Ghouls on Film

What? No I'm fine. Just stretching.

Melvira and I went to a screening of “The Last Exorcism” the other night and I should have known when the man himself, Eli Roth, came onscreen to convey a personal message to the audience (plead for positive reviews), it wasn’t going to end well.

For those of you who don’t know the story, here it is right quick:

Son of an evangelical preacher man who grew up teaching the faith, but has none of his own, sets out to make a documentary with thoughtful female boom operator and wise-cracking camera man in order to expose the practice of exorcism as a lie. He visits backwoods family whose “possessed” daughter Nell, Dad, and brother Caleb are clearly not right. Nell could double as yogi master if she didn’t have a penchant for killing livestock and trying to fillet her brother’s face. Brother is a sleepy and disturbed red head. Dad recently lost wife and believes in home schooling.

Sounds pretty awesome, right?

What started out as a solid and fun story eventually devolved into multiple horror cliches and a completely disjointed finale. Both Mel and I felt like we had seen two different movies by the time the credits rolled. It’s as if the writers were possessed (see what I did there?) by the demons of movie marketing and convinced that although an audience would sit through about an hour of fairly original storytelling, they’d be damned if they were going to allow for a unique ending. But velvet capes and pentagrams, that could work.

I’ve probably ruined too much already, but just in case please be warned: SPOILERS AHEAD!

As always I’ll start with the most important part first. Should you see it? We try to answer that via some gchat bullshittin’:

“The Last Exorcism”: Dig It or Bury It?

Melvira: That’s tough, but bury it, I wouldn’t watch it again. It sucks ‘cuz I really like it. It’s like the “Sybil” of horror movies.
Scara: Bury it, but I feel the same way. It’s a cautionary tale for filmmakers. Loved the first hour so I can’t totally dismiss it, but I was so disappointed that I can’t bring myself to tell people to watch it in the theaters.

Ginger Kids = Always Scary

Melvira: I was really pleased with the beginning -pleasantly surprised.
Scara: The pacing was great, there was a nice storytelling quality about the plot.
Melvira: Yeah, it had a nice mix of humor and suspense. There were a few really good “oh shit!” moments.
Scara: Casting was perfect – Ashley Bell, who played Nell, was so subtle in her creepiness. She went back and forth from completely vulnerable to terrifying with just a little smile and a shift in her gaze.
Melvira: She was great, and I thought Patrick Fabian was hilarious.
Scara: It reminded me a bit of the way girls are cast in Japanese horror: can’t help being evil.
Melvira: Yeah, I can see that, especially some of the camera shots they did, seemed very in that vain of creepy/innocent.
Scara: Yeah and Caleb too – Do you know that’s the actor’s name? It’s like he was born to play backwoods brother. Ginger kids. Always scary.
Melvira: His name is Caleb Landry Jones.
Scara: Yeah, it’s so perfect. The other thing I appreciated about the first 2/3 of the film is that the horror came from the threat rather than the actual act. All building of suspense. It made the “Blair Witch” shaky cam, which I typically can’t stand, tolerable.
Melvira: Well, I have to say the one thing I did like about the cam, the only thing, is that when she got ahold of the camera, it was intense when it would shut off and then come back on. You didn’t know what to expect.

Um … When Did We Start Watching an Episode of “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant”?

Melvira: Yeah, I mean one of the best parts of the movie was the crying baby drowning baby doll shit. That was creepy. But, it is seriously like they gave up with the plot.
Scara: I know. It could have gone a million places from the point where everyone found out she was pregnant. But instead we got the lamest excuse for an ending. Also, how pregnant was she supposed to be? For the sake of realism they might have wanted to get an OBGYN on set because that Sour Patch baby looked pretty big.
Melvira: Yep. It kinda felt like they got nervous at a point on how to end it,and just reached into the horror bag o’ tricks and were like fuck it, secret cult/satanic baby. Done and done. I would have really liked to see another possession thrown in there, following them from the house, they get back to a slaughter fest at the house. I think i wrote in my notes, “Random horror cliche’s get thicker than Patrick Fabian’s faux southern accent.”

Um … When Did We Start Watching “Hot Fuzz”?

Scara: Then there was the velvet robe/cos-play aspect of it and the decline into total “Blair Witch” ending. Do you think they just wanted to include as many horror cliches as they could think of?
Melvira: Yep. The “Blair Witch” ending was the single most depressing part of that film. I think that they got to a point where they were stuck and if they put everything in there it was bound to appeal to someone.
Scara: Wait! We didn’t even talk about the (literal) writing on the wall. I tend to embrace a use of pentagrams …
Melvira: I mean, when dealing with demons, there is nothing wrong with a little demon graffiti. I’m for it –  pro bloody pentagrams. I do love metal though …
Scara: I know. It usually just feels so right. However … In this case, it was just too much.
Melvira: Do you feel like it was the gateway drug to the secret cult? Also, whose blood was that? No one was dead.

Finally – A Message for the Camera Man

Scara: Sigh… Finally, what about the fire? Do you think we’ll be seeing a “No Really, This is the Last Exorcism, We Mean It This Time” in the future?
Melvira: Dude, by the time the fire was there I already checked out. The cgi fire was effing lame. Lame town.
Scara: Yeah it was very “Potter.” I thought Sirius Black was going to start talking to me. Anything else or have we thoroughly picked this apart? You want to send a message to the wise-cracking camera man?
Melvira: Well, being an ultimate fan of bad 80’s horror that guy is essential to the movie. Every horror movie is in need of the guy who is the “fuck that” kinda dude. The one that would keep them all from dying but always gets killed. I love that guy. I’m just sad that he went the way of “The Blair Witch Project.” Sadly, almost frame for frame the same way.
Scara: Yep. Also, if someone goes to the trouble of making a really lovely portrait of you without a head …  Just run.

Sorry for the week of radio silence, but Nosilla and I were trapped in a beach shack with a maniacal elderly couple who wouldn’t let us leave. We barely escaped with our sanity intact!

Comic-Con 2010 kicks off next week, Wednesday July 21 to be exact (preview night), and Ghouls on Film will be there covering all that’s fit to fright.  Or, more truthfully, everything I can get to in between coverage for my day job.

For those of you who are going I’ve put together a short list of the events I am most excited about. Check out this unofficial Comic-Con blog for a full run down of all the Con goings on. There’s a ton to do. This is going to be epic. Don’t plan on sleeping.

For the rest of you: Read it and weep.

Thursday, July 22

10:30-11:30 Danny Elfman— From Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure to Alice in Wonderland, composer Danny Elfman discusses his 25-year collaboration with director Tim Burton. Their legendary partnership includes such films as Beetle Juice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Joining Mr. Elfman will be Warner Brothers Records executives to announce their plans to celebrate this quarter-century milestone. Room 6BCF

12:30-1:30 Sci-Fi That Will Change Your Life— What makes sci-fi great, other than awesome explosions and hot aliens? Sometimes it makes you reimagine your place in the universe. Join io9.com staff and friends as they recommend sci-fi from the past year that will entertain you — and then change your life. Panelists include io9 staff writers Annalee Newitz, Charlie Jane Anders, Meredith Woerner, and Cyriaque Lamar, plus io9 pals Marc Bernardin (The Authority, The Highwaymen), Bonnie Burton (StarWars.com), and Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 7AB

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Charlaine Harris— Author and Comic-Con special guest Charlaine Harris gathered a huge fan base with her novels and stories featuring her characters mystery-solving librarian Aurora Teagarden; Shakespeare, Arkansas resident Lily Bard; and the telepathic barmaid who befriends vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, Sookie Stackhouse. Once Sookie and company moved to the small screen with HBO’s True Blood, Harris entered the superstar realm. Be a part of the very first Spotlight panel devoted to Charlaine and hear what she has to say about what comes next for Sookie and everyone else! Room 6BCF

3:00-4:00 Dark Horse Horror— The publisher that brings you the best stories in horror comics also delivers Comic-Con’s best panel on horror comics! Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, writer of the weird Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre, City of Others), and The Goon creator Eric Powell join Dark Horse editors Scott Allie and Shawna Gore for this behind-the-screams discussion. Plus, get a blood-curdling first look at the horror books Dark Horse will unleash in the coming year. Room 9

3:00-4:00 Kiss Them or Kill Them? Conflict Management for the Creatures Among Us— Urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors discuss when to kill the monster, date the monster…or both and in what order. Authors include J. F. Lewis (ReVamped), Maria Lima (Blood Line series), Adrian Phoenix (the Maker’s Song series), Kat Richardson (the Greywalker novels), Diana Rowland (Kara Gillian — Detective and Demon Summoner series), Samantha Sommersby (the Forbidden Series), Anton Strout (the Simon Canderous urban fantasy series), Linda Thomas-Sundstrom (Wolf Moons series), and Rob Thurman (author of the Cal Leandros Novels and The Trickster Novels). Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 25ABC

4:00-5:00 Robert Kirkman— He examines survival among The Walking Dead. He makes superheroes relatable in Invincible. He made lycanthropy dramatic in The Astounding Wolf-Man. Join Image Comics for an in-depth discussion and Q&A with writing juggernaut Robert Kirkman. Moderated by Sina Grace. Room 5AB

4:00-5:00 Horror Filmmakers Discuss the Art of Fear— Panelists Kevin Grevioux (co-writer/actor, Underworld and creator of I, Frankenstein), Stephen Susco (scriptwriter, Grudge), Drew Dowdle and John Dowdle (co-writers/co-directors, Quarantine and the M. Night Shyamalan-produced Devil), Ti West (writer/director of House of the Devil), Todd Farmer (scriptwriter of My Bloody Valentine remake), Steven C. Miller (director, Scream of the Banshee), and Ben Ketai (scriptwriter/director of 30 Days of Night 2), join moderator Mark L. Miller of aintitcoolnews.com, to discuss the horror genre in films and the fine art of creating fear. Marriott Hall 2

4:45-5:45 Lionsgate: The Expendables— Prepare to have your ass kicked by The Expendables, the biggest action movie this summer! Lionsgate presents exclusive scenes and the inside scoop on every punch, kick, and bloodied lip from the most iconic cast of heroes and villains ever assembled, including the director, writer, and star Sylvester Stallone (Rambo), along with Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Steve Austin (The Condemned), Randy Couture (Scorpion King: Rise of the Warrior), and Terry Crews (Gamer). Hall H

5:00-6:00 SFX presents The British Invasion— Five top UK writers from the worlds of TV, comics, books, and movies discuss what makes modern British SF unique. Dan Abnett (Ultramarines), China Miéville (Perdido Street Station), Paul Cornell (Doctor Who), Kieron Gillen (Thor), Pat Mills (2000 AD), and Toby Whithouse (BBC’s Being Human creator) talk to SFX magazine’s Dave Bradley in this panel and Q&A session. Room 5AB

5:30-6:30 Geek Girls Exist— Really? Kristin Rielly (Geek Girls Network) leads a discussion about growing up geek, turning passions into careers, and who shot first. Representing the many awesome aspects of the geek culture, panelists Morgan Romine (The Frag Dolls), Bonnie Burton (The Star Wars Craft Book), Marian Call (singer/songwriter), Sarah Kuhn (One Con Glory), Jill Pantozzi (Has Boobs Reads Comics blog), Veronica Belmont (Qore), Kari Byron (MythBusters), and Kiala Kazebee (GeekWeek.com) school you on what it means to be a real geeky girl and even make you LOL IRL. Room 8

6:00-7:00 Universal: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World— Genre-bending filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), graphic novel author Bryan Lee O’Malley, and the cast of Universal Pictures’ Scott Pilgrim vs. the World provide a sneak peek of summer 2010’s epic of epic epicness. Joining Wright will be our hero, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera of Superbad); Scott’s two current girlfriends, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead of The Thing) and Knives Chau (Ellen Wong of Unnatural History); his band, SEX BOB-OMB: Kim Pine (Alison Pill of Milk) and Stephen Stills (Mark Webber of Broken Flowers); SEX BOB-OMB super-fan Young Neil (Johnny Simmons of Jennifer’s Body); Scott’s awesome roommate, Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin of Igby Goes Down); and four of Ramona’s seven evil exes: Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha of Fair Game), Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh of Superman Returns), Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman of Funny People) and Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman of Parenthood); plus Scott’s younger sister, Stacey Pilgrim (Anna Kendrick of Up in the Air), and the obnoxious Julie Powers (Aubrey Plaza of Parks and Recreation). Q&A to follow. Hall H

7:30-8:30 Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog— Sing along with your fellow fans at this screening of the original three acts of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, hosted by the California Browncoats, complete with lyrics books and call backs! Dr. Horrible stars Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly) and Felicia Day (The Guild) and was written by Joss Whedon (Serenity), Jed Whedon (Dollhouse), Zack Whedon (Fringe), and Maurissa Tancharoen (Dollhouse). Room 6A

9:30-11:45 Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated Screening and Panel Discussion— NOTLD: R is a collection of animated and illustrated responses created by nearly 150 international artists/animators and arranged to the original 1968 film’s audio track by curator Mike Schneider. Contributing artists John Chesnut and Josh Barnett (claymation and cut-out animation), Jacquelyn Bond (watercolor paintings), Grant Fuhst (mixed-media artwork), Sean Williams (hand-drawn animation), Zina Lahr (toy modification/ experimental animation), Brad Uyeda (stop-motion animation), Anthony Amos (digital animation), and Eric Schock (comic book illustration) meet to screen (which comes out on DVD July 27), discuss their involvement with the project, and take questions. Moderated by Beth Accomando (KPBS film critic). Giveaways at the screening will include horror-hosted DVDs of and limited-edition teaser posters. Room 5AB

10:00-12:00 World Premiere of Lost Boys: The Thirst— The Frog Brothers return to Comic-Con with holy water balloons ablazin’ for the world premiere of Lost Boys: The Thirst, the latest high-energy, action-packed adventure in the ongoing franchise. Original cast members Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander present the first-ever screening of the cult classic’s third film, in which the lost boys and girls of San Cazador prepare to party under the Blood Moon — while an alpha vampire conspires to turn these unsuspecting ravers into an army of undead. The only thing that stands between him and the annihilation of the entire human race are the infamous vampire-fighting Frog Brothers. Expect some serious bloodsucker butt kicking. And Warner Bros. is providing the free popcorn! Indigo Ballroom, San Diego Hilton Bayfront

Friday, July 23

11:00-12:00 Spotlight on  Vanessa Davis— One of the brightest new cartoonists of her generation, who has been featured in Tablet, Vice, Bust, and Bitch Magazines, Comic-Con special guest Vanessa Davis will be debuting her new book Make Me a Woman and discussing the book and its process with a charming and funny slide show about being young, Jewish and single. Room 4

11:15-11:45 Summit Entertainment: Drive Angry 3D— A vengeful father hunts down the people who brutally killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby in the newest film shot in 3D from the writer and director of My Bloody Valentine 3D, starring Nicolas Cage, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, and Amber Heard. Join the cast and filmmakers as they showcase never-before-seen footage of this high-octane, blood-spattered road trip through hell! Hall H

1:30-12:30 AMC’s The Walking Dead— Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually), Jon Bernthal (The Pacific), Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), Laurie Holden (The Mist), Emma Bell (Law & Order), series creator/director/executive producer Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption), executive producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator), executive producer Robert Kirkman (creator/writer of The Walking Dead comic), makeup artist Greg Nicotero, and Joel Stillerman (AMCs senior VP) discuss the making of AMC’s series The Walking Dead, based on the Image comic book series created and written by Robert Kirkman, premiering in October on AMC. Room 6BCF

1:00-2:00 Super— Writer/director James Gunn (Slither), stars Rainn Wilson (The Office), Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), and Michael Rooker (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), and producers Ted Hope (Adventureland) and Miranda Bailey (The Squid and the Whale) reveal footage from their latest feature production Super, including the first peek at Rainn and Ellen Page’s costume design. Super is a hyper-real and shockingly funny look at the extremely violent antics of a down-on-his-luck man as he attempts to win his wife back from a glamorous drug dealer by teaming up with a psychopathic teen to become costumed crimefighters. Hall H

2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: Where Are the Action Chicks?— Katrina Hill (ActionFlickChick.com), Jill Pantozzi (MTV Splash Page), Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model), Cindy Morgan (Tron), Luci Romberg (Zombieland), Jen Stuller (Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors), Gina Misiroglu (Encyclopedia of Women in Popular Culture), Marjorie Liu (Black Widow), Cindy Morgan (TRON), andJ. Michael Straczynski (Wonder Woman) discuss why comics, television, and m ovies do not depict more action heroines and look specifically at why movies starring traditional comic book superheroines are nearly nonexistent. Room 26AB

2:15-3:45 Miramax Films: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark— Producer/co-writer Guillermo del Toro and director Troy Nixey present a first look at their new film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a hair-raising, spine-chilling tale of horror about a little girl (Bailee Madison) who is sent to live with her father (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend (Katie Holmes) in the old mansion they are renovating, only to unwittingly unleash malevolent creatures bent on destroying all of them. Hall H

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on  Steve Rude— Award-winning artist and Comic-Con special guest Steve Rude describes the high points of his career, including how he broke into comics; the various comics he’s worked on, including Nexus, World’s Finest, and Space Ghost; and the trials of working on them. Plus Steve gives his thoughts on today’s current comics and artists. A “big surprise” will also premiere at this panel. Room 9

3:00-4:00 Bite Me: Evolving Urban Fantasy Beyond the Vampire Phenomenon— Some of the top names in urban fantasy gather to discuss how to evolve the urban fantasy genre beyond the vampire phenom, spurred by the mass commercial appeal of The Twilight Saga and True Blood. Authors include Tanya Huff (the Victoria Nelson novels), Mario Acevedo (the Felix Gomez detective-vampire series), Merrie Destefano (Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles), Jocelynn Drake (Pray for Dawn), Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim), Lauren Kate (Fallen series), and Marjorie M. Liu (In the Dark of Dreams). Moderator: Diana Gill, executive editor at HarperCollins Publishers. Room 8

3:30-4:30 Building a Horror Entertainment Franchise: Dead Space 2— The sequel to 2008’s award-winning horror videogame returns with its highly anticipated sequel in January 2011. Dead Space 2 unleashes a truly epic terror experience that will bring the psychological thrills of deep space to a terrifying new level beyond just video games. Executive producer Steve Papoutsis,  art director Ian Milham, and producers Rich Briggs and Chuck Beaver will be talking about how they intend to establish Dead Space 2 among the top horror entertainment franchises in the world with a novel, animated feature, graphic novel, Motion Comic game and fan merchandise. Room 3

3:30-4:30 VIZ Media’s Vampire Knight Panel— Calling all Vampire Knight fans! Here’s your chance to meet the U.S. manga editor, Nancy Thistlethwaite, and voice-over talent from the anime — Mela Lee (Yuki), Vic Mignogna (Zero), and Ethan Murray (Kaname). Come dressed in your best Vampire Knight gear and you’ll be eligible for a prize! Room 9

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on  Sean Phillips (Criminal, Marvel Zombies) and moderator/artist Duncan Fegredo (Hellboy, Jay and Silent Bob) have known each other for over twenty years. Hear Duncan ask Sean questions that Duncan already probably knows the answers to! See lots of Sean’s art you haven’t seen before! (Unless you read his blog.)  Room 8

4:00-5:00 Entertainment Weekly presents…Women Who Kick Ass: A New Generation of Heroines— EW moderates this discussion with Jena Malone (Sucker Punch), Anna Torv (Fringe), Elizabeth Mitchell (V), and Ellen Wong and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) about the next generation of female action heroes and the power and privilege of playing young women who are nobody’s arm candy. Moderated by Nicole Sperling. Ballroom 20

4:30-5:30 Adult Swim Panel Featuring Robot Chicken, Venture Bros, and Metalocalypse— Show creators Seth Green, Matt Senreich, and Tom Root (Robot Chicken), Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer (Venture Bros), and Brendon Small (Metalocalypse) discuss their original series, screen sneak peeks, and answer questions. Keith Crofford, VP of production at Adult Swim, will moderate. Room 6BCF

5:00-6:00 Girls Gone Genre: Movies, TV, Comics, Web— Meet and talk with women who write, read, game, and perform in arenas that are historically and statistically dominated by men. What’s it like to try and get a job in a field where most of your competitors and colleagues are guys? Can women write men, and vice versa? And what happens when traditionally “male” genres are reinvented by female writers and embraced by female fans? Sex and the City it ain’t! Meet the women who like to play with trucks and Barbies…and Wolverine action figures. And flux capacitors. Featuring Felicia Day (writer/producer, The Guild; actress, The Guild, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog),  Kathryn Immonen (writer, Patsy Walker: Hellcat, Runaways, Heralds), Laeta Kalogridis (screenwriter/producer, Shutter Island, Ghost in the Shell, Avatar), Marti Noxon (screenwriter/producer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Mad Men, I Am Number Four, Fright Night), Melissa Rosenberg (screenwriter/producer, Dexter, The Twilight Saga), and Gail Simone (writer, Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey).Moderated by Io9’s Annalee Newitz. Room 24ABC

5:15-6:15 True Blood Panel and Q&A session— Mixing romance, suspense, mystery, and humor, True Blood kicked off its 12-episode third season June 13 on HBO. The series, which has earned two Golden Globe nominations for Best Television Series-Drama, follows the romance between waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin, Golden Globe winner for True Blood season one; Oscar-winner for The Piano), who can hear people’s thoughts, and her soulmate, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). Alan Ball (creator of the Emmy-winning HBO series Six Feet Under) created and serves as executive producer of the series, which is based on the best-selling Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. The series also features Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette Reynolds, Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte, Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton, Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Hamby, Kristin Bauer van Straten as Pam, Denis O’Hare as Russell Edgington, the Vampire King of Mississippi, and Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux. (Note: names in bold will be appearing on the panel.) Moderated by Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly. Ballroom 20

5:30-6:30 Famous Monsters of Filmland: From the Pages and Beyond— Philip Kim (publisher) and Michael Heisler (editor-in-chief) have successfully established the tone of Famous Monsters of Filmland from issue #250 and beyond. Join Michael, Phil, Jessie Lilley (editor), and guest Bela Lugosi Jr. (son of Dracula legendary actor Bela Lugosi) as they discuss the past and the future of genre. Room 3

5:30-6:30 Shout! Factory: Roger Corman: King of the Independents— If your idea of fun is watching wild and outrageous cult flicks, you will not want to miss this! Oscar recipient for Lifetime Achievement and legendary director/producer Roger Corman takes center stage to share insights on his incredible filmmaking career. Notable Corman alumni will also be in attendance to reflect on their involvement during his New World Pictures era in the’70s and ’80s, at a time when grindhouse theatres and drive-ins were the place to see over-the-top sex and violence. Panelists include Joe Dante (director of Piranha), Sid Haig (The Devil’s Rejects), Mary Woronov (House of the Devil), and Allan Holzman (director, Forbidden World). Moderated by Alex Stapleton (director of King of the B’s: The Independent Life of Roger Corman). Short Q&A if time permits. Room 25ABC

6:30-7:30 Old School American Horror— Featuring legendary horror icons and the hottest names in the genre, the cast of Hatchet II presents an old school American horror panel. Kane Hodder (Friday The 13th), Tony Todd (Candyman), R. A. Mihailoff (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Danielle Harris (Halloween), Tom Holland (Child’s Play), and Adam Green (Hatchet) are on hand for an unforgettable panel. Room 32AB

7:30-8:30 30 Days of Night: Dark Days— This highly anticipated sequel to the box office hit 30 Days of Night is based on the second book of the cult graphic novel series and will debut on Blu-ray and DVD this fall from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Director/co-screenwriter Ben Ketai (Dusk to Dusk), graphic novel creator/co-writer Steve Niles, stars Keile Sanchez (Lost), Diora Baird (TCM: The Beginning), and Rhys Coiro (Entourage, upcoming Straw Dogs), and producer J. R. Young (Ghosthouse) are on hand for an exclusive sneak peek, panel, and Q&A session. Room 7AB

9:30-10:30 The Bone-Chilling Secrets of The Blood Factory— To unlock the bone-chilling secrets of The Blood Factory, join Danny De Vito (actor/director/star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), John Albo (writer/director of Flexing with Monty), Nick Bonamy (art director of The Blood Factory), “Tkay” Raul Garcia (website developer), Frank Ippolito (effects makeup, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3), William Mesa (visual effects, Army of Darkness), and Tracey Walter. Relish new short films from The Blood Factory: tales of horror that will conjure nightmares to disturb your sleep for nights to come. Room 5AB

11:00-12:30 Syfy Original Movies and Chiller: Mega Piranha— Feast your eyes on a late-night screening of this terrifyingly fun Syfy thriller, with a special live introduction from Mega Piranha star and ’80s pop music icon Tiffany. Plus, stick around for bonus looks at scary good entertainment from Chiller. Room 6A

Saturday, July24

10:00-11:00 Panel of the Living Dead: Surviving the Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Onslaught on Xbox 360— Xbox 360 has become the exclusive epicenter for zombies. The team behind Capcom’s Dead Rising 2 joins the industry’s top zombie creative minds and a special guest zombie authority for a behind-the-braaaiiinnss look at the popular zombie titles on Xbox 360. Chomp on insights into how they’ve developed their unique lexicon on undead lore and storytelling approaches, and get survival tips for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. Join the flesh-hungry undead for a special Dead Rising 2 surprise from Capcom and be one of the first 25 zombies attending the panel to receive a special token for Dead Rising 2: Case Zero. Room 25ABC

11:00-12:00 Reading with Brains: The Rise and Unrelenting Stamina of Zombie Fiction— Authors and survivors include Amelia Beamer (The Loving Dead), Max Brooks (The Zombie Survival Guide), Seth Grahame-Smith (Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer), Mira Grant (The Newsflesh trilogy). Walter Greatshell (Xombies: Apocalypticon), Jonathan Maberry (Rot & Ruin), Ryan Mecum (Zombie Haiku), John Skipp (Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead), and Joan Frances Turner (Dust). Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart, Mysterious Galaxy. Room 7AB

11:45-1:15 Warner Bros.: Green Lantern, Sucker Punch, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows— Warner Bros. showcases three eagerly awaited upcoming new films in this Hall H presentation!

Sucker Punch — Fasten your seatbelt for a sneak peek at the dark action fantasy Sucker Punch, from director Zack Snyder, who previewed his films 300 and Watchmen at past Comic-Cons. A group of young girls escape the dark reality of their lives through their vivid imagination, which takes them to various fantasy locations in different realms. The ensemble cast features Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung, and Jon Hamm.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Every saga has a final chapter. Kick off the year of Harry Potter with a first look at the coming screen adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with a program created just for Comic-Con fans. One way. One hero. One destiny. Don’t miss it! Hall H

12:00-1:00 Fang Girls and Fang Boys: The Popularity of Vampire Lit— Authors of vampire fiction for young adults and adults discuss the appeal of their worlds and characters. Authors include Charlaine Harris (the Sookie Stackhouse Series), Heather Brewer (the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod), Rachel Caine (the Morganville Vampires series), Christopher Farnsworth (Blood Oath: The President’s Vampire), Chris Marie Green (the Vampire Babylon series), Richelle Mead (the Vampire Academy series), and Jeanne C. Stein (the Anna Strong series). Moderated by Brian Truitt, associate editor, USA Weekend Magazine/USA Today. Room 7AB

12:00-1:00 The Venture Bros.— Creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer host a laissez-faire chat about — what else? — The Venture Bros. They’ll be joined by Patrick Warburton (voice of Brock Samson) and James Urbaniak (voice of Dr. Venture) as they screen sneak preview clips from the upcoming season, shamelessly plug their new DVD and line of action figures, and take questions from the audience. Indigo Ballroom, San Diego Hilton Bayfront

12:45-1:30 Futurama— Celebrate Futurama’s triumphant re-return to the airwaves! World-premiere footage will offer an exciting and informative glimpse of Comic-Con in the year 3010. Panelists include executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, and Maurice LaMarche, director Crystal Chesney-Thompson, writers Ken Keeler and Patric M. Verrone, and animation producer Claudia Katz. Ballroom 20

1:30-2:30 Overture: Let Me In— The cast and filmmakers of Let Me In, a haunting and provocative thriller written and directed by filmmaker Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), give the Hall H audience a sneak peek at this highly anticipated film. Let Me In is an astonishing coming-of-age story involving a young girl (Kick Ass’s Chloe Moretz) and an alienated boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Road) unlike any you have seen. Based on the bestselling Swedish novel Lat den Ratte Komma (Let The Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist and the highly acclaimed film of the same name, Let Me In takes audiences straight to the troubled heart of adolescent longing and loneliness. Academy Award-nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) also stars in this exhilarating reboot of the beloved original. Hall H

3:00-4:00 Queer Press Grant Roundup— Prism Comics, the nonprofit organization promoting LGBT comics, creators, and fans, started an annual Queer Press Grant in 2005 to help queer cartoonists self-publish their comics. Five years and many thousands of dollars later, the QPG has helped out an impressive lineup of some of the best upcoming LGBT cartoonists and remains one of the only grants available for comics creators today. Prism will kick off the submission process for the 2010 Queer Press Grant at Comic-Con. Moderator Roger Klorese (Prism Comic’s Publications Chair) and past recipients Justin Hall (Glamazonia the Uncanny Super Tranny), Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf), Steve MacIsaac (Shirtlifter), and Eric Orner (The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green) as they discuss applying for the grant, what they’ve been up to since winning it, and what’s next for both their comics and the grant in 2010. Room 3

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Ray Bradbury— He was at the very first Comic-Con and we kind of think he’ll be at the very last one, too, far off in the future. Science fiction author Ray Bradbury is literally a national treasure. Ray talks with biographer Sam Weller and moderator writer/producer Arnold Kunert in his yearly visit with his fans at Comic-Con. Room 6DE

4:00-4:45 Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Afterlife— In a world ravaged by a virus infection that turns its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap. The fourth installment of the hugely successful Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife is again based on the wildly popular video game series and this time will be shot in 3D using the same state-of-the-art cameras created for Avatar. Writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson, along with the film’s stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, and Wentworth Miller, will be on hand to show you some stunning 3D sequences and answer your questions. Hall H

4:45-5:45 Universal: Paul and Cowboys & Aliens— Universal presents two upcoming films in this exclusive Hall H presentation.

Paul — Scheduled to appear for Universal Pictures’ sci-fi comedy-adventure Paul are a who’s who of film comedy. Director Greg Mottola (Superbad) will be joined by cast members Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Kristen Wiig (Date Night), Bill Hader (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jeffrey Tambor (The Hangover), Joe Lo Truglio (Role Models), Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet), and Sigourney Weaver (Baby Mama) as they discuss the movie about two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage to Comic-Con ultimately takes them to America’s UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who takes them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Q&A session to follow.

Cowboys & Aliens — Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man series) discusses what’s happening behind the scenes of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks’ action-thriller Cowboys & Aliens, based on Platinum Studios’ graphic novel. Currently shooting in New Mexico, Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford and takes audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. Q&A session to follow.

Hall H

5:00-6:00 Dark Shadows: The Classic Series, the Comic Books, and the Upcoming Film— Hermes Press celebrates Dark Shadows with a panel discussing the past, present, and future of the series. Join series stars Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins, via special video appearance), Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans/Josette), with Jim Pierson (Dark Shadows) and Daniel Herman (publisher, Hermes Press) for a discussion and Q&A session. Room 3

6:00-7:00 Lost But Not Forgotten— Lost Encyclopedia authors ***Tara Bennett and Paul Terry, along with other special Lost guests, discuss this seminal show’s legacy, their thoughts on the finale, and the creation of the forthcoming Lost Encyclopedia. Attendees will have a chance to win a signed copy of the Lost Encyclopedia. Room 8 *** If you are a “Lost” fan go to this panel! Tara Bennett is the Queen of “Lost.”

8:00-9:00 Troma Troma Troma— Movie-making insights with irreverent filmmakers Lloyd Kaufman (Poultrygiest: Night of the Chicken Dead), Adam Green (Frozen), Adam Rifkin (The Dark Backward), Dennis Dreith (Creep Van), Darren Bousman (Mother’s Day), James Gunn (Super), and moderator Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics). Troma Entertainment is Reel Independence! Room 8

8:30-9:30 World Premiere of The House That Drips Blood on Alex: An Evening With Tommy Wiseau— Visionary cult auteur Tommy Wiseau, creator of midnight movie phenomenon The Room, has teamed up with Atom.com and Studio 8 for The House That Drips Blood On Alex. See the world premiere and join the cast and creators Tommy Wiseau, Brock LaBorde, Jared Richard, Yaque Silva-Doyle, Chris Trew, Joey Greco (Cheaters), and Justine Ezarik (iJustine) for a lively discussion. Room 7AB

8:30-11:30 HBO’s True Blood Presents: The San Diego Comic-Con International Masquerade— Fabulous original and re-created costumes crafted by our talented attendees appear on stage before an audience of thousands, with impressive awards and cash prizes bestowed to those judged most outstanding. Doors will open for audience seating at 7:45 pm, but the line will start much earlier! Tickets will be required for seating and will be given out free to those lining up near Ballroom 20 beginning at 3:00pm Saturday until all tickets are gone. The Masters of Ceremony are writer/artists Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio of Studio Foglio. Ballroom 20, with additional live broadcasts of the event in Rooms 5AB and 6A, and in the Sails Pavilion. Ballroom 20

The legacy of Golden Age horror comics such as “Creepy,” “Eerie,” and (of corpse) “Tales From the Crypt” is alive … er … undead and well, carried on with a new crop horror books filling the racks at comic shops.  Serialized horror is represented at its finest with Robert Kirkman’s zombie epic, “The Walking Dead,” while several publishers have been tipping their hat towards the classic anthology horror genre with celebrity – or celebrity estate – endorsed titles like Blue Water’s “Vincent Price Presents” and IDW’s limited series of horror one-shots, “Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Music Box.”

However, one thing comics’ frightful forebears probably didn’t count on was the genre of creepy cute. On film the horrific hijinx of terrifying toddlers like Damien and “The Bad Seed” have caused many adults to run for a pair of rubber training undies, but the comic medium helps to make the dark side lurking behind seemingly innocent creatures less “real” and more likable.  It’s easier to thrill to the antics of killer kindergarteners and occult-inclined pets when they’re safely ensconced on the pen-and-inked pages of horror comics than in a gore-splattered environment.

Here are just a few of these creepy-cute gems,  scratching the surface of that freshly dug grave, poking their eager little hands – or paws – out at their fan base or potential new victims:

Hellboy, Jr.

Honorable mention
Young Hellboy, “Hellboy” & “Hellboy Junior” (Dark Horse)
It says something about the one-two punch of creepy and cute when arguably the most popular independent comics’ character ever is miniaturized in flashbacks. Young Hellboy may have only had a Halloween one-shot and two “Hellboy Junior” books focusing on his childhood adventures, but little Anung Un Rama (“The Beast of the Apocalypse,” for those of you playing along at home) makes an impact with each appearance.

Aside from a handful of appearances in Mike Mignola’s long-running “Hellboy” series, Young Hellboy was so popular and important to the story that the character made appearances in both live-action “Hellboy” films! Seeing the wee hellspawn’s enthusiasm for the WWII superhero, Lobster Johnson, and interacting with his beloved mentor and father figure, Professor Broom, makes the adult Hellboy’s struggle to fight his dark destiny all the more compelling, giving the character even more depth and likability.

Pooch

#5 – Pooch, “Hack/Slash” (Devil’s Due Publishing)
A minor character, Pooch is a hairless Hellhound who, like many a World’s Ugliest Dog contestant is so hideous he’s actually cute.  Upping the cute factor, Pooch is a talking hellhound who likes to speak in the third person and makes some rather humorous (and occasionally perverse) observations.  Having once worked on the side of evil, Pooch was one of the personal minions of Satanic underworld lieutenant, Elvis Presley.  He was charged with the task of attempting to kill “Hack/Slash”’s main duo – hot, weapon-wielding goth chick Cassie Hack and her brawny, deformed-yet-sweet sidekick, Vlad.  Following a change of heart, Pooch found himself trapped on Earth. Away from his Hell dimension, Pooch adapted to life as a very, very ugly companion to humans. He  truly become man’s best friend when he saved his adopted caretakers, Chris and Lisa, from a demon attack.

Courtney Crumrin

#4 – Courtney Crumrin, “Courtney Crumrin” (Oni Press)
Courtney Crumrin isn’t really a creep. Her self-serving yuppie parents and the strange creatures that inhabit her neighborhood are, but she isn’t. As cute as pre-“Runaways” Dakota Fanning with as wicked a sense of humor as “Problem Child,” Courtney is a snarky tweener with a nose for the occult.  The only human who she connects with is her mysterious Great Uncle Aloysius, a dapper hermit who favors the Victorian look and is one helluva warlock, to boot.  Although she doesn’t conceal her disdain for kids her own age, Courtney, nevertheless, maintains a packed social calendar. Between babysitting changelings, sending demons back to their charnal pits, befriending mush-mouthed goblins and eloquent talking neighborhood cats, Miss Crumrin’s a busy gal.  Written by author/illustrator Ted Naifeh (the original artist for “Gloomcookie,” a comic about the lives and loves of young adult goths and the tragically cursed monsters who love them), the series of single issues-turned-graphic novels was nominated for an Eisner Award. Rumor has it, the first graphic novel, “Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things” will be made into a live-action movie in 2011.

Beasts of Burden

#3 – Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse)
A collaboration between “Milk and Cheese” scribe, Evan Dorkin and illustrator Jill Thompson (who turned Neil Gaiman’s seven anthropomorphic beings of “Sandman” into cute, widdle toddlers with the “Li’l Endless”), these canine and feline occult detectives initially were the “tailpiece” of Dark Horse collections, “Book of the Dead,” “Book of Witchcraft,” et. al. They proved so popular with readers that in 2009, the four-legged ghostbusters received their own four-issue mini-series with the strong possibility of a second round to follow. A crack team of house pets and strays alike, the beasts of Burden Hill investigate and quash the strange, haunted happenings in their tiny town. More characters than archetypes, each animal has his or her own backstory: There’s Miranda, the Black Lab shamaness; Pugsley the mouthy, wisecracking little Pug; scrappy stray cat Orphan; and Ace the Husky, whose super strength came from surviving a werewolf bite, among others. Cute and funny without being hokey, the animals don’t hop around on two legs or talk to humans.  Actually, Burden Hill’s humans remain oblivious to the town’s supernatural activity, and it’s up to the Beasts of Burden to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

Death, Jr.

#2 – Death Jr. and Friends, “Death Jr.” (Image)
It’s hard to get much cuter and creepier than the son of the Grim Reaper.  Death Jr. is the adorable, skull-faced pre-teen son of perennially polite Death himself.  Along with his human, homemaker mom who’s more June Cleaver than Mrs. Bates, Junior needs a normal, happy existence – even if he is ostracized by other kids at school who have skin on their faces. Junior is thoughtful, friendly, and constantly trying to prove to dear ol’ Papa that he’s ready to enter the family business.  He also has the worst luck ever with pets.  Equally adorable as Death Jr. is his little girlfriend, Pandora, a gothling with OCD compelled to open every box around her. Rounding out their group of metaphysical misfits are Stigmartha, a young girl with rather strategically placed wounds that bleed when she gets excited, conjoined twins Smith and Weston, and (my personal favorite) The Seep, a foul-mouthed, armless legless fetus-type thing floating in fluid. Written by Gary Whita and drawn by Ted Naifeh (gee, that name sounds familiar!), “Death Jr.” has two full-color graphic novels detailing the adventures of his creepy pals and additionally, was made into one of the very first PSP games for the console.

Lenore, the Cute Little Dead Girl

#1 – Lenore, “Lenore, The Cute Little Dead Girl,” (SLG, Titan)
Roman Dirge’s neat, sweet, and deceased girl was one of the pioneers of the renaissance of cute, creepy things back in 1998. With a fashion sensibility akin to Wednesday Addams, Lenore is blissfully unaware that she’s dead.  After succumbing to pneumonia at the age of 10, Lenore lives in a big creepy mansion with a gaggle of undead critters she calls friends.   She fails miserably at pet ownership in spite of her love for animals and is rarely seen without dragging a dead kitty cat in tow. (The spirit of one of her menagerie of dead cats haunts her in regards to her treatment of animals.)  In spite of her tender age, Lenore frequently fends off the admirations of the stalker-ish sock puppet, Mr. Gosh, (who is actually a real, live dead man with a bag over his head) and her friend, Mr. Raggamuffin, a cursed vampire doll who secretly harbors feelings for Lenore. Aside from being dead, she loves all the things little living girls love: playing dress up, hugs, sharp objects, and time with friends and fiends!

Ladies Love Leprechaun

St. Paddy’s Day, a day when we salute miniature, money-hungry demons, is tomorrow, and I would be remiss if I did not raise a pint (of blood) to the one of the tiniest terrors in film history: “Leprechaun.”

He’ll always hold a place in my heart not only because he loves shiny black shoes, striped tights and brass buckle accents, but because he’s mean and he’s little, and I can relate to that. Tall people are always pushing the shorties around, and we have to find creative ways to defend ourselves. Sometimes that means using your shoes in ways they aren’t meant to be used. Sometimes that means taking on Detective Fin Tutuola, aka, Ice-T.

But the Leprechaun isn’t the only small killer on the big screen. There are quite a few others who give the short and angry people out there a good name.

This brings me to “Troll 2.” Forget “Troll;” these movies have nothing to do with one another. In fact, there isn’t a troll to be found in Nilbog (yes, smarty, that’s Goblin spelled backward).  I think this movie screwed up my eating habits as an early teen, permanently turning me away from vegetarianism.

Chuckie of “Child’s Play” fame is another. I know he’s technically a doll. But no grown human has ever made overalls quite so scary.

Then there’s Sam from “Trick r’ Treat.” Cute kid in a charmingly homemade Halloween costume or satanic ankle-biter hell-bent on inducing sugar comas?

Finally, there’s Esther, star of “Orphan,” and probably one of the biggest disappointments in the history of killer pre-teens. Two words: murderous midget.

Happy St. Drunkers Day and watch out for the little people.

DEAR RIPLEY:
I’m currently dating this wonderful guy. He’s a professor and he’s just really amazing.   He comes from a very prominent family in the area and I know his parents have their reservations about me because I’m just a “little farm girl from Iowa.”

I’m meeting them for the first time tomorrow at dinner and I plan on making them my famous harvest cake.  I’m really excited!  The only problem: I’ve been cursed by an evil old witch, and a demon called the Lamia is haunting me for the next three days before condemning me to hell.  How can I survive the dinner if the Lamia’s wreaking havoc on me?  I really want them to like me.
LAMIA’D IN L.A.

DEAR LAMIA’D,
We’re all haunted by demons, aren’t we? Giving birth to a humanity-destroying alien sure did put a damper on my future. Trust me, your immortal soul is way more important than impressing uptight WASPy would-be in-laws. Put down the spatula, pick up the kitchen knife, and handle your little possession issue before your three days are up.