Ghosts, goblins and ghouls, oh my!

Halloween may still be more than a month away, but that didn’t stop the ghosts and ghouls from coming out to Mount Royal University for the second annual Calgary Horror Con.

Lee Brown revs his chainsaw while posing as Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Photo: BAJ Visser

Occupying Wyckham House over the weekend of Sept. 22 and 23, creatures of night got a chance to mingle with horror movie stars, local artists, vendors, and organizations such as the Zombie Apocalypse Response Team and Calgary Ghost Tours.

“What’s so great about this convention is that it is so small and so intimate that you really get a chance to talk with your fans,” said Poltergeist actor Oliver Robins, who added that he was surprised by how many Calgarians recognized him.

“It really helps you realize how universal a medium film truly is. You can go anywhere in the world as an actor, and still be able to find someone who recognizes you from a film that had an impact on their lives.”

Over 40 organizations were represented throughout the main floor of Wyckham.

“So far it’s been really cool for us, meeting others who have common interests and themes,” said Johanna Lane of Calgary Ghost Tours, adding that events such as Horror Con can help with networking in Calgary’s growing horror community.

Model artist Neil Richardson echoed Lane’s sentiments. “I’ve been making some really great contacts with some of the other vendors here, and its really cool to know we’ve got this great community of fans here in Calgary.”

While Richardson was a bit disappointed in a lack of sales, he hopes that come next year a larger Con will mean more profit for Calgary’s horror vendors.

“At the moment, it’s a bit of an ego stroke, but I think a lot of us want to turn our passions into something that we can make a living off of,” Richardson said.Other artists and photographers also had a chance to show off their wares and talents, a number of models wandered the venue in ghastly get-ups.

Of Storms Creative Studios, which helped put together the event posters, was highlighting a number of their own models dressed as frozen corpses.“I really enjoy the darker stuff, it just has the emotional quality that I love,” Of Storms’ director Madigan Reilly said.

According to Claresholm-based horror author J.W. Schnarr, there’s lots to be excited about within the horror genre, and it’s one of those things people just can’t help but be fascinated by.

“Its the same kind of excitement people get when slowing down to look at a car accident. Nobody wants to look, but everybody does it anyways,” Schnarr said. Lee Brown, who was came dressed in an elaborate costume of Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, said the appeal lay in the chance to get dressed up and do “a little something outside of the norm.” “You only see smiles here,” Brown added. “People aren’t afraid of horror here, they’re laughing at it together, just having a good time.”