Spooky Empire is a horror convention in Orlando, Florida held twice per year. And the second 2021 event is coming up October 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. In addition, doors open Friday at 1 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m. Furthermore, tickets for Friday are $40, Saturday $50, Sunday $40, and a weekend pass is $80. (venue address, maps and directions are at the bottom of this event listing). Editor’s note- check with Spooky Empire website for guest cancellations.
Florida Comic Cons gives you 9 frightening reasons to attend Spooky Empire 2021
Frightening reason # 1: Spooky Empire is one of the top horror conventions in the nation
Spooky Empire is one of the top horror conventions in the nation, and by far the largest in Florida. The con is known for hosting a large number and wide array of vendors. In addition, the event features film and tattoo festivals as well as celebrity speakers. Moreover, Spooky Empire delivers on big-time horror actors. If you’re a horror convention fan, Spooky Empire is the place for you.
Frightening reason # 2: Freddy Krueger from “Nightmare on Elm Street” is there
Robert Englund is known throughout the universe as Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. In addition, Englund is also part of the cast for the upcoming season of Stranger Things. Also, in the April, 2021 interview below, Englund talks about about being taken over by his character, Freddy Krueger.
Frightening reason # 3: Pinhead from “Hellraiser” is there
Doug Bradley is known to horror fans as the lead Cenobite “Pinhead” in the Hellraiser film series. In addition, Bradley talks about the movie series and his character in the video below, which is a must-watch for true fans. This inside look is called “Under the Skin.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZplbMZWH30
Frightening reason # 4: Ray from “I Know What You Did Last Summer” is there (and also Fred from “Scooby Doo”)
Freddie Prinze Jr. is best known to horror fans for his role in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. In the interview below, which is 20 years after the first first film, he talks about the movie series that drove him to 1990s popularity.
Also, Prinze Jr. is known more broadly to the comic con fandom as Fred (below far right) in Scooby-Doo (2002), and its sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004).
Frightening reason # 5: Bishop from “Aliens” is there
Lance Henriksen is widely known for his portrayal of Bishop in the Alien film franchise. In addition, Henriksen is interviewed by Comic Girl 19, which spans topics from the Aliens movie series to his most recent project Harbinger Down.
Frightening reason # 6: Makeup artist Tom Savini is there
Tom Savini is a well known prosthetic makeup artist who has worked on numerous films directed by George A. Romero, including Martin, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Creepshow and Monkey Shines. In addition, his work with other directors includes cult classics like Friday the 13th (parts I and IV), Maniac, The Burning, The Prowler and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. In the interview below, Savini gives a tour of his home and school – unique places of horror created by the legendary makeup and special effects artist.
Frightening reason # 7: Michael Myers from “Halloween” is there (and so is Sabretooth from X-Men)
Tyler Mane is most known to horror fans as Michael Myers in the remake of Halloween and its sequel Halloween II. In addition, he is known more broadly to the comic con fandom as Sabretooth in X-Men.
Frightening reason # 8: Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th” will be there
C.J. Graham is best known to horror fans for playing Jason Voorhees in the sixth installment of the Friday the 13th film series, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. And below is an interview with Graham about the character.
Frightening reason # 9: Spooky Empire Film Festival
The horror convention has a film festival that “seeks independent feature-length and short films from around the world in any of the following main genre groups: horror, supernatural, sci-fi, animation, thriller, suspense, cult, bizarre, genre-defying, and experimental documentaries with a genre-related or cult/bizarre subject matter,” according to their website.
There are awards and prizes for the following:
- Fearmaker of the Year
- Best Short Film
- Best Feature
- Best International Film
- Best Special Effects
- Audience Choice
- Florida Spotlight
For more information to submit, check out the rules section. Questions? Email them at [email protected]
And for fans of indie horror films, Spooky Empires promises to bring you “the goriest, spookiest and most frightening short and feature-length horror films for your viewing pleasure.” Below are photos of awards from previous years.
The Con Calendar curated by Florida Comic Cons
The Con Calendar is a curated calendar of upcoming conventions, including comics, horror, anime, science fiction and pop culture events.. Each convention listing includes in-depth info about the event like guests, artists and cosplay contests. In addition, there are lots of helpful links for things like buying tickets, registering as a vendor and learning more about characters.
The Con Map created by Florida Comic Cons
The Con Map illustrates where comic cons are happening throughout the state. The interactive map allows you to see how close you are to annual comic conventions.
Florida Cosplay Digital Magazine published by Florida Comic Cons
Florida Cosplay Digital Magazine attends many conventions in Florida in search of talented cosplayers. The magazine is published seasonally. In addition, Florida Cosplay Digital Magazine publishes special editions, photo galleries and blogs of conventions we attend. The magazine is free.
Seasonal issues
Seasonal issues focus on cosplayers and the characters they have chosen to portray. Cosplayer photos and interviews as well as character images and backgrounds are loaded in the seasonal magazines.
Convention issues
Convention special edition magazines, photo galleries and blogs showcase cosplayer photos and provide news reports about conventions we attend. There is a focus on cosplay contests.
