Tony Carroll: A Passion For Horror

Frank Kourt

When you meet Tony Carroll, of Richmond, you’ll find him a soft-spoken, gentle young man with solid Christian values.

It is a persona that belies his passionate interest in horror films. Tony is one of the founders of www.benevolentstreet.com, a site dedicated primarily to horror films, and which was named the official horror Web page of the recent Scarefest Horror Convention conducted in Lexington last month.

Tony’s interest in horror films began in earnest at the tender age of “5 or 6,” when he wheedled his mom into letting him view the movie, “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” after he’d heard a couple of ladies talking about the film while reluctantly waiting his turn for a haircut in his native Irvine. He’s been hooked on horror flicks since, and has never looked back.

“Thankfully, my parents trusted that I wouldn’t become a psychotic killer and they allowed me to watch this stuff,” Tony writes in his on-line biography.

“Basically, I’m a special effects buff. I can’t stand real violence at all, but it’s different when you know it’s just for the movie,” Tony explained.

Vincent Price and Boris Karloff, both of whom starred in countless horror films, were known as consummate gentlemen, and Tony seems to fit that mold. He is an appliance delivery person by day, and indulges his passion for horror movies in his spare time.

His wife of four years, Alaina, a photolab technician and education major at EKU, not only indulges her husband’s interest, but helps out with photography and with his Web site, which he founded with fellow Kentuckian, Michael Portman.

Tony and his staff of eight, mostly fellow Kentuckians, write movie and horror product reviews, keeping the Web site current. There’s no monetary compensation involved, it’s a labor of love for the group.

“My staffers are the greatest people,” said Tony. As examples, he pointed out that staffer C.J. Cole, of Clay City, travels hither and yon at his own expense to snag stories for the Web site, and fellow Richmond resident and good friend, Josh Puckett, has been instrumental in creating the site and in keeping the technical aspects running.

Tony came to Richmond about 10 years ago as a student at EKU, a journalism major. He had to abandon his academic career because of a need to support himself, but he has thoughts of continuing.

“One day, I’d like to be getting paid for the stuff I’m doing for free now,” said Tony, who sees the possibility of magazine writing in his future.

Tony began his on-line writing with a “Friday The 13th” Web site, www.fridaythe13thfilms.com, and covered the Lexington Scarefest, which attracts horror movie buffs and those interested in the paranormal, for that site last year. Tony said Jeff Waldbridge and Patti Starr, who started Scarefest, liked his work and asked if Benevolent Street would become the official Web site for this year’s event.

Tony said Scarefest is a growing enterprise, having attracted about 5,000 attendees in 2008, its first year, and an estimated 9,000 this year.

When asked if he has a favorite horror film, Tony is hard-pressed, but said he likes “Texas Chainsaw Massacre II” for its blend of scary and comedic elements.

Of course, Halloween is a special time for Tony, who has a “Horror Movie Room” in his home where he stores his collection of horror flicks, memorabilia and action figures.

“I start bringing out the movies in late August, but Alaina does most of the decorating,” Tony said. He said they generally host a quiet, low-key Halloween party each year to mark the occasion.

When he’s not tending to his Web site or delivering appliances, Tony said he likes to draw and paint, decorating “Jason” style goalie masks… Of course he does!