Baker’s Metamorphosis

MetamorphosisIn another installment of our Book News Week, it looks like those fans of Rick Baker are going to have to save some of their pennies for this bad boy. Coming from Cameron Books this October, is Metamorphosis, a 2-volume set that goes over Rick Baker’s work, starting in the very beginning in 1950 all the way through 2019. With 720 pages between the two volumes, you’ll get to see over 1000 color images and original sketches from this man’s 40+ years in the business. The price? $250.

Volume 1 will cover 1950 to 1989 and Volume 2 will cover from 1990 to 1919. We’ll get to see coverage from his work from Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Harry and the Hendersons, Men in Black, and obviously An American Werewolf in London, which brought him his first of seven Oscars. Personally, I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing coverage of his earlier work, like on Octaman (1971) and It’s Alive (1974)! But we’ll have to wait and see. I’m still on the fence about this one because of the price. It’s a bit hefty, but I’m sure the pages and pages of photos would be amazing.

Like Vampire Movies?

Strange BloodIf you’re a fan of those bloodsuckers of cinema, then you may want to add this upcoming book to your list of titles to buy. With Strange Blood, editor Vanessa Morgan has collected another amazing array of authors (yours truly included!) covering “offbeat and underrated” fang flicks, which are discussed in 70 different essays.

Morgan’s previous book, When Animals Attack, covered a different breed of beasties. Now we get to take a look at the more human type of animal, the vampire. This book should be out in April, but we will definitely pass that information on when it becomes available. In the meantime, check out the amazing cover by Gilles Vranckx.

Milicent Patrick – The Lady from the Black Lagoon

Lady from the Black LagoonThe Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) remains as one of the great monsters from the Universal studios, still holding up today, 65 years later. But there are quite a few out there that still don’t realize that the design of the creature was actually done by a woman, Milicent Patrick, who never received credit for it in the final film. But now, thanks to author Mallory O’Meara, you can learn all about this unsung hero in her new book, The Lady from the Black Lagoon, which will be released on March 5th, from Hanover Square Press.

For all of us that are interested in our Horror History and its heritage, Milicent Patrick is a person that we should get to know and definitely remember, because without her contributions, our favorite Gill-man could have looked quite different. And this book looks to be a great place to start! I’ve already got mine on pre-order, so why don’t you.

You can pre-order your hardcover edition from Amazon now for only $17.70! How could you pass up that price? Just click HERE.

Dark Delicacies Fundraiser!

dark delicacies banner

For those not in the know, Dark Delicacies is a book store in Burbank, CA, that has been open for over 20 years. But due to the raising rent, they are being forced to relocate. While I have never been (YET!) to this magical store, I have bought many items from them online over the years. The fact that not only is it a bookstore, but one that specializes in horror, fantasy, and sci-fi makes it even better. They are always having signings and other special events.

Continue reading →

Book News!

Oargentone more thing we can look forward to in 2019 is the continuing proof that print is definitely not dead. Sorry folks, but not even close. Granted, my bank account very well could be, but there are more than a few books coming out this year that I know will be must additions to my library. Not sure where I’m going to be putting them when they do arrive, or when I’ll get around to reading them…

FAB Press announced that they will be publishing the English language edition of Dario Argento’s autobiography, simply called Fear. That is the only details FAB released but since I hadn’t even heard that he was even writing an autobiography (that was actually published in 2014…thanks Troy!), I am more than a little excited about hearing his stories, right from him. I can only imagine the insights and stories we’re going to hear right from the man responsible for so many incredible pieces of cinema.

Add this to the fact that Troy Howarth’s new book, Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento, will be out in 2020, that means we’ll have a few more Argento books for the library shelves. Maybe we’ll even get to see Volume 3 in Howarth’s So Deadly, So Perverse giallo series. Positive thoughts, my fellow book fiends.

Continue reading →

A Century of Horrors

Century of horror

The fine folks behind the We Belong Dead publication have unleashed their latest book and it looks like a doozey! We have all of their previous books and they are all amazing titles. Yes, they are a bit pricey to get them over here in the states, but with the limited quantities they produce, their value will definitely go up. Plus the fact that they are beautifully laid out and some very talented writers within the pages.

This new volume, over 500 full color pages, goes through the history of horrors, if you will, starting with the silent films and moving through the decades to the 1990s, with each chapter covering a particular decade. With an amazing cover by Graham Humphreys, and a forward by Sara Karloff, this is one that horror bibliophiles are going to want in their library.

The cost is £40 + £20 (which is going to be about $80 for us here in the states. But you can order your copy through their website HERE.

Studies on Joe Dante’s The Howling

Howling BookCentipede Press has recently released a new volume in their Studies in the Horror Film series, this time taking a deep and dark look into Joe Dante’s The Howling. While it is one of Dante’s earlier films, it still remains one of his best known titles, for many good reasons. Now, thanks to Lee Gambin, you can read more about this film than you ever thought possible!

Over 350 pages, loaded with color photos and an new introduction by Dee Wallace, this book includes rare behind-the-scenes photos, most of which have never been published before. There are interviews with the likes of Dee Wallace, Belinda Balaski, Dick Miller, Don McLeod, John Hora, John Sayles, Robert Picardo, and others. And of course, Joe Dante.

But there is more! According to the blurb from Centipede Press, you will also get “the definitive story of the making of The Howling, complete with an insightful plot synopsis and complete critical analysis, behind the scenes information, and a slew of interviews with cast and crew. Rounding out the book are nearly 150 stills of the movie, ranging from individual frame enlargements to rare, never-before-published behind the scenes photographs.” What more could any Howling fan ask for???

The price is only $35 and can be ordered directly from the publisher. For all the information, just click HERE.

Pre-Order for Screaming for Pleasure!

Screaming for PleasureOur good friend and fellow horror fiend, Scott Bradley, is already to unleash his id onto the world, in his book Screaming for Pleasure: How Horror Makes You Happy and Healthy. How does that title not make you want to dig into this book? But why do you need to add this volume to your library? Simple. Because Scott has a strong voice and message about the genre and the things that lurk and linger around it.

Sure, my opinion might be a little bias because I’ve known Scott for a few years. It takes a lot to impress me, and within the first few minutes to chatting with Scott, I was more than impressed. And each time I listen to one of his podcasts on Hellbent for Horror (click HERE to get to the podcast page), I realize how much more I have to step up my own game!

Scott gives his listeners a very interesting take on different subjects. And now with this book, you’ll get the same in depth and interesting view on the many different elements and subjects of the genre.

So do yourself a favor, and pre-order your copy today. It is only $19.99, which is really less than the cost of a couple of magazines! Just click HERE to get to find out more information about where and how you can order it.

Twice the Thrills!

Twice the ThrillsBack in golden age of cinema, at least for fans of horror and Sci-Fi pictures, was the double feature. These were usually at the drive-ins, and offered fans two features for the price of one to try and get more patronage through the gates! How could you lose? Sure, the second feature might not be the best film, but that was all part of the fun. Some of these pairings became legendary, such as I Drink Your Blood and I Eat Your Skin!

Now, thanks to author Bryan Senn, you can learn all you need to know about all the different double bills that played in theaters from 1955 to 1974, in his new book Twice the Thrills! Twice the Chills! The book covers the 147 officially sanctioned horror and Sci-Fi double-bills during this period, starting with AIP’s Revenge of the Creature and Cult of the Cobra.

There is no specific publication date as of yet, but should be out either the end of this year, or the beginning of 2019. It does have a bit of a hefty price of $59.95, but everything I’ve read by Senn has been well worth the time and effort and I’ve walked away with a lot more horror knowledge! So can you really put a price on that???

Definitive Guide Updated Once Again

Definitive Guide to Horror MoviesFollowers of this site know I’m all about the horror reference book. The more the better! But it does get a little annoying when a publisher puts out an barely updated version of one of their previous releases, but only changes the cover and even the title enough to where to looks a completely new book. Carlton Books has done it once again.

The Definitive Guide to Horror Movies by Kim Newman and James Marriot (who passed away in 2012) has recently been released. Because of those two authors’ names and the way the title is, I figured the publisher was doing it again and re-re-re-releasing the same book again, but adding a few pages. Which is in fact just what they are doing. This was originally released back in 2006, under the simple title of Horror: The Definitive Guide to Cinema of Fear. Then it was released again in 2010, under the title Horror! 333 Films to Scare You to Death, with Lee Remick from The Omen on the cover and 253 pages. Jump ahead 3 short years and they release it again as Horror! The Definitive Companion to the Most Terrifying Movies Ever Made with Leatherface on the cover. Again, with a few more pages added (360 total). And 5 years later, it has another 8 pages added and now called The Definitive Guide to Horror Movies: 365 Films to Scare You to Death with a shot from Poltergeist. Continue reading →