I’m back from spending 24 hours (give or take) of sci-fi and horror insanity at the 7th installment of the Sci-Fi Spectacular in Chicago. The event was held at the historic Portage Theater in Chicago, Illinois on this past Saturday, March 9th from 12pm until 12pm on Sunday. I’m tired, I need a shower, but extremely satisfied at the film screenings and special guests that were in attendance.
Brought to us by the good folks behind the Terror in the Aisles events, the Sci-Fi Spectacular 7 was a non-stop, full day of awesomeness that’s hard to beat for fans of classic films. On hand as the special guest of the event was film director Frank Henenlotter, director of such cult films as Basket Case 1-3, Brain Damage, and Frankenhooker. Alas, he was not giving any interviews, which was a disappointment to me, but on with the show as they say. Henenlotter introduced a screening of his film Brain Damage with an audience Q&A afterwards. Henenlotter was also signing autographes and taking pictures in the lobby afterwards.
Other guests included: Jay Bonansinga co-author of The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor & Walking Dead: Road to Woodbury.
Chris Kuchta, artist/author of the book In Vivid Red.
Albert Cadabra who performed some cool stuff onstage such as hammering a nail into his skull, for real.
As well as several vendor tables full of great stuff to buy. Aside from the feature film screenings, there was a cool 50’s one minute trailer competition that featured some hilarious trailers from amateur filmmakers. Films screened during the event were such classics as: Attack of the Giant Leeches, Matinee, The Dark Crystal, Soylent Green, Brain Damage, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (78), In the Mouth of Madness, Dark City, Shock Waves, The Last Man on Earth, Silent Running, and Battle Royale.
Attendance for the show was near capacity for prime time hours and just a little less for the wee hours of the night screenings. I have to give a hand to the event coordinators and promoters because they put on a great show that came off without a hitch.
