As has become the new tradition, MM6 kicked off Thursday night with a meet and greet party that put fans shoulder-to-shoulder with the top names in the creep-out biz. Great food was followed by a live DJ so good he even compelled Kane Hodder to do the Electric Slide. Now there’s something worth the price of admission! This of course was just a warm-up for opening day, when all the insanity really begins.
Across the room, looking as if they wanted to rumble with the LB crew (or at least have a break dance competition), were some of your favorite Dream Warriors from Nightmare on Elm Street 3!
Looking a bit out of place among the collection of our favorite punks, misfits, and high-haired bloodsuckers (and I’m not even talking about team Troma), sat Ernie Hudson (of Ghostbusters fame), smiling away as if it were just another day. With breaks to catch films introduced by cast members of various Friday the 13th installments, your day is pretty much done by now!
Right next to Robert was the man who chewed bubblegum and kicked some ass in They Live: Rowdy Roddie Piper!! Fans tripped over themselves to meet the man in the kilt who came with such autograph combinations as 8×10 photo with piece of chewing gum or 8×10 photo with official They Live glasses. Priceless.
The highlights of Saturday would have to be the panels, including just about every guest on hand, reuniting to talk about fighting Freddy with dream-induced super powers, following Kiefer Sutherland to dinner on the beach, and running from the unstoppable Jason Voorhees — or even just being him! Before one such Friday the 13th panel, the crowd was urged not to ask questions about former hockey mask wearers being replaced by others, as it is just pointless to dredge up such things between obviously friendly, great guys. As it is in every crowd, there had to be one bozo to ignore these wishes.
Sunday offered one last chance to snap up that super collectible and catch stars for a final autograph, so the main signing room was buzzing with action. In this room you could find Ari Lehman (the original Jason Voorhees) alongside Betsy Palmer (Momma V herself) and Erin Gray (Jason chasee and “Buck Rogers” hotty) next to Ken Kirzinger (Freddy vs. Jason).
Of course Dread Central and Action-figure.com were in the middle of it all dishing out more posters than any 50 fans could carry home from films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, The Covenant, Silent Hill, and The Descent. Fans grabbed raffle tickets all day for a chance to snap up one of three episodes of Masters of Horror or Silent Hill on DVD, 12″ figures from Sideshow Toys, and Corpse Bride swag from McFarlane Toys, among the 90 prizes offered up all weekend.
As the show drew to a close on Sunday night, vendors packed up their merch and celebs stopped by to exchange info, making sure we’d keep in touch. The horror fans we knew from shows past joined our boardies who show up at every damn event the world over, and the new people we met all weekend are now counted as our friends. We can’t wait to see you all again and spoil you rotten with the best of the best the world of horror has to offer. See you next time!
Special thanks to Anchor Bay, Sony, New Line, Lionsgate, Universal, Sideshow Toys, SOTA Toys, Mezco Toys, McFarlane Toys, Level 27 Clothing, the creators of Sullengrey, Cara and Dre (our excellent booth crew), and of course Dave Hagan and the gang from Monster Mania. It’s always a great time! Here’s some more photo lovin’ for ya; be sure to visit Monster Mania’s official site for info on the next show!
– Nomad