Text and photos by SCOTT FEINBLATT
Midsummer Scream, the epic Halloween and horror event that has haunted Southern California every summer since 2016 (not counting a two-year blip bright on by the COVID-19 pandemic) returned over the weekend of July 26 through 28. While it’s unclear whether the scheduling overlap with this year’s San Diego Comic-Con was a coincidence or a conspiracy, the Long Beach Convention Center was just as packed with enthusiastic fans as ever. This year’s event was themed “A Haunting” and this concept thoroughly permeated the programming.
From product reveals by theme park reps to celebrity guests, there was plenty to digest. In addition to the panel announcements of haunted attractions and upcoming horror films, this year marked the first time a major studio had a hand in creating a maze in the festival’s Hall of Shadows dark zone. Midsummer Scream co-founder/executive director David Markland facilitated a partnership with Lionsgate and Jon Cooke of Plague Productions to create the “Gears of Fear” maze, featuring characters from Lionsgate horror franchises as well as a design featuring sprockets, chains and other assorted machinery reminiscent of the company’s logo.
David Dastmalchian and LeeAnna Vamp have some fun during their panel
Content creator and actress LeeAnna Vamp interviewed Late Night with the Devil star David Dastmalchian. Dastmalchian spoke with Vamp about his love for the genre; his horror comic book series, Count Crowley; and the projects brewing at his film production company.
Peaches Christ (in “HELLRAISER”-inspired cosplay) performs the role of ringleader for a showcase of drag performers
Outrageous drag performer, emcee, filmmaker and actor Peaches Christ (aka Joshua Grannell) hosted a drag show called “The Return of the Living Drag II: Drag By Dawn.” Held in front of a highly energized capacity crowd in the convention center’s Grand Ballroom (at over 20 thousand square feet, the largest ballroom space in the venue), this event also featured a sneak preview of Grannell’s upcoming film There’s a Zombie Outside.
A couple of alien cosplayers space rock the Haunted Mansion Inspired Ghostly Retreat backdrop
In other fabulous news, streetwear and lingerie company Poltergeists and Paramours haunted the Showfloor Stage, delighting folks with a fashion show of their apparel. This year’s presentation featured several cutesy kooky and spooky outfits, elaborate and outrageous items and some very classy Victorian garments.
A performance from Stage Fright Theater Company’s presentation of Cobbs’ Carnival of Dreams
Things got a bit naughty during the Peepshow Menagerie burlesque show. Naturally, it had a haunted theme with dancers stripping off outfits inspired by Disney’s Haunted Mansion and Tim Burton films. The performance was peppered with raunchy humor from its emcee and prominently showcased the cheeks and sideboobs of the company’s stage kitten, who cleared the stripped garments after every act.
In not-so-naughty news, there was a showcase modeled on old-time vaudeville acts, presented by the Stage Fright Theater Company. Its acts ranged from comedy to singing and dancing and also featured performers in primate costumes (one chimpanzee and one sasquatch).
Peekaboo Gallery owner/event producer Jordan Reichek presented an exploration of classic spookshows that was equally entertaining and informative.
Cosplayer Brett Gustafson (@illusionalchemy) looks for Danny in the halls of the Long Beach Convention Center
Before introducing magician Christopher Hart, whose hand is best known as Thing from the ’90s Addams Family films Reichek took the audience on a historical journey through the rise of the once ubiquitous, pop-up spookshows that haunted movie theaters across the U.S. from the ’30s through the ’60s. His love for the tradition was evident not only in the passion he demonstrated but also in the extensive collection of vintage photos and advertisements that he curated for his presentation, which also served as an announcement for his upcoming spookshow homage, “Exotikon Super Shock Show,” taking place at L.A.’s historic Mayan Theatre on October 3.
In a final nod to the diversity of the haunted sights and sounds of Midsummer Scream, artist George Newnam’s “Casa Calaveras: A Walk-Thru Art Experience” made its return to Midsummer Scream. This highly imaginative showcase of fluorescent art installations displayed in a black-lit room predominantly featured sculptures inspired by traditional Mexican Día de Muertos art. However, some of the vignettes also synthesized creepy American and Chinese inspirations.
Model Olga Loera goes next level in this epic fluorescent make-up and costume designed by K.C. Mussman, Barbara Danielle (and others) for Nocturnal Designz
As always, any write-up I do about Midsummer Scream cannot be comprehensive. These are but a few glimpses of what the convention has to offer. I barely scratched the surface of the haunted attractions that occupied the Hall of Shadows, which, except for the “Gears of Fear” maze, prominently featured mazes and installations produced by grassroots organizations and family haunters, and I didn’t even mention the film festival, which takes place in the convention’s dedicated “Screaming Room.” Also, an essential component of the horror community that populates this event is the cosplay contingent. While many guests are happy to attend wearing their favorite horror movie t-shirts, others are next-level lifestylers who design their costumes and make-up and embody the characters that they portray. Many of those folks competed for the $500 cash prize at the costume contest held at the event’s official after-hours bash, “The Party for the Recently Deceased.”
A possessed Regan cosplayer touches up her make-up
Finally, it would be a crime for me to wrap this up without mentioning the spectacular sights of the show floor. It is here, among the monstrously large theme park and film studio photo op vignettes; hundreds of make-up, props, clothing and memorabilia vendors; performance areas; and celebrities that the community comes together. The sheer magnitude of SoCal genre fandom is palpable when you are immersed in this belly of the beast that is Midsummer Scream.
A scarecrow and a hurdy-gurdy monkey gone bad (?) invite guests to attend Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest
