Rest in Peace

“I remember one morning, about 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, we were waiting for a lighting re-set and she led us in a version of A Whole New World from Aladdin. We all sang together!!” – Eliska Hahn on Jamie Lee Curtis’ on set behavior on Halloween Kills.

I’ve known people, like my dear friend Joey Kissling, who have burned so hot and fast that their deaths at an incredibly young age seem almost preordained. You can’t imagine them coasting into their sixties and seventies, grandchildren gathered around their knees. More often though, an unexpected passing can simply send you reeling. The loss of a vibrant life just seems completely unimaginable.

Such is the case with actress Eliska Hahn. Full of love and joy, it was a foregone conclusion that she would be spreading her expansive energy throughout the universe for decades to come. Unfortunately, Hahn, best known as Nova in the cult film Strangest Dreams: Invasion of the Space Preachers, died this past August, sending shock waves throughout the many creative communities that she was a vital part of.

Thankfully, after our first meeting in the spring of 2014, we stayed in touch online and in the fall of 2021, she was a guest on Dagger Cast, a podcast I was co-hosting. Sharing tales about working on Halloween Kills, where she was one of the featured hospital rioters, she was warm and knowledgeable, immersed in the legacy of John Carpenter’s series. It was definitely my favorite episode that we recorded and rewatching it recently, in a heartfelt tribute to her, I can see why. She is warm and funny – eternally engaging.

Thus, I’ve reposted the link here. Anyone wanting smart, behind-the-scenes tales of David Gordon Green’s take on Michael Myers or fans of Hahn wanting to bask in her magic one last time will definitely find much to love here.

“He was the sexiest man. I stood beside him. All that man had on was a pair of boxer shorts and hospital gown… and oh, my…he’s got some charisma! I mean when all you’ve got going on are socks, boxers, a hospital gown and a patch on your neck…and you still got a vibe going?!?” – Eliska Hahn on filming with Will Patton during Halloween Kills

Rest in Peace, my friend —

Eliska Hahn – 1966 – 2026.

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Creatively, he revolutionized the horror genre by inventing an offshoot that revolved around excessive gore. Due to his business acumen, you can probably blame a lot of the junk mail that fills your mail boxes on him, as well. Meanwhile, personally, filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis, who died this week at the age of 90, was a compelling presence whose commands were not to be ignored – even by the youngest of us.

I know this.

It’s mid-October of 2011 and Lewis is appearing at a 24 hour horror movie marathon in Chicago. In the evening, a few of us retire to a pub, next door, for dinner. Lewis is, happily, leading the conversation, taking our enthusiastic questions and giving them detailed and energetic answers. He is in his element except — a child in a high chair is letting out high pitched and elastic screeches, every couple of minutes or so, in the booth directly behind us. Each shriek jolts him out of his reveries and it is obvious, as time wears on, that he is losing all patience.

Finally, as the cranky babe lets out another voluminous wail, Lewis raises himself up, with grave dignity, and still seated, bellows out, in the direction of the child, with Greek authoritarianism, “STOP – THAT – NOW!” Each word is a separate thought, punctuated with irritation and will.

The toddler halts mid-cry and…is totally and completely silent for the rest of the meal.

Now perhaps, there are two sides of the table to fall on, socially, here. One side will be sympathetic towards struggling parents with infants and understanding of the need to get out with friends and colleagues, sometimes even with a whiney child in tow. The other side may feel, emphatically, that, in the name of common courtesy, children should be kept at home until they are more manageable. Good points, each.

But…I have a feeling that both sides can agree on the fact that even a mewling babe knew that it was important, if not vital, to listen to and obey Herschell Gordon Lewis – a sure and fabulous testament to his effective worth, if there ever was one!

So, Rest in Peace (whoops, I almost wrote ‘piece’), you crazy and creative bastard! You will be missed.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Big Gay Horror Fan

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In Memoriam: Eliska Hahn

Dinner with Herschell