Local premier has some big time stars and local ties.

By Craig Lindberg

The Rock ‘n’ Shock festival is something I pencil in on my calendar every year ~ figuratively speaking of course, because who actually writes these things down any more (and for that matter, do they still make pencils?)

But I digress.

Each incarnation of the festival seems to bring bigger and better elements of the horror genre to the DCU Center, and this year was no exception.

Woodhaven Films chose our own Rock’n’ Shock festival to premier its latest and most ambitious film to date, Inkubus. Throughout the years, many films have been shown and even premiered at R n S, but this is the first to carry some serious star power.

Horror veteran Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund plays the title character, Inkubus, a demon with a score to settle with old friend Detective Gil Diamante, played by William Forsythe (both actors were guests at the festival this year).

The strong cast also includes Jonathan Silverman of Weekend at Bernie’s fame, Joey Fatone, (yes, THAT Joey Fatone), and local boy Tom DeNucci, who plays Officer Pax, a smart ass rookie who isn’t quite sure what to make of the circumstances he’s been thrust into. “Pax is definitely wet behind the ears,” said DeNucci when we spoke. “He’s right out of the academy, thinks he knows everything and isn’t afraid to voice his opinion.”

Being a film rookie himself, Tom was very appreciative of his experience working with the likes of Englund and Forsythe.

“I can’t begin to tell you how great they were. Those guys [Englund and Forsyth] have enough clout to just stay in their trailers and come out for scenes. Instead, they were out with the rest of the cast and crew. You really got the impression that they wanted to be there and were very willing to help the younger actors, like myself, in any way they could.”

The other big name co-stars, Jonathon Silverman and Joey Fatone, were very interesting casting choices for Inkubus given the work that originally brought them to the public’s attention: Silverman is best known for his late 80s/early 90s comedic work on both the big and small screens and Fatone for being one of the members of uber boy band N-Sync.

“They were both very cool guys,” says Tom of his co-stars. “Joey’s character was a real departure from his previous work. Glenn Cianno, the director, wanted people to finish the movie and say to themselves, ‘Was that Joey Fatone?’”

Since its premier, Inkubus has enjoyed very favorable reviews following screenings at theaters from coast to coast, continuing to cement Worcester’s own Rock ‘n’ Shock festival as one of the truly trailblazing horror events around the country.