Reap Me
My favorite place to experience horror is right from my living room, on the warmth of my sofa, preferably with someone next to me, for, uh, "human security blanket" purposes. Sure, the whole big screen multiplex thing is all right but at home, I get to watch at my pace, in the intimacy of my own space and without that buyer's remorse I always feel after I've forked over, like, $20 for popcorn and soda. Thankfully, the first-ever Reaper Awards celebrated my couch-cozy tendencies by honoring the best in horror on home video.
Earlier this week, Spider and I, along with a few other fellow FEARnetters, braved Hollywood scenesters and slick L.A. roads to attend the handing-out of the Grimmys at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Winners were honored in categories including Best Indie/Foreign, Best DTV, Best Zombie and Best in Show.
The Best Part About the Evening, though - besides a hilarious acceptance speech by Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, DVD special features producer Michael Felsher (appropriately delivered via DVD) - had to be that new awards show smell, and I don't mean patchouli, or Rob Hall's new cologne (it's called "Corduroy"; I asked). The fun anticipation that automatically goes with a rookie awards show on its cherry-popping night is palpable for attendees and presenters alike. Something new and exciting that could potentially grow into something bigger in the future reeks of that minty freshman newness. Refreshing.
And for the most part the show sailed smoothly through with hardly a glitch, glowing and brimming with fanboy/girldom. I spent some QT with my FEARnet family which is always an enjoyable bonding experience (nothing like fetching your hardworking co-workers beers from the open bar!) except when the equivalent of your older brother starts getting on your case for eating carbs. Oh, Spider: like the brother I never wanted.
Did I also mention there was free food!?
Here's to next year's ceremonial distribution of the Grimmys – and another chance to confound me by serving dessert at the same time as the salad course (what was up with that?).
