Review: Walker Stalker Con 2014

The Chicago Walker Stalker Con I attended was in March of 2014 at the Donald J. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. I attended with zero expectations because I had, quite literally, only found out about it that week. I saw the guest list (about 50% of the primary cast of The Walking Dead as well as Bub from Day of the Dead) and that was the only advertisement I needed. I showed up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and I was not disappointed.

I've attended a fair number of conventions in the Chicagoland area, including C2E2, Wizard World, Flashback Weekend, and Cyphan (RIP). While I don't want to knock any of those conventions (except perhaps Wizard World), this was BY FAR the best convention I've ever attended. It was well organized and low-key, while still providing a high-quality, professional convention experience. The attendance was reasonable: busy enough to feel like a legit convention experience without being so overwhelming that I felt like a small face in a zombie hoard.

The guest list was phenomenal. It was one of those conventions that you went to with a budget for autographs and then tossed that budget to the curb so damned quickly because how could you resist getting autographs from these excellent guests? To name a few, Walker Stalker Con Chicago 2014 featured Greg Nicotero (Walking Dead make-up effects guru), Steven Yeun (Glenn from The Walking Dead), Lauren Cohan (Maggie from The Walking Dead), Chad Coleman (Tyrese from TWD), Soniqua Martin-Green (Sasha from TWD), Michael Cudlitz (Abraham from TWD), IronE Singleton (T-Dog from TWD), Melissa Hutchinson (Clementine from Telltale's The Walking Dead video game), Jay Bonansinga (Author of Rise of the Governor and other TWD novels) and Sherman Howard (Bub from Day of the Dead). That's a guest list worth paying the VIP ticket price for.

In addition to the sheer volume of actors and other zombie players at the con, the panels were excellent as well. With a pretty reasonably priced VIP pass, I was able to get very close for all the panels. Even those with general admission were often invited to move forward. That's a positive vibe that you just don't get at other conventions. The actors were very candid in panels as well, and since there were so many different actors from The Walking Dead, you didn't have a one-size-fits-all TWD panel. Instead, you got to see Michael Cudlitz speak on Abraham for an hour. IronE Singleton got a full hour to be the wonderful and unique individual that he is. And, in addition to the actors, behind the scenes players like Greg Nicotero, Jay Bonansinga, and Melissa Hutchinson each got full hours in the spotlight which they probably wouldn't get at other conventions. All the panels were engaging and seemed very intimate.

And if you didn't feel you got your questions answered in panel, the greatest thing about Walker Stalker Con was that the guests were completely accessible to the fans. For some of my favorite side characters (Alanna Masterson and Lawerence Gilliard Jr just to name a few) there was virtually no line. You could just walk right up and not only get your autograph in an expeditious manner, but you could also chat with the actors and tell them how much they mean to you. You didn't feel like you were holding up a line or wasting their time. I've rarely felt that vibe at other conventions. But it wasn't just because the convention wasn't busy; it was also because the guests seemed genuinely happy to be there. They didn't seem uncomfortable talking to the attendees. I genuinely felt, and I don't even think this is naivete, that they wanted to talk to their fans. Greg Nicotero sat in the audience for many of the panels and even celebrated his birthday with the guests, birthday cake and all. You didn't feel a line between guests and attendees--we were all just zombie-lovers spending a weekend together.

For many of the guests, you could also get pictures at the table for an additional fee rather than having to go through the secondary line at the photo op booth. And these weren't just your standard "stand side by side and smile awkwardly" pictures. Brighton Sharbino (Lizzie from TWD) was doing pictures where she pretended to suffocate you just like she did to Judith. Chad Coleman had his signature hammer on the table for pictures, and IronE Singleton was hugging every attendee with a  kindness you don't find many places. It certainly caused me to shell out a few extra bucks because you just don't get experiences like that every day.

Overall, I had an absolutely wonderful time, and I can't wait for them to return in 2015. Even though the current guest list includes many of the people I've already met, it's still worth it to me to have that communal experience of basking in the glow of all things zombie. Walker Stalker Conventons began in Atlanta and extended to Chicago as their first new city in 2014. Obviously, it was a success, as they're now in seven different cities for the 2014-2015 convention season. They'll be back in Chicago on February 21st and 22nd, 2015 at Navy Pier.

Walker Stalker Con is a great gift to the zombie-loving community, and I hope others are able to attend their kick ass events. They've extended guest lists to include classic zombie actors from Night of the Living Dead as well this season, so if you love the zombie genre, Walker Stalker Con is an absolute must.

Review: Can You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse by Max Brallier

As a child of the 80s and 90s, I read my fair share of choose your own adventure novels. As a geeky child of the 80s and 90s, I used Hyperstudio to write, illustrate and program my own choose your own adventure. Wow. It's really a wonder anyone ever chose to marry me.

Anyway, when I heard there was a new novel out that was a choose your own adventure novel for adults AND it had to do with the zombie apocalypse? I had to order it. So Friday, during a very boring and long day of jury selection (I was sent home eventually...thank goodness), I chose my own zombie adventure...over and over and over again.

The novel has its positives and negatives (what book doesn't?), but I'd say my overall take was that it was definitely worth the $10.88 I paid for it. I spent virtually 7-8 hours reading it and I still didn't complete all of their paths. While it's no piece of prize-worthy literature, it is a lot of fun. It would be the perfect read for a vacation or a particularly boring professional development day.

At first, the character really irritated me. The novel claims to alleviate all of the "I would never have made that dumb mistake!" of traditional zombie literature, but it often doesn't because the character is still kind of an idiot. For example, when his cell phone rings and it's his mom, you can either chose to ignore it and sit in the house drinking beers or call her back (but then you end up having to follow her directions...who would do that?). Still, after four hours of reading, the protagonist grew on me a little bit more. They make him vague enough that you can see yourself in some parts of him, even if you think you'd do a better job. I guess I also get a little frustrated that women are never the narrators in choose your own adventure novels, but I guess that's not really the majority of the market. I'm used to it; I used to get the boy's happy meal as a kid.

When it comes to the choices you get to make, this novel is hot and cold. Sometimes the choices you get to make are the most important ones and the options are all logical, but sometimes the choices are relatively mundane when compared to the ones that the novel makes for you, but I accept that a writer can't write a path for every single decision. They'd never end up finishing that million page masterpiece.

Otherwise, the plot is engaging and fairly realistic. It's infused with "geek" at every turn, which is usually endearing, but it very occasionally gets to be too much. The description of a zombie battle at the New York Comic Con is funny. The author literally brings in every cosplay persona they could dream up, but the joke gets a little stale somewhere between Sonic the Hedgehog and Mr. T. Still, it's nice to know that it's a novel for geeks and by a geek, not just some failing writer hoping to capitalize on the zombie fad.

Lastly, the writing is about what you would expect from a choose your own adventure. It's publishable, but mostly concerned with action and plot rather than description. Don't come to it expecting a lot of visual detail or sophisticated description. The author writes like people talk, which I guess is good, but sometimes the poor usage of the English language and disregard for punctuation rules gnawed at me like a hungry walker. However, I will reiterate that that's clearly not the function of this novel. It's there to entertain, and entertain it does. If you're a resident of NYC (which I'm not), you'll be especially delighted by all the local references...which I had to look up.

Overall, I thank Max Brallier for giving me something to make a day at the courthouse more palatable. It was funny (especially the ending...you'll know which one I mean), and it did provide the reader with plenty of different paths and endings for hours of fun. So will you live or will you fall to the mercy of the flesh-eating ghouls? Check out Max Brallier's Can You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse to find out!

Top 5: Reasons Why Dawn of the Dead (2004) Doesn't Suck

Many people have used way too much energy dogging the 2004 film that shares Romero's title. Maybe the blind hatred is rooted in the belief that the film is a remake of the Romero classic, but it just isn't. While it shares some traits, it certainly is not intended to be a remake of any kind and its reception probably would have been better had the film been titled something totally different. But, zombie baby birthing scene aside, this movie really has some moments that are pretty awesome and pretty well done.

#5: It's set in Milwaukee
As a resident of Chicagoland, I'm not without a little love for our neighbor to the north. Also, movies frequently showcase New York and Los Angeles, but frequently totally overlook all the smaller cities that help to make up this nation. So here's to you, Dawn of the Dead, for trying something new.

#4: The opening credits set a great tone
Apparently producers were originally worried about the choice of Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around" as background music for the opening titles, but they were quickly eating their words. The editing here is really fabulous, and I love the use of fake news footage to increase the globally apocalyptic feel of the flick. I still get a shiver when the CDC dude is asked "Are they dead or alive?". He pauses, sighs, and replies, "We don't know". Cue the J. Cash!

#3: Many of the characters are engaging and realistic...or just downright entertaining.
It's pretty rare to have a film with such sympathetic, understated and just realistic protagonists. In the characters of Ana and Michael you have a sort of "every man" thing, and Kenneth has just enough stoic melancholy to make him an engaging and enigmatic character. And if the character isn't realistic, then they are at least a lot of fun. Take for example the character of Steve; his jerky banter makes you laugh as you simultaneously fill with disdain for him and his spoiled, elitist kind.

#2: Everyone loves a bleak ending to a zombie film
The filmmakers clearly had watched Romero's original Night of the Living Dead, and they really reapplied that sort of bleak finale in this film. Because hey, it's the zombie apocalypse. And no matter how much we love these characters, people don't just walk away from the end of the world.

#1: It pays subtle homage to Romero's films
Without coming right out and painting "George Romero was here" across the side of the mall set, this flick finds subtle ways to honor the godfather of zombie. First, Ken Foree, the actor from the original film, plays the televangelist in the TV segment. Next, Ving Rhames's character is named "Kenneth" in a clear throwback to Ken Foree from the original film. In the opening aerial shot of Milwaukee, a truck runs into a gas station, causing a huge explosion and setting the place ablaze...a clear throwback to a scene Ben recalls in Night of the Living Dead. There's plenty of elevator stuff, which seems to hail back to the original flick, and the setting of a mall is a pretty clear tie-in. Lastly, the character of Steve has a very Harry Cooper-ish character (Night of the Living Dead), and he even goes so far as to lock the heroes out in a zombie infected climax...just like Mr. Cooper. The fact that the filmmakers throw in all these little honorary moments is the mark of true zombie fandom.

All pictures are the property of Universal Studios, 2004.

Top 5: Scenes of Zombie Gluttony

I'm sure that today you are all headed to delicious feasts prepared by your loving family. For me, it's Thanksgiving cajun style around noon, and then your traditional Thanksgiving fare around 6pm. By the end of the day, I basically have to be rolled into bed. But zombies? They don't have a loving family to prepare them turkey and mashed potatoes. As a result, they are left to fend for themselves...and boy, do they.

So enjoy this top 5 in honor of the holiday. May it make you that much hungrier.


Honorable Mention: Zombies share in a round of Amy hors d'oeuvres in The Walking Dead
This makes the list, if only because (in both the comic and the show), it seemed like someone really could have done something to stop all the additional little bites. I mean, she's not finger food, people.

http://mimg.ugo.com/201011/6/6/4/132466/cuts/amy-death-complete_480x270.jpg

#5: Little girl zombie decides that mommies make the best dinners in Night of the Living Dead.
Moms really are good at everything: cooking, hugging, listening to your problems...and, oh yeah...devouring the second you turn into an undead freak. I mean, why go for a stranger as your first meal? You don't know where that's been! Take out mom and dad first.

#4: Zombies go for the leg's first--Stephen's legs to be exact--in Dawn of the Dead.
Nothing like a meal that fights back. Just makes that first taste of flesh all the more rewarding. Maybe we should start a new Thanksgiving tradition where we lock a live turkey in an elevator and bludgeon it to death. Us humans, we've lost all sense of barbarism. lol.

#3: Zombies go for David's stuffing first in Shaun of the Dead
For a comedy, this movie sure does do the gore up right. Nothing like being pulled through a window of broken glass and then disemboweled in front of your friends. Delicious. Just makes me want a full plate of stuffing. Check out the version below, or check out a better version here.

#2: Zombies dine on a feast of deep fried Tom & Judy in Night of the Living Dead
This was the scene that caused me to sleep in my parents' bed for a week when I was eight. Nothing like getting the whole zombie family together for some BBQ, right? I hope Tom and Judy had marinated themselves before deciding to become a human buffet because otherwise that meal is going to be a little on the bland side. Start the video below about 1:20 in and stop at 2:30. I had trouble finding one that just had the scene.

#1: Bub hunts his own turkey (Captain Rhodes) in Day of the Dead
You know what's NOT a good idea? Training zombies. Cuz, you know, if you do, they might eventually turn on you and hunt you down with the intention of feeding their very large zombie family. This scene is BY FAR the best scene of zombie gluttony ever. Awesome effects. Sure to have you licking your lips for some turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks that you are not one of the walking dead...yet...

Review: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Is the cellar the safest place or is it a death trap? This is one (of the many) questions posed during the Romero's original masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead. Although Romero sadly lost his rights to this proverbial zombie bible, it remains the number one reason for his success and for the success of the genre today. Without it, Robert Kirkman, Max Brooks and many others would still be hanging out in their parent's basements reading comics and wishing they had girlfriends. Of course, hanging out in Max Brook's childhood basement would be way cool in its own right, but I digress.

The film is a black and white beauty, so please for the love of all that is unholy, do NOT watch a colorized version. In fact, if you happen to end up in possession of a colorized version I advise you to incinerate it immediately. Also, avoid any remake like the plague. 1968. Black and White. Romero. Nothing else comes close.

Anyway, the film opens as a brother and sister visit a graveyard to place a wreath on the headstone of their long-departed dear old dad. The brother is irritable and cynical, and the sister is nervous and tired. As they lay the wreath upon the grave, the sister, Barbara, notices a man walking in the distance. His black form stands out starkly against the bright white of the skyline, and Johnny (who is quickly becoming an annoying little jack ass), begins to tease his sister with the now-popular catch phrase, "They're coming to get you, Barbara."

Now of course, Johnny thinks he's joking. He doesn't believe that the man is a zombie. How could he? What a ridiculous notion! But as the man comes nearer and nearer, it becomes clear to the viewer that something is desperately wrong. This man is not your run-of-the-mill graveyard mourner, and before anyone can say or do anything to stop it...

Goodbye, Johnny.

From there, the story never slows down. We are taken through what can only be defined as "a really bad night" for a group of survivors barricaded inside a local farmhouse. They fight the zombies as much as one another, and truly give credence to Sartre's famous quote: "Hell is other people". While the vast majority of survivors are painfully inept, one hero rises from the cesspool of idiocy: Ben.

Ben is meant for this kind of scenario, the kind of man who knows how to keep his head even when the entire world has quite literally gone to hell. He's rational, methodical and brutally honest. And yes, this reviewer does have the world's biggest crush on him. Sadly, he died many years ago and so my crush will never be realized. Sigh.

If you like the normal zombie gore, this movie has plenty of it. Do not be fooled by its black and white exterior, this is a zombie movie in the truest sense, and there's plenty of flesh-munching and gun-shooting to keep even the children of the 21st century entertained. But what this movie is really worth watching for is the character development and interaction. Romero truly knows human beings, and it is not difficult at all to believe that this is exactly the stupid way people would react in such a crisis. You'll love Ben. You'll hate everyone else. And...of course...the ending is to die for. True film making cojones.

The only complaint I'll even entertain is about some of the acting. Remember, this was a small budget film and some of the actors are just that--small budget. My personal favorite is Judy, a trendy girlfriend-type with the emotional depth of a petri dish. I've directed seven year old children who had a better grasp on communicating character emotion. But alas, this is a small flaw in an otherwise pristine masterpiece. The "corny" parts are even enjoyable for their comedic value, and one has to appreciate the film for its contribution to the genre if nothing else. If you've never seen it, call in sick tomorrow and watch it.

My review: 5 out of 5 head shots