Gore and more arrives deep in a Dublin crypt at Screamvention
Deep within the darkened chasms of a Dublin hotel a gathering of bloodthirsty horror fans and self-respecting goths descend on the decidedly gruesome Screamvention horror convention, unaware of their grisly fate.
Within this cursed crypt, the revered stars of celluloid await; here, the living dead of film abound and all manner of video nasties prevail. Freddy Krueger, Predator, Chucky from Child’s Play, Pinhead from Hellraiser and more greet steadfast horror fans as they arrive to meet their untimely doom.
Venturing around this cursed place, the sense of foreboding is palpable; apart from parading ghouls drenched in blood, ghastly horror icons discuss blood-lust films with fans, creatures sell exclusive horror merchandise, Q & A panels face despicable inquisitions and Nosferatu’s nymphs perform live (or dead) on stage.
This, the first Screamvention convention, is an exclusively Irish event and the brainchild of Alex Vincent (‘Andy’ in Child’s Play 1 & 2 and Curse of Chucky) and The Crypt Radio Show. Run by O’Brien Event Management in conjunction with The Emerald Gore Society, the event was set up due to the popularity of similar conventions in America, the UK and Europe.
Incorporating showings of short horror movies and depraved feature-length films, the convention also plays host to ‘The Devil’s Cabaret’, holds competitions, including producing and directing one’s own ‘Mini Screamvention Film’, and hosts horrendous live music and performances that would send a shiver down Bela Lugosi’s spine.
Fresh from his conversation with Ari Lehman – ‘Jason’ from Friday the 13th – I speak to Shane Doyle from Newbridge, Co. Kildare, who explains what compels him here:
“I came here to meet the icons of horror movies, some of my favourites as a kid growing up. When the event was announced, I decided I had to go and meet my heroes. The genre is bigger today than it was say 20 years ago, and it’s now a bigger and better genre than any other in Hollywood.
“Hellraiser is my favourite movie. Pinhead is different than any other horror character — whereas other characters use weapons, Pinhead uses his mind to control and kill people and for me that’s where the movie stands out.”
As I wander through this wretched place, I chance upon the actor Nicholas Vince, who, while at Mountview Theatre Academy in London met Clive Barker and was cast as the character The Chatterer Cenobite in the Hellraiser movies. Vince, stoic and detached, proffers his own thoughts on the event: “With conventions like this, it’s the opportunity to meet like-minded people, people who are passionate about horror. These events offer the chance to meet people you watched as a kid, and for the actor, they offer the opportunity to speak to people whose lives have been affected by the work that you’ve done.
“What’s changed in the genre over the last few years is that technology has become available to a lot more people. People are making movies on their iPhones — as long as you’ve got a good story, you can do that. In terms of why people are so captured by horror, I think the whole literature is around what’s in the dark and what’s after death. I think that’s a fascination for a lot of people”.
Next to Vince, a truly iconic actor sits, signing autographs and offering macabre photo opportunities. Alex Vincent, ‘Andy’ in the Child’s Play movies, offers his own views on this cursed genre.
“I think the best modern horror films were the likes of Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Child’s Play, Candyman... Their franchises have been successful for 30 years now. I think people like to be scared because it gives such a visceral reaction — it’s an emotion that sticks with you and you remember your whole life. A really good scare sticks with you and you remember that intense physical reaction that you had. I think people like to be scared in the same way that people like to laugh.”
Wandering around like so many lost souls, brushing shoulders with various Predators and a rather fetching female ‘Chucky’, I find a treasure trove of merchandise from the Alien, Dracula, Predator, Hellraiser movies and more. Suitably sullen, the retail ghouls look as bored and vacant as the undead undoubtedly should, and no less frightening for it. In the background, a teenage witch screeches twisted songs of blood, lust and gore on stage to a captivated crowd of bedevilled mortals.
By chance I meet the aquaintance of a girl named ‘Raven’, whom, suitably attired in black, with raven hair and death-like pallid skin, tells me of a celebration called ‘Women in Horror Month’.
“Basically Women in Horror Month is a celebration of women in horror who are lead actresses in horror movies; until relatively recently, women in horror movies have been just running around in forests, falling over, being weak and fragile. We wanted to celebrate strong lead actresses and show they can be the lead characters. For example, we’ve got Barbie Wilde here, one of the Cenobites from Hellraiser, and actress, director, screenwriter and producer Jessica Cameron. Actresses in horror movies don’t have to be the helpless females and we wanted to show that.”
As I stumble out into the oppressive glaring sunlight, consumed with thoughts of zombies, death and decay, a peculiar feeling overcomes me; no longer the man who entered naïve into this lair of decadence and gore, I remain utterly changed, forsaken, crazed and seeking blood...
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