Roy and Lisa Rose, Cult Classic’s founders, had a great desire to bring the fans of horror and cult classics together in one friendly space. Cult Classic Convention was born, and it is now recognized as Bastrop’s premier horror conference. It offers meet and greets with your favorite genre actors, a ton of interesting vendors, some live music, and of course, delicious Texas barbecue.
Remember the big question from last time? Well, I'm back! It was only a matter of time, but I knew I'd eventually find myself back in Bastrop. I had previously mentioned maybe even staying at one of the cabins, and because of the weather, I'm glad we hadn't over-prepared for this one. But the cold drizzle didn't stop us from having a good time, reconnecting with old friends, and making some new ones too!
This year the show had a lot of variety. While convention staples like Billy Pon and Drew Marvick were in attendance, Cult also delivered a seldom-seen Weird Science reunion. I promoted the event when I could, but with each share, the convention became more and more attractive. It was settled. We booked a hotel, and headed toward Chainsaw country! So, without further ado, let’s get into the good, the bad, and the ugly for Cult Classic Convention 2022.
THE GOOD:
We arrived Friday evening and right away it felt like an Olive Garden commercial. We were treated like family. Sure, there is that possibility that I'd write about the event, but as I looked around to see how others were handled by the coordinators, I wasn’t alone. Every single person was not only included but seemed to be having a good time. Smiles were a constant fixture in Bastrop, so much so that it was hard to call it a night.
I said in my last review that Cult packs a huge punch, and Saturday definitely proved that. Traffic was heavy and constant. I spoke with a handful of vendors and most were pleased to report that transactions were at an all-time high. Because of this, it didn't take long for ole' Marvick to run out of lighters. Lines for guests seemed steady and the patrons were beaming because of the celebrity encounters. From my perspective, everything seemed to be going well.
Speaking of encounters, I have to comment on my favorite exchange of the show. Talking shop with Three Keys Media is probably my highlight of the event. I have been seeing promotional materials of their films for some time, so while it was nice to put a name to a face, it was even nicer to discuss the projects with those faces. I'll be jumping into both Hacked and ShadowMarsh very soon, and so should you! Order their films HERE today!
THE BAD:
While the issues were corrected, there was a little bit of backup on the floor. Because of Joe Bob's location being smack dab in the middle of the showroom, it caused an issue for those trying to access Billy Blair. Pretty sure this annoyed Blair more than anyone, but I'd bet there were a few irked attendees as well. Again, this problem was fixed, but it wouldn't be neutral if I didn't give a balanced criticism. I mean, I like Monstervision as much as the next guy, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted how many people needed a selfie with the Casino alum.
THE UGLY:
Honestly, I have nothing UGLY to report here. I tried to dig deep, but everything that went awry was handled professionally and in a timely fashion. That being said, if anything did change as far as time slots for photo ops or panels not only was it announced MANY times on the showroom floor but it was also shared through Cult's social media. Because of this, morale was high even when things weren't going smoothly.
Cult Classic continues to grow, and with each event, the show continues to build on its legacy by outdoing the previous year. The team utilizes the space well, but I can't help but think that the Convention Center may not be big enough in a few years. With the love and care that goes into this thing, word spreads, and while we aren't elbow to elbow now, we may be eventually.
As I mentioned above, Roy and the team deal with obstacles very well, the few hurdles that do arise always seem to be addressed and adjusted. So, who knows, they've already expanded their staff maybe they also have something up their sleeve for this too, but if not, I'm totally cool with sharing a seat at the table, as long as we can keep dividing those unlimited breadsticks.
Cult Classic is already planning its next events. Lezlie Deane will be appearing at The Gas Station in April, and another BIG one is set for a year from now! I keep checking my e-mail to see if I'm invited, but at this point, they should know they can't get rid of me! Bookmark their website and like the Facebook page to stay up to date with guest announcements and all of the upcoming Cult Classic Convention happenings.
Jessie Hobson