Reel to Real Filming Locations: October 2023

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Halloween: 45 Years of Terror Convention (2023)

Since the 40 Years of Terror Convention, Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021) and Halloween Ends (2022) were all released. Three new films meant a slew of new guests for the David Gordon Green trilogy. In addition, Brent Le Page, Gwen Van Dam, Jennifer Rhodes and Jadeen Barbor were welcome first timers as well as fan favorites like Nick Castle, PJ Soles, Dick Warlock and Danielle Harris. While a certain Scream Queen was absent, the convention saw its first appearance by Master of Horror John Carpenter! Panel discussions provided some interesting and humorous anecdotes in between perusing the plethora of vendors with merchandise of all things Halloween.

Friday, September 29, 2023

Horror's Hallowed Grounds Bus Tour

In keeping with tradition, the Horror's Hallowed Grounds Bus Tour kicked off the weekend festivities. I was fortunate to be asked back as a tour guide and led Bus #6. With new bus restrictions, a lot more walking was required this time around - 9.2 miles to be exact. Everyone was a trooper and a lot of people got to see the filming locations for the first time. The standard route included locations from Halloween (1978), Halloween II (1981), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) and Halloween (2007).

Saturday, September 30 & Sunday, October 1, 2023

Gwen Van Dam - Nurse, TV Version of Halloween (1978)

Jennifer Rhodes - Nurse, TV Version of Halloween (1978)

Brent Le Page - Lonnie, Halloween (1978)

Tom Morga - The Shape, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Halloween (1978) Panel

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) Panel

Michael Myers Panel

David Gordon Green Trilogy Panel

John Carpenter Panel

In keeping with tradition, I always get the post convention blues. Months of anticipation and it's over in a flash. But it was another great experience meeting new cast and crew from the franchise as well as fellow fans. With the news that Miramax has won the rights to the franchise, it will be interesting to see where it goes as we head toward the big 5 0.

Related Locations:

Halloween (1978) , Halloween II (1981), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988), Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989), Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (1998), Halloween (2007), Halloween II (2009), Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), Halloween Ends (2022), Halloween: 25 Years of Terror Convention (2003), Halloween: 30 Years of Terror Convention (2008), Jamie Lee Curtis Horrorhound Weekend (2012), Halloween: 35 Years of Terror Convention (2013), Halloween: 40 Years of Terror Convention (2018)

Monday, October 9, 2023

Hell Night (1981)

In order to join Alpha Sigma Rho, four college students must spend the night at Garth Manor, an abandoned mansion where a family murder took place. Soon they are terrorized by two of the supposedly dead Garth brothers, leaving only Marti Gaines to make it until morning.

Hell Night was released during 1981's horror movie deluge. Even though it starred Linda Blair, it failed to scare up a decent box office or positive reviews. The most terrifying aspect was the shooting schedule, which consisted of 18 hour days, 6 days a week.

Hell Night was filmed in Redlands and Sierra Madre, CA

Location: The Fraternity House

Address: 1200 East Colton Avenue, Redlands, CA

The University of Redlands - Memorial Chapel

Location: Garth Manor

Address: 1325 Prospect Drive, Redlands, CA

The lavish Kimberly Crest House & Gardens was used for Garth Manor. The house was built in 1897 for Cornelia A. Hill, a Redland pioneer.

This was also the location for Fleetwood Mac's Big Love (1987) music video.

Location: The Police Station

Address: 55 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA

This is just across the street from The Buccaneer Bar from Halloween III: Season of The Witch (1982) and down the street from the film's town square, which is also the town square in Halloween II (1981).

Locations Visited: February 2023

Locations Master List

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

It's been a year since The Freeling house imploded and now the Cuesta Verde community has been transformed into an archeological dig. The Freelings have moved to Phoenix and live with Diane's mother. But the nightmare isn't over as the spirit of the insane Reverend Henry Kane is after Carol Anne. With the help of Taylor, a Native American shaman, and the reliable Tangina Barrons, The Freelings enter a cavern below their former home where Kane pulls Diane and Carol Anne over to the other side. Robbie and Steve follow, the latter ultimately taking out Kane with a native spear.

They're baaaaaaack! And to no one's surprise after the first Poltergeist film made over 70 million dollars. Most of the cast returned but notably missing was Dominique Dunne, who was murdered in 1982. Julian Beck gives an incredible and chilling performance as the sinister Reverend Henry Kane, even though he was battling stomach cancer at the time. He would pass away before the movie was released. Poltergeist II: The Other Side made roughly less than half of its predecessor. Critics were less than impressed. It was an uphill battle considering what it had to live up to. I found it to be a decent sequel, especially considering what we got next.

Poltergeist II: The Other Side was filmed in Chatsworth, Encino and Altadena, CA and Chinle, AZ

Location: En Route to Cuesta Verde

Address: Canoga Avenue & Celtic Street, Chatsworth, CA