Parry Shen has plenty of memories from his years on General Hospital, but some of the stories that have stuck with him came from a much bloodier corner of his career. The actor recently looked back at the Hatchet franchise and the fans who carried those movies with them long after the credits rolled. For Shen, the best part is not simply hearing that somebody liked a scene. It is finding out where those movies fit into their lives.
Key Takeaways
- Parry Shen says hearing how fans connected with his work is his favorite part of conventions.
- One soldier told Shen that Hatchet became part of his unit’s routine while deployed.
- A throwaway “my hat” line from the first film became a longtime inside joke for two fans.
- Shen says stories like these remind him why he works in horror, soaps, and animation.
- Fans praised both his horror work and his years on GH.
Parry Shen Shares the Stories That Stuck With Him
Shen (Brad) posted a video on Instagram and wrote, “My absolute FAVORITE part of conventions is hearing all YOUR stories of how you found/connected to the Hatchet Films in your lives over the past 20yrs! Here are two of my favorites stories from fans and how the films are forever embedded in their lives! Whether it’s how watching GH now reminds you of fond memories once watching with a loved one no longer with us, or playing using my character in Mortal Kombat to decimate your friends, or just a quoted line that is now an inside joke amongst friends. I want to hear them all!”
He was getting ready for the Colorado Festival of Horror and said that hearing those stories face-to-face is what makes conventions special.
One memory came from a soldier Shen met at a convention. The soldier told him that while deployed, his unit only had a handful of DVDs to watch, and Hatchet became part of their regular rotation. Shen said the movie gave them something to “de-stress, have a laugh, have a scare and bond,” and they later kept watching the sequels together after their tours ended.
Another story involved two fans Shen met years ago. In the video, he showed a photo of himself with them, then held up a still of his first Hatchet character in his top hat and elaborate costume. The fans asked him to sign their poster with the line “my hat,” which Shen explained was an improvisation to account for leaving the hat behind during a scene. Somehow, that tiny line became their running joke whenever either of them forgot something.
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Shen Says This Is Why He Does It
Shen admitted he never imagined that throwaway moment would mean anything outside the movie. Yet those fans had used it as an inside joke for more than a decade, which clearly hit him harder than any standard compliment about a scene. “It’s stuff like that, man,” he said. “This is why we do it.”
He also widened the point beyond horror. Shen said that whether the work is “horror movies, soap operas, animation,” the goal is to “bring some joy in the world.” That feels especially fitting for a performer whose fans may know him from completely different corners of his career, from Port Charles to Victor Crowley’s swamp.
Fans were happy to return the love. One follower wrote, “Your contribution to all 4 films cannot be underestimated!! You were fn AWESOME!! I also watch GH and you need to come back cause the Britch needs you!!!!!”
Another added, “Loved you in these movies 🎬 and General Hospital ❤️🔥.”
And the fan Shen almost remembered as “Colton” jumped in to clarify, “Colton is me! You were close! Haha Dalton!” before thanking him again for the memories and the treasured poster.
