Edgar Allan Poe\n\n In his writing, he explored exotic, supernatural, and gothic elements. Poe's conflicts are usually between good and evil, psychological effects of guilt and sin, and madness. Poe is known as the father of the horror / detective story.

The original ten "masters" attending were John Carpenter, Larry Cohen, Don Coscarelli, Joe Dante, Guillermo del Toro, Stuart Gordon, Tobe Hooper, John Landis, Bill Malone, and Garris himself.