Want to meet the first person Freddy Kreuger killed onscreen? You can in Concord

It’s that time of year again for horror film fans as Mad Monster Expo scares up celebrity sightings, autograph signings, photo opportunities, paranormal and filmmaking workshops, actor Q&As, and just general macabre fun in Concord this weekend.

This year guests include Dr. Peter Weller (“Robocop”), Rose McGowan (“Charmed,” “Scream”), Robert Patrick (“Terminator 2,” “X Files”), “ Richard Brake (“3 From Hell,” “Game of Thrones”), and Bill Moseley (“Devil’s Rejects,” “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2”), as well as scream queens galore, including “Nightmare on Elm Street’s” Heather Langenkamp and Amanda Wyss.

Wyss spoke with The Charlotte Observer Wednesday about the SAG-AFTRA strike, keeping up with former castmates, her most-loved roles and crying in courtrooms. Responses have been lightly edited.

What has your summer been like with the strike going on?

A lot of picketing. My legs are getting really tan. What we’re picketing for is needed. I haven’t had a cost of living increase since the ‘90s. Money is tight and I’m glad we have our savings.

Did you imagine when it started it would still be unresolved months later?

There had been talk that it would, and CEOs of major corporations would try to starve us out and the majority of us would lose their health insurance, which many people still will. Their plan was to hurt as many people as possible. The CEOS aren’t creators that love movies like in the old days. They’re businessmen who don’t care about the art or the worker. They haven’t come to the table in any meaningful way.

Everybody would rather be working. Something like 80% of Screen Actors Guild members make less than $25,000 a year, sharing an apartment in LA with five other people, and yet they have recognizable faces. A modest cost-of-living increase would still make a difference.

How did you get involved with conventions?

I didn’t know they existed until around 1998. (“Nightmare” costars) Robert Englund and Heather Langenkamp called me and said you should start coming to conventions with us. Growing up in Southern California on the weekends my dad would take us to RV conventions and camping conventions. I was like, are we going to the woods in our RV? They were like, what are you talking about?

So you’ve kept up with your castmates?

Most of us from “Nightmare” have stayed close friends, as with “Better Off Dead.” Those two groups have merged through my birthday parties. Heather and I have stayed very close. We don’t live far from one another.

Your scenes in “Nightmare” were so terrifying. What was it like seeing it come together on screen?

I’d never seen a horror film before I did that movie. The script was so good and (director) Wes (Craven) was so amazing. I knew we were telling a good story, but I didn’t really know. Ronnie Blakely (Langenkamp’s mom in the film) and Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger) 100% knew we were putting together something very scary. I didn’t get to see it until VHS. I thought, “Oh my God, this is so scary.”

When you’re in it, you’re doing take after take. You have to run weird to make it look slow. You’re thinking there’s no way it’s going to look good. That was Wes’ genius and my trust in him. Little minute details that Wes added, like the body bag scene in the hallway. He said, “Something’s missing. Flop your arm.” And I flopped my arm and it was... all these details that were added were like cherries on the cake.

When we were doing the death scene, there was obviously no CGI and that makes it scarier. With CGI you’re looking at it visually, but you’re not feeling it. I had to actually look like I was being dragged. Once blood was introduced you couldn’t really go back so everybody was on their A-game.

My husband showed “Better Off Dead” to our kids. Do you find these films are often passed down?

I’m mesmerized by it. I love “Better Off Dead” too. The undertone is a dark subject that’s worthy of being discussed, but it’s told in this manner that you can have that existing in this hilarious environment. The Savannah Film Festival had a retrospective about the movie. Everyone but John Cusack came and it was sold out. Knowing that you made something like that, how lucky I am that something landed that way.

What’s one of your favorite lesser-seen roles?

The movie’s called “The ID” (2015) and it’s the best role I’ve had as an adult. It’s a dark, sad, psychological thriller about taking care of your parents. I wish more people had seen that. The director Thommy Hutson also did the “Never Sleep Again” documentary and the “Nightmare” book. The other thing that I’m excited about when the strike is over is I get to do my first Christmas movie.

What shows would you like to appear on that you’re a fan of?

I would love to be a new character on a show like “Stranger Things” or “The Morning Show.” I love “Ted Lasso.” These are all on streaming services that we’re striking against unfortunately. For a major network I would love to be a regular on a show like “Grey’s Anatomy.” Shows with great, messy roles that celebrate women.

Some of the biggest movies of the ‘70s and ‘80s had one female lead. Princess Leia is the only woman in space. What’s it like now that there are more roles for women?

It’s twofold. There are a ton more roles for women. I do think the nice, meaty roles are played by all the same women. The top 1% A-list people or the ones going from series to series. And then you have people like me that are journeymen actors, but not marquee names. I think people are top-loading their shows with as many famous people as possible, which didn’t use to be the thing. There could be more journeyman roles for women. I’m not being offered great roles. Even as the guest star I’m the crying mother. My child has been murdered or in an accident. On every show, I sit in the courtroom and cry.

Mad Monster Expo

When: Friday 6-11 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. -5 p.m.

Where: Embassy Suites by Hilton Concord Charlotte Golf Resort and Spa, 5400 John Q. Hammond Dr. NW, Concord

Tickets: Daily pass $35 to $45; “Shriekend” three-day pass $80. Prices increase at the door.

Details: www.madmonster.com/expo2023/