Ever attend a convention and think, “Hey, I like horror. There’s just too many other genres here. I only want to see horror”. Well, if so, then you are in luck! Halloween does not end on October 31st. This year, the fun of Halloween extends into the 1st and 2nd of November, as Fangoria Magazine and Suspect Video are sponsoring Horror-Rama at 99 Sudbury in Toronto.

There are many reasons to attend the festival, for which tickets are still available. There is the offsite screening of Suspiria on Saturday at 7p.m., with actress Barbara Magnolfi, playing at the Revue Theatre, (a great film). There is the costume contest, also offsite, taking place at 3030 Dundas St. And of course, there are the guests, like Patty Mullen, the star of Frankenhooker, special effects pioneer Tom Savini, and many, many more, but the best reason to attend Horror-Rama is to be in the presence of Lisa Marie, appearing in her first Canadian convention of any kind. We spoke to Lisa Marie by phone where she was “out west”, and we instantly forged a connection with the mercurial actress and artist.

When asked which roles for which she was most recognized, she replied with a trio of movies directed by Tim Burton in the 1990’s, Mars Attacks!, Ed Wood, and Sleepy Hollow. But Lisa Marie made it clear that she wants to be known for more than these collaborations, as she is currently undergoing a horror revival, and is proud of her upcoming movie We Are Still Here, which co-stars the legendary Barbara Crampton. She spoke of a bond with director Ted Geoghegan, as well as cinematographer Karim Hussain, who captured Canadian films Hobo with a Shotgun, and the gorgeous Antiviral. She spoke with enthusiasm of filming in upstate New York (subbing for New England) in the snow and cold, and the film being seen by fans.

Lisa Marie spoke a lot about her artwork, saying that she likes to be in front of the camera before beautiful women, as well as behind them. She spoke of bringing a Leica camera to Toronto, and wanting to take as many photos as possible, as well as a plan to see Maps to the Stars by David Cronenberg, a fellow camera enthusiast. She made oblique reference to a set visit by Cronenberg to Mars Attacks!, where Lisa Marie was wearing about fifty pounds of hair, couldn’t move, and had to be zipped into her costume, but that Cronenberg did not say very much to her.

When told that Maps to the Stars is about the alienation of Los Angeles, and how she too does not feel at home there, Lisa Marie was asked where she feels at home, and she replied in the abstract, of being at home in nature, and spoke frequently of her overwhelming desire to visit Niagara Falls. So horror fans, go to Horror-Rama and you will Fall for Lisa Marie.