Enter the Cinema of Fear
By: Joe McCabe
Photographs By: Sophia Quach
Mezco Toyz may be best known to horror fans for their Living Dead Dolls and Attack of the Living Dead and Hellboy comic book figures, as well as their line of Edward Scissorhands toys. But this year the company plans to mark its territory in hardcore classic screen horror, by expanding its Cinema of Fear line. Mezco displayed their 2007 prototypes at last weekend?s New York City Comic Con; and, from what we saw, fans have cause to get excited. Here?s the breakdown?
Cinema of Fear toys will come in three sizes/waves. The first wave consists of three standard-size action figures. They?re detailed figures of Jason Vorhees (clutching a machete), Leatherface (with chainsaw in hand), and a tuxedoed Freddy Krueger (holding a decapitated teen?s head). And from their amazingly authentic paint jobs and sculpts, it looks like Mezco?s going all out to please classic slasher film lovers.
The second wave of figures is more unique, though Jason, Leatherface, and Freddy are still represented. These figures are approximately seven inches tall and plush, with roto-cast vinyl heads, hands, and feet. They?re ?stylized? representations of the classic characters, similar to Mezco?s popular Dark Carnival: Cadaver the Clown figure.
The third wave consists of just one figure: Jason. This one stands eight or nine inches tall and is completely roto-cast vinyl. Roto-cast, by the way, is a process that differs from injection (which is used to make most action figures). It utilizes hollow-cast plastic and was previously seen in Mezco?s Scarface and Edward Scissorhands figures. Mezco plans to release one such figure a year, and in ?07 the horror fans have lucked out.
Finally, the fourth wave?called ?Screen Grabs,? a first for Mezco (a ?first of many? they tell me). These are three miniature dioramas, depicting key scenes from Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Friday the 13th. All of these Cinema of Fear toys will be made available between October and November of this year. Just in time for bloody good holiday gift-giving!
