When the news broke today of the Paul Naschy Collection coming from Shout Factory, I was notified by more than a few friends on social media about it. I’m guessing my fondness of Senor Naschy and his work has gotten around! With all the titles that have been released, or have been announced, or ones that I’ve heard rumors are still coming, I am just in awe that this man’s work is finally getting the treatment and recognition he’s been deserving for way too long. It’s one thing for a company like Shout Factory to release a Vincent Price collection, since we all know that Price is a horror icon (and rightly so). So to see them give the same kind of treatment and spotlight on Paul Naschy…well, it is just an amazing thing. Even after his death, I know there are plenty of us out there still waving the flag to bring attention to him and his work, and with all these Blu-ray releases does nothing but help that cause. 2017 really will be the Year of Naschy!
Author Archives: Jon Kitley
Mystery Photo 3-8
Welcome to Monday, once again. Another start of the week and another chance at guessing at our Mystery Photo. Last week’s photo was from an old British classic anthology film from Amicus, the 1972 film Tales from the Crypt, from the Monkey’s Paw segment, always showing you, be careful what you wish for. Congrats to the following who sent in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Wendy Bodine, Aaron Christensen, Bill Harrison, Ricky Hayden, Troy Howarth, Erik Martin, Richard Schellbach, Michael Shields, Mark Turner, and Will Wilson. Always nice to see so many fans of this movie.
Our next film is one from one of our favorite years of cinema, if that is a hint. Take a look and see if you can identify this one. Good luck!
As always, please do not post your answers here, to give others a chance at it.
Bill Paxton – Rest in Peace
It’s been just over a week since the world lost an amazing talent, actor Bill Paxton. I had tried to write something about it a couple of times over last week, but just couldn’t get it out. He’d been a favorite mine, as well as many genre fans, mainly since his performances as the cowardly yet heroic Hudson in James Cameron’s Aliens (1986). But like his portrayal of the marine Hudson, Paxton gave so many levels of character to all his roles, and he was always such fun to watch on screen. Even his cut-throat killer Severen in Near Dark (1987) was a treat to watch. Two of my favorite lines to quote from that movie were both from Paxton. “We keep odd hours” and anytime I walk out into the sunlight, I always remember him shouting “Fucking daylight!”
Dark Waters Comes To Blu-ray
The beauty of the horror genre is that it is a never-ending sea of titles that come in and out with the tide, that there are often movies that get swept away so quickly that fans either forget about them, or never hear about them to begin with. Mariano Baino’s 1993 film Dark Waters is one of those films. Not to be confused with the Japanese one from 2002 that was later remade here in the states, but Baino’s film is a highly original tale about dark things going on in a strange convent on a remote island in Europe. It was released in an amazing DVD box set by No Shame back in 2006, but hadn’t hit Blu-ray until now, thanks to Severin Films, which has been given a HD transfer from the original 35mm negative and features over 4 hours of special features.
Book Review: The Mammoth Book of Slasher Movies
The Mammoth Book of Slasher Movies: An A-Z Guide to More Than 60 Years of Blood and Guts
By Peter Normanton
Published by Running Press, 2012. 511 pages.
We usually love film guides, but as long as they bring something different to the table. And having a guide specifically covering the slasher movies, that makes a nice addition to our collection. But here’s the problem: it is NOT just a book about slasher movies. As I started to read through it, seeing titles in there like Black Sunday, Cannibal Holocaust, and even Xtro, it made me realize that the book’s title is not the most representative of the material.
Another bad part, especially since it is suppose to be about slasher movies, he doesn’t cover any of the sequels for films like Halloween or Scream. These are mentioned when discussing the first film, but that is about it. I think if you were going to have the title be about slasher movies, then I think it would be better to have those titles in the book, as opposed to titles like The Werewolf and the Yeti.
Movie Review: Return of the Killer Shrews
Return of the Killer Shrews (2012)
Directed by Steve Latshaw
Starring James Best, John Schneider, Bruce Davison, Jennifer Lyons, Jason Shane Scott, Rick Hurst, Sean Flynn
It is a well known fact that I am not the biggest fan of newer low budget films. They tend not to be too creative in using their small budget. But over the last couple of years, I have seen a few movies that were really giving me hope for these types of films. Titles like Dead Weight, Found, The Invoking (formally known as Sader Ridge), and the more recent Resolution, really have shown me that there are still talented people out there that are concerned about a good story, quality acting, and using the money they have to the fullest extent, turning out really decent movies. And when the money is not there, creative imagination comes into play to make the most of it.
Book Review: A Vault of Horror
A Vault of Horror: A Book of Great (and Not So Great) British Horror Movies from 1956-1974
By Keith Topping
Published by Telos Publishing Ltd., 2004. 427 pages.
Okay….do we really need another book on British horror films? Damn Skippy we do! Especially when they are laid out like this one.
We are always a sucker for trivial information about our favorite films and this book gives us that and so much more. Each film reviewed is in different categories. We have the basic cast & crew info, plot/synopsis, and even tag lines and famous quotes. But then we also have different categories like “Nudity, Violence and Sadomasochism” or “Outrageous Methods of Dispatch“, or “You May Remember Me From…” There is also quotes from actual reviews of the film, as well as the authors own thoughts.
But the tons of extra trivia within these pages here are what makes this book a joy to read. No matter how much you know about these films, there is going to be something in here that you didn’t know. It also helps you connect certain actors or filmmakers with other films, giving you other titles to add to your “to-watch” list.
We had a lot of fun reading through this book and is a great one to go back to for research, or just an occasional time-killer. Topping has done an excellent job putting this volume together and is a must for every library. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Harpoon – Whale Watching Massacre
Harpoon: Whale Watching Massacre (2009)
Directed by Júlíus Kemp
Starring Gunnar Hansen, Pihla Viitala, Nae, Terence Anderson, Aymen Hamdouchi, Carlos Takeshi, Miwa Yanagizawa, Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, Guðlaug Ólafsdóttir, Snorri Engilbertsson, Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Helgi Björnsson, Guðrún Gísladóttir
When I first was told about this movie, that it was a slasher film that takes place on a whaling boat in Iceland, and that it was the “best Icelandic slasher movie on a boat ever made”, it kind of gets one’s attention, even as absurd as it might sound. I mean, even the title alone tells you what it is. But you know, it really is the best Icelandic slasher movie on a boat ever made!
Horror History: Victor Israel
Victor Israel
Born June 13th, 1929 – Died Sept. 19th, 2009
If you’ve watched any Spanish horror films of the ’70s, then I’m pretty sure you’ve seen Victor Israel before. This guy is like the Spanish version of England’s Michael Ripper. Making well over 150 films, he usually was cast as little bit parts, but was always so recognizable, that it would always make you think “hey…I’ve seen that guy before”. He played in several different genres, like appearing alongside Lee Van Cleef in Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966). Of course, for us, it was the countless horror movies that he appeared in that had us remembering that face of his. With his pudgy appearance, balding, and strange eyes, he was always easy to spot. It is actors like this, that never make it as a top-billing star, but are the ones that fill out the colorful pallet of the movie, making it so much more interesting to watch. I know that is definitely the case for me when it comes to horror films.
Some of his most noteworthy appearances were in films like The House that Screamed (1969), Graveyard of Horror (1971), Paul Naschy’s Night of the Howling Beast (1975), and of course as the baggage clerk in Horror Express (1972). He even appeared in Bruno Mattei’s Hell of the Living Dead (1980).
Book Review: A Year of Fear
A Year of Fear: A Day-by-Day Guide to 366 Horror Films
By Bryan Senn
Published by McFarland, 2007. 560 pages.
There are a ton of movie guides out there for us fans to choose from. Some are great, some are not. Some have the same old comments on the same old movies. But what author Senn has done with this book is a pretty unique angle and very entertaining as well. He reviews 366 films, one for each day of the year. But there is more than just that concept, for each movie has some sort of tie-in with that particular day. For example, Feb. 4th is Torture Abolition Day, so the movie is Torture Ship (1939), April 26th is National Bird Day so the movie is The Giant Claw (1957), and so on. Sure, some title might be a bit of a stretch, but it still a great idea and very entertaining angle.
But it is more than just picking movies to coincide with a particular holiday or date, Senn actually has very good reviews of the films, giving plenty of information about it and/or the people that made them. The titles range from the classics to the very best of the cheese and schlock, but are all reviewed with a positive light, even if the movie is admittedly terrible. Senn may point that out, but never comes across as all out negative.
This is simply a fun book. It’s a great one to go through to make your own checklist, since quite a few of these titles in here I would consider “must-see” films, but also gives a pretty cool angle if you’re trying to decide what movie to watch some evening. Just look up today’s date, and there you go!
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