On February 4-5, 2006, horror returns to Texas, thanks to Loyd Cryer. The life-long horror fan decided to take the plunge and put on his own horror convention – TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND 2006. The First Horror Convention in Texas boasts guests like Bill Moseley and Sid Haig, Tom Savini, Betsy Palmer and Linnea Quigley. He’s also planning on hosting the 20th Anniversary of the sequel to the ultimate Lone Star State shocker: “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Part 2”.
“I’ve been a huge horror fan since I was 4 years old,” Cryer says. “Seriously. I have also lived in Texas my whole life thinking that I was the only fan in the south until recently. I have seen the fan base grow in this area by leaps and bounds. There are many fan websites that base their operations out of Texas. Texas is huge and we know the fans are out there in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. Not to mention our neighboring states Oklahoma and Louisiana. The local fans are excited that they will have a chance to attend a horror convention right here in Texas.”
Recently known more for its conservative politics than its love of horror, Cryer insists that Texas is dying for a show like this. “The misconception is that everyone in Texas is just a bunch of rednecks and cowboys. People have always seemed to think along those lines but you have to remember that Texas has given birth to some very important people in the horror industry. Joe Bob Briggs, Tobe Hooper, Robert Rodriguez. We have a very diverse group of people and a lot of them are horror fans. The fans have been wanting this to happen here for a while. The independent film scene is big and getting bigger in Texas. When we started promoting the convention we got a big response from indie filmakers wanting us to show their Texas made horror films.”
To that end, The Texas Frightmare Weekend will be dripping with Texas influence. “Joe Bob, ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pt 2’ Reunion, Terry Lofton’s ‘Nail Gun Massacre’, horror themed music by Texas bands (Rigor Mortis, The Horiffics, Freak13), and of course Texas made horror films! And at the same time you will still be to meet Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Debbie Rochon and more!”
For more information, check out the Texas Frightmare Weekend website.
