FearTASTIC Vault O’FUN #146
CONVENTION REVIEW: MonsterPalooza! (2025)
Director(s): N/A
Writer(s): N/A
Starring: Jamal Almustapha, Justin Quizon, Patrick Mathews
For someone who waxes poetic about macabre entertainment on a monthly basis, no, I really don’t go to a lot of horror-themed events. Perhaps it’s that line that when crossed, my subconscious will start giving me that judgmental look of being a bit too on the nose, like, “Really? We don’t do this enough on our own?” Or perhaps it’s the concern that I might purchase too much sh*t to fill a space that’s already filled with, one could argue, too much useless sh*t already, but nevertheless, when an Agent of Guard, one of your besties, a Pinoy pal, gives you a call to adventure, you answer the damn phone.
Such was the case when Justin Quizon, one of the OG Agents and long, long, long…loooooong, time comrade of mine told me about MonsterPalooza, I was instantly intrigued. The name alone made it quite clear that this was a horror festival with a more festive tone and appealed more towards creature features/effects, which was right up my alley. As a horror purist (not a snob mind you!) in the sense where I prefer practical effects when it comes to my flicks (as I’m sure you’ve read in plenty of entries) so a convention that celebrated the artform of macabre entertainment sounded like a spook-tacular time! In a nutshell, MonsterPalooza is a three-day event held in the Pasadena Convention Center that features over 400 exhibitors celebrating creature features, makeup, practical effects and all sorts of horror film and overall macabre merchandise! This year, the event took place from Friday, MAY-30th to Sunday, JUN-2nd, 2025.
We had Saturday, JUN-1st tickets and the purchasing of the tix was easy enough through EventBrite and if you have the app, even easier since you can store it on your app, email or even Apple Wallet (easiest way if you have an iPhone). After filling up on stupendous breakfast burritos and coffee, we headed to the venue, and we were pleasantly surprised on how lucky we got in finding parking at the garage that was literally next to the convention center. The parking options were plentiful around the area, with plenty of parking garages next to the venue but they do however vary in price. Ironically enough the one that was closest to the convention center was cheaper than the ones that were further away, but again, we got lucky that we got a spot at the garage that was so close, especially because we had gotten there before the 11am event start time. The line to the entrance of the event snaked all around the convention center, and the heat was starting to poke its head out to say hello to all the freaks waiting to get inside. Once we found ourselves at the back of the line, pretty much at the back of the convention center, the heat was in full blast (around the 90s that day) and thankfully, they had event volunteers ready at the end of the line giving wristbands for those folks who already had their purchased tickets through EventBrite! It dawned on Justin and I…that we did not GIVE A SH*T if we were one of the first hundred to get into the event before anyone else, so why does it matter?
As a result, the minute we got our wristbands, we booked it to the Marriot that was literally and conveniently connected to the back of the convention center and entered the air-conditioned Oasis that had clean, and more importantly, EMPTY restrooms and relaxed for about a half an hour or so, enjoying each other’s company and waited for the chaos to die down. As we left the hotel, we were delighted to find out that about 100 feet away from the hotel exit was a side entrance to the convention that was practically empty, almost like a hidden entrance if you will, and so we proceeded to enter the convention and with that, our adventure into the macabre COMMENCED! As you enter the convention, you’re met with what you expect as far as the creative cosplay of various slashers, monsters, creatures of all kinds but for freaks like me, it felt more like a warm, bloody hug.
And now my freaks, some highlights:
Saw displays from V/H/S – BEYOND, which I thoroughly enjoyed (check out FearTASTIC Vault O’FUN #136) in all their glory! It was bitchin’ to see the creatures in all their glory! It was bitchin’ to see the creatures to scale, if not a bit terrifying thinking what if those bastards came to life but yeah, fun stuff!
We were able to check out a panel talking about the history of the making of the Bride of Frankenstein featuring Justin’s pal, Antonia Carlotta (@antoniacarlotta)! I enjoyed this panel because there were a bunch of funny anecdotes about the making of this sequel, filled with fun facts, like why there were so many British people cast in the movie and how Boris Karloff (Frankenstein’s monster himself) made BANK compared to the first movie.
Had the pleasure meeting Isabelle Fuhrman from The Orphan flicks! Super personable, super cool and yeah, just SUPER all around.
Checked out the booth of Indie Horror director Doug Roos (@horrormoviedirector) while chatting a bit about the magic that is practical effects and Justin even snagged his latest Japanese horror flick, #Bakemono (of which I hope to review SOOOOOON)! Very cool guy and just from the pure esthetics of this flick, I’m really looking forward to giving this one a watch!
Listened in on a panel featuring past baddies (in both senses of the word) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Juliet Landau (Drusilla) and Clare Kramer (Glory) as they told some fun behind the scenes stories from the set, their respective auditions and other hijinks while showing clips from the show which is always a treat!
Having a HOWLIN’ good time with TEEN WOLF
The event featured a “MonsterPalooza Museum” featuring select displays from various movies, shows, etc. just for this event and ranged from different eras from classic Universal to modern slashers. It was an impressive and eclectic collection of memorabilia that was very similar to what you basically saw on the main floor, but it was nice that you get to see all of them organized in a way so that you can see them without the barrage of merch/makeup/etc. tables in between.
Met up with our pal, Patrick (@patrick_y_mathews) at his booth and got to check out his beautiful masks and sculptures. The man is PURE FearTASTIC TALENT my friends. His attention to detail on his creatures are stuff of beautiful nightmares and I mean that in the best way possible. We’ve known this Dood for years so it’s fantastic to see him in his element…also easy on the eyes, amirite ladies???
As Justin and I were casually perusing booths, we stopped dead in our tracks when we saw a booth called Disperse Home Media (@disperse_homemedia) selling horror-themed shirts. Now I know what you’re thinking… “No sh*t, dumbass, you’re at a horror convention” BUT…these were not just regular horror shirts, but HORROR-THEMED DIRECTOR SHIRTS. The shirts were an homage to horror directors with one side having their name and images from some of their most famous flicks while the other side listing out all their movies! Justin and I couldn’t bust out our wallets fast enough and I ended up buying one that honored the King of grotesque David Cronenberg (The Fly, Scanners) while Justin honored the horror legend, John Carpenter (Halloween…and yeah, you know). The selection and styles of these shirts are just so pleasing to the eye and the quality of the material is top-notch!
Ran into this Martian, probably my favorite creature costume from the event, WELL DONE!
There was something more special about this convention as we made our way across the various booths filled with different kinds of merch, makeup, displays, etc. and then it hit me; I was able to experience all of this while having one of my closest and longest comrades with me by my side, making quips, trading stories, swapping fun facts, pointing out cool sights, etc. and yes, I think that’s what makes any sort of activity fun but especially in an event that was literally made for sensory overload.
…and now, since it is OCTOBER, I would usually take this opportunity to introduce a movie/actor/character/cast/etc. as this year’s Inductee(s) to the FearTASTIC LEGENDS VAULT but this year, let’s shake it up a bit and break that fourth wall! This year, I want to celebrate my friendship with my fellow FREAK, Justin Quizon, this year’s Inductee to the FearTASTIC LEGENDS VAULT! Thanks for decades of horror themed conversations, jokes, pitches, castings, quips, and now…conventions.
You rock dood.
FearTASTIC LEGENDS VAULT 2025 Inductee
Justin Quizon (@justinquiz)
Life is FAR more interesting when we take interest in things that scare us.