A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF HORROR-THEMED RADIO PLAYS FROM INDEPENDENT HORROR KINGS LARRY FESSENDEN AND GLENN MCQUAID ALONG WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS!
Article by Jeff Sanders
I didn’t know what to expect. Horror-themed radio plays? I love the idea so I figured I would give it a shot. And I’m so glad I did!
The Stanley Film Festival boasts some unusual fair; A comprehensive murder mystery for attendees, ghost tours, a brunch where Leatherface carves you prime rib and Regan pukes oatmeal, etc. But there was one event that the fest was hosting that really caught my attention; “Tales From Beyond the Pale.”
“Tales From Beyond the Pale” is the horror-themed radio-play brain child of Glass Eye Pix founder Larry Fessenden and Glenn McQuaid, two die hard old school horror lovers who bring a special authenticity to their work. Authenticity that makes things like this niche event a must for Stanley Film Fest attendees. Featuring all-star horror film casts, these live reading performances truly show these actors at their creative best.
The “Tales” event I attended at the 2014 Stanley Film Fest is still fresh in my mind. The first tale was that of a werewolf encounter after a car crash involving a couple pregnant with their first child. Wild gnarly sounds, crashed metal, and gushy guts were all in full swing and executed before my eyes (and ears.) The diverse cast popped between wildly unique characters ranging from an infant, to an old bastard with effortless ease. It was a lot of fun and I was completely sold.
The second “Tale” featured Fessenden himself as a frustrated author visiting the doomed titular festival hotel, and it was a sociopathic riot. This “Tale” also played into a funny thought I had while interviewing Fessenden the day before; his Jack Nicholson aura. Seriously! Fessenden has a Cheshire Cat grin and a subversive voice that always seems to be brooding with a dark joke just beneath his hair line… Jack Nicholson…Totally! Or perhaps Fessenden and Nicholson are actually related and I am not nearly as clever as I think I am? Whatever the case may be, I do know this one thing; While staying at the Stanley Hotel, I don’t (ok, maybe I do) want to see Jack Nicholson’s fucking doppelganger looming around the halls. In short; Fessenden’s very presence alone makes this festival a weird but wholly appropriate Meta experience.
On a side note, Larry is really nice, like way nicer than I deserved when interviewing him and fucking up on my questions because I was strangely nervous (that’s my thing). When asked why he does movies, radio plays, puppet shows, and stop motion animated films with titles like SANTA CLAWS, Fessenden had a simple (and sincere) reply; “Because I am an entertainer…I have to.” Much respect to this amazing talent.
It should also be noted that Glenn McQuaid is quite a generous (and talented) individual too! He brings his special love of paperback and vintage horror fiction to new life by way of these lovely radio plays.
I give this event and these two gentleman my highest recommendation. In fact, thank God that they do the things they do. I swear, it makes the world, or at least the horror world, a better place. This piece doesn’t begin to touch the brilliance and liveliness that is “Tales From Beyond the Pale” and the performers who are behind it. Look it up! You must see it! You must!
The one of kind “Tales From Beyond the Pale” takes place on Friday, May 1st at 7 PM during The Stanley Film Festival in Estes Park, CO. For detailed info, CLICK HERE.
Thanks for reading and take care.
And watch more movies.
Especially horror movies.
Especially old horror movies.
