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Review: Roxsy & Me

roxsynmeNow that I’ve finished listening to “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston on repeat for several hours, I can finally come to grips with the realization that Roxsy Tyler and her webseries “Carnival of Horrors” are finished. I’ve been a fan of “Roxsy Tyler’s Carnival of Horrors” since 2011 (I’m late to everything good) both because of Carmela Hayslett’s alter ego’s comedic timing and originally and the fact that there are so few horror hosts left in existence. Luckily, after announcing the character’s retirement in pursuit of a professional acting career, Carmela also announced that she would be giving her fans the proper goodbye with a short film to wrap up all the lose ends and stir up old feelings one last time. The film is called Roxsy & Me.

Roxsy & Me is written, directed, and lead by Carmela Hayslett, who plays herself and the horror hosting carnival owner. Many members of the Potent Media team and their supporters appear in the short, too, including Deer Crossing and Apocalypse Kiss director Christian Jude Grillo, John Martineau, Chuck Maher, John Michael Kent, Will Sachs, and D.M. Folger Jr. Other cast members include David B. Stewart III, Sharon Smyth Lenz (“Dark Shadows”), David M. Sitbon, Rob Dimension, Loren W. Lepre, Karen Scioli (“Saturday Night Dead”), and Angela Pritchett.

“In order to pursue a serious career in acting, Carmela Hayslett hangs up her top hat and retires her popular horror hosting personality, Roxsy Tyler. The problem is… she’s the only one who’s moved on. Her former co-hosts live to badger her and the fan base she left behind refuses to support her movie career. Meanwhile, locked in a little box somewhere in Hayslett’s psyche, Roxsy Tyler is alive, well, and ready repossess the actress’s body!”

The first thing I enjoyed about Roxsy & Me is that it’s honest. Speaking to the fans directly right now, this film pulls no punches and is unapologetic in the way it answers your questions and addresses the indie scene’s rumors. I feel as if Carmela wrote this almost as an interview, or dialogue addressed to the people who have questioned her motives in the last year. So, you get the truth, straight from the actress herself, while also enjoying a wacky short film that’s of higher quality than the webseries itself. The film is almost like a film within a film within a documentary, on some serious Inception type shit. Actors play themselves and their “Carnival of Horrors” counterparts. Actors often break the fourth wall. Yet it’s still a movie. It’s really complicated to explain (as you can see with this paragraph), but it was written and produced in a very clear way that is articulate, professional, and fun.

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Even though this is the carnival’s final roller coaster ride, I can’t help but feel like everyone has evolved and matured since the webseries’ original airing. The camera work and editing choices are much better. All of the actors gave more realistic, well sculpted performances. The humor was toned down to a less “in your face” volume and was delivered on point. The feeling I can relate Roxsy & Me to is watching my friend’s child graduate high school. The person crossing the finishing line is a newer version of themselves, having grown through struggles and experiencing what life has to offer, both the good and the bad. This is how I would like to feel and think about Roxsy Tyler and “Carnival of Horrors” as this chapter comes to a close. Pride. As Roxsy Tyler and the Potent Media cross the finish line, I feel pride for them knowing what they have accomplished and knowing that they are closing this particular chapter and moving on to the next one bigger, better, and happier than ever. Despite being sad that the webshow is over, I can’t be sad that it happened.

While Carmela Hayslett carries this short film on her shoulders, I would like to acknowledge that it contains two noteworthy appearances that technically count as moments in horror history. First, Karen Scioli revives her character Stella from “Saturday Night Dead” for this one shot opportunity. Not only was this the first time fans have seen Stella in over twenty years, but it’s the first time that two horror hosts from different generations have appeared on screen together. Also, Sharon Smyth Lenz has a cameo as Merrill’s Grandma. This is the first time horror fans have seen Sarah Collins from “Dark Shadows” on screen in nearly thirty years. Both women have clearly ripened with age and are just as beautiful and enchanting as ever.

I’m going to give Roxsy & Me a 10 out of 10 star rating, something I rarely do…and not because Roxsy Tyler takes a brutal stab at remakes and big Hollywood in general in this movie. If I look at this short film for what it is – a farewell, a last romp in the sack, a last “I love you” to the fans – it is the perfect love letter. It is everything “Carnival of Horror” fans would want it to be. It was so good to see the familiar faces and wild antics again that the half hour short flew by; it really felt like it was only on for about ten minutes. Normally I would critique a short film for not being long enough, but in this case…I think it’s suiting. It’s always better to go out on top (hat) and, I can say with a 100% guarantee, that with Roxsy & Me the gang are going out on the highest of highs. However, I will always continue to support Carmela Hayslett, Christian Jude Grillo, and the Potent Media family wherever the film industry takes them. Personally, I’m saddened to see Phili’s last horror host retire, but I think Roxsy & Me will cement her in the spot she needs to be – The Horror Host Hall of Fame. I think this will be enough to catapult her onto the roster of the most beloved horror hosts of all time…whether she likes it or not! I’ll see you at the ceremony, Roxsy. Until then.

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Michael DeFellipo

(Senior Editor)

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