonnie Aarons (The Nun), 
Dana DeLorenzo (Ash vs Evil Dead), Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day), Christine Elise (Child’s Play 2), and more.

In addition to the celebrities, Creep I.E. hosts over 200 unique vendors. “I go make a couple bucks signing autographs, but then I spend half of it on all the cool vendors.” Wagner chuckles. Additional entertainment includes a haunt experience, arcade gaming, special effects demos by Face Off contestant Eric Fox, horror speed dating, tattoo artists, photo ops, and more.

Beyond Creep I.E., Wagner is excited for Desert Fiends, an indie horror-comedy directed by Shawn C. Phillips (Amityville Karen) in which he appears alongside Eric Roberts, Bai Ling, Tom Arnold, and Scout Taylor-Compton. “I think it’s going to be one of the grossest movies – and I say that in a good way – you’ve seen in the last 20 years.”

Wagner continues, “There’s so much bad in the world. Being able to spend an hour and a half in a movie theater and leave all your worries behind and get your adrenaline pumping, it’s a good thing, especially nowadays. These directors and writers are so creative, you want to see what the next thing is. I’m excited for that. Horror is a genre that’s never going to go away.”

While Waddell has retired from stunt work, he stepped back in front of the camera last year for a bit part in The Night Butcher Volume 2. “It was so refreshing. It was small, ultra-low budget, but it was a blast. To have this kind of fun, stripped-down filmmaking experience took me back to film school again. I enjoyed that experience so much that I’m gonna probably try to pursue more acting.”

Until then, he’s excited to meet fans at Creep I.E. “It’s just full-throttle fun for three days,” Waddell says. “From the fan’s side of the table, and even mine – because you’ve gotta remember I’m still a horror fan! – it’s a great show. To be able to go and see some of these iconic celebrities and other stuff, how cool is that?”

Creep I.E. Con takes place February 2-4 at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California. Tickets are available now.

The post Creep I.E. Con Returns With Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Scream Reunions appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Flashback is one of the longest running horror conventions in Illinois and they’re really packing a helluva punch this year with a Nightmare on Elm Street reunion and a special screening of the 4k restoration of Dario Argento’s classic Suspiria. Lance Henriksen and Sean Patrick Flannery are just some of the other incredible genre guests in attendance.

* Pine Devil (David Romero)
* Misunderstanding (Dan Frantz & Alex Wiggins)
* Mother (Jacob Regul)
* Nightlight (Jeff Sanders)
* Psychedelia (Bryan Wolford)
* Testement (Gigi Saul Guerrero)
* Valiant Monster Hunters (Matt Kollar)
* Moo (Drew Pientka & Jesse Hibbs)
* Mescaline (Marc Schießer)
* Marshmallow (Jimmy Pettigrew)
* Black Lullaby (Joshua Hoffine)
* Sequence of Death (Tomaz Gorkic)
* Marmalade (Gus Krieger)
* Invaders (Jason Kupfer)

For more info, visit Flashback’s website HERE.

Hope to see everyone there!

The post “World of Death” at Chicago’s Flashback Weekend! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Get your tickets for Flashback Weekend here – http://www.flashbackweekend.com/tickets.html

For a full schedule of events check here – http://www.flashbackweekend.com/schedule.html

Flashback Weekend 2013
Chicago Horror Convention
August 9-11, 2013
Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare
5440 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018

Special film screenings include a 35mm 45th anniversary screening of the original “NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD” introduced by George A. Romero, “PET SEMATARY” introduced by Mary Lambert and the cast, and the World Premiere of the unseen Pulsepounders “TRANCERS” sequel “TRANCERS 1.5 CITY OF ANGELS” (1988) starring Tim Thomerson and Helen Hunt. Director Charles Band will be introducing the screening, and will have many surprises for the audience.

“DAWN OF THE DEAD” (1979) reunion
David Emge
Ken Foree
Scott H. Reiniger
Gaylen Ross

“PET SEMATARY” reunion
Director Mary Lambert
Dale Midkiff
Denise Crosby
Miko Hughes
Brad Greenquist

Rob Zombie’s “THE LORDS OF SALEM” reunion
Meg Foster “John Carpenter’s THEY LIVE”
Dee Wallace “THE HOWLING, “THE HILLS HAVE EYES” “, “ET”
Patricia Quinn “THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW”
Judy Geeson HAMMER FILMS, “FEAR IN THE NIGHT”, “INSEMINOID”
Bruce Davison “WILLARD”, “X-MEN”, Rob Zombie’s “THE LORDS OF SALEM”
Tom Atkins “John Carpenter’s THE FOG”, “NIGHT OF THE CREEPS”, “HALLOWEEN 3”
Nancy Loomis “John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN”, John Carpenter’s THE FOG”
Betsy Russell “SAW 3-7”, “CHEERLEADER CAMP”, “PRIVATE SCHOOL”
Lisa Marie “ED WOOD, “MARS ATTACKS”, Rob Zombie’s “THE LORDS OF SALEM”
Kim Darby “DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK”, “HALLOWEEN: CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS”
Eileen Dietz “THE EXORCIST”, “EXORCISING MY DEMONS”

Svengoolie
Chicago TV Horror Host legend , “CHILLERAMA: WADZILLA”

SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDING:

The Flashback Weekend costume contest hosted by Svengoolie and the Zombie Pin-up pageant sponsored by Sinister Visions.

Evening film events at the beautiful Muvico Theaters Rosemont 18

Friday August 9, 2013 – “NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD” 45th anniversary screening Introduced by George A. Romero. RARE 35mm print!

Friday August 9, 2013 11:00PM – WORLD PREMIERE – The unseen “TRANCERS” sequel “TRANCERS 1.5: CITY OF ANGELS” (1987)

In 1988, Charles Band directed the anthology film “PULSESPONDERS” which featured the first TRANCERS sequel. “PULSEPOUNDERS” was shot and edited in 1988 before circumstances prevented it from being released. “PULSEPOUNDERS” was thought to be a lost film. For the last 25 years, “TRANCERS” fans have clamored to see the unseen adventures of Jack Deth!

Recently, a “PULSEPOUNDERS” work print was discovered, and will have it’s World Premiere at Flashback Weekend 2013! “TRANCERS 1.5: CITY OF ANGELS” stars Tim Thomerson (Jack Deth), Helen Hunt (Leena), and the rest of the TRANCERS ensemble.

This World Premiere of “TRANCERS 1.5: CITY OF ANGELS” will be introduced by director Charles Band. The evening will also include special unseen footage from the “TRANCERS” set and many surprises, including a special announcement for fans of stop motion animation!

Saturday August 10, 2013 – “PET SEMATARY” Introduced by Mary Lambert, Dale Midkiff, Denise Crosby, Miko Hughes, and Brad Greenquist

Find out more and see all the latest announcements at http://www.flashbackweekend.com

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