Part 2 of 4 | Laura’s countdown post to Crypticon Minneapolis

Doug Jones is one of my favorite actors—not just in horror, but in general. Seeing him advertised as a guest for the first Crypticon 20 years ago is what originally made me want to attend, but unfortunately, because I was only 17, made just over six dollars an hour at my part-time movie theater job, and was terrified of driving anywhere outside my hometown and the surrounding suburbs, it wasn’t in the cards at the time. I’m so excited that I’ll finally get to meet him this year; there’s a good chance I will cry like a little kid meeting Mickey Mouse at Disney World.

If you don’t know who Doug Jones is, that’s perfectly understandable, because he’s mostly known for roles where you wouldn’t recognize him, including Billy the zombie in Hocus Pocus (which I’m sure my dad has seen, considering I’ve been obsessively watching it since I was 5 years old, but when I asked, he said he didn’t remember), the amphibian man in The Shape of Water, and the faun and the pale man in today’s subject, Pan’s Labyrinth. 

This Guillermo del Toro masterpiece is set in 1944 Francoist Spain, where a young girl named Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) moves to a remote mansion with her mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) and new stepfather, the sadistic and cruel Captain Vidal (Sergi López). Upon exploring the grounds, she meets a faun (Doug Jones), who tells her she is the reincarnated princess of the underworld, and if she completes his three tasks, she can return to her kingdom.

It had been several years since I last watched this movie, but it’s still as beautiful as I remember. The lush, dark, shimmering sets, the haunting but poignant score, and the intricate design of the mythical creatures create a gorgeous, dream-like experience. And of course, even through all the detailed prosthetics for the faun and the pale man, Doug Jones brings a distinct personality to each that shines through each costume. 

While Dad enjoyed the dark fantasy visuals, the real-world horror is what seemed to most resonate with him. He was on the edge of his seat anytime Mercedes (Maribel Verdú), the housekeeper and secret member of the rebel group) was in danger, and whenever Captain Vidal did anything especially villainous, Dad would eagerly express his desire to see the character get his comeuppance (20-year-old spoiler: his wish is granted at the end of the movie in a pretty satisfying way). 

As much as I enjoyed re-watching Pan’s Labyrinth, watching my dad get so invested in the story made the experience even more special. It’s exactly what made me want to start this series in the first place; he’s seen me fall in love with movies he’s shown me over the years, so it’s fun being on the other side this time.

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Crypti-Cocktail: Pan-gria

Directions:
In a large pitcher, add mint and sliced fruit. Pour in wine, gin, and diluted honey and stir well. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours but up to overnight. When ready to serve, dip the the rim of a wine or lowball glass in a shallow dish of the “bloody” simple syrup (but do so gently, otherwise it’s going to drip down the sides a little too much), add ice to the glass, fill halfway with sangria mix, and top with club soda. 

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