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Welcome to Haddonfield II review

The Shape by Chet Zar (Framed Oil on Linen, 18″ by 21″). $2,500.

Michael Myers is back in Haunted Haddonfield! Or, more precisely, Welcome to Haddonfield is back at the SugaryMynt Gallery. The third annual Halloween-themed exhibition at SugarMynt features artwork and photographs related to horror movies, the October season, and the Halloween film franchise. This is entirely appropriate when you know that the gallery is located next door to the house immortalized in the opening sequence of John Carpenter’s original Halloween (1978), which introduced the masked boogeyman Michael Myers to the silver screen.

Located in a quiet neighborhood around the corner from some cool coffee houses, SugarMynt is a reconverted house that serves quite nicely as a small art gallery. The exterior is decorated like a yard haunt, but the real sights are inside. The artwork ranges from expensive originals, created specifically for the exhibition, to more affordable decorative items.

Welcome to Haddonfield II* showcases behind-the-scenes photographs by Kim Gottlieb-Walker and several paintings inspired by the film. The photos (including shots of Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, John Carpenter, and of course “Michael Myers”) are perhaps of most interest to film fans and cinema collectors, but the original artwork is impressive enough to stand on its own merits, regardless of its connection to the film. Prices range from several hundred dollars to $2,500 for Chet Zar’s ominous oil on linen, “The Shape.”

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If those numbers threaten to break your bank account, Welcome to Haddonfield II also features some very reasonable priced reproductions of concept art for the film Hocus Pocus (1993), starring Bette Midler, about a trio of Salem witches resurrected on Halloween Night in modern times. Giacamo Ghiazza’s moody pre-production illustrations suggest a far spookier film than the goofy comedy that ultimately emerged. We were particularly taken by poignant image of a group of Puritans dumping a witch’s body into a grave, seen from a distance by a black cat, presumably the witch’s familiar, sitting silently atop a fence in the foreground. These reproductions go for $25-$55, depending on whether they are purchased framed or unframed.

Halloween and Hocus Pous are the headliners of  Welcome to Haddonfield II, but they represent only a fraction of the exhibition. There is much delightfully creepy Halloween art on display: stencils, miniatures, dishes, and decorations. Our favorites were the small pieces that serve double duty as artworks and clothes hooks – yes, you can hang your coat from an illustration of Frankenstein (1931), The Black Cat (1934), or The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).

Whether or not you know nothing about art, if you are a fan of the Halloween season, you are bound to find some interesting treats at Welcome to Haddonfield II. The less expensive items could serve well as decor for a Halloween party or home haunt. The more expensive work is for serious collectors who want something worth hanging on their walls year-round. But even if you’re not in the market for original art, Welcome to Haddonfield II is worth a visit just to browse.

Footnote:

  • If you’re wondering why SugarMynt’s third Halloween exhibition is named “Welcome to Haddonfield II” instead of “III,” here’s the reason: The first year, the event was titled “No Beauty Without Strangeness: A Halloween Exhibition.”
Welcome to Haddonfield II
4

Rating Scale

1 – Avoid
2 – Not all bad
3 – Recommended
4 – Highly Recommended
5 – Must See

This Halloween-themed exhibition is loaded with treats that should appeal to serious collectors and casual fans.

“Welcome to Haddonfield II” runs weekly except Mondays through October 31st. Hours are 12-5pm on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 12-8pm on Thursdays, 12-10pm on Fridays & Saturdays, 12-7pm on Sundays. Admission is $5. SugarMynt is located at 810 Meridian Avenue  in South Pasadena, CA. It is conveniently located near the South Pasadena stop of the Metro Gold Line.

Welcome to Haddonfield Photographs

Steve Biodrowski, Administrator

A graduate of USC film school, Steve Biodrowski has worked as a film critic, journalist, and editor at Movieline, Premiere, Le Cinephage, The Dark Side., Cinefantastique magazine, Fandom.com, and Cinescape Online. He is currently Managing Editor of Cinefantastique Online and owner-operator of Hollywood Gothique.