This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Jonathan Martin stands before the door in the Salt Palace Convention Center, welcoming guests into "this world of madness."
On the other side of the door, a woman with a Cockney accent and negotiable virtue leads a small group down an alley into a dank laboratory. There, a Dr. Frankenstein is feverishly trying to bring a half-dressed female corpse to life.
This is not your usual haunted house.
It's the "Haunted Escape Room," a series of three scary scenarios — adapted by Martin, a Salt Lake City filmmaker, from his short horror films — in which visitors must search rooms, find keys and solve riddles before they are scared silly.
It's one of the highlights of Fear Con, a first-for-Utah fan convention for people who enjoy all things connected to Halloween, fright and horror. The event started Friday at the Salt Palace and runs through Saturday.
"We love Halloween, so we wanted to do a Halloween show," said Mike Hardle, producer of Fear Con. "We thought about calling it 'Halloween Con,' but that wasn't as catchy."
Hardle said Fear Con is modeled, to a degree, on such fan conventions as Salt Lake Comic Con, but with a Halloween twist. "We didn't see anybody doing anything with a Halloween take," Hardle said.
The event has several interactive features, including a freak show alley, "haunted carnival" games, a zombie survival course, scary virtual-reality programs and face-painting with a Dia de los Muertos theme. There are live performances by magicians, fire eaters, aerialists and street performers. And there is a vendor floor, featuring artists, mask makers, and others selling their wares.
Shayne Smith and Noelle Cummings, co-hosts of the Freaky Geeks Podcast, were talking to fans at their booth on the vendor floor. They said they fit in better at Fear Con than at other fan conventions because it fits their blend of horror and nerd culture.
"People have such a fascination with the macabre and the taboo," said Smith, who launched the adults-only podcast with Cummings in August.
"They're obsessed with what scares them," said Cummings, whose cosplay was a bloody mash-up of "Tank Girl" and Harley Quinn. Cummings is among the contestants competing for the title of Miss Fear Con, which will be awarded Saturday night.
"It's my type of show," said Ogden-based artist Adam Miconi, who was displaying some of his supernatural-themed art in his booth. "I'm more attracted to the darker side. … To me, it's a safe haven."
Many Utahns — an expected 10,000 to 15,000, according to Hardle — may feel the same way this weekend.
Twitter: @moviecricket —
The inaugural Fear Con, a fan convention for lovers of horror and Halloween.
Where • Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple.
When • Friday and Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. both days.
Tickets • $20 for one-day admission, $30 for a two-day admission, $40 for a silver pass (includes lanyard and t-shirt), $60 for a Gold package (includes "Haunted Escape Experience," lanyard, t-shirt, early admittance, and two free admissions for kids 12 and under), $100 for a VIP package (includes everything in the Gold package, plus commemorative medallion, stainless-steel mug, and admission to Fear Factory).
Information • Go to fearconutah.com.