North America’s longest-running horror-themed gathering, Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention, celebrates its 24th year August 1-3 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago in Rosemont. The schedule includes a celebrity guest line-up that features the legendary Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), a series of themed reunions paying tribute to key horror films from the golden age of the 1980s, a modern slasher film series, visionary horror directors, horror innovators, and Chicago-born horror legends.
Flashback Weekend provides horror fans the opportunity to meet these horror legends, get their autographs and take photos with them (some of the guests will be in the makeup/costumes of their iconic characters), hear them discuss their work in professionally moderated horror panels, shop for horror memorabilia in an expansive vendor room, and enjoy after-parties and other horror events throughout the three-day event.
Tickets and a complete schedule of Q&A panels, photo opportunities, and other special events are currently available online here.
The tributes to iconic ’80s horror films include:
- A Nightmare on Elm Street series reunion, with a cast reunion featuring Robert Englund - Freddy Krueger; Ken Kirzinger - Jason in Freddy Vs. Jason; Amanda Wyss - Tina Gray in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); Tuesday Knight - Kristen Parker in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4; and Andras Jones - Rick Johnson in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4. Also a musician, Jones will also take to the stage on Saturday, Aug. 2 for a very special concert performance.
- Re-Animator 40th anniversary reunion (directed by master of horror and iconic Chicago theater director, the late Stuart Gordon), with a cast reunion featuring Jeffrey Combs - Herbert West; Barbara Crampton -Megan Halsey; and Bruce Abbott - Dan Cain.
- The Howling reunion, featuring legendary director Joe Dante, Dee Wallace - Karen White, and Belinda Balaski - Terry Fisher.
The reunions of modern horror slasher icons include:
Terrifier 3 reunion - Meant as a recognition and celebration of the unrated, uncensored Terrifier 3, which played in neighborhood theaters around the country and debuted at number one at the box office on its opening weekend. The cast and crew gathering includes director Damien Leone, David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown), Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fullam, Antonella Rose, Samantha Scaffidi, Margaret Anne Florence, Krsy Fox, Alexa Blair Robertson, Mason Mecartea, and Amelie McLain.
Hatchet series reunion features Kane Hodder - Victior Crowley; Danielle Harris - Marybeth Dunston; director Adam Green (Hatchet series, Frozen, Holliston TV series); Robert Pendergraft - Make-up artist for the Hatchet series and Jeepers Creepers; and Robert Englund - Sampson Duston in Hatchet.
In addition, to these reunion events, Flashback Weekend will feature other horror innovators from every corner of the genre. Actor Devon Sawa is one of the most versatile actors working today. From making his mark as a terrific child performer in movies like Little Giants and Casper, to starring in generational teen classics like SLC Punk, Idle Hands, and, Final Destination, Sawa has now successfully transitioned to scene-stealing character actor, with his memorable work in Gasoline Alley (in which he co-starred with Bruce Willis and Luke Wilson), this year's slasher classic Heart Eyes, and, as multiple characters on Chucky TV series, based on the Child's Play films.
Spencer Charnas, lead singer of Ice Nine Kills, is a true innovator, with visionary albums and cinematic music videos that are influenced by classic horror films. Ice Nine Kills recently starred in the Terrifier 3 music video/short film A Work of Art, which also stars David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown.
Dead Meat and The Kill Count - James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca have innovated the world of YouTube horror channels with their style that combines their own likable sense of humor with genuinely intelligent and insightful horror analysis. Dead Meat is the biggest horror movie channel on YouTube, amassing more than 6 million subscribers since its launch in 2017. James A. Janisse runs the flagship series The Kill Count, while Chelsea Rebecca runs the highly successful Dead Meat podcast. Both Janisse and Rebecca can also be seen in the hit horror film Scream 5, as well as the breath-taking indie horror thriller Little Bites. On Sunday, Janisse and Rebecca also will host the live presentation “Inside the Kills of Terrifier 3,” as they examine the film’s many bloody kills, alongside cast members/victims.
As Flashback Weekend is a home-grown horror convention founded and staffed by Chicago natives, the event is also honoring Chicago-born and -bred horror legends, such as acclaimed brother and sister actors Billy Zane and Lisa Zane. Billy Zane has a distinguished career, with performances in Tales from the Crypt: Demon Night, Titanic, season two of Twin Peaks, Tombstone, Critters, and The Phantom. Lisa Zane stars as counselor Maggie Burroughs in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.
The legendary Svengoolie (Rich Koz) joins Flashback Weekend for his annual appearance, hosting the 19th Annual Sinister Visions Costume Contest, signing autographs and taking selfies with fans (only on Saturday). On Friday, he’ll be hosting a horror-themed talk show Friday Night Frights Live, with celebrity guests including Robert Englund, Joe Dante, and Barbara Crampton. (A separate ticket is required to attend this event.)
Full Moon Entertainment founder Charles Band (Trancers, Puppet Master, Evil Bong) presents a kegger party on Saturday, August 2, during which he’ll preview the exciting year ahead in the Full Moon universe. After the party, Full Moon will also present a movie screening of one of their latest works, Death Streamer, about modern-day vampire who uses technologically advanced glasses to hunt his victims in and out of the virtual world, while also live streaming his bloody feasts.
From the Warner Bros. studio archive, screen-used props from the upcoming film The Conjuring: Last Rites will be on display at Flashback Weekend. The film delivers another chapter of the iconic Conjuring cinematic universe, based on real events, with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson returning as Lorraine and Ed Warren in this spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise, opening September 5.
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