“In order to appease the gods, the Druid priests held fire rituals. Prisoners of war, criminals, the insane, animals... were... burned alive in baskets. By observing the way they died, the Druids believed they could see omens of the future. Two thousand years later, we've come no further. Samhain isn't evil spirits. It isn't goblins, ghosts or witches. It's the unconscious mind. We're all afraid of the dark inside ourselves.” – Dr. Sam Loomis – Halloween II
Stop the boat… uhhmmm… Um, queue the band:
Samhain… pronounce it! I dare you. I’ve heard so many goddamn mispronunciation of this word recently by historians and horror fans alike that I want Lewis Black to do a comedy sketch on it. Dr. Loomis talks about some of the more interesting fictionalized versions of Samhain. The whole concept gets drawn into the Michael Myers mythos and things can get a bit skewed. It’s done with the best intentions. Let’s scare America with a history they can only marginalize with candy. Well I like candy. I like Halloween. I like Samhain. Best of all, I love the movies that make people scared. And this year… for thirty one days… we’re going to scare and be scared together.
SIDE NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL THE WAY TO THE END FOR A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
We have a thirty one whole days together. For the next thirty one days I will be posting some new editions to this Malleus Atrocitas. Thirty one bad puns. Thirty one nostalgic diatribes. Thirty one useless habit #41’s. Thirty one days of pain – The good kind, Scout’s honor.
As a tribute to the Halloween season which starts well before October I’m going to make a concerted effort to get some new material up here that will help make the Halloween season bright. At Christmas time you send cards. At Halloween time, we watch horror movies and stab cantaloupe reenacting psycho (and we do that most days of the year besides).
I’ll give you a little prelude du terror and then we can movie on with the opening celebration of the Halloween season.
WEEK I: Terror in the Printed Word – Scary stories and tomes to read to keep your Halloween cheer all a-fright. Most of these you will have read and hopefully this will have you turning a few well-remembered pages. Some you may not have heard of and those my dear readers will be must finds. If the pages don’t smell musty, it may not be worth reading.
WEEK II: Terror by Ear – Every good haunt needs a soundtrack. Every good horror movie needs to let you know just when to scream. We’ll look at a few different works and figure out how those children of the night make such music. You’ve seen blogs like this before here, but we’ll be stretching the imagination.
WEEK III: Terror at the Exhumed Films 24 Hour Horrorthon – We’ll look back at some of the best and worst moments in Exhumed Films marathon of horror history. After attending for the last two years it seems to me that this horrothon is paramount to my enjoyment of the Halloween season. Hopefully you can make a tradition for yourself some day or at least some of the movies shown. This will be a joint blog with the Blood Sprayer where we will interview Dan Fraga (one of the founding members) and recount the history of the festival. The culmination of the Blood Sprayer three part article will be the breakdown of this year’s horrorthon. Horror history in the making folks.
WEEK IV: Terror in the Toilet Bowl – Movies to Scare the Shit Out of You – I’ve seen quite a few movies in my day. I do not claim to be an expert even though I put a faux “doctor”label in front of my name and parade around like Dr. Fucking Giggles. Well, there are a few movies that tickle my ulcerated sphincter (don’t Google that at work). I’ll let you know what really creeps me out and maybe it’ll get you ready for your own horrorthon. This week will culminate with a Chiller Theatre preview and a special on how to throw a proper horror movie marathon.
And finally, HALLOWEEN!!! : We will be doing an extra special blog this day. For those of you who attend the Exhumed Films 24 Hour Horrorthon, Chiller Theatre on Friday night and For those of you who want to be in on the secret, we will be handing out a surprise of sorts… Details to follow. Keep following on Facebook and Twitter to keep in the know. Some pretty fun shit folks. If you wanna see something really scary.. well, do you wann see something really scary?
So that’s the run down. I’ll be trying to update you if there are any special writing appearances elsewhere. There are a few scheduled stops along the way at the Blood Sprayer, The Moon is Dead Halloween Fifteen, The Killer Film Festival in early November and other special writing appearances. Maybe they’ll even get me to do a friggin’ podcast… then you can see what Stage Fright really looks like. HINT: It’s not just a movie.
Breakout your Silver Shamrock masks (Conal Cochran will be most pleased).
-Dr. Jack O’ Terror
IMPORTANT: READERS OF THE TRAVELING TERROR-VERSE... UH HMMM... I mean people who come around here and stand in the corner waiting for Suzy B. Good to ask you if you wanna dance with her to "Love Hurts" by Nazareth. I need you to do my a favor and send a self addressed stamped envelope to the following address courtesy of Dr. James P. Terror.
213 Seymour Rd. Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Why would you do such a thing? Because I need to send you a free pair of 3-D glasses. Cardboard Anaglyph Glasses. Cyan and Red. You'll know why you need them when the time is right. If you have them at home. Get ready for something new... for me. If you own a pair they should work just fine (when the time is right... bwahahaha). If you own the blue and red one's or even the magenta and cyan they should work just fine. Get your requests in early because the holiday is coming quickly (like me... um... INAPPROPRIATE!).
Also feel free to email me at grindhousehorror@gmail.com. Maybe you need a pair but don't have the postage? A friend of horror is a friend of mine.
"Plan 9? Ah, yes. Plan 9 deals with the resurrection of the dead. Long distance electrodes shot into the pineal and pituitary gland of the recently dead."
It's been a busy couple of weeks here at the BoH. We've been putting in some OT over at the Blood Sprayer which has been most fun and entirely fulfilling. We will continue to keep you update in any fashion available to get you all the stories from Dr. Terror no matter where they might occur on the internet. Working on a column called "Interrupted Regularly Scheduled Program". This will feature where I've been, where I'm going and where I was (all with the touch of this keypad).
October is going to be an altogether busy month, and you'll find out about that October 1st. It's going to be long. It's going to be arduous. It's going to be everything you've come to expect from this literary vehicle. On to tonight's tale of UN-ordinary madness.
There's a big bad anthology horror movie about to hit you straight in the tramp stamp. Chillerama! I'll tell you now that I have not as of yet seen this beauty of a film. How do I know it's a friggin' Ingrid Pitt level horror film? Because Freddy knows best and he's got the low down right about... HERE!!! Please stop by and read what he has to say about it. I hope to post my own thoughts along time ago in a land far away. So sometime soon, check your hair for the virtual jizz trail of a review I'll most likely write to put my cornball head twist on it. Back to the matter at hand.
Anthology horror films. The portmanteau. Multiple stories. One beautiful film. You know there's historical precedent for this style of picture and that Chillerama isn't the only kid on the block to ride a Mongoose. I want to talk about this sub-genre or story telling method or whatever we'd like to call it now because it's important. Let's get down and dirty with the roots of this style of filmmaking. Start around the very beginning and leave it somewhere around the beginning of the VHS boom. If I leave any out feel free to raise your hand, waive it around for quite a bit and then shout out the answer. In all honesty we're probably only going to go through a couple to get your started and show you where the portmanteau has been and the new face of multi-story dwellings. I am not infallible when it comes to this list. On the contrary, I write because I am complete fallible. Feel free to share your favorites.
DEAD OF NIGHT (1945)
Synopsis:
"An architect senses impending doom as his half-remembered recurring dream turns into reality. The guests at the country house encourage him to stay as they take turns telling supernatural tales."
With some creepy imagery that will make it into later horror cinema including but not limited to the Twilight Zone with a short tale revolving around a ventriloquist dummy this one helped set the pace for modern anthology films and provided a superb wrap story. Now it's not the first of it's kind, but it's definitely slightly more well known than say Waxworks (1924) outta Germany. As you'll slowly figure out, the Brits dominate this storytelling method with a peppering of other country's taking the helm from time to time.
TALES OF TERROR (1963)
Synopsis:
"Three tales of terror involve a grieving widower and the daughter he abandoned; a drunkard and his wife's black cat; and a hypnotist who prolongs the moment of a man's death."
When you take a Roger Corman picture produce my Samuel Z. Arkoff with a Richard Matheson Screenplay and then stir in Peter Lorre and Vincent Price you'er sure to get a good story. Definitely an AIP film, so if you're into the Corman era Poe pictures this will suit you nicely as will Twice Told Tales. Midnight Movies put out a double feature release of this one. Best of both worlds? Well, it's at least an entry into the anthology genre which is one world. Being a fan of the Poe/Corman/Price sub-genre (yes it's a friggin' subgenre now), it's a perfect for a post Trick or Treat scare film for the kiddies.
BLACK SABBATH (1963)
FORWARD:
Synopsis:
"A trio of atmospheric horror tales about: A woman terrorized in her apartment by phone calls from an escaped prisoner from her past; a Russian count in the early 1800s who stumbles upon a family in the countryside trying to destroy a particularly vicious line of vampires; and a 1900-era nurse who makes a fateful decision while preparing the corpse of one of her patients - an elderly medium who died during a seance."
All I should have to say here is BAVA! If you understand what that means you need to see this picture. If you have seen this picture, you love it. If you have seen this picture and love the Wurdalak as I do, go check out the Fright Rags shirt "I, Wurdalak" and purchase it HERE. IT'S ONLY $10!!! Do it. Then enjoy Karloff and the movie that gave Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward their namesake. Enjoy a the cut that started it all below (this still makes me piss my pants with anticipation):
DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS (1965)
Synopsis:
"Five strangers board a train and are joined by a mysterious fortune teller who offers to read their Tarot cards. Five separate stories unfold: An architect returns to his ancestoral home to find a werewolf out for revenge; a doctor discovers his new wife is a vampire; a huge plant takes over a house; a musician gets involved with voodoo; an art critic is pursued by a disembodied hand."
A true return to the beginning of the film version of the British invasion. Hammer was already out and about strutting it's Universal Monster remakes of class act films. From out Amicus (and not Hammer as commonly assumed) comes this gem starring standard Hammer actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee and direct by the Freddie fucking Francis you've got five perfect tales of total horror. Yes, they are a bit cliched, but cliche... remake... redone... rehash... that literature and that most certainly is horror. My favorite chances by the year. Some years I'm all about the "killer plant" tale and get all weepy at poor Rusty (see the movie). Other years I'm amazed by that damn severed hand crawling around especially post fire place. All the tales are good. One will even leave a song stuck in your head that could get your ... :gulp: killed. Oh, did I mention this blogged is named after it? Yeah, I think we've been down this road before. It's on Netflix streaming if they're still calling it Netflix anymore, and if you live in the UK or have a region free DVD player you're in luck. US audiences demand some lazy motherfucker releases this movie in the US proper (and a copy of the 1940's original "movie").
HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD (1971)
Synopsis:
"A Scotland Yard investigator looks into four mysterious cases involving an unoccupied house: 1) A writer encounters a strangler of his own creation, 2) Two men are obsessed with a wax figure of a woman from their past, 3) A little girl displays an interest in witchcraft, and 4) A film actor discovers a cloak which gives him a vampire's powers."
Another portmanteau out of Amicus. I won't say it's as good as Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, but I will say that it's certainly as British as DTHOH. The stories are set in more modern times and are based less in traditional monster movie tropes, but with some new spins on what is horrifying. I suppose each story finds itself attached to a traditional horror monster or theme, but the feeling is different. The modern day feelings set us up for one of the finest horror anthologies in the history of the style.
TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)
Synopsis:
"Five people get lost in a crypt and meet up with a strange crypt keeper who tells them stories of how they died."
With imagery so iconic and stories so unforgettable this anthology based on the EC Comics stories of the 1950's is a nearly perfect series of horrifying tales. It's set in the modern day, but still maintains some semblance of gothic horror. From the opening organ pipes of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor to the closing flames and screams you will find what you are looking for. The look may be dated but the stories are not. My favorite is "Poetic Justice" with star Peter Cushing at his most versatile and a make up job that has scared me since I first laid eyes on a picture of dead ol' Grimsdyke. Crayola blood abounds. Also, "Blind Alleys" gets to me. Patrick McGee is creepy with or without a movie surrounding him.
VAULT OF HORROR AKA TALES FROM THE CRYPT II (1973)
Synopsis:
"Five men trapped in the basement vault of an office building share visions with each other of their demise. Stories revolve around vampires, bodily dismemberment, east Indian mysticism, an insurance scam, and an artist who kills by painting his victims' deaths."
A nice play on the original plot device from Tales From the Crypt, Amicus took yet another stab at the anthology film and created another fun series of stories although not as inspired as the original. The highlight of this picture is Terry Thomas. That's right... Sir Hiss from Disney's animated Robin Hood (among other children's film appearances) and of course, victim of Dr. Phibes. You'll enjoy how Glynis Johns (of MARY FUCKING POPPINS)gains some semblance of revenge on an overly tidy husband. A story not to miss. I had the honor or seeing this at the Exhumed 24 Hour Horror-thon on celluloid. Nothing pleases me more than grainy film and a good collection film.
FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE (1974)
Synopsis:
"Anthology film from Amicus adapted from four short stories by R. Chetwynd-Hayes strung together about an antique dealer who owns a shop called Temptations Ltd. and the fate that befalls his customers who try to cheat him. Stories include "The Gate Crasher" with David Warner who frees an evil entity from an antique mirror, "An Act of Kindness" featuring Donald Pleasence, "The Elemental", and "The Door""
Hey, if it ain't broker don't fix it. Amicus brings you yet another series of horrifying tales. This one stars Cushing, Donald Pleasance, David Warner(!) and Ian Ogilvy. It's been since the VHS days since I've last watched this one, but the wrap around story (the story's vehicle to convey each tale) is what I remember the best. Cushing as the shop owner of Temptations, Ltd. A must watch for the Amicus fan or for folks who like a good tag line "THE CREATURES - They Came From Beyond The Grave! They weren't born!! They were kicked out of HELL!!!" Not necessarily for everyone as its paced slower than the rest.
TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975)
Synopsis:
"Three bizarre horror stories all of which star Karen Black in four different roles playing tormented women."
I've written about this one before and we all know that I am more than slight infatuated with Ms. Karen Black. It's a pleasure to see her get the versatility in a role/roles that she deserves. I think that every horror fan is somewhat familiar with the unforgettable doll-alive warrior that attacks Ms. Black, but the opening story is just as well done and is gives us sexy seductive Karen Black right before she black widows herself into her scream queen persona. Watch out! We have another Richard Matheson script to enjoy, even if it is made for TV.
CREEPSHOW (1982)
Synopsis:
"Inspired by the E.C. comics of the 1950s, George A.Romero and Stephen King bring five tales of terror to the screen."
Any reader of this column knows how much we 80's freaks like to put this film on the pedestal it deserves for horror iconography. The only new commentary I'll make on this one is that its never seen a proper DVD release (which is true no matter how NOT my idea that is). We've all got our dollar bills ready and waiting. We even enjoy Creepshow 2 although some more than others. Creepshow 3 can be consumed by both Creepshow and Creepshow 2. Maybe they'll crap out a Creepshow 4 worth watching but with the production company switching after number two, we have little chance of seeing a worthwhile follow up.
Others worth mentioning though not featured from the 80's and before are Twilight Zone the movie, The Monster Club, Tales from the Darkside the Movie, Asylum, Torture Garden, Stephen King's Cat's Eye, Two Evil Eyes (which I love but is not necessarily everyone's favorite) and Tales from the Hood. Tales from the Hood is an amazing piece of strange horror cinema and needs to be seen to be believed. The right level of horror and comedy. The Brits would be proud of that one since most of their anthologies seem to have some underlying humor. There's so many anthology's to include... recently Trick or Treat became the cult classic that has inspired a new generation of multi-story lovers and new films attempting to cash in on its success. Let them try. It worked for Amicus in the late 60's and early 70's.
It's time to prime your pump for our holiday of choice. That would be Halloween. What better way to do so than with a retrospective of a magazine that features one of the movies that graces our TV screens during the month of October, Tobe Hooper's Funhouse. Granted they cut the living shit out of it which has me boob-hungry and blood thirsty, but a little bit o' Fango between friends will get us through until we can purchase the Arrow Video version of that fine picture. It's a great cover featuring THE MONSTER, and what a great monster he is. Let's get behind the cover... Rob Bottin awaits as does a certain Canadian slasher film that was remade in recent memory with the aid of a third dimension.
This issue looks like a who's who of effects men. Some Dick Smith, Bottin, Rick Baker and of course a wee bit of the man they call Savini. Before we get to all that I find that the best way to identify with the horror fan of the past is through the Fango Postal Zone. This issue features a top ten list of best/worst movies of 1980. I think you'll enjoy seeing where we've come. What they valued then and what we've taken from this pivotal year. My personal favorite one that made the cut, The Children. It's low budget can only be matched but its perfect camp to kill to laugh ratio. Fear your children, teach them well and let them lead the way... to your doom! PJ Soles gets a nod by a fan who says she doesn't get the proper credit in the movie Halloween. I concur and say doubly so for her topless scene. Yes, I am that old and pubescent. It's congenital. Also, Gene Siskel was a Romero fan? There's hope for him yet. You may recall that we have previously attacked Mr. Siskel in the after life with a "letter writing campaign". Feel free to continue writing. Couldn't hurt right? One last note, someone mentioned meeting Rory Calhoun after reading the Motel Hell entry. I have often felt a strange desire to eat jerky with Farmer Vincent although I will never have the opportunity. Guess I'll chew a bit off and spit it on the ground for one of the greats and say I wish I could have met him as well.
There's a great combination article with Stephen Lack of Scanners fame alongside the special effects wizard who created the beloved head explosion. Lack discusses the precise calibration of several of the effects to meet MPAA standards to avoid an X rating. Some things never change. Tom Schwartz, who assisted on Terror Train, discusses some of the advances in effects make up including the use of gelatin to give Scanners that extra splatter. The most important piece of info you can gain from this article is the explanation of the brain blowing effect:
"We apply a substance called alginade to an actor's face to get an impression for a plast castig. Alginade is used by dentists to make dental impressions; it is very cold to the touch and hardens in just three minutes. Then we make a plast mold castin and melt clay into the mold, for easy sculpting. A silicone rubber positive mold is made with a plaster backing for rigid flexibility. Industrial gelatin is heated an poured in the mold."
I want you to think about that piece long and hard indy filmmakers. How can you use that to top the Scanners effect even with today's highly advanced effects (we call them CGI). Get splattering! That's a challenge.
After brief stint with the sword and shield film, Excalibur, Fango goes straight into the stuff that my readers real groove on. Interview with American International maverick Charles Griffith, writer for AIP's classics including Little Shop of Horrors and A Bucket of Blood... ya we'll take that. Griffith is the guy responsible for directing the crabs in Attack of the Crab Monsters. This is genius that only marionette puppeteer's can understand fully. This is a must read for the fan of the atom age monster movies.
Funhouse. As a kid my dad wouldn't let me see this one. He said there were things in that I shouldn't be seeing at such a young age. I've written an ode to my pop's that goes into details on that found on this very blog, but this movie is a creep out that plays on our deepest fear. What happens when you're having fun at a place designed to have fun and suddenly fun turns to death. As a kid, I remember hearing stories about a traveling carnival that came to my home town of Long Valley, NJ. Some kid got too close to the a wild cat's cage and was mauled to death effectively ending the yearly carnival near my home. I wonder if Funhouse would have scared me more with a memory of a traveling carnival in my past, but alas, no such memory exists. The article features some commentary on the effects work for Funhouse although nothing of note save some commentary on the budget and a remark that suggests that Hooper's Salems Lot is superior to Kubrick's The Shining due to truth in the adaptation of Hooper's work.
Rob Bottin, another effects wizard, is featured in the next article. The subject matter, The Howling. In my opinion a better werewolf picture has not been produced before or since. Yes, I love American Werewolf in London and the classics. This film's transformation sequence is what does it for me. It's Bottin's finest hour although I'd say he has quite a few finest hours. Per the article:
"The "Werewolf Transformation" - even in the best instances - has been one of the most familiar cliches of fantasy film; you know, knuckles sprouting hair, the blossoming pompadour hair-d0, fuzzy face and the whole bit. Everybody knows what to expect, and perhaps that's one reason why there's been so few werewolf films over the last 20 years. With the Howling all is changed."
So Rick Baker has to turn down The Howling due to a scheduling conflict and Bottin changes the werewolf film forever. Dante talks about how they shot a bunch of excellent stop motion werewolf footage, but it didn't line up well with the actual werewolf effects. They didn't want to use live animals because their too darn difficult (hello, can someone say Wolfen). There's a discussion at the end of this article about Dick Smith telling Rick Baker that he was far more advanced an effects artists when he was the same age as Baker and Baker in turn also casting praise at Bottin... but then he seems to challenge Bottin to a werewolf duel. Stay tuned to see how that turns out. Remember Stan Winston's on the prowl too. This is sort of a wizards duel of special effects.
There's a brief interlude where the Omen III claims its not a horror film. That's just poor marketing if ever I've seen it. Follow that up with the continuation of an interview with the great Jimmy Sangster. This is a continuation of a previous interview and discusses Hammer's TV efforts and the Night Stalker. This if followed by a must read for any aspiring horror filmmaker, a bio article on Terence Fisher and Hammer.
Terence Fisher is the reason that Hammer becomes synonymous with Horror. His work on Curse of Frankenstein and Horror of Dracula got Warner Bros interested in a partisanship with Hammer and the rest is history. The most important thing I take away form this is that Fisher is in his mid-40's by the time he gets his big break as a director and changes horror cinema. Apparently there was a rumor that Hammer made three version of Horror of Dracula: "a mild one for Britain, stronger one for America and a really bloody one for Japan". Fisher denies it patently, although its pretty much the norm in future studios closet of tricks to boost sales. The article says that it is commonly agreed that the Devil Rides Out (the Devil's Bride in the US)is seen as Fisher's (and Hammer's)best work. I urge you to see it if you have not. It is well worth the watch, subtle and a commanding performance by Christopher Lee.
Check out the trailer:
A classic film exploration section written by Alex Gordon follows with questions about Motel Hell and Plan 9 from Outer Space. He also walks through some history behind Laemmle's The Cat and the Canary. This is immeidatly followed by a look at the Jean Cocteau vision of Beauty and the Beast. I find little horror value in this one other than some conversation about the influence on Cocteau's work by Jekyll and Hyde. It's either a true film historian at work or somebody's film turn paper turned magazine article.
The next piece is an onset account of the making of Fear No Evil. Shot in Rochester, NY, this piece details on some of the special effects creation as well as some of the finer points of tearing apart a house for the sake of film. With so many iconic demon films about to possess the 1980's this one definitely has a few cliche setting moments. It's one of the VHS movies that my mom and pop video store stocked on the shelf when I was a kid that I really wasn't allowed to rent, but then went into obscurity for me until recently. It's not quite got the fame of Demons (like not at all as famous as Demons), but you might notice some images that feel the same. now for a trip across Lake Ontario to Canada to Valentine Bluffs.
My Bloody Valentine has the distinction of being sensored way too much for such a classic slasher picture. It's imagery and gore pushed the bar, and that's only the parts the MPAA didn't make George Mihalka cut.The great part about reading this article is that no one knows that the film will be come a censorship extravaganza. The article is touting this movie as the next thing in realistic gore picture (calling it gorror), but that "isn't too graphic". Well, it's too graphic for the association of idiots down at the MPAA, gets itself cut and still manages to inspire generations of movie goers to gross out levels. I urge you to watch this movie with every deleted scene you can find and where a button that says, My Bloody Valentine Will Outlast the MPAA! I'm bitter, ya?
As we get close to the end of this issue of Fango it's important to note some of the film's that are coming out. Kain of Dark Planet, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Piranha 2, Dark Crystal, The Sword, Nightmare Weekend... all good. The most relevent piece of info to current events... There was supposed to be an "ultimate anthology" film that would have films by Cronenberg, Walter Hill and John Carpenter. This idea is scrapped. Why? Because Carpenter couldn't commit due to the rumor of a remake of THE THING! Well it's about twenty years later and we've got a new Thing prequel on the way. It's fitting. We thank John Carpenter as horror fans every day for his remake. Good decision. Better to not get involved with that body horror lovin' Cronenberg.
So with the rumor mill turning in Fango #11, we dummies have a better handle on what might be in store for the early 80's Effects Masters will do battle. The lines of morality will be drawn quickly and then shifted lines maps in a war room. John Carpenter will continue to revise horror and gore will reign supreme.
You know, I write these brief synopsis for a few reasons, but the most important is to get your ghoulies to get out there and buy 'em. From Fango if they have any of them (given the warehouse debacle) or from any private collector. There's way too much to cover in one silly blog and these interviews are gold. Please explore these magazines and treat them like mini text books. With horror literature focusing on popular horror and a minutia of specific subgenre's you'll need these articles to bolster your understanding of where we've been and how to conquer the next generation of gore hounds. We were all little gore pups at some point.
-Dr. Terror
You won't find all Fangos Back Issues here due to the fire, but try to support them. Even the big guy in horror publishing needs to make some bread. FANOGRIA BACK ISSUES
Okay everyone... it is quite obvious what needs to be done in the face of all this controversy. We need to set aside our differences. Work together, as a people. We need to find common ground to fight this common enemy. What am I talking about? Well the brand new release of Halloween II: 30th Anniversary Edition on Blu Ray of course.
I'm sure you've seen the headlines. Boycott. Do not support this movie! Even I cashed my own opinion at the bank on Facebook (because I would never do that):
"Great! Now I can't own this fucking amazing movie on principle. How can I own it if Moustapha doesn't present the thing!? Bad taste Universal. You owe us big time".
Inspiring right? Well it seems that "Moustapha Akkad Presents" was left off the new edition of my favorite Halloween installment. It's a complete mystery to Akkad's son and pretty much the fans have "gotten together" to vent their frustration at Universal releasing's decision. One thing is for certain, if an Akkad doesn't produce it, it's not a Halloween picture. For full article follow this link:
"It's disgusting," Malek tells Shock. "It's a disgrace, obviously, bias, objectively, any horror fan would find this as an insult to the man who has done so much to the series. And to come after his tragic death, he's not even around to defend himself. It's classless. I'm talking to Universal now and they're 'looking into it.'"
I have come up with a more than equitable solution for this most totally heinous oversight/marketing decision. It is unforgiveable. Even if you throw his name back on I think that Universal has lost some of its monster cred. This would have previously seemed damn near impossible given their history. I guess this is the motion picture Blu Ray distribution way of saying, "It's not you, it's me" and "I just wanna be friends"... maybe even less than that. So back to that equitable solution because you know I'm about to pull something about of my ass. I propose this as the new Halloween II: 30th Anniversey credit sequence screen.
It's got pizzazz. Leave his name of the fuckin' thing you heartless butchers. You owe him more. If I hear a sincere apology alone I will not believe that this studio did this accidentally. If we get a recall, no matter what losses the company may sustain, I might believe 'em.
As nature intended:
-Dr. Terror's Two Cents... PART II PRESENTED BY UNIVERSAL NEEDS TO GIVE RESPECTS OR BE FOREVER LABELED A WILEY BUNCH OF SCROTUM BOMBS.
Hey, can you close that air vent, my throat is getting dry? Yeah, sure. Thanks.
I was at Fromex in the Rockaway Mall, a professional grade photo processing store. A friend called on the phone to let us know that they had been hit. I went down to Sears where they had TV's on display and she was right. We got a second call shortly there after. I was told to dust all the frames, so I dusted them until they closed the mall.
A couple nights later, when the roads had re-opened, a friend and I drove down 287 south, made our way to the BQE and drove past the site. We were listening to the Toxicity by System of Down. We were very upset with more people than we could begin to let on. As we drove, there were bomb threats and scares and the bridges we had previously taken were closed one by one behind us. So we drove fast toward the George Washington Bridge and made it out just before they closed that one.
I've never seen that much smoke before. I'm pretty sure it's the kind of thing that you see in movies when the big monsters attack or when the volcano erupts. The big monsters are dead now, but none of them were Godzilla or King Kong. They never could be, but the best way I remember the towers is in the countless movies that displayed them, vigilant over the city. 70's cannibal movies and just about ever Italian horror flick took a wide sweeping shot of NYC... and there they are like new. Just yesterday, accidentally, I watched Q, The Winged Serpent and there they were; not the focal point of the movie as the Chrysler building was, but prominent. I'm posting a few pics below so you can see how I remember these movies. These are just a few, but I assure you go watch your favorite exploitation or horror flick taking place in the big city and you'll see 'em, standing there... and they'll always be there.
King Kong (1976)
Escape from New York (1981)
Megalon vs. Godzilla (1973)
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) - Not Featured in this Shot
Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)
I Spit On Your Grave (1978)
Zombie (1979)
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Eaten Alive (1980)
House on the Edge of the Park (1980)
Maniac (1980)
Wolfen (1981)
Basket Case (1982)
Manahattan Baby (1982)
The New York Ripper (1982)
Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)
C.H.U.D. (1984)- Not pictured here
Cat's Eye (1985)
Sorroity House Massacre (1986)
Brain Damage (1988)
Maniac Cop (1988)
Frankenhooker (1990)
Grelins 2: The New Batch (1990)
IT (1990)
and last but not least... Toxie. He's got his watchful eye over New York City people. You better fuckin' believe it.
Toxic Avenger (1985)
I couldn't have compiled these pictures in one spot had it not been for the amazing work of World Trade Center In Movies. I wanted to put together an "at a glance" horror perspective of which I have left out a few or may have even missed some. The list at the World Trade Center In Movies is excellent. Please make them a part of your memory. Also, I accidentally stumpled upon a few images at Aveleyman.com. Go over there and search around for other memories.
-Dr. Jimmy
Final thought: "Look at this thing. We still remember? I don't! You know, I don't even remember what the man looks like!" - Johnny from Night of the Living Dead... well we remember Johnny. We remember what they look like.
