Since 2012 Black Gate Photog Chris Z and I have closed out spooky season with the Days of the Dead convention in November. For the past twelve years an O’Hare airport hotel has played host to the DotD, a horror and pop culture convention with annual stops in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and Phoenix, wrapping up its tour in Chicago (where it also stops in March).

Between the incredible array of vendors, the dedicated and detailed cosplayers, and the somewhat inexplicably long line for a photo with the cast of the Terrifier films, it was once again a weekend where the spooky and spectacular collided in the best way possible.

As always, DotD attracted an impressive list of celebrity guests willing to leave L.A. and brave the beginnings of a Chicago winter. This year’s lineup included Alice Cooper, Mira Sorvino, Rebecca Gayheart (Scream 2), Julie Benz (Buffy, Dexter), and Takako Fuji (Sadako from the original The Grudge films), among many others. Chris Z and I were most excited to meet Patricia Velasquez (Anck Su Namun) and Oded Fehr (Ardeth Bay), both from The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, but more on that in a minute.

Additionally, there were over 100 vendors selling everything from jewelry to movie memorabilia. What is especially wonderful about DotD in Chicago is the amount of material we always get from meeting indie filmmakers, new artists and aspiring writers.

That, and the opportunity to do a bit of holiday shopping…

So, let’s wade in, shall we?

McKinna’s Coin Jewelry: This booth stopped us in our tracks with stunning, one-of-a-kind jewelry. Specializing in transforming authentic coins into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more, each piece was handcrafted and preserved the intricate details of the coins. The jewelry at this show focused on horror icons, but the coin rings they showed us were incredible works of beauty and precision. Perfect for history buffs, world travelers, horror fans, or anyone looking for a truly unique piece of wearable art, check out their website for their ready-to-ship options, or to ask them about a custom piece.

Mindbender Custom Action Figures, Horror Dolls and Collectibles: There is something wonderfully ironic about scary custom dolls which started their lives as Disney princesses. Mindbender owners and artists Ostan and Tanya Wyndham are known for their intricate details and unique designs, some of which were once 18” Disney dolls. Each piece is made by hand, meticulously designed to delight collectors and pop-culture aficionados. Looking for the ultimate gift for a D&D fan? Mindbender can create figures based on custom characters which should generate plenty of Christmas squees.

Images By Light: We’re always on the lookout for the strange and unusual, and Images By Light definitely fits the bill. Specializing in creating stunning, illuminated artwork that transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones, Images combines the beauty of photography with the magic of light. Their artistic backlit creations depict everything from pop culture icons to landscapes and custom designs; the perfect add to any office or gaming space.

If you hang around here a lot, you know how much we love the indie horror scene and DotD turned up two creators we are dying to know more about.

Grinners the Movie from Refinery Films: Grinners is the current preproduction offering from Refinery Films. Helmed by filmmaker Jarod Hussey, Refinery is the quintessential indie company making high-quality short films to take on the festival circuit in hopes of attracting the attention of a large studio. Hussey’s previous outing In the Middle of the Night has won recognition at six 2024 festivals so far, including the Calgary Horror Con, The Horror Haven Film Expo and our own hometown Chicago Horror Film Festival.

Grinners tells the story of Marley, a moderately successful horror cooking show host, whose life spirals into chaos when she encounters a sinister possum mask. As Marley navigates a harrowing night, the story unfolds with gripping tension and unnerving imagery. The film promises to blend horror and dark humor, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.

Hussey gifted us with a copy of In the Middle of the Night which I cannot wait to watch, and then follow up with an interview. The indie film scene is where filmmakers are truly doing what they love and it’s fascinating to learn about the process.

More to come.

Joshua Brucker and Horror Dadz Productions: Horror Dadz Productions, led by filmmaker Joshua Brucker, specializes in independent horror, creating compelling and eerie stories that captivate fans of the genre. Current titles include The Summer We Died, Untitled Footage and Midnight Feature. We were excited to learn about their current production, a new take on werewolves called The Fairfield County Four.

In March of 2024, four internet personalities began production on an episode of their reality series. Randy, Emma, Pete, and Amy vanished without a trace. Connecticut state investigators collected their belongings from their cabin and called off the search after just two days. Families were left baffled and without answers as to where their loved ones had gone. A camera left behind by the four contained the footage they had filmed while producing their last episode. This is the last footage of The Fairfield County Four.

You can be part of the fun via Indigogo where the team has exceeded their funding goals but now have a stretch goal. And check out the teaser trailer…

They Mostly Pod Out at Night, Mostly: There’s nothing more exciting than connecting with people who are most definitely “our people.” I am embarrassed to admit that DotD was my first encounter with the geniuses behind the podcast They Mostly Pod Out at Night, Mostly, who go by the monikers Graveyard and Salem. And after all, who doesn’t love an Aliens reference?

TMPOaNM is the ultimate podcast for fans of horror, sci-fi, and all things creepy, exploring cult classics, underrated gems, as well as the latest releases in our beloved genre. Though I’ve only had time to catch two so far, I can tell you that each episode dives deep into the movies in a funny and highly entertaining way. Whether you’re a lifelong horror fan or just dipping your toes in, this podcast delivers the perfect blend of humor, insight, and nostalgia.

Watch this space for potential future collab news…

Actor and Author of The Atonement Bell, Jim Ousley: It was an unexpected pleasure to meet a gifted actor and author who blends his talents to tell compelling stories across multiple mediums. Jim Ousley is best known in the literary world for his 2022 graphic novel series The Atonement Bell, but we discovered we had also seen him on the big screen in the 2018 indie horror flick In Memory Of, produced by Wicked Pixel out of St. Louis.

Nominated for the 2023 Eisner for Best New Series, The Atonement Bell tells the story of Jake and his family who travel to St. Louis to visit during the holidays. Soon, Jake, his cousin Baby Al, and their Bosnian friend Sara must fight for their very lives when they discover the truth about the city’s devastating secret past. We not only loved the storyline, but the illustrations were exceptional. If you’re a graphic novel fan, this series needs to be on your radar.

And finally, it wouldn’t be DotD without an awesome celebrity encounter. The DotD showrunners have been incredibly welcoming to us every year and this year was no exception. We got access to the show ahead of the crowd and were lucky enough to meet Patricia Velasquez (Anck Su Namun) and Oded Fehr (Ardeth Bay), both from The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001), before their booths were mobbed when the door opened. As The Mummy is in my top 10 favorite movies it was all I could do to not fangirl all over them both.

Velasquez, who has continued to work in TV as well as independent films, spends much of her time these days in philanthropic pursuits. In 2002, she founded the Wayúu Tayá Foundation, a non-profit which preserves the culture of indigenous groups throughout Latin America. However, I had to ask her about something I always wondered about regarding her role in The Mummy. If you recall, Anck Su Namun is covered in head-to-toe body paint which gets smudged by Imhotep setting off the series of events which drives the plot. I was curious if that really was all body paint or if some of it was fabric.

Turns out it was all paint. Velasquez told us that all her scenes were shot together over the course of four days because of her “costume.” She initially spent a whopping fourteen hours having the semi-permanent makeup applied, which she then could not take off until her scenes were completed. This meant that she couldn’t shower and literally lived, slept and ate in the makeup for four straight days, and each day required an additional four hours of touch up. A large portion of her back was left makeup-free to avoid Velasquez getting heatstroke in the 100-degree-plus temperatures of Marrakesh, Morocco where her scenes were filmed. Still, the experience of heat, sand and full-body paint was miserable enough for Velasquez to stipulate she would only do the sequel if she could wear actual clothes.

If you don’t recognize Oded Fehr from The Mummy movies, then you probably know him from Star Trek: Discovery where he played Admiral Charles Vance from 2020-2024. Most recently he has been starring in the various movie shorts being filmed by his 21-year-old son Atticus Fehr. Atticus, who has worked on the crew of Where the Crawdads Sing and Twisters, is pursuing his big break doing short films, taking the same path as the filmmakers we met at DotD. I let Chris Z do most of the talking this time around so I could drool over, I mean admire, Fehr…

And that’s a wrap for the 2024 spooky season of events. But the long, cold winter has so many possibilities such as telling you about a new book that just arrived on my doorstep called The Dead of Winter: Beware the Krampus and Other Wicked Christmas Creatures, and the upcoming Robert Eggers film Nosferatu.

Stay tuned and Happy Thanksgiving to the Black Gate fans in the U.S.