CREEPYPASTA FILES 3 (MOVIE EDITION): THE TALL MAN

Lying dormant somewhere in the world of the dead and undead, is the Tall Man from the Phantasm-franchise. Before being dubbed the Tall Man, he was once known as Jebediah Morningside; a quiet mortician from the 19^th century. Years of doing his undertaker-duties of burying the recently departed began to take a toll on Jeb’s mind, causing him to become somewhat fascinated with the world of the living and that of the dead. Well ol’ Jeb created a machine that allowed him to traverse between time and space. During his first excursion, he experienced something that resulted in a complete change in his being; henceforth, he would now be known as the Tall Man.

The Tall Man appears as…a tall, elderly, white-haired, crowning (balding), grimace-faced man, dressed as a mortician, in a tailored all-black suit, white shirt and black tie. He rarely speaks, as he prefers the use of his animated and story-telling facial features. Want to know where WWE-superstar The Rock pulled his signature eyebrow-raise; check out the scowl from the originator of the raised eyebrow, the Tall Man.

The mysterious Tall Man hordes several unique capabilities; superhuman strength (he can hold an occupied coffin in the air with a single arm), telekinetic powers, as he can control people and inanimate objects, shapeshifting into other people (including women), and a freaky fact (as if those were not enough); if an appendage is severed or amputated from his body, said part will become an insect of something evil that will now do his bidding. He is rarely alone, as he calls upon his posse of the undead; reanimated corpses from gravesites nearby. He takes the cadavers, crushes the body down to the size of a dwarf, removes their brain and voila! A completely new minion to take orders!

His weapon of choice are these metallic spheres that appear at will. The spheres are manned by the brains of the cadavers that had once been removed, and each sphere is outfitted with a number of hidden weapons; lasers, circular saws, blades, spikes and drills. Impervious to a permanent death (possibly because there are many Tall Men from another dimension); the Tall Man does show signs of weakness. He has a strong aversion to colder temperatures and high pitched sounds that can immobilize him. Otherwise; you might as well just give it up…because the Tall Man will send his spheres after your ass and there’s nothing you can do about it.

CREEPYPASTA FILES: 2 - THE SLENDER MAN

How many people have heard of The Slender Man? Surprisingly not that many. The Slender Man is a paranormal figure professed to have been in existence for centuries over a vast geographical area. Legend has is that he is manifested by various names around the world; Fear Dubh in Scotland, The Dutch Takkenmann in the Netherlands and Der Grosse Mann in Germany. Though his name may change; the appearance and nature of this entity remains terrifyingly the same.

His origin is claimed to have been from a fabricated story on the SomethingAwful forums, though many have claimed to see him from much earlier accounts.

The Slender Man is depicted as being a male with no visible facial features (though it is said to vary from person to person when it is actually seen) and what almost seems like a type of ghostly, mummified-gauze wrapping around his head.  His terrifying height ranges anywhere from 6-feet to 15-feet and has freakishly long appendages (arms and legs). At times, The Slender Man is known to bear an insurmountable number of lengthy tendril-like tentacles from his back and sides, at will. The purpose of these tendrils are unknown, but one has to believe that the sole purpose (aside from scaring the shit out of a victim) is to maim and kill his victim. The tendril-aspect of this entity is only speculated, but of course “no one has survived after the dreaded tendril-attack” of The Slender Man. For the most part, The Slender Man stands and glares from a distance with arms resting loosely by his sides, or gentlemanly folded behind his back. His demure “at-first-glance” appearance may seem calming, albeit startling; though The Slender Man is anything but that. Because of the poorly-disproportioned body he has; it is easy to see how and why he moves so methodically.

He dons a black, two-piece suit and tie (red or grey), almost to the likeness of the Men In Black-fame, appears to be excessively lanky and thin to the point of former (now deceased) NBA player, the Sudanese Manute Bol. It is said that he is able to stretch his limbs and torso to inhuman lengths in order to prompt terror and entrap his victims. His attack is somewhat methodical, as far as approach goes; however, once eyesight is locked in between the victim and whatever it is that The Slender Man uses to navigate and see; the victim is placed in a sort of hypnotic state rendering them defenseless and allowing the entity to subdue, and eventually absorb, abduct, or kill his victim.

In photos and sketches, The Slender Man is usually seen posted up in the woods or surrounded by things that are just as tall and lanky as he is. More than likely this is to camouflage himself, giving an element of surprise. His targets of terror were generally thought to be aimed towards children, though it is difficult to say as some “accounts” claim that he is apt stalking those who become overly paranoid about his existence purposely giving them glimpses of himself in order to cause heightened mental anguish. An associate to the entity is called, The Rake, which is equally terrifying on an unreal level.

Keep an eye out for the distance or dark places; for The Slender Man may be stalking and waiting for the right moment…pleasant screams. 

TOP 13 SCREAM QUEENS

13. Tiffany Shepis: Known for her humble beginnings in Troma Entertainment’s 1996 transgressive comedy-horror flick adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet…Tromeo and Juliet, has landed on my list as a Top 13 Scream Queen.

She’s been a victim in the 2002 Ted Bundy movie and has had several slightly less notable roles in films like Death Factory, Scarecrow, The Ghouls, Bloody Murder 2, Dorm of the Dead, Dark Reel, Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!, Godkiller: Walk Among Us, Night of the Demons, and with well-known adult film star, Belladonna in the 2010 B-movie, Stripped. With her list of movies, albeit B-flicks; and a strikingly attractive sex-appeal; Tiffany is a bonafide Scream Queen in my book any day of the week.

12. Ashley Laurence: The attractive brunette with the doughy-eyes and innocent flair made her horror movie debut in one of the more memorable horror movies of the 80s and overall in the horror genre; Clive Barker’s 1987 Hellraiser. She was the protagonist in the first film and gave us guys just another reason to keep watching (although I was only 6-years old at the time), aside from the fantastic gore-factor (for an 80s movie that is).

Ashley went on to reprise her role in the 1988 sequel, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, a small cameo in 1992’s Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, and to round out her series appearance, 2002’s Hellraiser: Hellseeker. Prior to the last Hellraiser film Ashley acted in; she went on in the 90s to play in H.P. Lovecraft’s short story adaptation, Lurking Fear, playing a young woman seeking revenge for the murder of her sister and town doctor. Not only has this early Scream Queen appeared in several horror flicks; she has also had a part in the 2009 short film for a favorite band of mine, Slipknot’s music video, Snuff.

11. Linnea Quigley: Although grabbing her start in earlier B-movies such as 1975’s Psycho from Texas, and 1981’s Don’t Go Near the Park; Linnea made her most memorable marks in the early to mid 80s with castings in movies like, Silent Night Deadly Night, Return of the Living Dead (where she played the sexy, punk-zombie chick who strutted her glorious nakedness around the foggy graveyard and town.), Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, and Night of the Demons.

Quigley has been known to provide the nudity to give the B-movies a little something extra in the “happy-happy-funtime” category, as far as gratuitous boobage and slight cooter shots go! Check out more of Linnea and her Scream Queen assets in B-movie flicks like Night of the Demons, Girls Gone Dead, Stripperland, 1313: Cougar Cult, A Blood Story, The Voices From Beyond, Dead End, and Caesar and Otto’s Deadly Xmas.   

10. Shawnee Smith: Before she became known for her acting roles in the Saw franchise; Shawnee played a character named Meg Penny in 1988’s The Blob. But let’s hop back on over to what many of you know her as; Amanda Young in Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, and Saw 3D.

Her character in the franchise was pretty well thought out to begin with…then she just kinda got annoying; like a wiry, bubble-eyed Chihuahua that won’t stop yapping…but, what can I say? I like Shawnee, and I somehow liked her character. For good measure, we can go ahead and throw in the 2009 direct-to-DVD movie, The Grudge 3 in there, as well. Two movie franchises that have truly worn out their welcome…nevertheless, we love our number 10 Scream Queen, Shawnee Smith!

9. Neve Campbell: Ms. Campbell did not rank too incredibly high on this list, partially because she is a bit drab to watch on screen. Each horror movie and regular movie (and TV show) she’s played in; all of her characters are the exact same. Tell me that you didn’t think that was Sidney Prescott in Wild Things, or even her Party of Five character in The Craft…either way, it’s all the same character. Though for some strange reason, I had to place her on this list. It’s just something about Neve that I like.

In 1996’s The Craft, Neve played a practicing witch, in which I first found her to be hauntingly-attractive. Her part was not that grand, but it apparently made a statement to veteran horror director, Wes Craven, as he casted her as the leading role in the 1996, awesomely written teen horror/slasher, Scream and its lackluster three following sequels. As Sidney Prescott in each of the franchise’s flicks; she could definitely put up a damn good fight for any Scream Queen heroine!

It has got to my affinity for dark hair and the sad eyes…maybe that’s why I placed her on here. Ah well, it’ll come to me.

8. Jessica Timberlake: Let’s get this straight; the ONLY reason that Jessica ranks so low on this list; is because of her lack of horror movies that she has acted in. Otherwise…she would absolutely have a much higher ranking solely for her acting in 2003’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake…that and she is smoking hot.

Taking on a hulking-Leatherface is reason enough to place her on the list. Although she had to re-take her screaming parts over and over (because for some reason she is just not a screamer); Jessica played the role to a “T”. I promise I am not being biased just because she’s more than a little easy on the eyes. In 2004, Jessica played a vicious vampire hunter in Blade: Trinity. Again; sexy as all that is wicked and a killing machine this time; what more could you ask for? Well; how about more Jessica in another horror movie role?

7. Sheri Moon Zombie: Wife of rocker and horror movie director, Rob Zombie; Sheri has landed the number 7 spot here on the Scream Queen list. From various Rob Zombie music videos, to his directorial screen gems; Sheri has been a nice fixture in the horror scene for quite some time.

Her most notable role was as the sadistically-sexy vixen, Vera-Ellen “Baby” Firefly in Rob Zombie’s 2003 horror romp, The House of 1000 Corpses, and again reprising her role in the 2005 follow up, The Devil’s Rejects. Also by her husband, in 2007 she starred in the remake of the 1978 classic, Halloween as Michael Myers’ mother and again in the 2009 sequel, Halloween II. She has also done voiceover work in the animated horror flick (also directed by Rob Zombie), The Haunted World of El Superbeasto and another role directed by…duhn-duhn-duhhhhhn; Rob Zombie, in the 2012 movie, The Lords of Salem. Sheri can surely scream, and give one of the most maniacal-female laughs today. This earns her a spot in our countdown…and her undeniable sex appeal; a must for Scream Queens.   

6. Rhona Mitra: The original model for Laura Croft, before the beautiful Angelina Jolie starred in the motion pictures; this balanced and bodacious Brit took over the reigns from Kate Beckinsale for one Underworld movie in 2009’s Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, as she played Sonja, daughter to the vampire elder Viktor. Unfortunately; she died in the movie, which I suppose was expected, given the previous storylines; however I still had hopes that it would somehow find a loophole to keep her alive…alas.

Before she took on a vampire’s persona in 2009; Rhona starred in the 2006 horror-action film about werewolves, Skinwalkers. Not one of her greatest roles; but seeing as how she’s such a beautiful-little minx; we’ll let this one slide. In 2008, she also starred in the science-fiction thriller, Doomsday (which was made into a maze at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights), where she plays a cold military Major leading her team to find a cure for some wild-virus. Rhona makes it to the list because of palpable amazing looks, stunning accent and her kick-ass style of characters in the horror genre.

5. Heather Langenkamp: The year is 1984 and little did Heather know that she would be cast in a movie that would be helmed as one of the greatest horror franchises the world over; A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Now although the character of Nancy was to be the lead heroine and lead role opposite of the dream stalker, Freddy Krueger; Heather’s acting ability seemed to be left back at Stanford University where director Wes Craven found her. It was languid and dry as a cotton mouth after toking on a fatty. Yet, somehow the Nancy-character oozed her way into our hearts and her return in 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street III: Dream Warriors, actually brought a sense of nostalgia to a three-year old franchise. Granted when Freddy got his comeuppance and off’d her; many of you (including myself) cheered just a little bit. We see Heather’s face once more in the last real Nightmare film before a 16-year hiatus in the franchise, 1994’s Wes Craven’s New Nightmare where she plays her lackluster self, Heather Langenkamp in essence trapped inside of a real nightmare world.

Away from the nightmare, Heather also made appearances in Wes Craven’s 1989 horror movie, Shocker, and a 2010 documentary on Freddy Krueger labeled, Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy. Oddly enough, the 80s Scream Queen directed a biographical documentary entitled, I Am Nancy the same year. Way to cash in on the one hit-character Nance, but I ain’t mad at’cha; got nothin’ but love for ya.   

4. Kate Beckinsale: Kate has mostly played in vampiric type movies to start her Scream Queen essence. In 2003, she began the role of Selene in Underworld. A no nonsense vampire whom was in the line of stopping all Lycans. She played a total badass and not to mention an elite form of hotness in black, patent leather and fangs. In 2004 she followed this with a vampire hunter’s role in Van Helsing…to which she ends up dying at the end…(sigh) sad. In 2006 she reprised her vampire role in the sequel, Underworld: Evolution, then again in 2012 with Underworld: Awakening. A fem-pire (patent pending on that phrase) has never looked as stunning in fangs, as the lovely Kate Beckinsale. Get ready to check her out in the 2014 upcoming psychological thriller, Eliza Graves, where she is sure to be no less than spectacular in the titular character role.   

3. Milla Jovovich: Ukrainian born, leggy, blue-eyed beauty, Milla has had her fair share of horror movie run-ins. In 2002, she starred in the role of Alice in the popular video game-to-movie Resident Evil. Proven to be a very successful movie, although waned by critics and viewers alike (including me); it has spawned four sequels, to which Milla  has reprised her ass-kicking role in each of the following; Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), and Resident Evil: Retribution (2012).

In 2009, she also starred in an alien encounters’ movie, The Fourth Kind , which truthfully could’ve stayed abducted somewhere. I love Milla, but that movie was horrendous. Luckily we’ve got a sixth installment of Resident Evil to look forward to in either 2014 or 2015. Sadly, it will be the last for Milla, as she has stated in interviews. Cheers to one of the most ass-kickingest Scream Queens ever!

2. Jamie Lee Curtis: Sometime labeled the “Original Scream Queen”; Jamie Lee’s mother, Janet Leigh could possibly be drafted as the “Original Scream Queen” from the 1960’s slasher film, Psycho. Jamie Lee was brought in to the horror scene during 1978’s classic horror slasher, Halloween. I truly believed her frightened emotions in some scenes of my favorite horror movie of all time; yet there were still those parts where you could see her hiding a snicker or two in frame.

Jamie Lee reprised her role of Laurie Strode in the 1981 sequel, Halloween II and returned to the franchise 17-years later in the 1998 installment, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. She then came back for one last scream in 2002’s eighth chapter, Halloween: Resurrection, where Michael Myers ends up killing her. It was actually a bit sad the way that she went out…like a bitch. They could have at least sent her off like a champ, and at the end of the movie! Little known fact, giving credit where credit is due; J.L. had a voice role in 1982’s Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

Closing the chapter of the Halloween franchise; J.L. has also starred in horror romps such as 1980’s The Fog, and Prom Night, as well as Terror Train all within the same year. Now, I am assuming that she was given the moniker of “Original Scream Queen” due to the fact that she had produced a few movies within a short amount of time, and then acted in several movies laid out in a franchise; so we are just going to go with that knowledge of why she is such a Princess in the world of horror…but who steals the number one spot if it’s not Jamie Lee?

1. Danielle Harris: The number one Scream Queen in this esteemed list; Danielle “FREAKIN” Harris! Multiple horror roles, with four of them in the Halloween franchise, one in Urban Legends (1998), Stake Land (2010), and taking over the lead role in the Hatchet series; D.Harris is my number one Scream Queen! Now what does that mean for her? Not a damn thing, as I have no clout or no strong ties with any awards academy or even with a publisher. I am solely bestowing the Extreme Queen of Scream to this pint-sized beauty with the wickedly-enticing smile.

In 1988, she began her role as Jamie Lloyd, daughter of Laurie Strode in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. Her acting ability and fear on screen had such conviction and power behind it that I honestly have not seen another child actor do what she did back then. She again returned to the role in 1989’s Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, where she again out-acted everyone on screen…sorry Donald Pleasance; even you ol’ chap. Choosing not to return to the series for the next installment (plus they could not pay her enough); D.Harris did not return to the series until the reboot in 2007, Rob Zombie’s Halloween, where she began a new role as Annie Brackett (a character from the original 1978 film). Of course there is an obligatory tit-shot of the hot Miss. D.Harris; but her acting purely overshadows the brush with breasts. She had not lost a step in her acting abilities, especially in the horror sense. She followed that role in reprising it in the 2009 sequel, Halloween II and in 2010, she was brought on to replace the lead role of Marybeth Dunston in the movie, Hatchet II and in the 2013 sequel, Hatchet III.

With a few lesser known films, D.Harris starred in 2007’s Canadian horror, Left for Dead, 2008’s Blood Night: the Legend of Mary Hatchet, Godkiller (2010), Godkiller: Walk Among Us of the same year, Chrome Skull: Laid to Rest 2 (2011), Hallow’s Eve (2012), Dead.tv (2013), and upcoming in 2014, See No Evil 2 Night of the Living Dead: Origins: 3D, and Fear Clinic.

Need I say more about this talented…talented, actress and her Scream Queen resume? Hands down, D.Harris is the ultimate Scream Queen.

CREEPYPASTA FILES: 1 - THE BOGEYMAN

So what’s oddly terrifying about this villain is that we know not what it looks like, what it’s fully capable of or where the hell it comes from. The Bogeyman, Man from the Shadows, Bugbear, Coco/Cucuy or however you want to refer to it; is a ghostly, malevolent creature that virtually manifests itself physically in the form of however a child envisions it. In whole; the Bogeyman is the embodiment of terror and is pretty much scarier than any other villain in our files.

Generally speaking and from its appellation, we consider the Bogeyman to be a male; this is not true. The Bogeyman can be female, male or androgynous (you want androgynous; look up David Bowie from the Ziggy Stardust days or Marilyn Manson during his Mechanical Animals era). The M.O. of the Bogeyman, is to terrify and devour disobedient (and at time obedient) children. Its place of residence; the shadows, under the bed, in the closet, a dark basement and pretty much anywhere that looks rather creepy.

The Bogeyman has been depicted as another famous villain, Michael Myers from the Halloween-franchise, a pile of insects dressed in a sack in Tim Burton’s A Nightmare before Christmas, and as a shadowy figure with no visible bodily or facial features. 

So kiddies; bundle up under your blankets, tuck the sheets tight and keep that Spongebob night-light plugged in, for the Bogeyman may be near.

Broken Dream (performed by AITCH)

This is a song performed by a band I was affiliated with from 2006 until 2008. I played the bass, did background vocals, as well as fronting vocals for a few covers and originals. This song is called, Broken Dream, and I felt it worthy enough to be somewhat of a dark tune to play on the blog. Check it out.

What Scared Me as a Child...

DISCLAIMER: The following statements recorded in this article are of a less than preferable...vernacular-nature. Reader discretion is advised, but not prohibited. Enjoy.

I was a scary, timid child. Walking down the Horror Movie aisle in the video stores would have me damn near puddling on the floor. Swimming lessons...you could write that off. The clear water and being able to see directly to the bottom of this seemingly endless blue abyss of watery-terror was more than enough to have me seize on the floor. For the life of me, I could not understand why my mother continually brought me back to this place where kids are crying and splashing...pleading (if you will) for their moms and dads to get them out of the water; yet she would still usher me on in (in a total motherly way of course, nevertheless...I digress). Needless to say, swimming lessons were a hell that I never cared to travel with Dante to. 

But the very first real scare that I can recall as a kid (as if those weren't enough, yea?), was this one documentary/horror film called, Terror in the Aisles.

   For whatever reason; this movie petrified my shit. It was a 1984 documentary that's sole purpose was to fancy the viewer's fascination with horror. If anyone has seen this once "hard to find" movie of yesteryear; search no further, as it is now available on the Blu Ray edition of Halloween II. If anyone wants to be a doll and buy me a copy out of the kindness of their heart; that would be fucking awesome. If not, ah well, no skin off my balls. You see, these days we get watered down pieces of penguin shit with clip-shows like, 100 Scariest Moments...really? 100 SCARIEST Moments? The scariest moment about those shows is that the networks allow some of those comics that aren't even comical, try and have something semi-sarcastic-funny to say before each clip airs. I'm sorry, but I'm watching this special on scary clips, not some dry-humored jackoffs that can't hold a match light to some of these flicks.  

Now, this particular film would not even be considered terrifying this day, but for some reason it scared and warped my little, fragile mind. It was late one night and my parents had gone to bed. I had gotten up to get a drink of milk or something from the kitchen, then I decided to sit in the living room and watch a little television. Keep in mind, I was probably 4 or 5 at the time. So as I'm flipping through the channels, I land on either Cinemax or HBO, and I just freeze at the sight of (what I now know to be Michael Myers of the Halloween franchise) this freaky-ass looking boogeyman-dude, staring blankly at the screen (which I felt like he was looking at me) accompanied by that simple piano-riff that John Carpenter came up with, which is now synonymous with the Halloween holiday itself...and that scared me stiff! I sat there frozen in terror while viewing clips like Damien (the Omen franchise) watching as his Nanny dropped from a ledge and hung herself (fucking weird to see at that age...speaking of me, not Damien. He's the son of Satan, so I'm sure he's felt much more evil-ass feelings than that.), and the scene from The Thing, where that poor German Shepherd transforms into that grotesque spider-thing sprouting tentacle-like legs, and several other semi-scream worthy clips ranging from Alfred Hitchcock Presents..., the iconic 1970's classic Jaws, Scanners, Friday the 13th: Part 2, and a host of others. Again, totally not something that people would be peeking through their fingers for this day and age, but back then...to a 4 year old...the shit was terrifying. I do believe that this film was an actual turning point for me and my fascination with horror.

Anyway, BACK to the story; I was sitting up on the couch for what seemed an eternity of not being able to move from my spot. Luckily, I didn't pee-myself, but after an hour or so seated alone, late at night, plastered to the television screen, sans parental supervision; my face was riddled with salty tears surrying down my thin little cheeks. I must have made a whimper or something, because my mother came out of the master bedroom, noticed me and was like, "Brandon? What are you doing? What are you wathcing?!" she turned off the television, picked me up and brought me back upstairs to my bedroom. I don't remember much more after that, but I do know that she spanked me...I think. Ah well, I probably deserved it. Shouldn't have been up that late watching "trash" anyway...   

The Darker Side of Tattoos: PAUL BOOTH

Have you ever seen an older TOOL music video? A bit dark, twisted and industrially-amazing is what you'll notice. The black walls, illuminated by red-flickering candles and the only other source of lighting found within this infamous tattoo parlour, are the three lights hanging over each of the three chairs. Welcome to the Last Rites Tattoo Theater in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen; and enter the Icon of Illicit Ink himself, Paul Booth.

Credit: Ben Leuner (photographer)

Just how much would you pay for perfection in "skinvention"? The amazing art that Paul inshrines on customers' canvases are absolutely worth their high-dollar price. At a lofty-rate of $400-an hour, Paul's waiting list is one to be amazed at. 3,500 deep and counting, Paul even turns away some of the less desirable design requests (unicorns, bunnies, and BS of that nature). 

Booth has now been tattooing for over twenty years, and in that time he has worked on multiple celebrities and rock bands, including Fred Durst, Slayer, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Pantera, The Undertaker (of WWE fame), Superjoint Ritual, Lamb of God, Adrenaline Crew.

Booth says he serves at least as many doctors and lawyers. "Going to Paul is expensive but worth it," avers Brandy Coco, a 27-year-old financial adviser from Gates Mills, Ohio, who waited just under two years to get in Booth's chair. Three visits and $3,500 later, Coco says she plans to go back again to fill in more of the Medusa-and-snakes design that covers her back, shoulders and tops of her arms. "It's the same thing as paying that much for plastic surgery: It changes your body for the rest of your life." Booth attended Catholic school through 12th grade in Boonton, N.J., where teachers scolded him for doodling images of monsters and skeletons during class. After high school he tried his hand at graphic design, but that too proved a tough fit. In 1988 he apprenticed at a tattoo studio in nearby Butler, where he inked generic roses, cartoon characters and the occasional skull. His big break came three years later at a Pittsburgh tattoo convention where artists were abuzz over a black and gray demon Booth had emblazoned on the thigh of his then girlfriend.

Soon after, Booth started his own parlor out of his house in Boonton and by 1997 had saved enough to open a studio on Manhattan's Lower East Side. At its height, Booth had six tattoo artists, including himself. After his move to Hell's Kitchen in the fall of 2007 he had a falling-out with his crew. Even with a smaller staff, down to three, Booth says Last Rites is on track to exceed $450,000 in annual revenue this year, thanks, in part, to his recently jacking up rates to $400 an hour from $250 to $300. That's more than enough to cover jaunts to tattoo conventions in Beijing, Singapore, Berlin and Cape Town, South Africa.

Booth has his eye on more than the needle. "Even though I could make a lot more money just tattooing, I have other things to do too," he says. In 2002 he started an eponymous film production company. Its first effort: a documentary about artists from around the world coming together to paint and sell their wares to raise money for art education programs. A second film takes viewers on a tour of Booth's tattoo studio. Last month he put out an album of haunting keyboard music, called Inspirational Hymns, sold at Target (nyse: TGT - news - people ) and Barnes & Noble (nyse: BKS - news - people ). His next vision: a creepy, "dark arts" bed and breakfast, preferably at an old Victorian in the woods.  via: Forbes

Let's take a look at some of the ink-man's masterpieces: