Scotty McCoy, better known to slasher movie fans as “Slasher Scotty,” signs an autograph for a fan at a convention. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCOTTY McCOY
Originally published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald on October 30, 2021.
Scotty McCoy and his business partners used to meet at McDonald’s to discuss the question “How are we gonna kill this person?”
They would brainstorm ideas like “Maybe we can bash her with a hammer!”
When people stared, McCoy and his partners would have to explain that they were just working on a horror movie.
“It’s not like I’m gonna watch a horror movie and be like ‘That throat slit looks really cool, I’m gonna slit somebody’s throat today!’” he said. “I know the difference between fantasy and reality.”
McCoy, who divides his time between Ashland and Woodlawn, Md., is a horror movie fanatic and co-founder of Schuylkill County-based production company Gravestone Films. McCoy’s resume also includes starring in independent chillers like “Frosty’s Revenge: Seasons Bleeding 3” and “Always Check.”
McCoy interviews horror personalities on his podcast Slasher Scotty, from stars to those who work behind the scenes. He tends to focus on the cast and crew of his favorite slasher franchises from the 1980s; “Friday the 13th,” “Halloween” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” The podcast started when he befriended Greg Gilbert, the host of the film podcast “Python’s Paradise.” Gilbert suggested McCoy start his own podcast, and in 2016, he hosted his very first guest, “Friday the 13th” screenwriter Victor Miller.
“This actually became something bigger than I anticipated,” said McCoy, 31.
As a kid in Ashland, he rented scary movies from the town video store (remember those?), the Black Diamond.
“I hate getting scared in person,” McCoy said, “I hate haunted houses, but I love getting scared in horror movies. I get an amazing feeling that I can’t describe, it’s just that adrenaline rush that makes me want more and more of it.”
The classic slashers inspired him, Ben Craig and Scott “Yags” “Yagielniskie to go into business making their own horror movies. Thus, in 2018, Gravestone Films was born. Their first film, 2020’s “Samhain,” was heavily based on one of McCoy’s all-time favorite movies: “Halloween.” “Halloween”’s simplicity and low budget helped him realize that he could make a similar movie. He recently ordered a Michael Myers jumpsuit and mask from a friend who makes them.
“It was beautifully done,” he said about the 1979 classic. “The cinematography, the acting. It was iconic, flawless, legendary.”
Even the knife the killer uses in “Samhain” was an homage to “Halloween.” McCoy wrote the script and co-starred in the film, about a serial killer who escapes from a mental hospital and terrorizes Schuylkill County. Filming “Samhain” sometimes involved 18-hour days on set with two hours to “chill and kill,” order pizza and explore whatever town they were filming in.
Scotty McCoy (far right) with Carl Miller, Abby Young and Gabrielle Roland on the set of “Samhain.”
“It was surreal, it was fun,” McCoy said.
“Writing it was a hassle because I never wrote a movie script before. Starring in it was great. I know ‘Samhain’ wasn’t the best movie out there, but we made great movies since, we learned so much.”
From interviewing countless horror personalities, he learned about what it takes to make a great scary movie. McCoy says he learned more about screenwriting from Dave Sheridan, who played the ditzy cop in “Scary Movie,” than four years of his own research. Tom McLoughlin, the director of “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” told McCoy “Whenever someone asks me what the best movie I ever made is, I say the next one.”
“That was amazing advice,” McCoy said.
He was also inspired by the stories of Stephen King and the grammar lessons of his high school English teacher, Joann Hoppel.
“I love the fear that he instills just by reading a book,” he said. “He has the ability that a lot of authors don’t have, to make you imagine your life in the plot of the main character.”
McCoy is a published author himself, writing “The Ultimate ‘Friday the 13th’ Trivia Book” and “The Ultimate ‘Halloween’ Trivia Book.” He then wrote the book “Christ Defeats Cancer,” as well as the New York Times bestseller “Christ Defeats Cancer” about his father’s battle with brain cancer. He wrote sequels to both “Christ Defeats Cancer” and the “Halloween“ trivia book.
“Maybe I’ll be the Stephen King of horror trivia books,” he said.
“Samhain”’s dialogue was heavily influenced by the coal region dialect, and his sarcastic personality.
“I wanted everything that was Schuylkill County-based,” he said, “whether it was something I knew, whether it was something I experienced, I wanted that to be displayed in the movie.”
He still gets praised for the scene in “Samhain” where the killer drowns a girl in a bowl of cereal and milk.
“The people that love horror movies love that adrenaline feeling,” he said. “There’s a fake out, and then BAM! There’s the surprise. Even movies that don’t have a good plot, but have good scares and death scenes. That’s what we want to see: a good, creative, original death scene.”
Scotty plays dead for the camera.
When asked what makes Schuylkill County such a perfect location for a horror movie, he answered in one word: “Centralia.” Several scenes take place in and around the abandoned town, as did the county’s spooky wooded areas which were perfect for stunts and chase scenes.
“Schuylkill County’s my birthright,” McCoy said. “I’m not ashamed of it. It’s where my family and friends are from. I have a really close place in my heart for Schuylkill County.”
Most people use the word “Skook” as an insult, but he says it with pride.
Currently, Gravestone Films is working on “72,” a movie inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. It tells the story of a fast-spreading virus that kills within 72 hours of infection. A group of friends quarantine themselves in the woods, but unbeknownst to them, one is already infected. The film was originally called “Killer Party” but screenwriter, director and star Carl Miller wanted to change it.
“There wasn’t as much partying as there was killing,” McCoy said.
McCoy is the executive producer and also stars in the film, alongside a cast of mostly Schuylkill County natives. Part of “72”’s profit will go to Scare Away Hunger, a local charity that collects food for food banks every October.
Halloween is McCoy’s favorite holiday, but he’s behind on decorating because he sprained his ankle by jumping down the stairs while taking out the trash.
“I was an idiot,” he said. “I wanted to see if I could fly like Superman, I guess.”
McCoy watches horror movie marathons all through October, has a party in his apartment every October 31 and can spend up to $200 on a costume.
“Immediately the next day after Halloween,” he said, “I’m counting down to next Halloween. I don’t like cleaning my apartment but I like decorating. I love making Halloween-themed treats. I love making my house spooky. I love the holiday, I love that it inspires fear. Plus candy.”
A Creepy Questionnaire with Scotty McCoy
Monster that reminds you of yourself
Jason Voorhees. He was bullied and kills people in creative ways. My filmmaking was inspired by his kills.
Favorite monster
Michael Meyers. He’s that creepy. He’s the type of slasher that isn’t about the blood and about the kill, but about the stalking.
Role you would play in a horror movie
I would probably be either the class clown or the nerd.
Favorite final girl
Laurie Strode from “Halloween.” She’s the original final girl and Jamie Lee Curtis is the original scream queen.
Scariest movie you ever saw
I would say “Halloween,” because the stuff that he does in that movie can happen in reality. You can have someone watching your every move before they decide to kill you.
Best death scene
I would have to say from “Jason X,” when Adrienne's head was frozen in liquid nitrogen and shattered like glass on the countertop. Or when Judy was slammed against the tree in "Friday the 13th Part Seven: The New Blood" in the sleeping bag, that was also very epic.
Horror movie you think you’d survive
I would’ve probably survived "A Nightmare on Elm Street," because I have nightmares about my family. I never had nightmares about a slasher monster.
Favorite Halloween candy
Pumpkin Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Least favorite
Lollipops. I’m not a big fan of lollipops, I don’t know why.
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