Crypticon Seattle 2026: Tiki Terror and Tropical Horror Panel

Feel the sweat and the tropical breezes; it’s time to discuss Tiki Terrors and its tropical horror cousins. Transport yourself to an island in the South Pacific or the Caribbean. The exoticism and the removal from “civilization” provide the grounds for some evocative scares. These movies have been with us since the Golden Age. Think King Kong and The Island of Lost Souls. Embrace the mystery and heat, and learn from some veteran Crypticon panelists as they talk all things Tiki Terror. Friend of the Scariest Things, Brian Callahan, hosted a panel at Crypticon Seattle to guide us through a fateful trip to discover what lurks at the edge of the known world. Beware of cultural misappropriation and cultural stereotypes. Cultural sensitivity falls by the wayside here. The edge of the known universe gets short shrift when it comes to cultural respect. Context matters. Tiki and tropical-themed horror movies had their heyday in the ’50s and ’60s when Polynesia still felt very remote, and honestly, it was a different time. At the same time, the film industries of places like the Philippines can export some of their culture through B-movies. For the purposes of this discussion, the criteria for what movies got discussed were reasonably broad. It extended from Polynesia to some of the Voodoo themes on the Atlantic side. If it takes place on a remote island, it would be fair game for discussion. I came away from this session with a roster of films to check out, and that is the beauty of these panel talks. Brian was amazing on the trigger; there was a whole roster of films that were at his fingertips, and he was able to feather in movies, even ones that came from the audience. It was a very niche topic, but attendees came for the deep-cut discussion and were rewarded. This panel was the last panel from the Friday session, and a number of us prepared by wearing Aloha shirts for the event. These are veteran panelists, and it shows. I could listen to Tony Kay talk horror all day! He is one of the best panelists at Crypticon’s disposal. If you don’t come out of this recording with some new movies to check out, you probably are already an expert! Tony Kay, Brian Callahan, and Brien Gorham decked out in Aloha shirts and talking Tiki Horror at Crypticon Seattle 2026 Tiki Terror and Tropical Horrors: Crypticon Seattle Panel Recording Brian Callahan – HostTony Kay- PanelistBrien Gorham – Panelist Here is the panel recording from Crypticon Seattle. The first voice you will hear is Brian Callahan, the host of the panel. Tony Kay is the second voice, and Brien Gorham is the third. If you enjoyed this panel recording, check out our recording for Pets in Horror, which Brien hosted, and I was a panelist for. Representative Movies from the Discussion Here are some images from the films featured in the talk… and I’ve added a few more for reference. The Island of Lost Souls (1932) The Most Dangerous Game (1932) King Kong (1933) I Walked With a Zombie (1943) Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) From Hell it Came (1957) The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959) Terror is a Man (1959) Mothra (1961) Konga (1961) Matango: Fungus of Terror (1963) Brides of Blood (1968) Beast of Blood (1970) Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1969) The Blood Drinkers (1966) Trilogy of Terror (1975) Island of the Fish Men (1979) Zombi (1979) Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Carne de tu carne (1983) Predator (1987) The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) Club Dread (2004) King Kong (2005) Green Inferno (2013) Tiki: God of Horror (2006) The Ruins (2008) Sweetheart (2019) Monster Island (2024) Send Help (2026) Matango (2026) Horror Tiki Mugs I couldn’t resist. Horror Tiki Mugs! So fun, and so evocative. What’s better than a Mai Tai in a Xenomorph mug? Put me on a beach. I’m ready. Universal Monsters from Mondo From Jonathan Chaffin: Horror in Clay Xenomorph Tiki from Mondo Post Mortem Bootique