Art Direction by Wesley Gatbonton, Photos by Christopher DeVargas, Hair and makeup by Tai Shane
They’re frightful. He’s funny. Together, your Halloween cup of mischief runneth over because we asked Luxor headliner Carrot Top to lend his signature style to re-create iconic scenes from six of the scariest film classics to ever jolt your nervous system. So grab a slice of pumpkin pie, pour yourself a steaming mug of witch’s brew and join the redheaded prankster for a wild ride through the hair-raising, bone-chilling, nerve-wracking, blood-curdling heights of horror movie madness.
Child's Play (1988)
“I’ve always been compared to that doll. That one strikes home for me. The doll coming to life was really creepy. But it doesn’t really bother me when they compare me to Chucky. It’s all good.”
Poltergeist (1982)
“I remember that scene. It was just so creepy. I was really scared to death. I think my eyes were shut the whole time. But when you hear the noises and the voices in front of the TV, it’s very cool.”
Friday the 13th, Part 3 (1982)
“That was one of the big movies everybody went to. It’s one of the legendary images when you see that Jason mask. Now that we’ve talked about it, I probably won’t sleep tonight.”
Psycho (1960)
“Every time you get in the shower you think of that stupid scene. And that music—WRANG! WRANG! WRANG! WRANG! WRANG! That's why a lot of people don't shower is because of that movie. I got to shoot in that exact bathtub. We were the first ones to shoot a music video there. (Creature, with singer Brian Evans, at the Bates Motel set at Universal Studios). It was so surreal. You can still see the bloodstains they put on there, and the tiles are all cracked.”
The Shining (1980)
“Jack Nicholson—still one of my all-time favorite movies. It was scary but it was more of a thriller, more of a mystery and he was stuck in this big house by himself for so long. And those twins were great. But it’s that classic picture of Jack Nicholson putting his head through the door. ‘Heeeeere’s Johnny!’ It’s amazing as famous imagery.”
The Exorcist (1973)
“The head spinning—that was cool! That was more comical and more fun, but still scary. I got a chance to meet (star) Linda Blair and I said, ‘Your head doesn’t spin. That’s weird.’”
On scary movies: “I don't even like scary movies. I hated going to those movies. To this day I don't like scary movies. Everyone loves scary movies except me. When you’re a kid, you just say, ‘OK, let’s go see (a scary movie).’ But now as an adult, I say, ‘I’ll see you afterwards for drinks.’ I don’t want to sit through them anymore.”
On going out on Halloween: “Once I went out as the Joker from Batman (The Dark Knight), the one Heath Ledger played. I really nailed it. I had the clothing made so it looked like the exact clothing. His (makeup) was really messy, like it was war paint, really smudgy. And I took this green mud and I slicked my hair with it. I went into the room where my friends were getting ready and I said ‘Let’s do this!’ and everybody screamed. So we went to Amazing Johnathan’s party. Johnathan was like, ‘That’s YOU?’”
On what scares him: “I don’t like rats and snakes, the same things that probably scare everybody. I can do bugs. Roaches are fine. I’m from Florida, so we have Palmetto bugs. But spiders are scary.”
Luxor, 8 p.m. Wed.-Mon., $49.95-$59.95 plus tax and fee, 16+. 702.262.4400
