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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSaturday night offered a special treat for those attending the party in the expanded ballroom: a concert by a Ghost cover band named Absolution. Ghost, a Swedish hard rock and heavy metal band, has released five studio albums since 2010. Absolution performed Ghost\u2019s well-known hits while donning elaborate, theatrical costumes. Their set was acoustic, a departure from Absolution\u2019s usual plugged-in concerts, but it was no less electrifying. The performance drew a large crowd, with many attendees dancing and singing along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blood Moon Paranormal was on site for the first time, introducing a new paranormal track that Days of the Dead had not previously featured. The Blood Moon team investigates incidents of preternatural activity across the Midwest and parts of the South, documenting eerie happenings in haunted establishments, prisons, and homes. They held their own panel on Sunday morning, where they discussed their most chilling experiences. When asked about the most haunted locations they had visited, the team cited Old Joliet State Prison in Joliet, Illinois, and Harriman Hospital in Harriman, Tennessee, as the most horrifying. They described both sites as exceptionally haunted, with experiences unlike anything they had previously encountered. The team also recounted their first paranormal investigation at an abandoned asylum in Peoria. Initially, the asylum was off-limits to the public, tempting the team to consider sneaking in. Later, it became accessible for exploration. When Blood Moon finally visited, they found the asylum illuminated with purple lights, creating an atmosphere that was both inviting and eerie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John Kassir, who portrayed the Crypt Keeper in the HBO series Tales from the Crypt<\/em>, delighted fans by recording personalized messages in his iconic Crypt Keeper voice onsite. He created voicemail greetings for fans and frequently slipped into the character\u2019s voice at the most entertaining moments during the convention. At his panel, Kassir shared stories from his extensive career, highlighting projects beyond Tales from the Crypt<\/em>. A lifelong horror enthusiast, Kassir reminisced about staying up late as a child to watch William Castle\u2019s The Tingler<\/em> on television. His favorite Universal monster is the Frankenstein monster, and he has a warm spot for films featuring the eerie sounds of a theremin. Kassir\u2019s passion for performing began in childhood, and he was a skilled enough singer to appear in musicals. His big break came when HBO executives noticed his voice work on several sitcoms. Before long, he was represented by one of Hollywood’s top voice talent agents. Kassir explained that he loves voice acting because it allows him to portray characters he could never play in live-action roles. He amusingly revealed that he had to restrain the Crypt Keeper\u2019s voice during the first two seasons of the show due to budget constraints\u2014the production couldn\u2019t pay much to the puppeteer needed to animate the character’s mouth. Once the puppet was upgraded, Kassir could fully unleash the Crypt Keeper\u2019s fast, funny persona. Reflecting on the horror genre, Kassir described it as a “stimulant,” allowing audiences to vicariously experience emotions they don\u2019t often feel in daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The costume contest at the convention featured numerous creative entries. The first place winner, who received a substantial cash prize, was a rubber suited Godzilla that required two handlers to operate. Many fans showcased original costumes that were not tied to any franchise or film, entirely unique creations that captured the crowd’s imagination. Contestants in established costumes stayed in character when speaking at the microphone, while those with original designs often invented voices to complement their creations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Takako Fuji, known for her role in the Ju-on: The Grudge<\/em> movies, traveled all the way from Japan to attend the convention. Fans of J-Horror regard Takako as a legend in the industry, having portrayed Kayako Saeki, the iconic and eerie character, in four films, including the American remakes. She attended the convention on Friday and Saturday but had to leave early on Sunday to catch her long flight to Japan. During the event, she thrilled fans by recreating her famous scary face in photos, a signature expression that has become synonymous with her character. Hopefully, there will be more films in the Grudge<\/em> series, as they continue to captivate and entertain audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/count-gregula.com\/count-gregulas-crypt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/20241123_222456-1024x768.jpg\")
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