I’ve always considered myself something of a horror fan. I’ve even made a couple of horror films! I’ve had the privilege of working with the likes of Doug Bradley, Bill Moseley, Kane Hodder, and Michael Berryman, but the thing is I’ve never actually been to a horror convention, something which surely all proper fans do, right?
So when ‘Blazing Minds’ asked me to pop along to the first ever Leicester Horror Con and soak up all the gory fun therein, I jumped at the chance. I also casually suggested to my wife that it would make a lovely family day out with Indie, our intrepid seventeen-month-old daughter. What could possibly render that a questionable idea?
Superbly organised by horror fanatic, Nathan Leverton, this inaugural convention housed itself primarily in Leicester’s medieval Guildhall, reputed to be one of the most haunted spots in the county and a glorious old building perfectly fitting for an event such as this.
When my family and I rocked up to the entrance we were (probably inevitably) greeted by gore-laden, cos-playing frighteners – snarling wolf masks, bloodied pig snouts, blood stained machetes… you get the picture. My wife momentarily had second thoughts about the age appropriateness of all this for our innocent little girl. However, progressive parents that we are, we thought ‘sod it’ and took the plunge!
I don’t honestly know if the terrifying characters that prowled amongst the ‘Dark Market’ in the Guildhall were fans, actors, or genuine monsters, but we were suddenly face to face with brain-exposed Cenobites, werewolves, zombies, animal-masked You’re Next tributes (fully armed with crossbows and other assorted weaponry), and hordes of fans in their film-related tee shirts (I should confess I was wearing a The Shining inspired tee shirt, emblazoned with the carpet pattern from the Overlook Hotel).
Indie loved it! Who’d have thought it? I suddenly realised that fear is entirely relative and that actually a seventeen month old girl barely even quivers at the prospect of being in frightening proximity to (and having a selfie taken with) a blood drenched, pig-head wearing, knife wielding psycho fresh from the Texas boonies, no doubt. She took particular interest in a huge furry werewolf character, who I swear was following us! The simple fact is that everyone seemed to be having a great time – I think the most surreally touching sight was a toddler (not mine!) having a nice hug from a ‘Jason’, who had at least pulled his machete out of the way to enjoy the moment. Fear really is relative!
Amidst all this was a dizzying display of fan art, DVDs, posters and dolls etc from numerous traders – again, my fan status was called into question at the sight of hundreds of DVDs of films I have never heard of – a veritable treasure trove to the true fanatic. A fine collection of guests, with photoshoots and autographs available, included Hammer Icon Madeline Smith (Taste the Blood of Dracula, The Vampire Lovers), Game of Thrones giant Ian Whyte, Hugo Myatt (Knightmare), and several time Neil Marshall collaborator Craig Conway (The Descent, Doomsday).
I had a brief catch up with Craig (he wins the prize for being the first to comment on my shirt), who I first met when he visited the set of my last film, Shed of the Dead, and introduced him to my wife as one of the crawlers from The Descent. She looked at him in genuine horror and said, ‘you’re disgusting, you scared the sh*t out of me!’ to which Craig grinned in utter approval. Because that’s what it’s really all about. Fear is fun.
It was my first time. It was Leicester’s first time. And if this is anything to go by we’ll all be back for more. Leicester Horror Con will no doubt go from strength to strength and I wholeheartedly recommend it to horror fans of all levels. Check them out on Facebook (@leicesterhorrorcon) to see more of what seems was a hugely successful weekend.
I have written multiple screenplays, have a degree in English Lit and Creative writing from UEA and have been writing longer than I’ve been talking. I love it, and I love films – hell, I even make them!
