I was a late bloomer to horror movies.

Growing up, I liked some of the horror movies from the 30s-50s and in college, I became a fan of the Halloween movie franchise, but otherwise, I was not a horror fan at all.

But a few years ago, I gave more of it a chance and found I really like it.  Not all of it, but that’s with anything.

Anyway, I became such a fan that going to the annual horror convention in Lexington, Kentucky (located at the Central Bank Center, as part of the building where Rupp Arena is) was a fun event to go to.

The first year I went was 2019 and that, honestly, so I could meet Dee Snider of Twisted Sister.

That was an extremely wonderful experience, but otherwise, I still wasn’t a big horror fan yet.

But by 2022, I was more a fan and since then, have attended Scarefest every year.

I wish I had more money every time I attend, but I’ve done pretty well each time I’ve attended.

This year (I went on the last day on Sunday, October 25th), I got to meet Sean S. Cunningham, who directed/co-created the first Friday The 13th movie, and produced/executive produced a bunch of the others, and has directed and produced many other features. 

I had been wanting to meet him for some time, and when I told him that, he said “well here we are”. 

He was quiet, but very nice. 

He really wanted to make sure he signed my Jason X poster well.  He wasn’t satisfied with how he initially signed it and had his handler get another Jason X poster to sign. 

I thanked him profusely for everything he has done and he appreciated that, calling me a “big fan”.  

I also got to meet Dean Cundey, who has been the cinematographer/director of photography for sooooooooooooo much (Halloween 1-3, Rock And Roll High School, Back To The Future Trilogy, The Fog, Escape From New York, The Thing, Psycho II, Romancing The Stone, Big Trouble In Little China, Project X, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Road House, Nothing But Trouble, Hook, Death Becomes Her, Jurassic Park, The Flintstones, Casper, Apollo 13, The Parent Trap, What Women Want, a couple episodes of The Mandalorian, and so much more).

I asked him what his favorites are, and he told me his favorite 3 are the Back To The Future Trilogy, Jurassic Park, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 

I also asked him what his favorite John Carpenter movies he’s worked on, and he said Halloween, I think Big Trouble In Little China, and especially Escape From New York (I had him sign a picture of him working on that movie.), due to how he had to light and shoot that movie.  

He is a phenomenal talent and a good guy.  I’m glad I got to meet him too.

Like I said, I never have enough money when I go to this event and conventions in general, but I did say hi to a couple of other people, including Christopher Nelson (makeup effects man for many movies, some of which include X-Men, Ali, A Beautiful Mind, The Hunted, Hulk, Kill Bill 1 and 2, Exorcist: The Beginning, Sin City, Land Of The Dead, Hostel, Star Trek from 2009, Deadpool, Suicide Squad, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame, Halloween from 2018, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends, Captain Marvel, Exorcist: Believer, Thor: Love And Thunder, Freakier Friday, Michael, Spider-Noir just to name a few), Lance Guest (Halloween II, The Last Starfighter, Jaws The Revenge), and Brett Wagner (Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003 remake).

I saw a lot of celebrities while I was walking around, including Kane Hodder (Jason in 4 Friday The 13th movies, Hatchet franchise, Death House, and so much more), R.A. Mihailoff (Leatherface in Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Death House, Hatchet 2, and more), Ana Alicia (Halloween II), Bill Johnson (Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Bill Moseley (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, Death House, Texas Chainsaw 3D, 3 From Hell, and so much more), Caroline Williams (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Hatchet III), Dick Warlock (Michael Myers in Halloween II, robot in Halloween III, Kurt Russell’s stunt double for 25 years, stunt coordinator), Eli Roth (director of Cabin Fever, Hostel, Hostel: Part II, 2018 version of Death Wish), Eugene Clark (Tekwar, Land Of The Dead, Knight Rider 2000 and a lot more), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp, Terrifier 2, Return To Sleepaway Camp, Death House), Gloria Gifford (Halloween II), Sam Raimi (Director of the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies, The Evil Dead, The Evil Dead II, Darkman, Army Of Darkness, The Hudsucker Proxy, The Quick And The Dead), Ivan Raimi (Sam’s brother and screenwriter), Jeffrey Kramer (Halloween II, Jaws 2), John Kassir (The Crypt Keeper in Tales From The Crypt), Kristi Angus (Jason X), Leo Rossi (Halloween II), Lin Shaye ( A Nightmare On Elm Street, Detroit Rock City, The Grudge, Insidious, Critters), Malcolm Danare (Christine), Michael Ironside (Scanners, Top Gun, Total Recall, Highlander 2, Starship Troopers, Terminator: Salvation, just to name a few), Nancy Stephens (Halloween 1 and 2, Halloween H20, Halloween 2018 and Halloween Kills), Pamela Susan Shoop (Halloween II, Magnum PI pilot episode), Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), Steve Nappe (Jason X, Death House, Kane Hodder’s best friend), Steven Tash (Christine), Tom Atkins (The Fog, Escape From New York, Halloween III, Night Of The Creeps, Lethal Weapon, Maniac Cop, just to name a few), Tom Morga (Halloween 4, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Friday The 13th Part V, Army Of Darkness), and William Ostrander (Christine).  

I also went to a few panels, which included cast and crew of the highly entertaining Killer Klowns From Outer Space (Chiodo Brothers, Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, Geno Ponza, Harrod Blank, John Allen Nelson, Michael S. Siegel, Paul Haley, Mike Martinez, and Caitlin Deck), cast and crew of Evil Dead II (Sarah Berry, Kassie Depaiva, Richard Domeier, and Tom Sullivan), cast of the highly successful 2026 movie Obsession (Megan Lawless, Haley Fitzgerald, Malcolm Kenner, and Darin Toonder), and some of the panel of The People Under The Stairs (Brandon Adams, Sean Whalen, and Van Birch).

Wow that’s a lot right?!

Like I said, I only went to the last day, but I think I did pretty well.

I hope to attend again in 2027 also.  I hope to get some more pictures/autographs, and see more panels.

I highly recommend Scarefest if you are a horror movie fan.

Even if you are not into meeting people or going to panels, there are other activities you can attend and there are lots of great vendors to check out at the event.

Thanks to the great staff and guests at Scarefest for always giving people like myself a great experience.