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13X Studios Creator Talks to iHorror About Life Behind the Mask

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iHorror: Out of all of the avenues you could have taken to get into the horror vendor scene, how did you choose to customize Jason masks?

Rick Styczynski: After Halloween this year, I cosplayed Jason a few times and someone wrote me on Instagram and asked to buy my outfit. I said yes. As I was going to the Post Office to ship the package, a light bulb went off in head. That’s when 13X Studios was born! I got some masks and played around and I guess I just went with it. I pretty much just did Jason masks, after few months I started other creations.

Rick at MegaCon Orlando 2017

 

iHorror: Have you always been artistic?

RS: Growing up in Troy, New York I was always a jock. Baseball and basketball were my sports, so I never got involved in any artsy stuff. However this one time at Band Camp….Just kidding….I have an aunt that is artist, so I think that’s where all this came from.


iHorror:
When did your obsession with horror begin?

RS: I always was fascinated with horror. I always was fascinated with masks. Every year I would help my family decorate and it always made me happy. My father used to have this Frankenstein type mask that would always freak me out…We are still trying to find it as it’s somewhere in my sisters basement, but still no luck….
iHorror: What are some of the more memorable experiences at conventions you’ve had while selling your art?

RS: I have done two conventions so far. Spooky Empire and MegaCon Orlando. They were both amazing experiences. I have been going to Spooky for 8 years now, so to be part of the convention is really cool. I still will say this hands down; Spooky Empire is the best convention on the planet! The atmosphere is so chill, and everyone just has a great time. Also, the parties at Spooky are legendary….This year they are also crossing over with “Spooky Day at the Parks” September 22 and 23 at Coronado Springs in Disney. I will be selling exclusive masks for that event, they will be Disney Villain inspired!

Picture from Orlando Sentinel

 

iHorror: What doors has 13x Studios opened up for you?

RS: I got off to a pretty fast start in November getting my name out there and making moves. Then the unthinkable happened. Some random guy sent a picture of my Kevin Smith Silent Bob Mask to Babble on the Hollywood Babbleon Podcast with Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman. They talked about the mask and Kevin loved it. A few days later I received a call from Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash and a deal was made.

They have exclusive rights to my Dirty Hat Silent Bob mask. Memorial Day they were listed online and in their Secret Stash store in New Jersey. That was a dream come true as Kevin Smith inspired not just myself but many of us after he did Clerks. Now to be part of something so special…And everyone there is so nice, it’s beyond words.

Rick with Ryan James, producer of Shooting Clerks, Kevin Smith’s biopic.

Back to the guy who sent picture. His name was Arthur Lopez and he’s from Fresno, California. That’s all the info I had as Ralph Garman said his name…I tried and tried to find him to thank him but I didn’t have any luck. Then finally I got this Facebook message from him. It made me so happy, and we’re now friends!  Im actually making a mask for him this week. Without him sending that picture, who knows if Kevin would have ever seen my creation.

Silent Bob masks

Another special event I’m so happy to be part of is Hearts of Reality in Celebration, Florida. I am making an exclusive Tiki Mask that all of the reality stars of “Survivor” will sign.  The mask will then be part of the Hearts of Reality Auction on Ebay. The money will benefit GIVE KIDS THE WORLD which is the number one charity I deal with. Helping these kids is the greatest feeling you can have.

 

iHorror: Which mask is your favorite?

RS: My favorite mask is the Jason part 7 mask. I’m a big fan of Kane Hodder, and I had the privilege to get to know him this past Spooky Empire and pick his brain with some of his thoughts about the masks. I made him a mask of his favorite band “Twiztid,”

Kane Hodder signing one of Rick’s masks

I love making celebrity masks. I made Alice Cooper a mask and he fell in love with it. It’s so rewarding seeing people’s faces when they see my masks. It makes everyone happy, including myself, and it gives me a drive to go harder.

Alice Cooper with Rick’s mask made just for him!

People know me and the way I work. I just keep going and going. It’s not just about money or getting your name in the limelight. I love inspiring people. I get emails daily of people telling me my drive and everything I’m doing is inspirational to them. That to me is what it’s all about. Go for your dream!

 

iHorror: Which mask is the most popular?  Or does it vary based upon the convention?

RS: The Jason masks are definitely the most popular. At Spooky Empire I sold masks that were darker in theme, and more pop culture and comic book related masks at MeagaCon Orlando.  However, Jason is still the main guy in charge. Who doesn’t like Jason?  Funny story though, my last hour at MegaCon a guy came over to me and said he was famous. I had no idea who he was. He opened up his wallet and his license said “Jason Voorhees”. It was so surreal!  I gave him a mask for free. I want him to be my new best friend!

Rick with a young Jason fan

iHorror: What made you branch out from the original Jason mask into other fandoms and categories?

RS: After a few months of making Jason masks I was messing around with some 3D paint and ended up making a Freddy mask.  It came out pretty sick!  So I picked some other characters that I wanted to try and I guess I just kept going it.

Two masks that I got lots of love for, well, and even some hate lol, is my John Wayne Gacy and Charles Manson masks.  A friend’s daughter of mine called the Manson mask “angry Jesus.” LOL!

Charles Manson and John Wayne Gacy masks

I just love going through pop culture and just making art.  Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. I made a Leatherface mask and, well, it was pretty horrible. It came out looking like Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs! “Put the lotion on the skin or you get the hose again!”

iHorror: On average, how long does each mask take?

RS: I have found a way to speed up most of the Jason masks but I try to get all of the correct detailing, so that takes time. Each mask is usually a two day process when you take into consideration the sanding, primer, detail and protection. The other masks can even take longer as I paint everything by hand. No air brushes at 13X Studios.  Since I began selling in November 2016 I’ve sold over 700 masks, that’s a lot of hours mask making!

 

iHorror: Do you take custom orders?

RS: I do custom orders daily. I try to accommodate everyone and get a feel for what they want. I love trying new characters or different styles. Sometimes you just need to take a break from the same styles that I paint on a daily basis. In fact, I just got a custom order the other day for a Fifty Shades of Grey type bondage mask. Now that’s some freaky shit right there!

 

iHorror: What does the future hold for you and 13x Studios?

RS:  I feel like I haven’t even started my business yet, not really. I’m still in the early stages, but what I’ve accomplished so far is pretty awesome!  Not bad from an ex-Online Poker Player, bartender and DJ.

I guess Poker taught me to take more risks, so I’m using that strategy with my masks. I can’t even imagine what this Halloween season will bring. Aside from the conventions I’ll be doing and the online sales, my masks are also in Gods and Monsters.  Gods and Monsters is a famous comic book store in Orlando, Florida and I’ll be at their two year anniversary party selling my masks on Saturday June 17.  Fellow artists Morgan Wilson or Luxnova and Vaughn Belak who has personally helped me navigate this scene will be there as well!

The future looks very bright, and a lot of that has to do with Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash!

I also have an amazing model from Connecticut.  Her name is Cunnographic and she will be doing lots of work with me in the future!

13x Studios model Cunnographic

 

iHorror: Where can we see you next? What is the best way to reach you for orders as well as to see what work you have available on hand?

RS: I try to update all my convention appearances on social media. I just started a Twitter, but I also use Facebook and Instagram. You can search 13xStudios. A website is being worked on as my dot com name brings you to my etsy store www.13Xstudios.com.

Please be aware not much is in stock at the moment as MegaCon Orlando wiped me out, but I’m back to work tomorrow, dutifully cranking out masks daily. Ok my wife Dawn is walking up the stairs, I need to hurry and get a mask on and scare her. My daily routine.

Thank you iHorror. Keep inspiring all of us Horror buffs!

Rick signing a mask for a lucky customer

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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