Scott Feinblatt

Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a psychotic clown? Funny, neither had I until the opportunity to dress and act like one came up. Every Halloween season, haunt fans and thrill seekers attend events like the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride by the thousands — just so they can experience close encounters with people pretending to be ghosts, monsters and, of course, psychos. Few, however, ever get a glimpse behind the curtain to see the moving parts and the people coming together to make a haunted attraction work. This year, I was invited to actually join the circus....

Halloween fans eagerly wait all year long for October to roll around. Luckily, for those of us who happen to be horror aficionados and dress-up fiends, Los Angeles provides no shortage of ways to get our spirits and spooks on. In addition to the plethora of haunted attractions that have opened up throughout the greater SoCal area, the entire month in L.A. is filled with wicked and wild events. Here is L.A, Weekly’s list of the spooky events that reign supreme and are just what the mad doctor ordered no matter what thrills or chills you!...

Who said there’s nothing appealing about a post-apocalyptic wasteland? While some Bible thumpers get off on warning their fellow citizens that the end is nigh, there is a subcultural counterpoint that annually plans for, creates and immerses itself in a highly stylized end-of-the-world adventure — all based on the iconography of the Mad Max film series. Wasteland Weekend is here....

Inspired by the classic Jim Henson/David Bowie film and the European tradition of masquerade balls, Labyrinth of Jareth returns this weekend for another epic, story-based bacchanal. Creator Shawn Strider discusses the event's roots, spectacular costumes and evolving storyline filled with secrets and lore....

This year’s Midsummer Scream festival,will offer over 250 horror-themed vendors, film screenings, presentations, panels, interactive and immersive attractions and celebrity guest appearances. We talked with director Mick Garris about his appearance at the upcoming event and his classic film Hocus Pocus, marking its 25th anniversary this year....

About 100,000 anime fans, most of them costumed characters inspired by Japanese animation, swarmed what has become the premier anime convention in the U.S. (and almost as popular as Comic-Con in San Diego). With film and television series premieres, toys and memorabilia vendors, and fervent anime fans showing off vibrant cosplay looks, this year was bigger the ever. For some, maybe too big....

Santa Monica’s Broad Stage held two performances of a double bill of operatic works by composer Gordon Getty. The two pieces were based on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher and on Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost. The show, featuring Getty’s adapted librettos, was called Scare Pair, and it successfully achieved a unique fusion of classic spooky stories and opera....