Fright Nights and Demonic Days
I’ve been attending Ontario California’s CreepIECon horror convention since it first arrived at the Ontario Convention Center in February of 2022. I loved the idea of an early Halloween celebration during the season of Valentine’s Day (Halloween is a state of mind). Over the past few years, I’ve been pleased to watch the event grow exponentially from a local curiosity into a full-scale fandom happening. CreepIECon now warrants exclusive event-only issues from Fangoria magazine, and even hatched a smaller-scale sequel convention in its sophomore year called CreepIE Aftermath, held at the same locale. CreepIECon is now a semiannual happening in SoCal’s Inland Empire, with the number of attendees threatening to burst the seams of its current venue.
The unusually long line to get redeem/buy tickets for CreepIECon’s shorter Friday event schedule.
If there is any downside to CreepIECon’s increasing size, it’s the increasing complexity of the event. Like the gargantuan San Diego Comic Con, there were a number of logistical issues this year, such as event security and line wranglers not fully understanding how such things are supposed to work. For example, 3-day pass holders being sent to the first-time ticket buyers’ line, after clearly displaying their full-weekend wristbands. This misunderstanding (one of several) forced myself and others to wait at least 40 minutes in the wrong line on Saturday morning, while gaining a fresh sunburn in the process (it’s warm here in California, though I feel for those in the grip of winter’s teeth elsewhere in the US). Some of the longer autograph lines were ridiculously unwieldy, too.
Outside the Exhibit Hall and meeting rooms of the Ontario Convention Center.
Prices for celebrity autographs shot up dramatically as well, with bigger names now averaging between $80-$100 (an average autograph at this venue used to run between $40-$60). Drawing bigger names and increasing visibility to the event does have its drawbacks. Going to CreepIECon feels almost like a trip to Las Vegas these days. Bringing as much cash as possible is highly recommended for attendees. Despite the challenges and logistical issues associated with CreepIECon V’s growing pains, there were still plenty of colorful encounters and frightful fun to be had at this year’s event.
Monstrous Merch and Wicked Wares
Inside the convention center main entrance and to your left is the large the Exhibit Hall, aka the Dealer Hall, where hats, t-shirts, books, costumes, masks, collectibles, hand-crafted wares and other ghoulishly groovy merch can be found. The Exhibit Hall has a fast food cafeteria in back (along with other eateries in the convention center) to feed the appetites of hungry horror hounds, as well as a wide row of celebrities signing autographs for fright fans (more autographs were given across the hall in the main ballroom). The Exhibit Hall also offered special FX makeup tutorials and even tattooing (!), where attendees can partake in their own monstrous metamorphoses…
A CreepIECon exclusive free issue of Fangoria magazine, and an extremely RARE 1974 paperback copy of “William Peter Beatty on The Exorcist”; author/screenwriter Blatty’s firsthand account detailing the genesis of “The Exorcist” and the process of turning his bestseller book into the now-classic film (still the most terrifying movie ever made, IMO). I found the book at one of the many vendor tables, and I can’t wait to read it!
Phantoms of the Photo Ops
There are multiple photo op stations for fans to pose in throughout the convention, with volunteers to take their photos. Some of them were in the Exhibit Hall, but many of them are now spilling out into the adjacent corridors, as this ever-expanding event threatens to burst at the seams.
A “Friday the 13th“-themed photo op, with a signpost pointing the way to Camp Crystal Lake (the cursed New Jersey summer camp of the film series) as well as Jason carrying what appears to be the head of Freddy Kruger. Guess that answers the question of who won 2003’s monster mashup movie “Freddy v. Jason.”
Freddy Kruger of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” movies morphs out of an old cathode ray tube TV in this eerily sparse photo op. During the convention, I saw a few younger attendees stare more incredulously at the vintage TV than the Freddy-antenna/apparatus. Wonder if celebrity guest Robert Englund tried this one out for old time’s sake?
“Fear Farm”
While not exactly on a par with the Halloween-themed Knott’s Scary Farm, CreepIECon has its own walk-thru, jump-scare house of horrors attraction called “Fear Farm.” While last year’s “Fear Farm” had a toxic waste motif, this year was all about psychotic killer clowns, which is fitting, since I used to be scared shitless of clowns as a little boy. Something about those distorted grins and ghostly white makeup. Anyway, I recorded my own Fear Farm walk-thru for you, so, enjoy…
Supernatural Celebrity Sightings
Despite a cancellation from “The Evil Dead” star Bruce Campbell, this year’s CreepIECon had a great talent lineup: Cassandra Peterson (“Elvira”), Kiefer Sutherland (“The Lost Boys” “Dark City”), Robert Englund (“Nightmare on Elm Street,” “V”), Henry Winkler (“Happy Days,” “Scream”), Skeet Ulrich (“Scream”), Linda Blair (“The Exorcist,”) Lou Diamond Phillips (“La Bamba”), David Dastmalchian (“Late Night with the Devil”) and many more, including “Back to the Future” alums Christopher Lloyd (‘Doc Brown’) and Thomas F. Wilson (“Biff Tannen”). With those last two guests, CreepIECon is now reaching beyond horror and into mainstream pop culture territory. Judging by the number of attendees in their autograph lines (myself included), I’d say no one had an issue with that, either.
The Fonz and I, 50 years later…
On Friday night of CreepIECon, I had a brief, sentimental reunion with actor/producer/author and director Henry Winkler, after first meeting him 50 years ago in 1976 (the height of Fonzie-mania), when I was a shy 9-year old kid and diehard “Happy Days” fan (my kid sister recently reminded me that I had a Fonzie poster in my room). During that 1976 encounter at a downtown Los Angeles autograph event, I remember Winkler and I traded pens (he liked my fine-tip black pen, and I got his blue marker), and we posed for a Polaroid together. Winkler was very kind to the starstruck younger me, and I remember returning to school that following Monday with a newfound shot of confidence, as my friends and classmates all wanted to see my photo and hear what it was like to “meet the Fonz!” Sadly, that Polaroid is long lost to time, as is the old autograph (many moves and major life upheavals since then), which is why I’m so glad I got another chance to meet him. I’m pleased to say he’s still a delightful man, with seemingly inexhaustible supplies of patience and kindness for his fans. He’s also written the popular “Hank Zipler” children’s books, whose titular hero reflects Winkler’s own struggle with dyslexia.
On the other side of the ballroom was Christopher Lloyd (“Back to the Future,” “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”). Lloyd was a real trouper; signing for hundreds of eager fans while nimbly dividing his time between autograph signings and photo ops, but greeting each fan with a smile and handshake throughout was must’ve been (for him) a very long Friday night. I’d already met Lloyd at the NostalgiaCon80s in Anaheim back in 2019 (pre-pandemic), but I was determined to get an autograph for my godson, who became a huge fan of the “Back to the Future” movies after we held a movie day marathon of the entire trilogy in our garage a few years ago, but couldn’t attend himself.
Lloyd poses with a beautifully made recreation of Doc Brown’s Mind-Reading Helmet prop from the first film, which was presented by a pair of professional prop-makers who were attending as VIPs that evening. Lloyd’s face lit up at the sight of it.
At the convention on Saturday (at the table next to costar Christopher Lloyd) was actorThomas F. Wilson, who played “Back to the Future” trilogy villain Biff Tannen, as well as his grandson Griff Tannen, and his Old West ancestor Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen (“Nobody calls me Mad Dog!”). The precise opposite of his Tannen characters, Wilson was polite and gentlemanly, and would smile broadly when the occasional young fan arrived at his table. I also loved his performance in “Blood In, Blood Out” (1993); a terribly underrated crime saga, on a par with “Goodfellas” or even “The Godfather.” I told Wilson I’d almost forgot it was him in that film, which I half-kiddingly attributed to his acting skill. He got a laugh out of that.
Paranormal Panels
After spending much of Friday and Saturday stuck in long lines for autographs, I was still unable to get the autograph or photo of “Elvira” actress-comedian Cassandra Peterson. I’ve been a fan of hers since her bad movie-mocking series “Movie Macabre” (1981-1985), and I loved her 2021 autobiography “Cruelly Yours.” However, Peterson’s autograph line were simply too long and was moving at a snail’s pace, which made the arthritis in my legs throb. Not accepting a repeat of my failure to get Peterson’s autograph at CreepIECon 2025, I decided the best way to get a photo of the elusive Elvira was to attend her discussion panel on Sunday, the final day of the convention. In addition to Peterson’s panel, there was also a fascinating panel on the women costars of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” movies.
The actresses also delivered funny production anecdotes from their “Nightmare…” movies, including Brooke Theiss being asked to “scream like a cockroach” (because we all know how loudly those throaty little buggers can scream, right?). Each actress spoke of what they’d like to see in a future “Nightmare…” movie, with Amanda Wyss detailing a new film where Freddy Kruger was more of an implicitly spectral menace than a literal killer.
Brooke Bundy, Joann Willette, Tuesday Knight, moderator Diandra Lazor, Amanda Wyss, Lisa Wilcox and Brooke Theiss. The “Nightmare on Elm Street” panelists spoke of horror movies offering wider acting opportunities for women than other genres. This was a fascinating panel, and I’m not exactly the greatest “Nightmare on Elm Street” fan, to be honest…
The panel, however brief (about 35 minutes), did not disappoint.
Peterson also talked about meeting three of The Beatles, and beamed appreciatively as the moderators reminded her that to attendees of this panel, she was their Beatles.
Unfortunately, in keeping with the mounting logistical issues of this year’s CreepIECon, a panel for the “Scream” movies that would’ve featured stars Skeet Ulrich, Dermot Mulroney, Lee Waddell and Jasmin Savoy Brown was cancelled some 20 minutes after it was due to begin. I watched as angry fans headed towards the exit, one of them saying “This was the only reason I attended,” and other (justified) complaints. The ‘official’ reason given for the cancellation was that one of the celebrities had become ill, which is nonsense, since I’ve attended literally hundreds of panels at conventions where one or more attendees had to cancel (even headliners). Whatever happened to “the show must go on” ?
Coven of Colorful Cosplayers
Despite the issues with this year’s event, none of it marred my favorite part of sci-fi/fantasy/horror conventions, which is the cosplay. Cosplayers are the heart and soul of any fandom event, and here were a few of them who crossed my smartphone’s camera…
While standing in the interminably long lost for Cassandra Peterson’s autograph on Saturday, I came across this Elvira cosplayer, sporting the Mistress of the Dark’s Halloween-look, complete with Bride of Frankenstein-striped wig!
Have I mentioned that all clowns are evil incarnate?
The warm morning sun was a bit incongruous for “The Shining” characters Jack and Wendy Torrance, but these two looked great.
A Valentine’s Day slasher pairs with The Grinch, in full Christmas regalia.
Cosplayers for the alien invasion/mind-control classic, “They Live” (1988). John Carpenter’s most overtly political film is more timely than ever, considering the dangerous, cult-like influence of Donald Trump on modern politics.
If anyone wants to see more, all 85 of my photos (and video) from CreepIECon V can be found in this link.
Summing It Up
The increasing popularity and size of CreepIECon–now heading into its fifth year–brought increasing difficulties with manageability and logistics. This year saw issues arise with line control, last-second cancellations and increasingly high autograph prices. Since attending the first tiny CreepIECon back in 2022, I’m beginning to wonder if the once-small horror con is outgrowing its venue. Personally, I hope that’s not the case, since CreepIECon offers a unique outlet of expression for horror fans living in or near the Inland Empire of SoCal. Here’s hoping next year’s event puts a firmer cap on ticket sales or opens up any small, unused nooks and crannies of the convention center.
Speaking for myself, it was wonderful to see actors Henry Winkler and Christopher Lloyd again, and while I once again gave up my attempts to meet Cassandra Peterson, I at least got to attend her panel and enjoy the actress-comedian’s hilarious anecdotes (as the moderator said, “{her} life should be a movie”). With ever-rising autograph expenses and complexity, I still plan to attend CreepIECon for as long as I can, since its basic $75 three-day (non-VIP) weekend Purple Pass remains a good value. Despite this year’s issues, I still recommend the Inland Empire’s CreepIECon convention to horror and pop culture fans with deep pockets, tenacity and patience.
