This week: Canada's Halloween Costume Crackdown, ScareCON 2024 dates announced, the HAA's New Strategic Plan, and an Evil Dead Spinoff was announced.
00:00 Intro
00:06 Canadian Costumes Under Fire
00:54 ScareCON 2024 Dates
01:28 Haunted Attraction Association 2024 Strategic Plan
01:49 Evil Dead Rise Spinoff Announced
Canadians might be paying a much higher price for Halloween costumes this year. The Canada Border Services Agency has targeted The Costume Shoppe in Calgary to pay over $100,000 in import duties fees after changing the classification of themed costumes. The Store had been importing its costumes as 'festive wear' with zero import duties. In late 2022, however, the store was notified that its costumes were no longer classified as "festive wear" and instead classified as "fancy dress" imports, which come with an 18% duty fee. The store, which has over 2500 costumes in stock must now refile previous inventory, even if those goods are no longer imported. CTV News contacted other big-box retailers to inquire if they are paying extra import duties on their costumes, but received no responses. How much this will impact Halloween is TBD, but we’ll keep you updated.
ScareCON, the UK’s largest convention dedicated to the scare attraction industry, announced its 2024 dates. ScareCON will take place June 5th, at Psycho Path in Newcastle, England. The convention features vendors, education, and an annual award ceremony for the ever-growing UK scare attraction industry. This year's venue, Psycho Path, won last year's award for the best Scream Park in the UK, and the venue will open select experiences with live actors for the convention. Tickets are on sale now.
The Haunted Attraction Association has unveiled its 2024 - 2027 Strategic Plan. The plan opens up opportunities for home haunts and vendors, calls for nationwide actor training, and the establishment of a code of ethics.
A brand-new Evil Dead movie is on its way. It has been announced that Ghost House Pictures has hired Sébastien Vaniček to direct a spinoff to last year's Evil Dead Rise. No details about the plot are confirmed, however in an interview he said "I told the studio that I wanted to make a nasty film, a film that hurts, from which you come away tested." The main character will be French and speak English. The supporting cast will be all American. Sébastien hopes to begin filming late 2024, and aims to have the movie released by Halloween 2025.
