The horror, the horror!

What: Crypticon Minneapolis 2010, Horror Media Convention

When: November 5-7

Where: Bloomington Sheraton

Cost: $10-85

Halloween is over. No more candy, no more mutilated pumpkins, no more spiked heels walking through 28-degree weather. Now the real freaks come out, in full force and in sincerity. Crypticon, now in its fifth year, is coming to town this weekend, beckoning die-hard fans of all things gruesome. 

Starting in 2006 as a small event in Medina, Minn. with just a few indie horror films to be seen, Crypticon has evolved into an all-encompassing montage of deliciously horrifying activities. 

“They’ve added live bands the last two years, along with other fun events like FX demos, costume contests and dinner with the stars,” said Don “Of the Dead” Hinrichs, organizing committee member. 

The films still make up a large part of the event, with “Salvation by Blood” and “Strip Club Slasher” among the headliners. Some legendary horror films even have their actors in attendance, including Jeffrey Combs from “The Frighteners,” “House on Haunted Hill” and several “Star Trek” incarnations.

Minnesota‘s own Scarlet Salem, beloved horror film eye candy and star of “Incest Death Squad,” will be there, among others. The blonde bombshell, who has also appeared in recent issues of “Girls and Corpses” and “Shock” magazines, will be at the event to meet with all her drooling fans.

“This will be my fourth Crypticon and it just keeps getting better,” Salem said. “It’s always a great time. I love conventions because you get to meet the fans, hang out, screen your movies and showcase all your new projects. It’s definitely a great place to be if you’re a huge horror fan, like myself.”

Despite the fact that she’s got a career devoted to scaring the pants off her viewers, and seeing some of the most disgusting and scary things imaginable on set, some horror films have stuck with Salem. Her favorite flick remains, to this day, “Pet Sematary.”

“The child, Gage Creed, is the creepiest thing if you ask me,” Salem said. “Just freaks me out. I’ll never get over that [movie].”

Coupled with the films will be informative workshops. Topics range from tips on how to make skin look like it’s just been through a butcher shop, to how to write horror novels to how to be as good a horror actress as Dee Wallace (“The Hills Have Eyes”). And, of course, there will be convention actors making sure you have as uncomfortable an experience as possible.

“Last year one of our regulars, a guy named Chuck, had one of the best Freddy Krueger costumes I have ever seen,” said Hinrichs. “He hid in the playhouse by the pool, some kids came up and Freddy popped out and scared a group of grown women by chasing them waving his claw at them.”

This year’s fest will feature “a very scary Pinhead costume from Hellraiser that should get some screams,” Hinrichs said.

If any of your terror fetishes were left unsatisfied over the Halloween weekend, rest assured you’ll get your fill at Crypticon.