Article and photo by Mark Nero, special to the LBPOST.com

Last weekend’s first-ever Long Beach Comic-Con may have been designed for hardcore fans and comic book purists who love and live for the genre, but the event wasn’t without a small share of Hollywood glitz.

And most of it came in the form of actor-director Thomas Jane, who screened two films during the ‘Con, including his directorial debut, the sci-fi/horror film “Dark Country.”

Jane’s currently stars in the new HBO dark comedy series “Hung,” but much of his pervious acting work is familiar to fans of science fiction and fantasy. His filmography includes roles in the movies “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Crow: City of Angels,” and he also starred in the 2004 movie “The Punisher,” which was based on the comic book character of the same name.

On the ‘con’s opening night he hosted a screening of “Dark Country,” a horror-suspense film in a straight-to-DVD release that was shot in 3D. It will be in stores Oct. 6.

“Sony didn’t believe in this movie to release it as a 3D in theatres,” he said bluntly.

That may be the case, but the audience of several dozen viewers seemed to love it. The screening was similar to a drive-in theatre, with the audience talking amongst each other, laughing, cheering, talking to the characters and generally being as much a part of the show as the film itself.

Added to the fun was the fact that the screening was the first – and probably last – that will ever be held for the 3D version of film, and everyone was wearing the same kind of red and blue, plastic and cardboard 3D glasses that audiences wore in theatres during the 1950s 3D movie fad.

And the movie itself harkened back to the ‘50s, as well. Jane and his production partner, comic artist Tim Bradstreet said that they were going for a ‘50s horror comic feel, mixed with an episode of “The Twilight Zone.”

“Tim and I were going for unusual,” Jane said of the film’s three-dimensional aspect. But he also said that he wasn’t trying to make a ‘gimmick’ film. “It’s kind of an old-fashioned movie in a lot of ways. It’s an oddball film. I can see why Sony wouldn’t release the movie.”

The film, which is about a couple of newlyweds driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles when they encounter a badly injured man in the desert, has its strengths and weaknesses and ups and downs, but it’s literally the last 30 seconds that make it worth seeing.

“I was obsessed with making a 3D movie,” Jane revealed. “I think all movies should be released in 3D from here on out,” he said, which generated wild applause from the audience.

There’s just one problem, though: most theatres aren’t equipped to play 3D movies, and 3D home theatre systems aren’t expected to be on the market for years, meaning that the DVD release of “Dark Country” will be two dimensional only.

“The Sony answer is that it’s the same movie (in 2D as in 3D),” Jane said. “I think you miss some of the immersive psychological stuff in 2D.”

“That said, you should buy the DVD anyway,” Bradstreet quipped.

On the convention’s second day, Jane screened a black and white version of the 2007 horror film “The Mist,” in which he’s the lead character. (A screening of his upcoming new film, “Give ‘Em Hell Malone” was originally planned, but cancelled due to issues with the distributor.)

“The Mist,” which was shown in theatres in color, is based on a Stephen King novella, and features an ensemble cast, including Marcia Gay Harden and Andre Braugher. In the movie, residents of a small town in Maine become trapped in a grocery store when a mysterious mist covers the town and people start getting killed by whatever’s in it.

Much like the “Dark Country” showing, ‘Con goers made themselves at home and talked to the screen during the film. One person in the front row even took the opportunity to lay out on the floor during the movie, watching it while prone and having a snack.

And this is one area where the Long Beach ‘con clearly has its much bigger neighbor to the south beat: coziness. The San Diego ‘con is an overwhelming, overcrowded spectacle, but at this year’s Long Beach ‘con, it was much easier to literally kick back and enjoy yourself.

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