(1987)
Directed by Sui-Tung Ching
Starring Leslie CHeung, Joey Wang, Wu Ma, Wai Lam, Sui-Ming Lau, Zhilun Xue

In the early ‘90s, I was really getting into the Hong Kong action flicks that were just starting to break out here in the underground market, especially the works of John Woo. Around that time, there was a British TV show called Incredibly Strange Film Show (1989-1989), hosted by Jonathan Ross who would interview strange directors and characters from cult and exploitation films, such as Doris Wishman, Russ Myer, Ray Dennis Steckler, and Ted V. Mikels. On one of these episodes, he talked to Tsui Hark, producer of a lot of the early John Woo films, showing clips from the different titles he’s produced or directed. During this montage, they showed some scenes that just blew me away. It had flying heads, a guy with a HUGE tongue, beautiful ghosts, and things I had never seen before. These were from A Chinese Ghost Story (1987), and I knew I had to find to see if it was as amazing as the short clips I saw.

Occasionally the infamous and best magazine devoted to Hammer here in the States will go outside the famous studio to focus on another title or two. They did it previously on the Frank Langella version of Dracula (1979) or Frankenstein: The True Story (1973), and with each of those issues put in as much love and research as any of their Hammer features. So, while I love their work they do on Hammer, I also love when they venture outside there because I know they are going to do it so well!

The new issue, #48, has one of my favorite movies on the cover, The Trollenberg Terror (1958), or as it was known here in the states, The Crawling Eye! Featuring another one of kind cover by artist Mark Maddox, I think it will enjoy looking at you as much as you will looking through its pages!

This is what else if featured in this issue:

Boy, does this one sting. Back in 1994, when Fanex announced they were doing a Hammer themed convention with a few guests attending from the famous studio, I knew I was going to be there, which I did. One of the guests there was the lovely Veronica Carlson. Meeting this amazing woman that I had watched many times onscreen during screenings of Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) to my favorite entry in their Frankenstein series, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), was just a delight. Sure, while this may have been before conventions began to be all about the autographs, she was so friendly and kind, and truly respected her fans. Even over the next couple of decades when I had the chance to meet her a few more times, that friendliness and respect never wavered.

So, hearing today that she has passed away truly was some saddening news. Being a huge Hammer fan, a studio that in reality stopped making films in the late ’70s, the older we get, the more of these amazing talented people we lose, as we did today. Thankfully, due to her kindness, and her performances in these movies, we can always remember how gracious and talented she was. Rest in Peace, Veronica. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family during this difficult time.

I debated on posting anything about this, but I finally realized that was one of the reasons that I started my own website 20+ years ago, to let have my own soapbox to express my thoughts about the industry that I love so much. Because as much as I promote the “discover” part, I feel we have taken a few steps back by these recent events.

The nominations have been announced for the 20th Annual Rondo Awards! Once again, my column for HorrorHound magazine, They Came from the Krypt, has been nominated for Best Column. So, this is my one and only press push to persuade you to vote! In all honesty, I hope that everyone does vote because there are a lot of talented people out there giving it there all, most of which are doing it out of sheer passion, not profession. But nonetheless, it is something that all horror fans can share in. It doesn’t matter who you’re voting for but take a few minutes and go through the categories and cast your vote. You don’t have to vote in all categories but vote from the heart for those you do support. You can read the full list at the Rondo website HERE. Write them down and email them to David Colton, the man in charge at taraco@aol.com. You have until midnight on April 17th. So don’t delay!