Spring '09 Chiller Theatre Post-Mortem

Well, internet--I think the unpossible has happened!  I got sucked into attending this past weekend's Chiller Theatre convention in beautiful and scenic Parsippany, NJ, and--you can quote me on this--it was awesome.  Granted, the smell of hotel hot dogs still lingered over the hotel lobby Celebrity Pit, but this time it took on an air of pleasant nostalgia as opposed to the sorta-terrifying desperation I perceived last time I ventured out to ye olde Chiller.  I've gotta give props to the organizers for putting a cap on Saturday ticket sales and not offering at-the-door entry.  From the bottom of my rotten, black heart, I thank you!

Logistical wisdom aside, the offerings inside the con were well above average, with the highlight for this fangirl being the Italian Invasion/"Zombie" 30th Anniversary Reunion room.  This might just be my favorite convention promo art EVER, by-the-by:

One of the great things about the folks who participated in this event is that each of them totally owned his or her legacy.  I find it a little frown-inducing when actors and directors try to distance themselves from the movies that have brought me so much glee, but it was clear that these people were having a blast interacting with fans and being appreciated for their weird and wonderful work.  Zora Kerowa, who you might better recognize as "the woman with hooks through her breasts" in "Cannibal Ferox," wore a smile each and every time I saw her, even as she signed her name across photos of her own FX-riddled body.  She also expanded her vocabulary with the help of "Ultra Violent's" own Art Ettinger, responding with an audible "Ah!" as he explained the word "nunsploitation" to her.  Giovanni Frezza and Silvia Collatina, children at the time of their appearances in the gore classic "House by the Cemetery," seem to have evolved into well-adjusted, extraordinarily pleasant adults. Stuntman and actor  Ottaviano Dell'acqua was clearly digging the attention during the panel presentation, responding with a hearty "BELLISSIMA" when questioned on his experiences as a young actor.

Perhaps my favorite panel moment occurred when a convention guest asked the panel to address whether they felt that horror films today lacked originality.  I found this particularly amusing since earlier questions revolved around "Devil Fish" (a "Jaws" rip-off) and "Zombie" (a "Dawn of the Dead" rip-off)...!  Michael Sopkiw proclaimed with refreshing candor that he felt horror films were just as derivative twenty-five years ago, but that he had lots of fun making them.  And really, at the end of the day--that's what it's all about: having a good goddamn time.

Even so, Luigi Cozzi seemed somewhat baffled at the amount of glee I derive from re-watching "Starcrash."  Baffled, but happy.

Check out more Chiller pix here!

BONUS:  "Ultra Violent" Issue 10, featuring my article on Turkish Exploitation Cinema, is HOT OFF THE PRESSES!  Copies should be available on the website soon:  http://www.uvmagazine.com/