FoCC Con Report: Son of Monsterpalooza 2022
By Jason Delgado
On October 14th – 16th, 2022, Son of Monsterpalooza was back in Burbank, California for the first time since 2019 (the 2020 and 2021 events were canceled due to the pandemic)! This is a convention centered on everything horror related, from the classic monsters up to the latest films such as Prey. I have mentioned in previous articles that I especially enjoy the intimate nature of this convention, but much like its sister show, Monsterpalooza, Son of Monsterpalooza feels like it is growing. I attended on the Sunday of the show, which is usually a light day as far as crowds go, but it was packed (so much so that Mr. Fantastic’s stretching power could have come in handy in certain spots!).
I tried to attend the panel for Robocop, but I and others were sadly sent away because it had filled to capacity, which was something that I had never experienced before at either Monsterpalooza show (I believe this is due to the growing attendance numbers and popularity). Later on in the afternoon, I was able to make it into the panel for Jakob’s Wife, a new independent horror film that is streaming on Shudder. I love when a panel piques my interest for a movie, which this one certainly did with the horror/comedy clips that make it seem a bit reminiscent of Fright Night, along with the delightful cast and crew.
Speaking of the cast, I was able to meet the star and co-producer of Jakob’s Wife, the lovely Barbara Crampton. My experience with the cult horror movie icon (Re-Animator) is that she is extremely kind and willing to honestly answer any questions that fans may have. A joke was made by actress Bonnie Aarons (The Nunn) during the Jakob’s Wife panel that Barbara made a deal with the devil to be eternally youthful and beautiful, which is spot on.
I got a photo with another hero of mine, Peter Weller of Robocop fame. I’ll always remember that my dad took me to see the R-rated Robocop when I was eight years old, traumatizing and delighting me all at once. I also recall on the train ride home from San Diego Comic Con in 2018, I was sitting across from actor Casper Van Dien, and he talked with so much reverence for director Paul Verhoeven and joyfully spoke about the parallels between Robocop and Starship Troopers. Both films were ahead of their time, with biting social commentary, fun dialogue, and a unique visual flair, all wrapped up in a science fiction movie. I would love to see a panel with Peter Weller and Van Dien talking together about their experiences. Make it happen Comic Con!
Last, but not least, the legendary voice of Cryptkeeper from Tales From the Crypt, John Kassir, made a fun video for me as his character. His indelible laugh and hilarious puns have stayed with me forever, so I’ll always treasure the shoutout he gives in the video to my son. These are the kinds of unique experiences that can be had only at smaller conventions like Son of Monsterpalooza. Until next time, stay frightened my fiendish friends!
