Mr. October: Ryan ''Rotten'' Turek

Ryan Rotten is a Scary Stud who can be found at horror film conventions all over the USA! He’s the editor of Shocktillyoudrop.com, one of the biggest horror websites in the world, plus he’s super sexy and knows a bunch of stuff about horror films. He wears glasses, watches horror films, and hangs out with directors of bad horror films, but he’s not a geek: Scientists call this the “Rotten” Paradox and have yet to present their findings. Ryan lives in Los Angeles where he sits at his desk, typewriter in front of him, fedora on his head, and reporter’s gin glass in hand, saying “Whatta Scoop!” Just kidding. Ryan mostly wears slightly tight black T-shirts and most likely uses a Mac. From his humble beginnings at the turn of the millennium at Creature-Corner.com, to The Horror Channel and on to Dread Central and later Fangoria, to being the editor of his own horror website, Ryan proves that with a “can do” attitude, any horror reporter can make the women swoon! Whether he’s hosting a panel at a Fangoria Convention, posting insightful articles on Shocktillyoudrop, or hanging out at local Los Angeles hot spots to carouse with semi-celebrities like Scout Taylor-Compton and her ilk, he does it being Tall, Dark, and Handsome. Check out our awesome new Mr. October: Ryan Rotten Turek, who graces our site with his awesomely studly and genuinely enjoyable presence…

What is your sexiest quality? Describe in detail...

My unexplainable knack for being able to recall peculiar horror factoids like how extra #3 in one movie appeared in another movie while balancing a day job at Wal-Mart?  Nah, I don't think that works.  I think confidence and determination are integral to being sexy - confidence in the non-douchey way - so I try to balance equal parts of both. Minus the "douche."

Ryan is so freakin cool. He makes this car look gay, that's how cool he is!!!

What's your workout routine? I.E. How did you get such nice arms?

C'mon...I'm not, like, Men's Fitness-cover worthy or anything like that. I like to stay in shape and catch up for all of those years in middle and high school where I was the tall, scrawny kid drawing, carrying around copies of Fangoria and wearing clothes a bit too big for him. I try to make time either early in the morning or at night to go to the gym.  There's no way around this question without sounding ridiculous, so I'll just say I run for a bit then do weights for about an hour and a half every other day.

It's all the heavy axe-wielding that gives his shoulders their excellent tone and musculature

Your nickname is Ryan "Rotten". Which of the following is the BEST definition of "Rotten" as used in your nickname?

1. Being in a state of putrefaction or decay; decomposed.
2. To a very great degree: The child is spoiled rotten.
3. Made weak or unsound by rot: rotten floorboards.
4. Morally corrupt or despicable: She's rotten to the core.
5. Totally Stupid and/or lame

I'll go with number 2, because I can be spoiled, 4, because I've done some pretty "rotten" shit, and 5...which is the origin of the nickname. When I first started writing online, about eight years ago, I found out quickly that everyone that worked on the websites took fake names. One reason behind it, I guess, is so you weren't identified by the studios when you went to test screenings.  You'd go into the screening using your real name, but when you posted a review of the movie - which you were not supposed to do - you used an alias. Take that, studios! Now it doesn't matter.  Everyone knows my face, my pen name and the proper name my folks gave me.  What's the point? When I go to the studios now, they have me listed at the check-in gate as "Ryan Rotten.". One of these days I'm going to kill the moniker and give "Ryan Rotten" a proper burial like Thad Beaumont did to George Stark in The Dark Half.

 
Just look at poor Tiffany Shepis barely able to control herself in front of Ryan. And this girl - she's trying not to faint! Ryan is THE convention hottie!

People often speculate on your hair care activities. How long does it take you to do your hair, and in detail, can you describe for us what you do and any product you may use?

People speculate? Christ. There's not much care to be had. Wash, dry completely, take a scoop of paste (American Crew) and do my thing. It's messy and not as exciting as people think.  I know, a boring answer.

Crap! he got blood on his glasses again. Time for lasik?

Say something totally nondescript and diplomatic about other major horror websites, without really saying ANYTHING but with an underlying tension about how you really think your site is better than everyone else’s:

I'll say this... There's plenty of room on the web for various horror sites.  Look at the '80s/early-'90s when Fangoria was sitting on the shelves with Gorezone, Toxic and Horrorfan. Now it's accompanied by Rue Morgue, Gorezone (UK) and Horrorhound. It's a big horror party and everyone is welcome.

When it comes to ShockTillYouDrop.com and Bloody-Disgusting.com... my approach to journalism is different and I strive to offer our readers something with an informed stance rather than a knee-jerk reaction. I like to think Shock is a place for those in the industry and the fans alike to visit.  We're not a blog - I hate that term when people use that about us.  A blog is a place where someone consistently injects their news or "posts" with opinion. I've tried that. People fuckin' hate it. I mean, how can you judge a movie before it's even made, hell, before it's even written? I used to do that a bit during my early days, then I moved into broadcast journalism at an NBC affiliate and there was no room for opinion whatsoever. At Shock, I apply the same principal. Keep the news tight, concise, factual and intelligent. That said, however, editorials - like The Rotten Truth - and reviews are free game for opinion, and I have no problems with ripping into or praising a film.

Some readers like that, some don't. I never ask horror fans to choose sides - Shock or B-D - because if they're like me, they'll want to visit every horror site out there.

Ryan is damn proud of his work. Also, nice posture, Ryan! Kudos!

What's the sexiest thing a woman has ever done for you? That you've ever done for a woman?

I think it's sexy when a woman feels like she wants to dress up for, um, any occasion. Spontaneity is sexy. So any instance of that on her part or mine. I've found women are really surprised when I make dinner or breakfast - is that sexy? I can't tell what is and what's not when it comes to stuff I've done. Is it strange that I found it sexy when my girlfriend bought me an original one-sheet for The Funhouse? I don't think so.

Ryan contemplating doing what many of us have wanted to do since Cursed: killing Wes Craven.

Aside from being the editor of STYD, what amazing and cool projects do you have going on?

There's the rub. Other cool projects are hard to commit to because ShockTillYouDrop.com, for me, is a 24/7 gig. Honestly. I wake up early, work, break, work, go to the gym, relax a bit in the evening, and then work until the early hours of the morning. I'm just trying to make the best it can be.  I've got a lot of great plans for the site that will help us grow. In the year and seven months it has been around, Shock has already made a mark on the genre and I'm happy about that.  I'm eager to see where it can go in the next year.

A natural progression in my career would be to write a book or do a documentary. I've been told I have a head for producing, but I'm not sure if I have the patience. Over the summer I was given the "okay" by a production company to write a book about a successful horror franchise. Now I've just got to pitch it to a publisher.

Ryan and Ol' Grampy Turek from "The Old Country". Ryan took him to a horror convention to share memories and make new ones.

When female horror fans see you, would you say there is more of a "weeping" effect, or a "screaming" effect because of how much they love you? And is there a difference in the teenage fans reaction to you versus the older ladies?

If female horror fans are doing that in my presence, they're doing it internally...or saving it for when they jump on MySpace to send messages like "OMG, You're hot." Oh, wait; maybe that's just MySpace spam...

 
This is Ryan Turek The Amateur Hockey Player, NOT Ryan "Rotten" Turek.

Likewise, this is Ryan Turek "The failed actor", not OUR Ryan.

If you could start any horror movie rumor, what would it be?

Hollywood agrees to put an end to the remakes! "We're sorry, guys. We've been doing it all wrong and fucking you over for far too long," said one studio rep.  "Expect quality, original scripts to be produced from this point on!"

Even Elvira thinks Ryan is a sweetheart!

Don’t you think you seem a bit “Canadian”, in some way?

Holy crap, since when am I Canadian, eh?

BONUS QUESTION FOR EXTRA CREDIT:

If Ash Vs. Michael Meyers Vs. Pinhead was a real movie, who would win, and would it totally suck or be totally fucking awesome????? (please answer as if you were a 14 year old male horror fan on a message board forum)

WHATZ RONG WITH YOU?!!!!  ASH IS DA FUCKIN BOMB HE WOOLD TOTALLY KICK THEIR ASSES.  AND NO THE MOVIE WOULD SUCK - JUST LIKE FREDDY VS. JASON.  GET A LIFE LOOSER - YOU SPELLED MICHAEL MYERS THE RONG WAY!  GO WATCH ONE MISSED CALL OR SOME GAY REMAKE. PEACE.

Give  Ryan  some sugar, baby, at:

www.shocktillyoudrop.com  
www.myspace.com/ryanrotten