FANtom Fest

FANtom Fest was a three-​day long horror convention held this past October at the Scranton Hilton & Conference Center. Never before have I witnessed such a poorly organized event.
A huge embarrassment on every level, I talked to many other attendees that all deemed FANtom Fest as the worst horror convention they had ever witnessed — I have to agree.
The con was thrown by Nico Nice, better known as the host of the Asylum Internet Radio Show. The promoter was clearly in over his head and his lack of proper planning crippled the event. I have been to the Scranton Hilton & Conference Center many times and while it is a beautiful space and perfect for wedding receptions or business conferences, it was a terrible venue for a horror convention. The Scranton Hilton doesn’t have the wide-​open layout needed for a proper convention, and the many stars and vendors were stuck in a series of small rooms and hallways spread throughout the floor. The Radisson Hotel, only one block away, would have been a much more suitable venue. Most horror fans became lost or disoriented when passing through the maze-​like conference rooms of the Scranton Hilton. FANtom Fest didn’t hand out any maps or post signs about the hotel floor plan and many attendees unknowingly missed part of the event.
On Saturday morning I arrived at the hotel just as FANtom Fest was set to open. Imagine my befuddlement upon seeing that Geisinger Health Systems had set up several booths at the horror convention and displayed signage throughout the second floor of the hotel. Geisinger Health Systems monopolized what was intended to be the convention’s screening room with their classes and PowerPoint presentations.
To make matters worse, a wedding reception occupied the space immediately after the doctors left the hotel. The new bride was none to pleased that horror fans dressed like Freddy Krueger and the Grim Reaper were walking around the Scranton Hilton. She began screaming at several of the vendors and hotel security was eventually brought in.
After a disastrous Friday and Saturday, I hoped the promoter would be able to pull it all together for a successful final day … but nothing could be further from the truth. Sunday’s film screenings were scheduled to start at 10am with a showing of the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre followed by the Halloween remake and end with Re-​Animator. For some unknown reason the movies started four hours late.
Though the convention didn’t end until 5pm on Sunday, a visibly distressed Jeffrey Combs was seen exiting the hotel hours earlier. Due to that day’s scheduling snafu, the promoter had decided to cancel the 30^th anniversary screening of Re-​Animator. Mr. Combs, understandably upset that his most famous film was no longer being shown, left the hotel and never looked back.
Like a bad movie monster, let’s hope FANtom Fest is one con that won’t rise from the dead.