Halloween Horror Nights Kicks Off with the 2014 (Bad Ass) Eyegore Awards!

2014 Eyegore Awards Event Coverage
Myles Kennedy and Slash on stage at the Eyegore Awards (Photo by Fred Godlash)

By Fred Godlash @LA_Review

The annual Eyegore Awards, a creepy tribute to all things scary and the people that make it scary, kicked off this year with accolades going to Special Effects Make-Up Supervisor Greg Nicotero, influential independent cult filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, an award to legendary filmmaker John Landis, and a special award and performance by Slash, who performed with Myles Kennedy.

Baker and Landis worked together on numerous projects including the film An American Werewolf in London, and Baker paid tribute to Landis at the event. “I had no idea the meaning this guy would have on my life,” said Baker. “When he asked me to do his first film Schlock I was living with my parents. My bedroom was my make-up laboratory. I was an only child and was very private and shy. This wild human tornado (Landis) comes into my room saying all this crazy stuff … he scared me! If it was not for Landis I would not be the Rick Baker that I know and love.”

Danny Trejo, who referenced the Eyegore Awards as the “Bad Ass” version of the Oscars, presented director Robert Rodriguez with an award. “It is great to be presented an award from ex-con to icon Mr. Danny Trejo! Now I have my own maze I get to walk through. I have seen the Titty Twister (From Dusk Till Dawn) get built three times now. Once in the original film, once in the TV series, and now here at Universal – the tables have turned, I get to be scared in my own maze. We wouldn’t get to do what we do if it wasn’t for the audience. Thank you all for keeping horror alive!” said Rodriguez full of excitement.

Slash, who co-produced his first horror movie called Nothing Left To Fear, performed the title song from the film on stage at the event. The crowd at the Eyegore Awards erupted in applause when Slash and Myles Kennedy began to play. The Grammy Award-winning guitarist played a bright red, double-necked Gibson SG with an “EBow” that made the instrument sound like a violin from hell. After the performance Greg Nicotero presented Slash with an award. Slash said, “This is killer and totally unexpected. Very, very cool and encouraging.”

2014 Eyegore Awards Event Coverage
Rick Baker, David Naughton and John Landis (Photo by Fred Godlash)

What makes the event so special is that Universal celebrates the artists for their overwhelming contributions in the horror genre but they make sure there is a tribute maze in the HHN for the fans. For John Landis and Rick Baker it is the American Werewolf in London maze, Robert Rodriguez has From Dusk Till Dawn, Greg Nicotero has The Walking Dead, and the big surprise was Slash, who composed an original score for the Clowns 3D maze. John Landis says,” I have been through the American Werewolf in London maze. It will scare the sh*t out of you!”

Universal is also keeping their most popular rides open including Transformers, Jurassic Park, The Simpsons Ride and Revenge of the Mummy. Tickets are available at HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood.

Halloween Horror Nights dates and times for Los Angeles: 7pm – 2am Sept. 26-27; Oct. 3-5, 10-12, 16-19, 23-26 and 30-31, Nov. 1-2.


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