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Used to cut a path ofdestruction through medieval Europe, comes The Sword of . TTiis beautiful sword measures 34 inches in overall length and sports a 27-inch of high carbon steel and a brass pommel. Each sword comes complete with a unique "coffin-shaped" wall plaque, with an attached candle shelf, so this dramatic sword can be displayed in the proper fashion. Also unthin this

unholy collection, is Vlad Dracula’s unique - ing cane. This masterpiece features Vlad’s family

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a push of a button, located just under the Dragon, you can release the thin, deadly blade of this deceptive cane. This piece also comes with a wall-mount-

ing display plaque. Finally, the third piece ofthe Dracula Collection is Quincey’s Rhino-headed Bowie Knife. Measuring 17" in overall length, this massive Bowie Knife sports a 420 y stainless steel blade. After being

dragged into the safety of Castle - >4^11 Dracula, Vlad's precious Mina rips ^ '• Quincey's Bowie from the chest of the dying prince, and delivers the fatal blow by removing his head, ending

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HELL REVISITED

.4 casual lour ibmugh the mind ofJack the Ripper with civalor . The definitive interview, note from underground 6 by Gary Butler Yours truly... . post-mortem 7

This year, /iro new films based on the Ripper murders Letters fixim fans, leaders and weini people. will premieiv at theatres near you. Here's what to expect, by Emma Anderson dreadlines 8 Lewis on Blood Feast 2. Akkad on R. more. THE NEMESIS OF NEGLECT 18 cinemacabre 36 August IR8S: a brutal munler .sends shock waves acro.ss Citizen To.xie, .Midniie Movies. Fulci Fever lots more! . . What ii aj ahoul the Ripper that made him a name for the ages? the gore-met 70 by RihI Cudino Menu: A Halloween treat! (no. not caramel apples) the ninth circle 73

The stoiy ofa 31st centuiy Cyber Cinderella by Voltaiiv. hiLx/iies Tourneur. Matheson 's T2 scripts, nunv. renaissance man of the 21st century, by Liisa Ladouceur terror has big eyes! 78 Anime runs red with Princess Mini. Blood, moiv.

blood in four colours 81 German gore God Andivas Schnaas gives The hormr go.spel. advanced peek at his latest slaughter fest. by Andrew Bailes audio drome 85 Sacivd Flesh. American Rumble. Spaghetti Splatter, more.

At last, the geography ofStephen Kings cla.ssic novels nlaw tMSatiAaaet 1A1 aiv mapped out for easy ivfeivnce in a new volume. AVX bv Gemma Files Diablo II E.xpansion. Necmnomicon. more. FANTASIA 2001 31 102 Sirange Irinkels jrom our haeaar oj the htarre. Top fi iglm lwm Urn year i tap genre fesUval: Fanlasia!

bv Rod Gudiiio . . . ^ ^ * classic cut 104 GRAVEYARD 34 The Meicury Theativ's produclion of War of the Worlds. AFI's : the new face ofhorror punk, by Aaton Lupton Canada's Prsmlar Horror Magazine fcOMOKllE HORROR IN CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

MARKS MEDIA INC. 1666 St. Cloir Ave. West, 2nd Floor Toronto ON - M6N 1H8 CANADA Editorial; 416-656-1258 Advertising: 416-651-9675 Fax: 416-651-6085 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.rue-morgue.com

Editor-in-Chief ROD GUDINO Associate Editor "For my part I am concerned with cutting into and examining the still warm corpse ofhistory MARY-BETH HOLLYER itself. In some ofmy chilliest moments I suspect that this was [Jack the Ripper's] foremost pre- Art Director " occupation also, albeit in pursuit of different ends. GARY PULLIN -Alan Moore/From Hell Contributors

nce, answer BRAD ABRAHAM in to an interview question, I remarked that horror has nothing to do with mur- EMMA ANDERSON der. As in actual murder As in people actually killing other people. The interviewer gave ANDREW BAILES O me a wry grin as if to say; “how is that possible?” I’m going to get really technical at this JOHN W. BOWEN point, but it's a technicality worth making, especially as it comes to bear on the topic at hand. GARY BUTLER Horror has nothing to do with murder. Actually, horror has nothing to do with either. It INA CENT does, however, have everything to do with the Still concepts of murder and death. with me? GREGORIUS CHANT Of course, anyone who really disagrees would only need to reference the case of Jack the TOM DRAGOMIR Ripper, who killed five prostitutes in Whitechapel, London late in the 1800s, and whose deeds GEMMA FILES found echoes in a plethora of horror movies, books, comic books and plays ever since. Despite THE GORE-MET the grisly and meticulous accounting and recounting of everything humanly known and related LIISA LADOUCEUR to the , very little is known about Jack the Ripper himself No one knows AARON LUPTON why. in the last day of August 1888, he was driven to viciously murder a 42-year-old prostitute NINA MOUZITCHKA named . No one knows why, three months and as many more killings , SEAN PLUMMER on November 9. he slaughtered - another prostitute - in the most grisly man- PETE ner imaginable, before vanishing SANKEY into the night forever. DONALD SIMMONS Who was Jack the Ripper? Historians and so-called Ripperologists never tire of going over SPARLING the suspects, the theories, the psychological profiles and the open guesses - both educated and DALE L. SPROULE outlandish. Still, no one knows much about Jack the Ripper. fact, entire In of known VULNAVIA WRICK facts can be whittled down to a few key points: he was probably a man. He used a knife. He wrote at least one letter to the police. He used the words “From Hell” as a return address. Marketing/Advertising Manager Despite this, or maybe because of it. Jack has become much more than what we know of him. JODY INFURNARI Writers, playwrights and grim hobbyists have filled in the blanks by rearranging (sometimes Controller ignoring) the scanty facts to recreate London’s fog filled streets and the inner mind of a killer. MARCO PECOTA Thanks to them, the image of the Ripper - face shrouded in shadow, steely knife glinting in the Printer moonlight - has become a classic icon of a collective fear. SUNRISE PRINTING So yes. Jack the Ripper was an actual murder and his deeds have inspired a lot of people to write horror and make horror movies, but the fact that none of those stories actually try to solve RUE MORGUE #23 would not have the murder ought to tell you something. It’s not about the murder. When Alan Moore wrote been possible without the From Hell (in which the Ripper is dispatched by the Queen to cover up a Royal slip-up) and valuable assistance of: Harlan Ellison wrote Prowler in the City at the Edge ofthe World (in which Jack gets transport- Rodney Boda, Garry Fizzard, ed into a mechanical city by the bored children of the future), neither was trying to throw light Greg Fizzard, Al McMullan, on the case. They were dancing with in the pale moonlight, that’s all. Daniel Richler, David B. Silva, It’s generally believed that speculation about Jack the Ripper has included doctors, women, Ragna Stamm'ler, Video Vibez. Freemasons and members in the highest ranks of British government, but that’s not entirely true. of these Most people are not actually suspects so much as fictional frameworks for persons Cover: Jack the Ripper other than the one who killed five prostitutes in Whitechapel circa 1888. Entertainment is the Original artwork by Vincent Marcone goal, not investigation. That’s the difference between being a writer and being a Ripperologist. Rue Morgue Magazine accepts no responsibility for I’m not trying to say that speculation about who or what Jack the Ripper really was is not unsolicited manuscripts, photos, art or other materials. Freelance submissions accompanied by S.A.S.E. will something worth pursuing — it is, but it's not nearly as important as the mythology of Jack the be seriously considered and. if necessary, returned. Ripper: Jack as a ghost, as the personification of hatred, as the evil intellectual, as the Boogy- man himself In other words. Jack as a concept but never as an actual person. RUE MORGUE Magazine #23 ISSN 1481 - 1103 It's probably best that we never know who Jack the Ripper really was. Why? Because it’s no Agreement No. 1529498 longer important. In a way, it never was. Not for the writers and the filmmakers at any rate. Entire contents copyright Horror stories have their own ends and Jack - not the real Jack but the Jack we tirelessly rein- Marrs Media Inc. - 2001. vent - is the one who will always keep us coming back. -RG All rights reserved. [email protected] PRINTED IN CANADA

6 Rue Morgue RM loves MY BacK Issues

What a surprise to receive a personal letter Sin Mnw\r\ I just wanted to say thank you for your from my favourite mag! I subscribed at Chiller* Rue3 INSANELY quick response time regarding back Con after picking up your mag from the news- issues. I ordered every magazine available, ytOUOVOWSSufssy stands for over a year. Hands down, you guys twelve in total, and received them in about three are the best horror magazine out there. Where weeksl Your magazine is superb as is your cus- other mags spend pages on one or two bloody Oi HIS HAIIFESIQQFKU -- — tomer service. Many thanks and keep up the scenes in the current drivel that is Hollywood WIlUAH llfSIK good work. LDOIS BACI AT movies, you guys cover the spectrum. You have MANIAC Chris Bruce introduced me, via review or feature, to count- Milford MA MUNCL M !> LAMBS less great videos and soundtracks. You don’t P.S. Thanks also for the RM sticker you COUETOOVO spend too much time on a single title, but rather included with my order. A very pleasant bonus! PLUS spotlight one or two gems, then get down to MIL lAIMA.W'S business critiquing the wealth of stuff being A Haunted Letter BMIMSTONIlUV released and re-re-released. Well, I could go on, Recently a friend told me about your maga- but I think you get my point. If you weren’t alia HUUlSSlUXMV zine so I walked over to the nearby cigar way up in Canada, I’d come give you a hug per- shop/newsstand and picked up a copy. I have to sonally! ir say I was very impressed. I read the magazine Rob in— cimiuB's wiifunutiiii from cover to cover that evening and enjoyed ITLti " | Lockdown New York every article I read. What I really enjoyed about

R.r.p. your mag is that you had a bit of everything for From The Web Ring Issne *22 Joly/Atigwst 2001 the haunted industry. You have a great maga- In your recent issue, in the letters column, zine, keep up the good work. someone asked getting his about hands on the get more than your share of it.... I just figured Doug Rickert

Ring DVD. Well, I am not sure about the Japan- you might appreciate something a little different, Green Bay, Wl ese version, but at this website: www.pok- a musical sorbet to cleanse the proverbial Two Girls and a erindustries.com, you can get an import, all palate. Love the magazine, can’t wait for the region Korean remake of Ring. They carry only next one. though. Could use more Spectres 1 won passes to see Ginger Snaps by entering original , no bootlegs, and are based in Cheers & Beers, a contest in your magazine. Well, I am very the US. I have bought numerous HK horror and JJJ/The Spectres grateful. Not only was this the best horror movie action DVDs from them, and have had no prob- in recent , it is also positive that More Spectres? That sounds like a good idea. lems, and their prices are very reasonable, most quality genre films are still being made north of Mosie on over to page 86 coming in around $17 dollars or so. And as to the border. The study of werewolf transformation how the Korean Ring stacks up against the Farly Midnight Syndicate has not been this impressive on screen since Japanese, well they are both equally amazing, David Naughton made his trip to London.

I read your article on Midnight Syndicate in with the Korean version being more slick but Frangois Labelle

RM #22, and loved it. There may be one correc- just as freaky and scary and amazing.... I hope Ottawa ON this info helps readers looking for this kick arse tion, though. Midnight Syndicate came out with

movie. Naughty nights. a CD in 1997 titled Midnight Syndicate. Are the two guys forgetting about that venture because J. Jiron Jr. LETTERS POLrCY it is Minneapolis MN another cool CD. The only CD I do not own We encourage readers to send their com- is the latest, but I will have it soon. Their music ments via mail or e-mail. Letters may be edit-

RM Needs More Psychobillv is great to escape into. I do envision that I am in ed for length and/or content. Please send to a forest filled with dense fog and not knowing Howdy, spooky Canadian types. Just wanted info@rue‘morgue.com or:

what lies ahead. Anyway, I just wanted to pass to say “gracias" to Greg Chant & RM for the nice POST MORTEM on this information. Take it easy and I enjoy RM. review of Blood Sweat 5 Nitro in the last issue. do Rue Morgue Magazine 1666 St. Clair Douglas Biacofsky We appreciate it. For the record, I’ve got nothing Avenue West, 2nd Floor Willoughby OH against Goth Metal, but you guys do seem to Toronto ON, M6N 1H8 - CANADA

Rue Morgue 1 ^entiltneii, ^2^

GodfdtHefs of Gofe reunite for Biood Fedst 2

The Godfathers of Gore are back in busi- waiting to flare up.” ness. After a twenty-five year-plus absence And flare up it has, into a from the film industry, Herschell Gordon full-fledged professional pro- Lewis, along with his long-time film partner duction, as Lewis says, with David Friedman, have at long last returned “a beautiful Panavision cam- to tackle the sequel to their 1963 splatter era, equipment and proce- classic Blood Feast, which has the distin- dures that simply did not guished claim of being the first gore film exist when we made the orig- ever. The bigger budgeted sequel is titled inal Blood Feast with depart-

Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat, and Lewis is ment store mannequins. promising a gore fest like none seen before. “We’ve got quite a heavy ''Blood Feast 2 carries the concept of crew here,” he added. “1 used splatter movies to a totally outrageous new to be the director and the cin- level,” the 72-year-old cult icon told Rue ematographer, so this is quite

Morgue from the Louisiana set. “1 suspect, a luxury to be able to stand that, even competing with major company around or sit in the chair and product, we are going to be able to startle, say, ‘yes, go ahead’ to my enrage, titillate and certainly entertain a 2 1 st assistant director.” century type of audience. We have a scene in “It’s quite a more, let us say, which the eyeballs are scooped out, and I well-produced film,” pipes in guarantee you, 1 don’t care how much any- Friedman. “The locations are authentic, and expected to hit theatres January 2002. Lewis body has seen on the screen, they have not the acting is certainly a cut above the origi- and Friedman are also shooting for a sneak seen something like this.” nal. But we hope to keep the flavour of the peak at Chiller Theatre in New Jersey this Director Lewis and executive producer original more than anything else.” October, where they plan to show a few

Friedman began filming in late July with For Blood Feast 2, the grandson of Fuad excerpts from the film. Also expect more

Queso Grande Productions and Rue Morgue Ramses (J.P. Delahoussaye) returns to the from Lewis, Friedman and BF2 producer was fortunate enough to catch them in the original scene of the crime to reopen his Jacky Morgan in the future. midst of it all. Needless to say, both gore grandfather’s catering business. And just In the meantime, the gorific duo are lan- masters are ecstatic to be back in the busi- like his granddaddy, Fuad Ramses 111 has guishing in the of their revived film ness of blood. cultivated an obsession with the goddess careers. “1 Says Friedman: “Herschell asked me Ishtar, though his is somewhat more intense. love it and I really love being back in would I like to do it and I said, ‘just for the In a parallel storyline, he walks in the mani- this position with a new generation and a pleasure of working with you again. I’d love acal footsteps of his grandfather by dismem- new respectability,” Lewis gushed before he to do it.’ So here we are, down in the bayous bering young ladies to make the ultimate rang off, while Friedman trumpeted, “Gory of Louisiana, fighting the gators and moc- feast for the goddess. In homage to Lewis, Gory Hallelujah!” casins and various and sundry characters!” John Waters {Pink Flamingos') will make a For the full menu on Blood Feast 2, check

Lewis admitted that he also had trouble cameo appearance and Friedman is hoping out www.bloodfeast2.net and stay tuned for resisting the lure of the film industry. that Waters will also agree to narrate the more of Lewis' blood in future issues of Rue

“The motion picture business is something trailer. Morgue. like malaria,” he said. “You think you’re We won’t have to wait long to find out -Mary-Bcth Hollyer cured, but it’s always there in your blood more gore-ious details - Blood Feast 2 is

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8 Rue Morgue Stceobltn^. Halloween: The Homecoming delayed to 2002

said Akkad. “We obviously will have the possible. Though the crew did not return to standard film angles and we also have these the William Shatner mask (as was done in video POVs on each of the actors which Halloween), they did work from the mold-

gives it a totally new look and a heightened ings used in the original movie. reality in one sense. We also have these Halloween: The Homecoming promises to

POVs where Michael Myers is actually fol- be a significant entry if only because lowing the characters so you share the POVs Michael finally fulfills the quest he

of the victim and so it totally brings in a embarked on so many Halloweens ago: to whole new element.” kill his sister Laurie Strode, once again Of course, with a franchise as time-hon- played by Jamie Lee Curtis, possibly for the oured and as minimalist as Halloween, new last time. has proved to be less than a good thing in “Never say never,” chuckles Akkad. “You most of the sequels. Anyone with an ounce gotta remember there’s part thirteen to look Homecoming: Halloween 8 Cast and that is forward to!” crew pose before the rebuilt Myers house. of doubt about particular statement encouraged to log on to any of the thousands Look for the complete transcript of our The upcoming eighth installment in the of Halloween internet fan sites which exist interview with Malek Akkad closer to the Halloween series, Halloween: The Home- for the sole purpose of discussing, praising film’s opening date. coming is experiencing a delay despite a and/or criticizing the franchise’s every In other Halloween news, Chaos! Comics favourable shoot earlier this year. Plans for move. They are also not afraid to voice their continues to push its own version of the Hal- a late September/early October premiere opinions and ideas as to where the storyline loween story with the upcoming Halloween have been put on hold until further notice. should be taken and why. III: The Devil's Eyes which sees Rue Morgue had a chance to catch up with Says Akkad: “They’re always a barometer. Doyle back from Smith’s Grove for a final producer Malek Akkad during a break from We realized that the diehards are one seg- confrontation with The Shape. Phil Nutman the long hours in the editing suite prior to ment of the audience that we don’t always returns again to write Halloween III which is the news release. Though obviously tired, take into consideration that it’s the entire expected to land in comic shops on October

Akkad was not slow to tell us that filming in audience. You have the fanatics who know -Rod Gudino Canada was a success. absolutely everything about the series, it’s “The shoot was great, Vancouver was almost frightening how much they know. wonderful, everything went really smooth- You want to keep them happy and give them ly,” he exclaimed. “Surprisingly, there were something that they will enjoy but without no major catastrophes.” neglecting the other huge portion of the Akkad describes the upcoming film as audience, like couples and teenagers and being “totally fresh for the franchise, while everybody else.” not veering too far away from what every- Nevertheless, Akkad revealed that, in an one loves,” and he says he expects it to be a effort to recapture the feel of the original major installment in the series and to Halloween, pains were taken to incorporate breathe new life into it. details that only the fans would recognize.

Of note is that Akkad, along with Hal- To that end, the Myers house was rebuilt loween II director Rick Rosenthal have brick by brick in its entirety in Vancouver, in opted to update the story of Michael Myers a departure from some of the other sequels to include elements from the Internet and in which a different house was used. real-life Blair Witch style cinematography. “The house really shows,” said Akkad,

The movie follows a group of young kids “it’s almost like another character in the who are doing a major webcast from the film. As simple as it is, everyone remembers

Myers home. Each one is hooked up with a it and it’s the very opening image of the camera and the live feeds are being broad- entire series.” cast over the internet. Akkad also revealed that substantial ener-

“The new story gave us a lot of opportu- gies were spent in making sure the Myers The Devil’s Eyes: New this Halloween nity for covering the stuff in a new way,” mask resembled the original as closely as from Chaos! Comics .

movieposter.com 1-877-8POSTER Toll Free

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Rue Morgue 9 Short filmmakers take note - Urban

Chillers will premiere your “short chilling movie" on their site, if it scares them that is. While you’re at it, test your wits and your wits’ end with the Fear Challenge.

www.wesbenscoter.com Writer/director Wes Craven and his creation, among the many celebs to be featured Maybe you haven’t heard of artist Wes in Scream television’s Fall programming scheduie. Benscoter, but you sure as hell have seen his demented CD artwork in the Audio Drome (Regurgitate’s Carnivorous Erec- “Comprehensive tfediment” tion in RM#22). A must-see, Benscoter’s artwork and website is, literally, stunning. > for Cdnodo’s Scredm tv www.fustonreviews.com The veil is up, Canada's first digital access with key players in the industry, be they on- A labour of love and blood, containing a horror channel will be premiering the first camera talent or craftspeople in departments sprinkling of this and that from the horror week of September. We gave you the heads such as special effects, makeup and genre - movie and music reviews, mes- up on this story in our last issue (Dreadlines scriptwriting. sage board, club and even restaurant - RM#22), but have since secured some tasty “The Screaming Room is a response to reviews. details we thought our Canadian readers what we were hearing from a lot fans of the

www.icehouse.net/cultcuts especially might like to know. genre who said that they wanted to see what “We’re doing a pretty comprehensive was going on behind-the-scenes,” comment- Short on looks, big on brains. Cult Cuts treatment of the horror genre,” Lori Rosen- ed Rosenberg. “We’ve also got a bit of provides a panoramic view of international berg, General Manager for Scream TV told campy fun in there with the top ten scary horror films (i.e. anything not made in the Rue Morgue. Rosenberg revealed that the movies of all time, the top ten scary mon- USA). The site includes insightful essays channel will be set up in a series of original sters, and the top ten stupid things people say on EuroHorror and a huge review section segments which will cover movies ranging in horror movies.” with movie stills and In-depth coverage, the gamut from classic to contemporary. What you probably won’t be seeing on thankfully organized in alphabetical order. Approximately three quarters of Scream's Scream TV are any entries in the www.evilclownanimation.com programming will be comprised of time- rape/revenge canon of schlock movies or Watch for this cult-classic presently in the honoured titles like Invasion of the Body those slasher films which sprinkle liberal making as animator Mike Dobson and a Snatchers, genre staples like The Omen and doses of violence with sexual content. slew of talented individuals introduce you more modem fare like ’s In Although the channel has already shown

. to Siobhan, a sexy immortal female war- The Mouth ofMadness. signs of taking their job as Canada’s only rior slashing her way through evil. Car- “We’ve also got a few series peppering the horror channel seriously (with acquisitions nage is sure to satisfy fans of violent, schedule, including Millennium, Twin Peaks, like ’s Suspiria and the origi- twisted animation. Spike and Mike are you Kolchack: The Night Stalker and Friday the nal Nightmare on Elm Street), Rosenberg listening? 13th: The Series,” Rosenberg said. says Scream will adhere 100 percent to the Some of the confirmed slots you can look broadcasting codes imposed by the Canadian www.carfax-abbev.com forward to include Exhumed, which will fea- Association of Broadcasters and the CBSC. Based in the UK, Carfax Abbey provides a ture the best of vintage horror titles, another “We’ll adhere to all the codes including the horror movie database similar to the Inter- called Flatline, which will feature contempo- violence code,” she said, “and that basically net Movie Database. Films, credits and rary thrillers every night at 9 p.m., and a negates any sexual degradation toward summaries are listed, and readers are tongue-in-cheek segment called The Dead women and any of those issues. I don’t see invited to post their reviews. The site also Ventriloquist, which will feature introduc- us censoring films; I just see us steering clear offers neat little sections such as AKA, tions by an animated puppet talking to a of any movies that would potentially get us where you’ll find all those alternate titles corpse. close to that line.” for your favourite and not-so-favourite hor- Rosenberg also noted that, currently, there Canadian residents can access Scream TV ror flicks. are plans to only one in-house produc- by calling their local cable company or satel- -compiled by Mory-Beth Hollyer tion, called The Screaming Room, which is lite provider and subscribing directly. Got a website suggestion? being developed as a platform for interviews ail a link to: [email protected]. -Rod Gudino 1

and Siu^McicuE Put Your Ask Creativity "Whw's|n/( "To Work!

NAME?” • 5pecidl Make-up Effects • Prosthetics

• Movie Miniatures • Armature • Resin & Fiberglass Fabrication • Vacuform Technologies • Silicone Mold-making 1 f • Radio/Cable Controlled Puppets • Props, Polyfoam Weapons • Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Animation Are you critical of the movie titles

chosen by film executives? Special effects, PLUS progressive industrial design Well, here’s your chance to pen alternate names for some campy cult training including product, classics from MGM Home Entertainment’s Midnite Movies Collection. environmental, The person who submits the most creative “re-titles” will win a transportation toy horror DVD collection of their own! and design, housing, financial aid Choose three out of the eight films listed below and rename them: (if qualified) and excellent employment assistance. KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE • IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE Call today for details! PLANET OF THE • TWICE TOLD TALES • INVADERS FROM MARS

THE THING WITH TWO HEADS • THE PIT & THE PENDULUM Classes now starting.

DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE BIKINI MACHINE

FIRST PLACE

One winner will receive a Halloween DVD display containing 12

MGM thrillers, including the titles above plus Special Editions of The Silence Of The Lamb$, Hannibal, and Dressed To Kill. The Art Institute RUNNERS-UP of Five runners-up will receive the DVD Special Editions of Pittsburgh^ The Silence Of The Lambs and Hannibal.

CONTEST INFO: Contest judged by MGM and Rue Mo^ue. Eutries due by October 31, 2001. One entry per Phone 1-800-275-2470 contestant. Please include your name, mailing address, e-mail address and daytime phone number. 420 Boulevard Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1328 Enter by e-mail: [email protected] of the Enter by snail mail: MGM Midnite Movies Contest www.aip.artinstitutes.edu 1666 St. Clair Avenue W., 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M6N 1H8 CANADA

Rue Morgue 1 dentally has many fans at alt.horror up in arms. Gunn began his career writing low budget horror films

{Tromeo and Juliet) and is excited by the prospect of working on Dawn: “It com- bines my two all-time favourite things, flesh-eat- ing zombies and shopping,” he said.

WILD THINGS RESUR-

FACES Universal Films is Where the Wild Things Are: Soon to be a computer animated feature. currently developing an animated feature based on the children’s classic Where the Wild NOW.... 4 Production the prequel to The AND THE EXORCIST on Things Are. The book followed the adventures of a child named Max Exorcist is set to begin this fall and will span the globe from the US on his visit to a land of monsters. At the time of writing, former Dis- and to Africa. John Frankenheimer {The Manchurian Candi- UK ney animator Eric Goldberg was in negotiations to direct the com- direct, but other details date, Ronin, Seven Days in May) will no puter animated film. Playtone Productions, the company owned by crew are forthcoming yet. Frankenheimer joined about the cast or Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, will produce, along with author the production after reading a script by Caleb Carr, author of The Maurice Sendak and John B. Carls of Wild Things Productions. Alienist. The prequel will recount Father Merrin's first meeting with DRACULA THE THEME PARK in an effort to revitalize its ailing Satan as a missionary in Africa during World War 11. tourism industry, the Romanian government has announced plans to recently convinced Richard A NEW DAWN Beacon Communications embark on the development of Dracula Land, a “terror” theme park P. Rubinstein, producer of the original the Dead, to embark Dawn of to be situated in Sighisoara, Transylvania, the home town of Vlad on a remake of the George classic. Rubinstein owns the Romero the Impaler. Westemstadt Pullman City, a German company, will rights to the original film and said he agreed to proceed with the likely design, build and operate Dracula Land. The company also remake because of Beacon's “strong commitment to giving the operates a Wild West in America theme park in Germany. The park remake competitive production values.” James Gunn, scriptwriter itself will ring in at approximately S24 million Canadian. Officials for Warner Bros.' Scooby movie, will pen the script, which inci- Doo are aiming to open Dracula Land in 2003.

GINGER SNAPS AGAIN TVA International recently announced that they will be releasing a special edition Ginger Snaps DVD exclu- sively in Canada. The DVD will be Jam-packed with extras includ- ing feature commentary from director John Fawcett and writer Karen Walton, 25 minutes of deleted scenes with commentary, audi-

tions, rehearsals, a spotlight on the creation of the werewolf, a fea-

turette, trailers and more. “Even though it is a very expensive pro-

ject for an ‘Available in Canada Only’ DVD, we feel that with the extensive theatrical campaign TVA did, along with the coast to coast rave reviews, this DVD will be a major Canadian DVD success story,” said Howard Rabkin, creator of the DVD.

FRIDAY FANS ROAST RUE MORGUE The folks who pass through the Friday the 13th message board were up in arms this past July about the negative review of the yet-to-be-released X in RMU22. “Let’s anally electrocute {Rue Morgue's staff],” said one irate Friday fan. Comments on the board ranged from “fuck Rue Morgue" to “I agree. Fuck Rue Morgue." Jim Issac, Jason A^s director, also got in

on the roasting, saying that the magazine’s staff did not see the final cut with “the real sound track, the real effects and the final mix,” and therefore, could not judge the merits of the film. But, of course, there were a few who were a bit more philosophical about the review;

“The first of many horrible reviews. Just like any Friday,” said one fan. To read more, type this excruciatingly long URL in your brows- er window: www.fridaythel3thfilms.com/forum/ showthread.php?s =ade74f77d545cel62dd5del51939fa70&threadid=2177

EVIL TIDINGS Speaking of Jason X, it seems the hotly anticipated

Resident Evil movie may be suffering from the same malady, as its release date keeps getting pushed back. The film has been resched-

uled to be released in the Fall next year, though previously it was to

be released this October, then Spring 2002. Is someone trying to tell

us something? $:

12 Rue Morgue McFA"RLANE*TOYS

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'Offer expires November 1 , 2001 ebatably the greatest living By fiary Butler comic book writer, Alan Moore spent the better part of a decade living inside the mind of Jack the Rip- per. (At least, he spent the rary civilisation. We make a lot better part of a decade of errors, assumptions, mis- writing about it; Moore takes. Consequently, we get himself isn’t certain that history that is continuously he emerged tmscathed.) revised. The fruit of his charac- teristically abnormal If we apply that to the

labour is the criti- i world’s century-long fasci- cally acclaimed, nation with the Ripper epic saga From case, is From Hell your ” Hell, “a melodra- "optimistic opinion ma in sixteen about what happened? parts” as described by For example, we do know, its tagline. The work’s col- factually, that hysteria led

lected edition - all 576 pages to multiple, unrelated strangers writing of it - was released last year, and letters to

this fall, the story evolves into that the papers, claiming to be the rarest of beasts: a comic book film Ripper. But is it not possible that the without superheroes. same hysteria created a string of Based largely upon a little-known completely unrelated killings in the speculative novel by Stephen Knight first place, and that we need there to called Jack the Ripper: The Final be more to the story? Solution (pub: 1976), From Hell There is that theory - that there was no posits an entirely credible explana- Jack the Ripper. However my opinion is tion as to who, how and why Jack the Ripper In the epilogue to From Hell, Inspector that, given the similarity of the killings and was. But while credit for the grunt work Aberdeen wonders, "How much ofthe world the fact that they occurred in an incredibly goes to Knight, Moore’s interpretation is true?" How much o/From true? brief space of time, the coincidence other- strain credibility. accomplishes a great deal more than simply When I started From Hell, 1 hadn’t gotten wise would I do think that “papering over the cracks” (his words) of very far into it at all before I had a minor for those five [murdered prostitutes], we can Knight’s hypothesis. revelation about the nature of fiction, the be fairly certain that they were the work of one person. Moore’s fans know him to be first and nature of mythology and the nature of histo- As to what really happened, foremost a man of ideas (and a master of ry. We were billing From Hell as a melodra- well, the reason that I wrote From Hell in the

first place I horror as a close second). From the biologi- ma - as a fiction. That being said, it was an was that had this purely abstract cal, ecological and existential horror of his unusual type of fiction in that all of the story idea whereby I thought that it would be award-winning stories to the elements were culled from true or allegedly interesting to do a fairly lengthy, graphic centred post-modem, “meet them again for the first true sources. We went out of our way to work around a murder. Not any par- time” twist-treatment of classic superhero include as many of those sources as possible ticular murder -just the abstract of a murder. archetypes in his current line of ABC and then try to stretch a skin of fiction over With murder, what you are seeing is the comics, Moore is both an unparalleled story- the available facts. It was after I’d written human condition in extremis. Very few of us are actually teller and a fantastic judge of characters. the first few episodes that I started to think, murderers, very few of us are And in From Hell’s Dr. William Gull - or as “Well, what else is history?” actually murdered. It’s an extreme human the author speculates. Jack the Ripper - situation, and it seemed to me that, if exam- History is that which is written by the vic- ined with enough depth, it might be reveal- Moore has created a character truly worth tors. judging. ing about our broader human circumstance. Which is why history is tmreliable. And all Then again, as anyone who has read the more so because our view of history is Do you mean revealing about our inner Moore’s epic knows, gaze not into the abyss. always conditioned by our current mindset. natures and our instincts? In Hell, literally gazes back. From Jack We only tend to see things as a culture that It might tell us something about ourselves. Rue Morgue spoke to Alan Moore in July. we can recognize in terms of our contempo- In this country, there are some writers of

14 Rue Morgue attention in the autumn of 1888. Can you go into greater detail about indus-

Aave- lAat vrv l/ie /hzc/c trialisation ’s role in the rise of modern seri- al killing? icmteivA&y^j cM^d tt nvo/ni^d^ i/ie^im a/i One of the books I read as a backgrounder suggested that murder does have its seasons.

If you look at the preferred forms of murder o^oiz/y- iduAe^^dmA. . . (Ae idea o^iomecme in the different centuries, you find overall that there were, in each period, typical kinds in lAe diadatM wetA iemveiAitt^ dvw)^. of murderers. In this case, you had this very strong, very affluent middle class, into which Gull had certainly risen despite hav- ing started on the lower rungs. At that time,

the early 1880s, the working class had first fiction that have tried to turn mur- at the time it came out, they put small ads in been given the vote - there had been no real der into a middle class parlour game. I’m not magazines advertising the agency’s services. democracy for the lower orders until that commenting on the skill of those stories or I saw the ads, and wondered what a holistic point. Society was very xmstable, a lot of those writers, but the mindset behind them, detective agency would actually mean. And people were rioting at that time, and there whereby murder becomes a kind of intellec- I realised it would mean that you wouldn’t was an armed police to keep down the riots. tual puzzle. Once one has all the pieces, one solve the crime - you’d solve the entire cul- During the 19th century, the typical murder- has solved the murder. But it seems to me ture the crime happened in. That was the er would have been a doctor, or a middle that we can only ever solve murders in sensibility that I eventually brought to bear class professional gentleman of that type. forensic terms. You can say who did it, what on From Hell, the idea of doing a murder You see, the middle class had something to they did it with and why they did it - a bit story where the actual murders remain at the fear from the emancipation of the working like a game of Clue: Professor Plum in the centre, but it’s more the stuff that’s happen- class: they felt threatened by the fact that the underground aviary with a mace and chain - ing on the periphery. It’s the threads running working class could now live in the same and once you’ve pinned down those facts, away from the murder, the lives that are streets as them, their children would go to the murder is solved. But it isn’t, because the affected by it, the way that those murders the same schools. This is class fear, class forensic view of murder is not the only one. grew out of human history - particularly, resentment, which leads to the typical mur- A murder is a human event that has incredi- English history. And it somehow became a derer of the nineteenth century being, prob- ble repercussions. There are all sorts of part of the entire western mindset. We have ably, a doctor, preying on the lower classes, threads that lead up to it, that shadowy figure lurking as he felt that they were encroaching on him and all sorts of threads in the back somewhere, and and his lifestyle. While that by no means that lead away from it. To it manifests itself in all of proves that Gull was the murderer, it at least just study the event itself, our slasher films, all of our made my choice seem more credible. to me, doesn’t seem to be Halloween and Friday the good enough. With From 13th and Freddy Krueger Having decided to write about murder, what

Hell, 1 didn’t want to do a movies: the idea of someone made you decide to do the Ripper?

“whodunit?” so much as a in the shadows with some- In 1 988, 1 was reading a lot about murders, “what happened?” thing sharp. It’s a very per- getting ready for this as yet unspecified pro-

suasive concept, and I think ject; I wasn’t planning to do the Ripper, Is this why you called it a that it was first called to our because frankly, it was quite played out. But melodrama?

Well, I used the word “melodrama” initially because I thought it had a nice Victorian ring to it. I since found out that the root of melodrama is just that: the re-cre- ation of crimes in drama. In some instances, the original players went to the point of buy- ing actual pieces of evidence, actual props from actual murders. The table that some- body was stabbed over would become the central prop in a staged performance of the

murder! So, “melodrama” is quite an accu- rate term! The event behind From Hell was

an event that left an impact crater on modem human consciousness, if you like. We want- ed to study the crater; the implications of the

murder, the society it happened in. As a sort

of sidebar to this, one of the things that got me thinking along those lines originally was

reading the title of a book by the late Dou- Whitechapel, 1888: The civil veneer of twentieth century London and (inset) its sick glas Adams, Dirk Gently 's Holistic Detec- innards as represented by the deformed body of the Elephant Man, who foreshadows the tive it, actually, Agency. I’ve never read but body horror of Jack the Ripper's slayings in the movie adaptation of From Hell.

Rue Morgue 15 '

Two new films bring the classic tale f to the

by Anderson , Emma ... . „ Murphy told Rue Moi-gue. ' - "We made a choice in 1 993

when we first bought the rights to From Hell - to

make sure that it was as com- mercially viable as possible. ^ Doing something like For- II Hallow's Eve is fast approaching. ^ trait » A and the name this of a was of horror year is never Jack - the Ripper himself. This Fall, expect anything we enter- tained.” two new films to take a stab at resurrecting that Whitechapel’s notorious killer; the highly To end. the main char- acter in publicized Fivm Hell movie directed by the the film is Inspector Hughes Brothers {Dead Presidents) and the Abberline (Depp) as opposed ^ Canadian feature Ripper: Letter From Hell to the Ripper himself, who by John Eyres {Project Shadow Chaser). functioned as the protagonist From Hell stars and Heather in Moore's graphic novel. Graham in what producer Don Murphy Fwm Hell the movie will reinstate a {Natural Born Killers) says is a loose adap- sense of mystery as From Hell: The top tation of Alan Moore and 's to the Ripper’s identity and contender for biggest epic melodrama. will tone down the explicit The tone of the , chills this upcoming violence to render he says, bears comparison to the Alfred what Mur- Halloween is the big Hitchcock classics P.sycho and The Birds. phy describes as "Merchant studio adaptation of ’ Ivory Alan Moore and Eddie "The biggest deviation is meets a more contempo- Campbell's masterpiece that if you filmed the graphic rary Silence of the , of blood. What to Lambs." novel, you would have Jack expect: “Merchant Ivory , ^ the Ripper: Portrait ofa Serial "We're not doing meets Silence of the a low-budget Lambs . Killer, • slash- because the whole ' ' cr graphic novel is told from the A film, we're not point of view of .” i doing gore for gore’s sake, but research every aspect of what was believed I , we're accurate,” he says. “The to be true about what he did. And although reason we chose the Hughes what we shot was fiction, the facts were brothers to direct the film is real." they because made great urban One thing you won't likely forget about thrillers before and. even though Ripper is its murder montages which are this is set in 1888. this is a very deftly crafted to recreate the murders with- good urban thriller.” out explicitly showing the knife making the Also in theatres later this year. Ripper: cuts. Recalling Hitchcock particularly. Eyres Letter From Hell, an independent film which uses a sequence of images - a screaming updates Ripper slayings to the contemporary face, shadows on the wall, blood running on setting of a modem university. In the movie, the floor - in inventive ways. a copycat killer is on a mission to recreate “The idea for me was to firstly make sure the Whitechapel murders, over one hundred 1 got the facts right, and secondly to make years after they originally occurred. sure that I did as best that I could to frighten Although Ripper has all the marks of the the hell out of the audience and make the teen slasher sub-genre, including a young movie as tense as possible without being cast who tries to track the killer before he explicitly violent." he says. can pick them otT. director John Eyres says True to his word, expect a violent movie that drawing from the Whitechapel murders without any violence and if you need to was more than just a gimmick. know how it's done, you'll just have to

"What was interesting to me w’as the idea watch it. - of contemporizing Ripper Letter From Hell: This indepen- Jack the Ripper, but using From Hell and Ripper: Letter Fmm Hell dent film updates the Ripper murders to a also the facts that were we already aware are expected in theatres this Fall, just in time contemporary university. " What to expect: of. he says. “I had the actual Jack the Rip- to ring in the Season of the Witch. Happy / Know What You Did Last Summer as per file duplicated, so I could investigate and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Halloween. 5

16 Rue Morgue AbT[;/v|A/ ef terror nothing about any murder that 1 had found room. In order to add the mystery to my up to that point had enough scope to say the story, 1 set up these encounters between From Hell things that I wanted Aberdeen and the woman whose face we to say. Around about By Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell 1988, the autumn, it was the centenary of the never actually see, and who gives her name Top Shelf/Eddie Campbell Comics Ripper murders, and there was a lot of stuff as Emma - one of Marie Kelly’s known WWW. topshelfcomix . com floating around, which 1 had a look at out of nicknames - and it all tied together quite a kind of general interest. I came across the neatly. If Aberdeen had given her a loan of Sir William Gull, high ranking Freemason Stephen Knight book. Jack the Ripper: The money, if she had received a tip off from and Queen Victoria’s personal physician, was Final Solution [pub: 1976], and thought, “It Prince Eddy (if he was the man with a large the real Jack the Ripper. That, according to may be a piece of mass fantasy - a raving collar and tux that was seen by one of the Alan Moore, is the most logical (or at least mad piece of fantasy - but the threads from informants talking to Marie Kelly in Miller’s most entertaining) solution to the Ripper mys- it lead to so many interesting areas.” I Court), then that gave me a way that she tery. Moore detailed his account in From Hell, realised 1 could tell the story of Jack the Rip- might have escaped. a massive comic book miniseries that blended per in a way that it hadn’t ever been told, a mixture of fact fiction cast You have a depth offeelingfor these charac- and and added a using Knight’s hypothesis as a basis and characters the Ripper event, the likes of ters. What about Gull - did you get drawn of to then incorporating as the other much of into hell with him as you wrote? Oscar Wilde, Alistair Crowley and the Ele- books as it possible to do, papering over was Oh yeah. Certainly people who are close to phant Man, any cracks that Knight had left gaping in his Aside from being one of Moore's most me said that they very definitely noticed if I work (because his work was attacked very was writing From Hell that week, particular- sophisticated pieces. From Hell represented a soon after his death by the other Ripperol- in historical fic- ly if I was writing a Gull-heavy chapter. To watershed comics; a work of gists). get yourself into that mindset, which thinks tion, dramatizing the events of the bloody

You also took some speculative liberties - such incredible things and is actually more autumn of 1888 like they'd never been seen hence Aberdeen meeting Marie Kelly with- Intelligent than I am, is such a challenge. I before. Rather than play the ages old guess- out ever knowing who she is in the big pic- found that my speech patterns became more ing game as to the Ripper's true identity. ture. careful in their diction, more Victorian in Moore reveals his Ripper in the first issue and

1 came up with that angle a few months into their phrasing, there was a sardonic edge to spends the remaining nine shadowing him as it. A book 1 was reading pointed out that an awful lot of my conversations. Gull is the he rips his way across London's Whitechapel there was no way you could actually identi- strongest character in the book, and he had district. fy the body that was found in Miller’s Court. more of an effect on me because he is such In Moore's story. Gull is dispatched to halt a

And if you saw the autopsy photos, you’d an extraordinary mindset and he is so decep- plot by four East End prostitutes to blackmail know it’s true - it’s difficult to tell which tively difficult to argue with. The ideas are the royal family by threatening to reveal a tryst way up that body is! And you wouldn’t want completely mad, but they’re very seductive. Prince Albert Victor, nephew to Queen Victo- to take a second glance. So it sort of struck ria, had with a shop girl that resulted in an ille- Is it because there is internal logic and con- me that it was only the presence of that body sistency to them? gitimate birth. Gull tears a bloody swath in that particular room that was loaned to They’re very consistent, very erudite and as through the East End as the Ripper's legend Marie Kelly that made people so certain that grows, and Gull's sanity begins to deteriorate. 1 say, very seductive. A couple of people it was indeed her body. When you add to that told me the most horrific thing about From But the kaleidoscopic plot of From Hell is the possibility that there were two women Hell was that they found themselves starting only part of the perverse joys to be found with- who claimed with great certainty that they’d to slip into Gull’s mindset because it was so in these pages. A searing indictment of power, spoken to and seen Marie Kelly the morning persuasive, and because he himself politics and poverty, the tale told is as much following her apparent death, adding those approached his ideas with such passion. about the murder of five prostitutes in the des- kinds of things together and bringing in a titute quarter of England’s East End as It is a Let's talk about Marie Kelly's vivisection. couple of other threads, it struck me that retrospective overture to the 20th century. How did you write that chapter? there might be a way to bring Marie Kelly Packed with extensive endnotes, well realized I was very aware all the way up to Chapter out of this after all. I didn’t want to come characters and Eddie Campbell's flawless art- 10 that, sooner or later, 1 was going to have straight out and say it - I wanted to leave it work, From Hell Is part story, part sermon, to go into that room with Jack the Ripper ambiguous. Because in truth, it is ambigu- part cultural autopsy. and Marie Kelly. And the only way that I ous. We don’t know for sure who was in that could be and true to the actual event -Brad Abraham

Rue Morgue 17 feet %inc8i§ of ^Icglcct.

t August 3 1 - ^o&EtnliEr 8, 1888

letters he wrote to the police. “Catch me ed and some of her when you can,” he wrote police in a letter entrails placed around

dated October 6, 1888. Soon, his name her neck. As public ten- spread like a social disease and eventually sions mounted. Jack

hit headlines around . Jack the retreated from his grisly Ripper had arrived like a spectre out of the work, only to reappear London fog, forever to ensnare the popu- three weeks later, on the

lar imagination. night of September 30. As if bursting at the

But what is it about the Ripper in partic- seams from a repressed bloodlust, he struck

ular that made him a name for all time? twice in one night, killing Sure, the Whitechapel murders are com- and, later, . Both victims

monly viewed as the first of their type, but had had their throats slit and Eddowes’ Jack’s misdeeds have since been over- corpse had been extensively mangled. shadowed by more ambitious monsters of Even as police infiltrated the streets of the modern world: Jeffrey Dahmer (12 Whitechapel, the Ripper was able to exact victims), Ted Bundy (24 victims), and his last and most hideously murder John Wayne Gacy (30 when, on November 8, he entered a tiny apartment in Miller’s Court which housed On September 29, 1888. the maga- plus victims), to name one Mary Jane Kelly. There, according to a zine Punch (a.k.a. The London Chari- but three. Yet still. Jack vari) published a panel cartoon called the Ripper holds a pre- document written by Sir Melville Macnaght- The Nemesis of Neglect, which depict- eminent spot in the en of the Scotland Yard, he became “at least ed a ghastly figure brandishing a knife pantheon of real-life two hours engaged” in extensively butcher- ing Kelly’s body. Stunned members of the in the streets of London. On its fore- killers. later take the carnage, head was written the word CRIME. One important element Yard would a photo of The cartoon was a reference to sev- that sets the Ripper apart “without which seeing,” Macnaghten later the awful eral slayings in the Whitechapel area of the from the aforementioned is a sense of deep wrote, “it is impossible to imagine mutilation.” With that, the Ripper took his city, where destitution and poverty reigned mystery. Unlike his successors, Jack the last and vanished back from whence he . It was a place where evicted ten- Ripper was never caught. And although bow there are favourite suspects, came, almost as if he had final- ants would line the streets and huddle ^ against the cold, a place there is no evidence suggesting ly and truly completed a mis- that William Booth, a one over another. Perhaps more sion from Hell. decade earlier, would unnerving is that criminologists Neither Scotland Yard, nor

declare a battleground agree that it is unlikely the Rip- any of the many Ripperologists in their for his Salvation Army per was motivated by a sexual who have searched wake, have ever uncovered ministry since it con- desire or by brute anger. Never- Jack Ripper’s identity. tained. in his words, “all theless, the extent of the mutila- the And theorists the sin that is in the tions increased with each even though some world”. killing, as if the Ripper’s appetite became have declared him to be the perfect murderer and envisioned a life of The bitter irony of the cartoon was that the more voracious with indulgence. Why he diabolical success beyond London’s gaslit day after it appeared. Jack the Ripper would did what he did seems as unfathomable as

streets, it is that the act out his most daring feat, a double homi- who he actually was. Not surprisingly, the unlikely Ripper ever cide several miles apart in streets heavily sense of mystery has cast a supernatural aura murdered again. patrolled by police officers on the event and given rise to a Macnaghten, the last original source directly related to the his already on the alert after two lot of imaginative interpreta- case, ended docu- the statement: other murders just weeks prior. tions. ment with following “A much What was particularly unnerving The facts related to Jack the more rational theory is that the murderer’s brain gave altogether after his awful was that the Ripper not only Ripper can be traced back to way murdered his victims in the open August 31, 1888, when the body glut in Miller’s Court, and that he immedi- ately committed suicide or, as possible streets, he took time to disem- of Mary Ann Nichols was dis- a alternative, to be so hopelessly bowel them as well. And yet, no covered in the early morning by was found one saw or heard a thing. a passerby who mistook her for a mad by his relations, that he was by them Her throat was slit and she had also confined in some asylum.” Like an unearthly phantom, Jack the Rip- drunk. -Rod Gudino^ „ per terrorized one of London’s most needy suffered a minor stomach mutilation. Exact- Select illustrations from the Mystery Rummy Case No. 1: districts during the months between August ly eight days later, on September 8, the Rip- Jack the Ripper reproduced by permission of U. S. Games and November 1888. The only tangible per struck again, bringing down Annie Systems, /nc.. Sfamfo/iJ. CT 06902. Copyright &1998 by U. S. Games Systems, Inc.. Stamford, CT. Further repro- his in his grim handi- Chapman, who was found with her throat proof of existence lay duction prohibited. Order the Mystery Rummy series from work and some eight, perhaps less, personal cut, her stomach and genitals badly mutilat- wwr.usgamesinc.com or 800-544-2637.

18 Rue Morgue was to literally go in there, almost in real ered from outside time - we even talk about time, and take the reader with me and show Howard Hinton, who published his musings

this event in its full glorious horror. To actu- on time in What is the Fourth Dimension? ally get across to people what really hap- [1884], which we have ringing through the pened minus any of the gloss that films or book from the very earliest chapters. There

true accounts tend to bring to it. I wanted the is also the Masonic view of space/time as a readers to actually be in the room with me rough block chipped out by the great archi-

and Gull and Marie. tect, which is our job to finish. All of these things suggested an almost concrete view of And do a bit of time travelling back to our time, where time is a great lump where time as well, as Gull shifts forward to our everything is happening at once. This is con- society briefly and sees “a culture disinter- ” gruent with a lot of the stuff that Stephen ested even in Us most abysmal wounds. Hawking postulated. In the story, it struck There seems to be more purpose and reason me that, to some degree, From Hell isn’t in Gull at that horrific moment than there is about things that are happening in the past - in our age of infotainment, and Gull truly it’s about they affect us now, and what becomes an anti-hero at that moment. how their meaning is for us now. There is a very Someone actually wrote about that in one of strong connection between the 1880s when the letters that we got, saying it was “the those events were happening and the most astute comment upon the 20th century

1980s/ 1 990s when I was looking back at that 1 have yet read, and it’s coming from the them. From Hell was connecting up those lips of a deranged serial killer.” I was quite times and seeing how so many of the move- flattered by that. It struck me that to some ments in technology and other fields in the degree all the way through the book there is 1880s had contained the seeds of every a sense that these events are being consid- major event of the 20th century.

The painled-into-a-corner, hellish reality of

the Ripper-era streetwalker’s life is brought into Sf Sagger further vivid detail by Campbell’s stark render- ing of the dosses - cheap lodging houses depicted as a with a top hat and black overcoat, Commonly man where off-duty hookers were oftentimes tied Jack the Ripper’s sinister image loomed in countless films, has together to sleep standing up, for the sake of books, and games. In fact, there is nothing wax museums known maximizing space. "Ifs an historical story, and about the real Jack the Ripper’s appearance, or that he even all of the events really happened," Campbell

I wore the same clothing on more than one occasion. The two says. “It never occurred to me to do it other \ eyewitness accounts which put a man of the above description than lifelike."

I near two of the victims cannot be substantiated as it is not The blood-ridden vivisection murder in Marie

known if the in question was in fact the killer or not. r man Kelly’s doss that comprises the entirety of In which been any case, the image of the Ripper has passed chapter ten was Campbell’s greatest challenge. down through time indicates that, in the popular imagination, Jack “I expected it to be upsetting," he says, "but the Ripper was a person of high distinction, perhaps a nobleman there were so many pages of it before that, so but in any case, not a resident of Whitechapel’s slums. Montague by the time I got to it, it was just ink and not Druitt, a troubled medical man and prime suspect for the slayings would seem to put some validity W blood." into this notion, but the second most popular suspect, Aaron Kosminski, would indicate the exact Thank hell for small mercies. opposite. Whatever the actual case, the killer’s top hat and cloak underline two important elements -Gary Butler found in most Ripper narratives; that Jack took pains to hide himself from casual glances and that Rue Morgue says: READ MORE EDDIE! he was, like most noblemen of the time, intelligent and educated. -Rod Gudino Visit eddiecampbellcomics.com

Rue Morgue 19 1889 The Upon Mitre Square tiyj.r. Brewer

First fictionalization of the Ripper case, this story foreshad-

ows both The Hidden and The Exorcist III by having the ghost

of a mad monk possess the weak-wiiled and drive them to murder.

1892 Uppskararen byAdoiiPaui

Second known piece of Ripper fiction, written in Finland,

banned in Russia-

1902 Erdgeist by rrank Wedekind

A iiterary heavyweight brings Jack into his stage play to kill

off his lead Lulu, More on her later.

1911 by Marle-BellDc Lowndes Yours Truly...: Campbell and Moore take a break from their labours. Written as a short story and expanded into a novel two years later. The Lodger tells the tale of an ordinary family who sus- For example? situation. To us, the meaning seems to pects that their border is none other than Jack the Knife. That was when the machine gun was have bled away. The irony is that this invented, when the motor car was is the classic symptom of any psy- 1943 Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper by Robert Bioch invented; it was when the French chotic murderer. They are supposed to Bloch’s seminal short story which eventually became a TV moved into Indochina, which would have complete absence of effect, in play introduced in North America by . Other lead to the Vietnam war; it was the that nothing - they could watch pup- notable Ripper sightings by Bloch include A Toy For Juliette West’s first clash with contemporary pies burning or watch paint dry - (1967) and Night Of The Ripper (1984). Islam; the Mitchelson-Morley experi- there is no effect, nothing means

1966 A Study in Terror (n.k.a. vs. Jack the Ripper) by Ellery Queen ments proved that the ether didn’t much to them, and that’s why they

In the style of grand tragedy, six of the principals in this novel exist, which led to Einstein’s theories, can kill. So to have Gull accuse us of get offed in the last four pages. which led to Hiroshima; you had this pathology stretching right the Hitler bom at the same time that the way across our society offered an 1967 The Prowler in the City at the Edge of the World by uarian Eiiison Ripper murders were going on. From irony that pleased me. The futuristic sequel to Bloch's Yours Truly... by the incom- that perspective, it’s difficult to look Ultimately, parable Ellison. Alan, some ofthat opinion at the 1880s and not see them con- must be yours. taining the seeds of the 20th century. 1974 Jack the Ripper by Ron Pember Yeah, obviously. Although I tried to A musical featuring “scenes of fun. terror, song and dance" Actually, then, the seeds of the worst psychically channel William Gull including the ditty Ripper’s aspects Going To Get You If You Don’t of the 20th century. where possible, these are still my Watch I Out. At one point, have Gull saying, “The words. Admittedly, it was nothing that 20th century: I have delivered it.” I’d actually thought of until 1 started 1974 Force and Hypocrisy byoouuucie This horrible event in Miller’s Court to write the project. But it seems to In this play, Jack sides with Marx and rips for the lower becomes a nativity, with Gull as the me that perhaps in bygone times, classes. midwife for our entire bloody era. 1 archaic ways of thinking were actual- was connecting 1975 Hunt the Ripper by curtain Theatre Company (London) two periods of time, ly a lot richer than our current mind-

and it all came to a Notable for its theme song “Eine Kleine Rippermusicke,” head with that par- set. Rationalism has given us so

ticular chapter, where you get Gull much, but it has taken away as well. If 1975 Strawberry Spring by Stephen King projected ahead into the building that you look at modes of thinking from A cool homage in which a modern Jack unsheathes his knife now occupies what used to be the English renaissance, you can see a in an American college campus. Apparently, this one's being Street and Miller’s Court. After we’ve way of thinking that is totally differ- turned into a film. spent the previous nine chapters hav- ent from the way that we currently ing our say about the Victorians and think. In the renaissance, everything 1978 The Last Sherlock Holmes Story by Michael oidbin Dr. Gull in particular, I thought it was has correspondence with everything Jack the Ripper finally unmasked as... Sherlock Holmes! only fair to give him equal time and to else - everything becomes a fairly 1988 Gotham by Gaslight by Augustyn and MIgnola let him say what he wants to say about rich tapestry. Compare that to a world hangs with Sigmund Freud and crosses paths with our era. in which symbols don’t mean any- The Ripper. Vintage comic noir by the creator of Hellboy. thing anymore, people The people in that office, asjudged by don’t connect them up, and a fact is a Gull, are disaffected, and the sense is fact is a fact. 1992 Anno Dracula by Kim Newman conveyed that despite our advance- There is a certain barrenness there, in The Ripper has fangs when vampires take over the world in ments over his time, we are wasting our modem mindset. this apocalyptic novel by one of the genre's heavyweights. life. Gull takes life, and admittedly Does this explain why there are more 1995 Young Witches 2-. London Babylon by soiano Lopea and Barreiro with a lunatic’s agenda, but because serial killers today and. worse, why innocence is indeed in this pornographic comic chronicle he believes there 's a legitimate reason our culture is so fascinated with which details the depravity of the Victorian era under the to do it... them? spectre of Jack. Gull finds life and death meaningful, You look around, and fewer and fewer -Rod Gudino which is what appalls him about our people seem to think anymore. Now,

20 Rue Morgue it’s not like everybody’s going to turn into a killer, but we do seem to have more and more people who do, and that might be because these are unique individuals who just happen to have complete absence of effect, or it might be that they have grown up 1926 TI|6 L0Eig6’ by Alfred Hitchcock in a society that encourages absence of A silent adaptation of the Belloc Lowndes story effect by overloading people with so much which ushered in the first great era of British film information that they kind of switch off. and launched Hitchcock’s career. That’s where we’re drifting into a future, where everything is a kind of a cartoon, and 1929 Pandora's Box by SeorgWIlhelni Pobst everything kind of an endlessly scrolling set Based on a 1904 play by Frank Wedekind, Pan- of images and bursts of information that are dora's Box was one of the first serial killer films purely there for our entertainment. To some and was banned in Finland and Sweden. degree, to put that up against a mind as rich 1953 by and deranged as Gull’s struck me as an inter- Here, Jack the Ripper is portrayed by Jack the esting paradox. Yes, this is a person who Palance in yet another retelling of The Lodger. takes life, but he at least knows its meaning,

it, it - and when he takes has meaning for 1960 Jack the Rippei by Robert Baker and Monty Berman - that him and even though meaning might This black and white film switches to gruesome be completely demented, it is at least an colour in the climax when poor Jack winds up attempt to give meaning to life and exis- on the business end of an elevator. Squish! tence. Whereas most of the people in the office, you doubted whether that would have 1964 Dr. Strangelove by Stanley Kubrick ever crossed their minds. The end of the world is ushered in by the para- " noid rantings of General Jack D. Ripper (Ster- IVe do have to credit Gullfor being "active ling Hayden), who fulfills his namesake by trig- where the people in the office are absolutely gering a global nuclear holocaust. passive.

Well, he was certainly no couch potato. In by Robert bioch 1967 : Wolf the Fold 1980 Fantasy Island: With Affection. Jack the Rippei by ? [Laughs] As you say, he is an anti-hero at Jack murders his way through the galaxy only to Jack shanks Tattoo who screams “Boss, di pain! that point, and when you can see things out lodge in the computers of the Starship Enter- di pain!" Not really, but it would have made for a of his historical context and personal per- prise! great episode. spective; looking at ours, it says as much 1968 The Avengers: Fog by Geoffrey Bellman and Patrick Campbell about him as it does us. 1980 Time After Time by Nicholas Meyer This episode was originally titled Ripper; Jack's H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowall) pursues the Obviously film is its own language. Have name was changed to The Gaslight Ghoul. Ripper (David Warner) to present day San Fran- you seen the recent translation called From cisco for a rousing entertainment that works bet- Hell? 1971 Or. Jekyll and Sister Hyde by Roy vfanf Baker ter than it seems to on paper. Not to be missed. No, just some photographs they sent me, but It can now be revealed that Jack was actually I have to say that the sets are supematurally Edward... Hyde that is. Searching for the formu- 1988 Jack's Back by Rowdy Herrington accurate. Like I’ve said. I’m quite an habitue la to turn himself into a woman, Hyde stalks and Similar to Time After Time, the difference here is of Whitechapel and the surrounding area, slashes his way through Whitechapel prostitutes that this one stars James Spader and also hap- and there’s some streets that I know very as unwilling test subjects. Makes perfect sense, pens to suck bigtime. Jack himself would be very well; Thornier St. between Christ doesn’t it? embarrassed to be associated with it. Church, Spitalfields and the pub, 1971 by which is just across the road. And 1 saw a 1988 iCk the Rippe- by Derek Marlowe and David Wickes

It was inevitable that the picture of that set; intellectually I knew that This finely crafted made-for-TV movie stars Sir this was an enormous facade built over six would give Saucy Jack’s story the babes, boobs Michael Cane as Inspector Frederick Abberline treatment, the blocks of Prague, but down to the last cob- and blood and end result is goofy and is a serious attempt to solve the Ripper fun. ble I could have sworn that it looked exactly mystery, one hundred years after it originally like the street that I myself had stood on. All occurred. 1971 Jack El Destripador de Londres (lit. Jack the the people involved in the film are very good of Mangier London) by Jose Luis Madrid 1989 The Banker by Wiiiiam webb at what they do. Johnny Depp is a very good Hilarious German/Spanish story in which Sher- A wealthy financier by the name of Spaulding actor; I watched him last night doing read- lock Holmes dresses up as a woman to finally Osbourne (played with maniacal glee by Dun- ings from Jack Kerouac on television; nab Jack. can Regehr) is the Jack in this film. The banker Heather Graham was very good in Boogie puts a personal touch on the systematic mur- Nights and Twin Peaks, which certainly 1974 A Knife for the Ladies by Larry Spangler ders by marking his victims’ corpses with a endears her to me. And of course, Ian Holm Jack pops up in the Southwest-desert town of bizarre symbol. is a fantastic British character actor. He’ll be Mescal and starts ripping into women of ill quite spine chilling in this film. The direc- until repute the Sheriff finally gits ’im. 1989 Edge of Sanity by Gerard Kikoine tors, Allen and Albert Hughes, are very Anthony Perkins plays Dr. Henry Jekyll and Jack 1974 .'he Night Stalker: The Rippei by Richard Matheson good. I thought that Menace 11 Society was a “The Ripper” Hyde to lunatic perfection. Norman After two made-for-TV movies, Carl Kolchack very good statement of its time. distance My Bates who? finally gets the green light for a series and his fi-om the film is purely self-created. I was first assignment is Jack the Ripper himself! invited to Prague, but I’m not really much of -Brad Abraham and Rod Gudino

Rue Morgue 21 a globetrotter. And my distance is ultimately

a necessary emotional distance. I recognise

that, however good the film is, the chances

of it having an awful lot to do with my book

are probably slim. I believe that the Hughes Bros, have tried very hard to recreate the

atmosphere as much as is possible - I know 1928-35 Lulu byAlban Berg 1988 Jack the Rapper byotcooi they gave everybody on the crew a copy of In this Jack the Ripper makes an appear- opera. Inevitable. my book to read so that they could soak up ance in the final act to murder Lulu, a beautiful its atmosphere, and that’s commendable. 1990 The Death of Jack the Ripper young giii who makes one very unfortunate mis- The best thing that 1 could really hope is.... by The Legendary Pink Dots take. you know Bladerunnerl It was based on Do A heady look into the murderer's conscience in Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by 1961 Jack ttie Ripper byUnkWray which Jack is savagely put to rest via the collec- Philip K. Dick, which was an excellent Walling instrumental surf tune which plays on tive force of his prey. “She could smell him as story. Bladerunner was a very good film in tempo changes building to a climactic finale. she gripped for the knife, and held it to his its own right, but didn’t bear a lot of resem- neck./As 16 crippled hands fumbled with his zip, 1971 Jack the Stripper blance to the book. That’s what I’m hoping twisted, ate him slowly.. .kissed him quick," (a.k.a. Fairies Wear Boots) by suck sabbath for with From Hell; that’s an outcome I’d

Technically named after the Nudes murders 1992 Jack the Ripper by Nick cm & The Bad Seeds gladly accept. which occurred in London in 1964-65. but had a Apparently, Nick’s got “rules his a woman who Preserving the essence, being accurate in at Ripper slayings. marked resemblance to the The house with an iron fist/She screams out Jack least that much.

girl song has nothing to do with either, but the Sabs the Ripper every time I try to give that a The feeling, the flavour, whatever we want couldn’t resist the title. kiss,” find girl. Nick, Time to a new to call it. In fairness to the film industry, just

look at the book - From Hell takes some- 1972 Hands of Jack the Ripper by Screamln lonl Suteh 1992 Jack the Ripper by Motorhead thing like five hours to read, doesn’t it? Perhaps the definitive Ripper homage as deliv- croons: “Cold steel, whisper in the nighti You’re going to have to chop out three fifths ered by England’s true horror rock icon. Com- He’ll be at your side, with a smile and a knife! It of it. I should imagine that’s most of the plete with footsteps, wailing victims and seems like dreaming, moving in the dance! The mystical stuff, the slow and careful recre- lyrics such as “All you evil women better watch last embrace you’ll ever know, the violence of ations of entire scenes - and I certainly can’t your step, he might be right behind you, reach- romance!” see a long digression about London’s archi- ing for your neck!" Sutch also graces the 1993 Jack and the Ripper by Michael Kamen and tecture having a over it having cover in full Ripper regalia. the Rock and Roll Ensemble featuring much of a place in a modem Hollywood

1975 The Ripper by Another drawling instrumental which slowly film! I can’t see that going over very well in shrieks: “Oh hear my warning, gathers momentum before a catastrophic con- Peoria. never turn your back on the Ripper!" clusion. / think Chapter 4 would definitely have been

the first to go. 1979 Night Prowler byAC/iic 1994 Jack the Ripper Parts 1 and 2 Definitely, and some of the later, more hal- A bluesy creeper and the last song Bon Scott by Southern Culture on the Skids lucinatory ones as well. And the Marie Kelly recorded before his death in 1 980. Coinci- A backwoods take on the Link Wray tune com- chapter - well, you could only do that in dence? We think not.... plete with tribal drums, tortured and big comics! In film, it would be unbearable. You chord twang. What things may have sounded 1981 Ripper by The Exploited couldn’t show someone having their breast like if it was Zeke the Ripper. Actually refers to Britain's Yorkshire Ripper, chopped off on film - it would signal some-

Peter William Sutcliffe, whose five-year reign of 1994 Jack the Ripper by Momssey thing completely different, and immediately terror from 1975-1981 left thirteen women dead or gloomy Gus himself laments the frustration plunge it into exploitation. In its proper and another seven wishing they were. of unrequited love as an analogy to the terrible place, in the narrative that is From Hell, that

horror of anonymity poor Jack must have experi- sequence is barbaric but not exploitative. To

enced lurking unnoticed in the shadows. “Your look at it perhaps from Hollywood’s per-

face is as mean as your life has been/And no spective for a moment, you really can get away with more in comics than you can in one knows a thing about my life, I can come film. It makes me wonder which is the more and go as I please.” grown-up medium. 1996 Jack the Ripper by Guitar woif Do you expect to see the movie in pre- Strictly live rock ’n’ roll fodder for Japan’s “Kung- release? Fu Ramone." If you’re able to make out what the My natural inclination would be to wait for Wild Zero star has to say about Jack you’ve got it to come out on video, because 1 don’t even us aced. Lock ’n’ Loll! go to the cinema. However, my daughters, if

1996 Jack the Ripper by ll cooi i. there’s any chance of a premiere and 1 don’t

L.L. equates Jack’s homicidal tendencies with take them along, they’ve got this Johnny

his own “sick” ability to really rock the mic. “I’m a Depp kidnap scheme all ready, so it would

little I on the microphone, a night-stalker/A killin’ break their hearts if disappoint them. machine, a savage street talker/Jason with a For me, I’m not in any hurry. %

axe, but I put it on wax.” Word L.L., word.

Screamin Lord Sutch does his best Ripper! -Tom Dragomir

22 Rue Morgue 1

Elite Eiitertaimneiit NOTHING BUT THE BLOODY BEST

n ivj1

WiTHHW^i'jrERi

Available Pichipe getting together with H.R. Ciger and Roy Horryhousen to create Japanese Rnime.

TKe pemult migM be >ainetliing like Vottoire'e...

musician - a self-proclaimcd “enigmatic anime, H.R. Gigcr futuristic renaissance man." Thirty-four year-oid New spook and Tim Burton-style Yorker Voltaire, the creator of Scifi.com 's whimsy. The unique look Chi-Chkm series is also very funny. Espe- required a fusion of classic cially for a guy whose work celebrates the stop motion techniques with ghastly. web programming. Voltaire "Tve always felt that the world was an created and photographed the extremely evil place and 1 could clearly sec objects, which were then the dark side of people," he explains. "I scanned and animated using think that spawned an interest in . Originally, he was told macabre, but at the same time I felt my best this couldn't be done, but defense was to laugh at the things that both- Voltaire knew that only stop ered me. Hence. 1 think I inadvertently motion would give his world turned into a huggably gothic person." the right vibe.

Voltaire began channeling this attitude “Unlike CGI or anima- into stop motion animation at the age of 10. tion. .stop motion has a very surrealistic

He landed his first professional job at 1 7 and quality. There's something odd about look- later found work injecting his twisted sense ing at an actual object that moves by itself, of humour into spots for Budweiser, MTV as if it had some kind of internal life force. and the Sci-Fi Channel. In addition to work- It has an otherworldly feel to it, which ing and playing his own music, Voltaire lends itself to nightmarish images.” started writing and drawing comic books. It The gentle voice of Chi-Chian is provid- was here that the story of Chi-Chian began. ed by Chinese actress Bai Ling (T/jc Crow, Six comics for Sirius introduced Voltaire's Wiki Wiki West, Anna and the Kin^), a sug- vision of 31st century, post-war , gestion (and aspiration) of Voltaire's. a world populated by overgrown insects, “The Sci-Fi marketing people thought worm trains and a Japanesc/Gothic/Betty we should get someone well known and I Boop-type character named Chi-Chian. had remembered Bai Ling having this After featuring her in an animated station ID beautiful voice in The Crow so they said Voltaire for the Sci-Fi Channel, was asked to they'd call her. That night. 1 rented Anna bring her to life in an animated series for and the King and when she uttered her first their website (www.scifi.com/chichian). The line I pretty much melted. I knew she WAS 14 episodes follow Chi-Chian and a beauti- Chi-Chian." Creepy Cute: “Stop motion has an fully imaged, bizarre cast (including waltz- The Chi-Chian series debuted on the site otherworldly feel to it which lends ing cockroaches) through their struggle to in November 2000, wrapping up in May of itself to nightmarish images.," says survive amidst the forces of evil. this year. All 14 episodes are archived for creator Voltaire. “The story really focuses on innocence viewing on-demand, along with detailed and how hard it is to remain pure." he says. background information on characters and lioo, due Valentine's Day) and the re-release “I tried to create endearing characters that places, plus some fun, silly game action. of his graphic novel Oh Mv Goih! (Version are essentially misfits, in the hopes that Voltaire says that the next installment won't 2.0. featuring a new issue of the spinoff mainstream culture will open up a bit and be begin until sometime in 2002. In the mean- Humans Suck). more tolerant to people who are different." time he's preparing for the release of his For more info, visit www.voltaire.net. $ The series' style is a mix of Japanese third album of campy, baroque pop (Boo

24 Rue Morgue ^hSn Mr F©r y© vie\Ying pleasure: DeM©niU0fi the ne\Y kill ©rgy fr©-m German g©re g©d Andreas

cniian auteur Andreas Sehnaas has lone for the Ciennan wa\e of underground gore Recalling the genre's vintage titles like

been at the tbretVont of ilie Ciennan splatter honor w hich has become its ow n Berlin Wall The Car atui rhe Canary and The Ohi Dark underground: his IdSd debut feature l/o- of cull cinema. House. Demonium follows the fainih and

Icnf Shir was the first Ciennan lllm to be With Datioitiiiiit. iiis latest tllm recently friends of a murdered patriarch as thev gath- shot on \ ideo. Tw eh e \ ears and ll\ e features completed. Sehnaas returns to the \ iolent er at his secluded castle for the reading of his later (ineluding two sequels to iioicnt Shir blood naiTaii\es that hold continual fascina- last w ill and . One by one thev are and a remake of Joe O' Amato's infamous tion for him. For the tlrst time. howe\er. stalked and killed by an unknown maniac

. Urrhntpo/ilui^^its). Sehnaas has won tlie w ith- Sehnaas is enieiiaining hopes that his new lurking in the dank catacombs below. For a ered hearts of gorehounds tlie world o\er tllm will reach a wider audience and. to that trulv international llavour. Sehnaas moved with a potent mix of e\eessi\e \iolenee. out- end. made some important changes to his production from Clermanv to Italv. and rageous gore and gleeful blaek humour. This method. Not only was Dctnoniimi shot on enlisted the serv ices of special F\ house is the guy w ho brought us hooks in scrotum, film, but it is the director's tli'st Hnglisii lan- Fanta X. which had earlier provided FX for sphincter spine shunting and most outra- guage project. New eilheless. Sehnaas promis- Dario .Argento's latest lllm Xonhosoimo. geously a zombie gi\ing another zombie a es that aliliotigh he's working w iih his largest Rue Morgue caught up with .Andreas blow job! With those kind of eredentials. budget to dale, his taste for extreme \ isuals Sehnaas as he completed post-production there's little doubt that Sehnaas is. along w iih has not been compromised, nanoniirin. he work on Deinoniiiin. Jorg (Xccivniattrik) Buttgereii. responsible says, w ill be his most \ iolent film e\ er.

26 J?ut’ Morgue "

"I adwit, it is 3 ©Me time 3 extreme and n©t t© every- b©dy'3 taste, but 3h©uld \Te cen3©r c©untry music just because I think it is t©rtur©us and disgusting? “Andreas Schnaas

YourjUms how hccn a fovnurilc uin^ci for plans for \orth .lineriean Jistrihulion of to shoot in Italv and that's how it got start- censors. How ih you rcoci lo llnil'.' yoitr previous films on viJeo Hl 'l}? ed. Dav id Bi'iicci is also working for Sti-

1 ihink [liat certain kinds of censorship nuisi .Ml the lime, but the US is a \er\ lough valetti and he introduced us. 1 was not a big happen tike, lor exainptc child pornogra- market, 't on onl\ get really bad deals fati ofCCil but we needed three CCil elVecis phy. etc,, about it! Bui when it where \ou are being ripped off most of the for Pemonium and Sergio did a verv good

conies to horror nio\ ies 1 it is I think non- lime. cantiot control sales from Ciermatiy job. 1 le is a v er> talented and tiice person sense. i mean, nothing in iliem is real, it's and so I ha\e to be careful. Ilowexer. I and 1 was honoured to work with him. just technique and special elTecis. 1 admit, hope to sell .htthropophaiious jOlUl (a.k.a. U ’hat are your plans for the eompletcil - it is sometimes extreme and not to e\er\ Cannibal to the US soon; a dealer is film'.' body's taste, but should we censor eoimtiy bus\ trxing to sort things out there. We are currentlv plantiing to attend more music Just because I think it is torturous Demonium n-u.s shot on film, lias this Jeei- than twentv festivals worldw ide until the and disgusting'.’ sion artistic or financial'.’ end of the v ear. The tilni w ill be offered to Cicrinony is cs/H'chiHy known for siricl cen- I just wanted to go a step further but now I distributors and sold on the Mifed in sorship laws. Has this situation chani’cil know it was a big step and I am \er\ proud autumn. The script for the next mov ie

with the European L 'nion? of the result. Pemonium is a fantastic [working title Forever Cooil-bye] is almost

really. I the Not had police in m> house mo\ ie; m\ w ife Sonja and author fed rmished and I hope to start shooting in again just because some Canadian director Cieoghegan from Montana w rote a great Spring 201)2. This all depends on how w hose mo\ ie is [L banned 'rhan Flesh: script for the nio\ie and the result is fantas- Pemonium does and how busv I w ill be

Mutilation, 1 see /?.U#i4J sent me a tape to lie. hope I can conxince more people of selling and showing it since 1 am also the check out, Films that used to be banned in the value of m\ work. I shot the Him on 35 t'llm's producer. the '70s are being re-released uncut now. mtn so it can be shown at various festivals Po you haw hisih e.xpeetations? because they don't seem as \ ioleni as ihe\ and can therefore be brought to a w ider 1 lonestly. I hope Pemonium w ill be seen bv did back then. But still. the\ muiibie audience. Shooting on digital v ideo is of a big audience and will be distributed mo\ ies to get an R rating. course far cheaper but vou cannot attend a worldwide. This is not just a monev matter lot of festiv als and it doesn't hav e the same How films heen recciwil haw your at although the budge; is SI. 5 million. I reallv home? look. do believe in this mov ie and 1 think everv-

People lo\ e or hate I them them. ha\e \er\ I.e}!enilary F.\ maestro ami fibninaker Ser- bodv should see it. ! am conlklent that peo-

loyal fans that keep in eontaei with me ;fo Stivaletri is iloinii .some work on this ple w ill enjov it. but don't expect Karl the

through my websites and support m\ work film. How ill'll he come to be involwil? liuteher 4. with their constant interest. When we show 1 was introduced bv a friend to Fanta \. an For the latest news on Demonium ami an my moxies in Clermany it is \ er\ wild. But Italian group of special elTects people overview of Si'hnaas ' career be sure to visit most of my fans come from the US and (Uavid Bracci. Carlo Diamaniini and Fab- www.anthroproieet.ile am! www.ilemonium- Japan. ri/io Capponi]. This was reallv the llrsi themovie.eom. * .step for the project. We discussed the Your films are reailily availahle in both ctTects and reali/ed that it might be an idea Europe aiulJapan. hut not here. .Ire there

HORROR MOVlf

r-^HIRn FROM LlX h/h/lV.UxONUNF.COM

Wilt’ AJorgue 27 Inner Limite A new book explores the universes, both physical and metaphysical, of

T H 1 by Gemma Files extensive bibliography of non-fiction STEPHEN books and magazine articles which we decided that while we still thought it have earned him the title of “master would be impossible for one person, it might journalist of the dark genres” from be something that two people could at least industry standbys like World of Fan- try for, together.” dom. Soon enough - “soon” being more like “a Most recently, however, Wiater year later”, in this case - Golden and Wiater KINGA GUIDE TO THE WORLDS OF T^ KING OF HORROR partnered up with fellow authors were up to their eyebrows in research mate- Christopher Golden and Hank Wagn- rial, and desperately in need of a third help- SE er to produce The Stephen King Uni- ing hand. So they invited Wagner to come on verse, which ushers readers through board - first as a researcher, then as a full-

all the fictional hot spots of Stephen fledged partner.

King’s Maine: , where It’s vic- “We spent three years of our lives on this tims float in the “deadlights” of a project,” Wiater says, “and we had to extend garbage-choked sewer; Castle Rock, our deadline by a full year - but eventually, where Johnny Smith once used his we just had to accept the fact that no matter Dead Zone-given clairvoyance to what we did, because of who we were writ- track down a particularly “slick!” and ing about, the book would end up out of date

slippery serial killer; Haven, (second) maybe two months after it was first pub- STANLEY WATER, CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN of the fearsomely inventive lished.” 6 HANK WAGNER home Tommyknockers; ’Salem’s Lot, Nevertheless, Wiater, Golden and Wagner I where the vampires roam. have made a truly valiant stab at chronicling But the book doesn’t just concern the “prime universe” of a man who - going

t’s an easy and cynical putdown of itself with mapping out the purely mundane by output alone - seems to have paid some choice to say that “Those who can’t contours of King’s literary landscape. enterprising young scientist to build him one I write, write about those who can.” But Wiater, Golden and Wagner also go on to of those Tommyknocker thought-sampling this certainly isn’t true of Stanley Wiater, peel back the lid of his patented name- devices, so he can keep writing even while who not only can write screenplays, graphic brand-rooted “reality”, revealing the person- he’s asleep. The chronology at the back of novel scripts and short stories alike - his alized archetypes lurking beneath: figures the book goes all the way up to such recent online dark fiction showcase Skin & Bones, brought to full fruition in King’s Dark Tower developments as and the TV accessible through www.fearsmag.com, fantasy series echo throughout almost every miniseries version of ; Wiater

includes his short story “The Toucher,” one of King’s bestsellers. It’s a fascinating ftally expects to be starting into the first of at which took top honours at a competition achievement, rife with obsessive detail and least four proposed revisions by early 2002. judged by Stephen King himself - but has cumulative resonance - a Stephen King “Working on this book became sort of a

also carved himself a well-deserved niche Reader equally accessible to rabid fans and full-time job,” Wiater observes. “And 1

playing Boswell to the horror community’s relative novices alike. guess it’ll stay that way, for a while - until collective Dr. Johnson. Says Wiater: “The original idea came from we renegotiate our contracts, at least.” As creator/host of the Dark Dreamers tele- my literary agent, Lori Perkins - she’d The Stephen King Universe, by Stanley vision series (see Dreadlines - already approached Chris Golden and me on Wiater, Christopher Golden and Hank Wag-

Wiater regularly showcases writers both our own, asking us if we’d be interested in ner is available in trade paperback from world-famous and soon-to-be; a companion doing a book which would finally connect Renaissance Books ($21.95). Deluxe, book subtitled Facing the Masters of Fear, the dots of all King’s work in a really con- signed, limited hardback editions can also be featuring photographs by Beth Gwinn and crete way. Individually, we both knew this ordered from Cemetery Dance Publications, an introduction by Clive Barker, was was the kind of project that would consume at a price of $75.00 each.

released last month. It’s just one more in the anyone who attempted it - but eventually.

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antasia - that's the festival of festi* BOOl vals to lovers of horror, obscure hor- ror. experimental horror and. what and other films from the seventies. Some- for what inevitably will be a big draw for the hell, some aniine. kung fu and how. this seemed to be a blend of the two MGM Studios. fringe cinema thrown in for good measure. because you have serious themes and yet Troma's Lloyd Kaufman did not disap-

Now in its sixth incarnation. Montreal's there's still the haunted quality from the old point cither, with the Canadian premier of archetypes." movie marathon of the truly macabre, immi- Ciiizen Toxie: The Toxic . U eiiger IT. which nently grotesque and inarguably artistic, sur- Keep an eye out for our next issue, when takes the franchise up a few notches to vived yet another month-long visit by mani- Rue Mm-gue talks to Fessenden in-depth include school shootings, drug use and sev- acs. fanatics and casual onlookers who con- about W'emligo. monsters and the allure of eral kegfuls of blood. We were fortunate gregated from July 10 to 31 in the city's hoiTor. enough to join Kaufman and beautiful CT newly renovated Imperial Cinema. Next up was the world premier of Jeepers .star Heidi Sjursen on the Saturday morning Canada's top horror magazine was there, Creepers, which had folks as tar away as of the premiere. True to form. Uncle Lloyd of course, arriving to the fanfare of around- Texas coming in to take a peek. An unapolo- sat us around the table and played back a the-block lineups and from-the-gut intros gctic blockbuster. Jeepers Creepers was cer- video from an interview he and Heidi had courtesy of emcee Mitch Davis, a guy whose tainly worth the ride (and ride is what you're the previous night, in which Montreal radio love of film has turned him into a hyperven- gonna get - for a full review, check out page couldn't deal with the Tromania and almost tilating encyclopedia of all things fringe. 36). This film's got more chills than an ice- pulled the plug on the interview (they did. in Yup. Fantasia was in good hands. box in winter and a carnival barker's sense fad. cut Heidi's microphone). We're sure

Some ninety films were showcased to of using an audience's morbid curiosity the entire segment will probably end up at upwards of 6.'>.000 people over one month, against itself. Expect a Halloween release Tromaville.com. so visit often and look and Rue Moi-gue was there to unearth around - it's worth checking out. the darkest titles from around the Speaking of Troma. Rue Moigiie got world. Many of these films you will extremely advanced dibs on Toxic's future not be seeing for a while but. rest adventures, namely. Saving Private Toxie: assured, we'll be keeping our eyes and The Toxic Avenger Part I’. It seems Kauf- ears open and bringing you updated news as it trickles in. Midnight Matinee: The creeps come out in Of note was the Canadian premiere Jeepers Creepers and (left) a retrospective of Larry Fessenden's Wemli^o. a moment from Larry Fessenden's Wendigo. movie that chronicles several days in the lives of a small family who takes a rural holiday only to run into fears both contemporary and ancient. We were initially acquainted with Fc.s- senden back at Fantasia '98 (see /?A/#6) when the serccnwriter/actorMirector was premiering his vampire film Hcihii to a very impressed Toronto audience. Continuing his fondness for using monster archetypes as a vehicle for wider dramatic concern. Fes- senden uses Weiuligo to eraft an original story about the arbitrary yet circular nature of Fate and a bizarre creature who some- times appears as a monstrous man-deer. "I've made a vampire movie and a story and I've always wanted

to make a werewolf type movie and this

seemed to be in that mode." Fessenden told Rue Moi-gue. "I've always had tremendous atTcction for the monster archetypes, and yet

as I grew up I became interested in other

types of movies, like Scorsc.se in particular man and RM writer Christopher Heard wast- feature an embittered war veteran named ed no time in flushing the goo from their Doris Klit and her gang of girlie bikers brains to mash together a story which will named The Pink Hole who wage war on Tro- get Toxie right back to his roots. We’re maville and take Toxie hostage. Soon Sgt. bound by oath not to give the whole thing Kabukiman, Mad Cowboy and Dolphinman away, but enough to say that the movie will join forces with Sgt. Silo, a horribly scarred and crazed soldier and his ragtag platoon, to

- what else? - save Private Toxie! If the fin-

ished film is anything like the treatment, you SHOUT OUTS can expect to see plenty of bullets, blood and bare breasts shuffled in with classic film ref- THE FANTASIA HORROR SHORTS 2001 erences and a love story, not to mention the

Although most people lend to dismiss short triumphant return of Master Bator. Never

films, there's little doubt that they are the underestimate these guys! There was some preferred canvas for true visual experi- talk of possibly shooting the feature in Nicolas Debot (Extremism Breaks ' My mentation. Short yes. hut sometimes the Toronto, but as of press time nothing was Balls). Giullia Fratti (Mister E.) and Larry leave biggest .scars.... tiniest cuts the settled. We’ll keep the Tromaniacs among Fessenden (Wendigo) at the after party. you posted with details as they become by Helene Cattet & Bruno Forzani (Belgium) available. Never ones to say they don’t run a movie A three-minute homage to Italian via a for the perverse pleasure of it. Fantasia over- Other Fantasia finds; Shimoyama Ten's St. still-frame montage. Violent and original. dosed its already blood-soaked patrons with Johns iVort, which was being billed as a 35 mm print of Cannibal Holocaust, Rug- .. . OUl by Kim Ji-Woon (South Korea) Japan’s answer to The Blair Witch Project. gero Deodato’s infamous 1979 exploitation This lenghty (forty-minute) short tells the hilari- The difference is that Ten delivers on the gorefest. say the film lives to twenty- ous tale of a guy who discovers that his sister hideous visuals which were left to the imag- To up

is a vampire. Sounds overdone but, here, it’s two years of notoriety is putting it lightly. If ination by its American cousin, and explores anything but. a depth of perversity far beyond the scope of one thing is for sure, it’s that Cannibal Holo- the Blair Witch. Shot in a huge, daunting caust endures as an experience that will EXTREMISM BREAKS MY BAUB by Nicolas Debot leave soul, like sense ethics, with sinister portraits, St. Wort your your of An outrageous six-minute film which warns of manor John s - streaming down your still-shivering pant the perils of adultery. Castration never looked is a masterful movie which - surprisingly leg. so nice. was actually shot on vid. Also from Japan: Norio Suruta’s Kakashi In SlaSherS, director Maurice Devereaux li Michel (France) by Leray (Scarecrow), an imaginative and atmospher- presented his one act movie in which homi- An artist overcomes his creative block by open- cidal maniacs gel to practice their trade for a ic creepfest from the director of the third ing up his canvas in a way few artists can. Inno- Ringu film Ring 0: Birthday. Tomoya Sato’s nationally syndicated game show. Session 9 vative and precisely rendered. L'ilya told the unsettling story of a woman was director Brad Anderson’s eerie haunted

' house piece, set in the shadowy recesses of Mi-. Lrl by Guillia Fratti (Canada) who videotapes suicides and makes an the Danvers State Hospital, an abandoned It took four years to put the finishing touches on unnerving reel which she shows in night- this six-minute charcoal nightmare. Experimen- clubs. Other entries from the East included A tum-of-the-century asylum.

tal in the extreme, it ventures into a strange In Christoph Ali Nicolas Bonilauru’s Living Hell and Tell Me Something, both of and rural house in which long-nailed girls and tied- Rat, an aging serial killer is haunted which have crept into our pages before. Le by up corpses reside. Weirdly effective. Lovers of international horror also got a his tortured memories and the corpses of his victims chance to celebrate the of Jose Mojica which lie strewn in the forest. Qio miw by Asley Fester (Vancouver) work Experimental and bloody, it is a film that has A twelve-minute tale in which a vampire traces Marins, a.k.a. Coffin Joe, who was on hand a sombre passion sealed into its grainy her family history. Richly mysterious. for his first-ever Canadian appearance(!). images. The event was a screening of Coffin Joe:

. paque:; mak by Michel Leray (France) The Strange World ofMojica Marins, a doc- Dumb and Dumber's Jeff Daniels showed A nine-minute condensation of the urban folk- umentary on the Latin Ghoulardi by docu- a darker side with Chasing Sleep, a weird- find you've tale where you wake up only to that assed hallucinatory film mentarists Andre Barcinski and Ivan Finotti. nightmare of a been operated on by a sadistic freak. Deli- which Fantasia did not pass up the chance to for- seems to have fallen into a complicat- ciously unnerving. release We’ll mally introduce Brazil’s paranormal cult fig- ed schedule. keep you posted. Parksinson’s Creatures THf RtlH by David Beatty (USA) ure to their audience - they followed up with Andrew Dead was also a standout for sheer originality. Here, A fable of ecological terror in a toxic rainstorm servings of Joe’s 1966 classic This Night I'll told in fifteen potent minutes. 968 cannibal zombies are implied; the depths of Possess Your Corpse and 1 's Night ofthe Beast. Pure unbridled Satanic horror! the human soul are realized. Slow but pro- Izabel Grondin (Quebec) imm by found. More Latin terror arrived in the form of Evil Dead meets Demons in this outstanding Jorge Oiguin’s (Black Angel) The living dead rose to much applause in eight-minute tribute to the giallo legacy of Ital- Angel Negro Olaf Ittenbach’s Legion ofthe Dead, a balls- ian horror movies. which has the distinction of being the first out blood feast chopped horror feature ever to have been made in of limbs, decapita- UNDER VALlf Jeffrey Erbach (Vfinnipeg) Zm by Chili. The results are spine tingling in a way tions and demonic possession from Ger- Surrealist short about butchers in a dream that had locals calling up the names of many. Need we say more? world where little girls have chattering teeth Argento and Hitchcock, and you can bet Speaking of more, be sure to drop in at and fingers get severed. Dark, odd and beauti- we’ll be bringing you more news down the www.rue-morgue.com for regular news fully shot. updates. Click on the line from this promising young director. delapidated theatre -Emma Anderson every Friday. See you in the dark.... i

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Uisit us at uiuiui.uillagecomics.com Rue Morgue 33 Davey Havok (far left) in Son of Sam and (below) with AFI.

Army member, ex-Samhain), Steve Zing (bass, ex-Samhain)

and (guitar, cur-

rent member of Danzig) took it upon themselves to author

four tracks for yet another sib- ling project which would eventually take wing with Havok’s piercing vocals. The 1 he second generation of is upon us and the creepy kids are project was called Son of Sam. summoning new names like AFI and SON OF SaM.... by Aaron Lupion “I was picked up by Steve

Zing and the first thing I said

was ‘look, I wrote all these o there won’t be any touring with Son Sex Fiend, 45 Grave and others. Even so, it lyrics and melodies’,” explains Havok, “‘but of Sam,” says Davey Havok, crushing took him and bandmates Jade Pudget, if you don’t like what you hear, we change

the black heart of each and every death Hunter it. N and several No questions asked.’ I mean, this was rocker to Valley. from Toronto Death “There before they would formally incorporate the their world, I just wanted to sing in it!” might be another album, but it wouldn’t be flavour of spookiness into their style of punk Son of Sam gelled in a ten-day recording for a long time. See, Son of Sam is not real- rock. By the band’s third release, Shut Your frenzy that resulted in a grainy, gutsy piece ly a functioning band.” Mouth and Open Your Eyes, the seeds had of basement-punk horror called Songs From it’s unfair! But. God, so The legendary been sown for what was to come. Along the Earth. The elements were all there;

Samhain saw its symbolic demise in 1987 with the requisite black mesh and white chainsaw , gang-chant vocals in a and. since then, the creepy kids have only makeup came a stage show complete with mismatch of old school punk blitzkrieg, been treated to a glimpse of the comic-book fog, leering jack-o-lantems and a chant of gothic charm, and Danzig-style blues. dark rockers on the miniscule 1 999 reunion. “Through our bleeding we are one!” which (Glenn himself would make an appearance That is until now, the point at which our their fans took up as a kind of rallying cry. playing guitar on Stray and the title track.)

story may unfold. The theatrical horror of AFI’s act was indeed As if bound by an unearthly force. Son of the front for As man AFI (A Fire Inside), firmly in place, and it connected with the Sam distilled the collective gloominess of Havok possesses charisma unlike any other kids in a way that none of them had antici- their collective Halloween to produce an frontman in the punk rock arena. Havok’s pated. And although AFI was drawing sig- album of pure . innovation is that he has brought goth, fetish nificantly from the dark punk of their youth, But if there never is another Son of Sam and horror to the unlikely world of skate- the band was also exploring a different side record, at least A Fire Inside will continue to punk. It’s entirely appropriate, therefore, to of the macabre not quite covered by songs bum; the group expects to enter the studio hear talk him about the allure that the which simply paid tribute to classic horror yet again in late autumn. And if Son of Sam macabre has always had for him. movies. remains but a tombstone in death rock’s hal- favourite holiday,” “Halloween was my “I like to write about fear in terms of how lowed cemetery, its brief ghost-like appear- explains the singer/. “I was people perceive the dark side and the way ance certainly proves one thing: that others always fascinated by movie monsters, they perceive things that are evil or wrong or like it will come later. - , the supernatural things like that. I things that invoke fear,” says Havok. “I like “If you look at punk rock right now, that really liked The Lost Boys, the first two to write of those things in a way that reveals infusion of darkness into the aesthetic has Nightmares, The Exorcist, The Texas Chain- them to bejust the opposite; that they are the really just died for the most part,” says Massacre and the saw Universal classics positive side, and that they are something Havok. “Most dark music nowadays is like Dracula. Pumpkinhead was a classic that should be embraced, rather than looked labeled as ‘gothic’, which never existed ten thematically and totally underrated.” down upon. Because, in most cases, fear is years ago. Right now there are very few Havok’s love for horror would soon find the result of something that is misunder- punk rock bands that are doing this, and an outlet in his enthusiastic support for the stood, rather than something that is really maybe it just so happens that we’re one of

music of New Jersey’s own , evil.” them. But you take a look at our known around these parts as Evil Elvis. Ghouls that slay audiences - they’re identifying While the legendary instant Misfits were together stay together, with it.” J heroes in Havok's youth, Danzig’s further so the saying goes, into experiments dark rock became just as and it came as no endearing, if not more so. surprise that AFI “The Misfits were one of the greatest punk landed a much bands,” he says, “but 1 think Samhain were coveted opening really one of the greatest bands of all time. slot for a brief Their infusion of hardcore, dark rock, and 1999 Samhain the dark aesthetic was really unique.” reunion tour. At Along with Samhain, Havok rocked in his this time, London teens to the grim sounds of , May (drums, Tiger

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America and the political and religious Tromaville 1 Middle America 0 , right. However, these last three films are so Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV intensely and deliriously anarchic that just

Starring David Mattey and Heidi Szursen plus a bunch of cool cameos about all Troma’s previous efforts fairly Directed by Lloyd Kaufman shrivel in comparison. (Interestingly, practi-

Written by Trent Haaga, Patrick Cassidy, Gabriel Friedman and Lloyd Kaufman cally all the players from Terror Firmer

Troma Entertainment show up at one point or another in Citizen Toxie, although Will Keenan and Alyce “But will it be worth the wait?” That Latourelle are conspicuously absent.) question has been on the minds, lips Like ail the best Troma films, Citizen and other parts of Tromaniacs world- Toxie pushes just about every hot button wide for a long time now. Well, I imaginable - school shootings, racial watched an advance copy of Citizen violence, our squeamishness about phys- Toxie alone several nights ago and ical and mental disabilities, the continu- watched it again with friends this after- ing abortion debate and lots more - while noon, and aside from a few minor quib- bludgeoning us with one revolting spec- bles, my own answer is an unequivocal tacle after another. And yet, in typical “fuckin’-A!” Troma fashion, it manages in the midst of Before the opening credits roll, a pre- all this to be strangely heartfelt and amble brings us up to speed regarding uplifting, not to mention convulsively Toxie’s origins, then dismisses Parts 2 funny. When the severed limbs have and 3 as crap, apologizes for them and been swept away, the bodily fluids assures us that “this is the REAL mopped up and the fart gas cleared from sequel”. never I I’ve seen Part 3, but the room, it’s plain to see that Troma must admit that I quite enjoyed Part 2 continues to fight the good fight. since, among other things, it features a -John W. Bowen lot of naked Japanese women.

But I digress.... All’s well in Troma- A Franchise is Born ville, New Jersey until

Toxie tries to stop a school ' Jeeoers Creepers shooting spree which cul- Starring Gina Phillips, Justin Long and minates in a massive A Day in Tromaville: Toxie Jonathan Brack explosion that rips a hole to the rescue and (inset) an Written and directed by Victor Salva off-camera Noxie hangs with in the fabled time-space /MGM a pre-dead Juiie Strain. continuum. Toxie and two Big studio horror films are an odd breed. retarded kids are sucked however, we're treated to Usually, they compromise too many cool into Amortville, Troma- everything we could ever ask plot points by bowing to the perceived needs ville’s counterpart in an from a Troma film and more, of a general audience and the script alternate universe, while plus a bit more in case of emer- demands of their leading stars. Usually on the other side Troma- gencies. In fact. Citizen Toxie they’re targeted to teens, which means they ville is terrorized by melds perfectly with recent have teens in them which, again, is usually Toxie’s evil doppelganger, Troma efforts Tromeo and Juli- not a good thing. And although everyone the Noxious Offender. Shit happens, as the et and Terror Firmer in a kind of self-aware- loves a guilty pleasure, major studio horror saying goes, but there’s some shit that could triptych, in ness which Lloyd Kaufman, films don’t usually even aspire to that, being only ever happen in Tromaville. Michael Herz and their band of merry shit- content to tally up the first weekend and let It’s hard to resist this setup, but herein lies disturbers really hit their stride on just about bygones be bygones. The thing that multi- my only serious complaint: such a transition every level. million dollar scare fests do have, however, is a tricky narrative stunt and in this particu- For decades now, Troma’s been is the multi-million dollars, which means lar case it’s so sloppily executed that it takes (in)famous for bombarding audiences with that though your brain could be turning to about fifteen minutes for the film to find its kinky sex and cartoonishly gratuitous vio- porridge by the dullest most invidiously legs again. Once the bugs are ironed out. fearlessly lence while skewering Corporate lame storyline ever witnessed, your eyes are

36 Rue Morgue resides with her two children in a gloomy mansion of locked doors and curtained win- dows. Apparently, the children are afflicted by a curious disease which forbids them to be exposed to natural light, and so they while away their days in a perpetual night of candles and the religious oppression of their

mother, who is clearly in knots over her hus- band’s prolonged absence.

Enter a trio of servants; a kindly butler, his matronly wife and their daughter who skulks through corridors that whisper when

no one is there. Soon, doors are left unlocked, footsteps are heard in empty

rooms and the begins to play on its

own. Worst of all, the kids begin to talk

about a little boy and a strange old woman who have taken residence in the house. Writer/director Alejandro Amenabar

Jeepers Creepers: The summer's major studio scarefest, one shiver at a time. (Tests a.k.a. Snuff) uses The Others as a showcase of overwrought gothic visuals; a on the roller coaster ride of their lives. a joke, but allowances have to be made if the perpetual fog creeps over the courtyard, tall Jeepers Creepers is the kind of film that joke is good. So the creeper from Jeepers windows stare out like soulless eyes and out of its to set up shop in block- goes way Creepers likes old records, but so what? pale faces peer out of the whispering dark- buster territory, only to turn left at the pass Who’s going to admit they didn’t like Return ness. Amenabar tells his story in hushed and end up in a wooded area thick with of the Living DearP. Or Tremorsl Or Pwm tones and lingering silences, suffocating the creepy crawlies. Yes it boasts teen leads, but Night IIP. audience in a thick blanket of walled up no they aren’t played by big stars, but yes Salva, who will spend a lot of interview darkness and off camera ghosts. they do things no one would ever do in real time fielding questions about his fondness But even though it spooked the hell out of life (like pass by an abandoned church for young boys and his subsequent time in me a couple of times. The Others was short where some guy was dumping bodies into a the clink, has undoubtedly invested more of perfect; the house’s inner darkness may drainage pipe and later go back to confirm than a paycheque into his film. And it have been impenetrable, but this particular it). But even with situations we’ve seen shows. Jeepers Creepers was a howling family’s secrets weren't. Kidman, who is an before, writer/director Victor Salva (Clown- crowd pleaser at this year’s Fantasia Festival elegant mannequin at the best of times, did- house) manages to pull one dead rabbit out (see page 3 1 ), a crowd that ought to know. If n’t have the range required for the role of an of the hat after another in what becomes a your midnight matinee calls for a lightheart- overprotective mother who is teetering into macabre showpiece that only horror buffs ed but creepy monster movie, make it this madness. And. most grievously perhaps, is could really enjoy. one and save up for the popcorn. You’re that the story took a seriously long time to Jeepers Creepers doesn’t bother with pre- going to need it. set itself up. liminaries: teens Trish and Dary (actually, 'Rod Gudino brother and sister, so no protracted scenes of adolescent puppy love here) drive through country backroads on a visit to their parents’ Gothique Nouveau house. They have a run-in with a jallopie The Others from hell and later witness its tall, dark Starring Nicole Kidman, Alakina Mann occupant disposing of several bodies and James Bentley wrapped in blood-soaked sheets. They go Written and directed by Alejandro Dary back and blow a few good scares as Amenabar makes his way down the pipe only to uncov- Alliance Atlantis er a vast and grisly cave packed with half embalmed human remains. How Salva man- There’s something about a gothic story -

ages these sequences, however, is really the palefaced aristocrats, the old dark house,

what counts; every footstep is a moment of the buried secret - that works no matter how

strained suspense that culminates in a tri- many times it gets told. And it's a story umph of truly grotesque ingenuity. that’s been told quite a few times; its latest Actually, there are more than a few tricks incarnation is The Others, an ironic little

to this movie, but audiences are only asked flick considering it stars Nicole Kidman and

to know one: that you can’t walk into a film is produced by Tom Cruise, keepers of

called Jeepers Creepers and expect to see domestic secrets themselves. Thing is, I for-

The Exojvist. We're the first to admit that got about all that in the first five minutes,

fiinny horror films are a symptom of the which is entirely a good thing.

artistic anorexia that has assailed The Others opens up the gothic melodra- Hollywood The Others: A dysfunctional family in a schmucks who want to turn everything into ma of a woman named Grace (Kidman) who house full of ghosts.

Rue Morgue 37 Still, lurking within the hidden rooms of ing, but (the driving this old house were a few spine-chilling force behind Re-Animator and moments, each like a cold hand grabbing The Dentist) seems to have once you in the dark. The Others drew more than again accomplished the impossi- its share from Burnt Offerings, The - ble. : Love of the Damned Is ing and The Sixth Sense but, when you think a fun, energetic film that steams about it, those are three damn good movies forward at such a frantic pace that to use for inspiration. there isn’t much time to consider its flaws. -Emma Anderson Mark Frost plays John Jaspers, a man who vows to avenge the brutal death of his girl- Too Much Blood friend. Jaspers is soon visited by the myste- OR Not Enough? rious M, a role that Andrew [fVishmaster) Divoff plays with devilish delight. M makes Faust: Love of the Damned Jaspers an offer he can't refuse, and gives Faust: Thrills, chills and nipples. Starring Mark Frost, Andrew Divoff and him superhuman powers in exchange for his soul. Brian Yuzna has lost his touch for incredible Directed by Brian Yuzna As a comic book movie, Faust draws lib- visuals. Everywhere he injects a hyperactive Written by David Quinn erally from what’s available; the titular char- style into both the camera work and the edit- Lions Gate acters sport retractable claws like Wolver- ing. There’s also plenty of gore, including ine, a huge red cape like , and a red eye gougings, beheadings, cannibalism and Faust was a landmark for independent rubber suit like a Power Rangers villain. Not bloody stabbings. The film's most extreme comics. The stories were expansive and to mention the fact that the entire thing is set piece, involving a melting semi-nude filled with rich characters, but what most based on a centuries-old folk tale. However, woman, will undoubtedly have your jaw fans remember is the artwork by Tim Vigil all these elements are combined with a story dropping to the floor. David Frost, who which was so intricately detailed that the that moves at a breakneck pace, and what wrote the original comic book, included a lot book was only published once a year. Adapt- results is hugely entertaining. of laughable melodrama in his screenplay, ing such an immense storyline into a two- Having packed thrills, chills and nipples but that’s a quibble. Faust has terrific atmos- hour movie seems daunt- into his flick, it’s a tough call to say that phere and Yuzna delivers the eye candy in a way that made us forget he ever had any- Blair Witch Redux thing to do with Progeny (see /?Af#9). -Pete Sankey Flesh Freaks Mercer-James, Etan Muskatm and Ronny Varno Starring Eshe So Bad It's... Written and directed by Conall Pendergast Sub Rosa Studios Not So Bad, Really

Blood Surf

Starring Dax Miller, Katie Fischer and That The Blair Witch Project would be the springboard to hundreds Matt Borlenghi of imitations was unavoidable, but this film goes one step further, Directed by James D.R. Hickox incorporating actual documentary footage of an archaeological dig into Written by Sam Bernard & Robert L. Levy the plot! And it works! A secret research expedition into the jungle of Trimark Home Video Belize accidentally uncovers worm-like parasites deep in the bottom an ancient Mayan

well. Brought back to the cold climate of Toronto, the parasites awaken and begin to Over the last year or so, it seems like every the denizens of an unnamed university. A group of classmates soon find them- otherwise-impeccable issue of Rue Morgue selves facing a shambling horde of murderous zombies, bent on protecting their secret has been blemished by at least one unflatter- presence in order to populate all of humanity! ing review of a Giant Mutant Animal movie.

Flesh Freaks is surprisingly well made for what is obviously an extremely low-bud- Practically all of these films come from get amateur production. The story is solid and relatively original, apocalyptic in nature Lions Gate, and our responses have ranged but not reaching beyond the $1 budget. The gore is gooey and copious, highlighting a from tepid (Joe O'Brien goes easy on the satisfying amount of zombie action and the makeup recalls the paper mache zombies of dreadful Crocodile out of respect for the

Andrea Bianchi’s gutmunch classic Burial Ground {Le notte del terrore). Of note is that venerable but wayward ) to vit-

these particular zombies do not feed on human flesh, sharing a kinship to the radioac- riolic (Brad Abraham, Eric Sparling and tive zombies of Lenzi’s oatmeal-faced City of the Walking Dead. These two zombie myself get medieval on Shark Attack. Octo- classics bear mentioning because they have been an obvious influence on this movie. pus and Spiders, respectively). While the Due to Canada’s restrictive gun control laws, there are no handguns in the movie; doofuses (doofi?) at Lions Gate were grunt- instead of head shots, zombies are dispatched by having broom handles, crow bars and ing out the aforementioned solid waste prod- other sundry items rammed through their skulls. The most striking aspect of Flesh ucts, their counterparts at Trimark were hard

Freaks is the considered cinematography; director Pendergast utilizes a wide palette of at work on Blood Surf a film so astounding-

digital video FX and uses deft lighting and camera tricks to help advance the story and ly. deliriously falling-on-its-ass awfiil as to

augment some of the amateur makeup. Most importantly, the image quality is consis- rival Battlefield Earth. And for exactly this tent throughout. Overall, an impressive little film that defies its minuscule budget. Also reason, those of you with a penchant for

worthy of mention is the lurid video cover art, a disgusting collage of withered and rot- camp may just want to check it out. ted zombie heads! A couple of numbskull surfer dudes and a •The Caore-met film crew arrive in Australia to shoot a doc-

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Bleedin' film in which cinematography is perhaps the main character. The majority of the film In the Wind comes across as a coarse vapor of earthy

The Mutilation Man tones and reds, with painful facial expres- Starring Jim Van Bebber, Terek sions and over-the-top gore at the centre of Puckett and Jolie Scott the attention. Overtop is a very Skinny Written and directed by Andy Puppy-like soundtrack with the musical Copp screams of anguish often filling in for dia- Sub Rosa Studios logue. In fact, there is no other dialogue in The Mutilation Man. Again, flashbacks are I can honestly say I have never done in Super 8, sometimes in black and seen a film like The Mutilation white, and often depict abstract imagery that Man. That’s not to say it’s one of is left to the audience to decipher. While all the best films I’ve ever seen, but of this may sound like blatant art film tech- definitely it is one of the most nique, the film does stray from the classifi- unique. Essentially an arty gore cation with its love of gore and its white film dressed up like trash sensibilities. Blood Beach: Based on a true story. a music video, The Some have compared this film Mutilation Man is umentary about the latest to Tetsuo: The Iron Man, and I the tale of one man's journey craze in “extreme sports”, suppose that works to a small on the road to redemption. pursuits Stephen King once degree, but The Mutilation Man Only for this man, that trip described as “a good way to is really on another plane com- means sliced flesh, ripped-out get some dreck out of the pletely, its morose tone and stan- piercings, and self-crucifix- gene pool.” Yes folks, this is dard B-film qualities contrasting ion. Blood Surfing, in which par- the manic frenzy of the futuristic There are two parts to The ticipants draw their own Tetsuo. No, Mutilation Man real- Mutilation Man, the present, blood and ride the waves while dodging ly is one of the few films - genre shot in 16mm, and flashback killer sharks. All goes well until sharks and and otherwise - that we can truly sequences shot in Super 8 and humans alike start getting munched by a call unique. Again, that’s not to occasionally on video. The thirty-foot, 3000-pound salt water crocodile. say it’s a great film, but for those present details the life of Ian, No, I’m not just making this up as I go who dig a side of artist with their a man with a history of brutal along. And yes. Rod, that means you actual- splatter or who just have a taste for the abuse, who walks an American wasteland ly have to pay me for writing it. fringe, it is a must-must-see. performing impromptu spectacles of self- Oh, the wonders you’ll witness. Gentle mutilation for the degenerate masses. These -Aaron Lupton Reader! See! A mechani-croc that seems to shows serve as his confessional, as Ian have great difficulty in actually moving its attempts to pay for the sins of his father, an Stranger Than Oprah legs, opting instead to be dragged along the alcoholic who repeatedly beat and raped ground by crew members who barely man- The Stranger both his son and his wife, and who at one age to stay out of the shot! Hear! The dying Starring William Atherton, Roxana Zai point even forced Ian to bury the corpse of words of Blood Surfs Quint/Ahab stand-in and Robert Cuccioli his murdered mother. Those nightmares are after he's been bitten in half: "Damn you to Directed by Bruce David Klein depicted in a hazy Super 8, with Jim Van hell!” Ogle! Lotsa gratuitous nudity! (Of Written by Elliot Geisinger and Bruce Bebber doing a disturbingly accurate por- course, none of it involves the film’s only David Klein trayal of the father. Throughout his travels. name star, Tara “I'm not an actor, but I play Fusion Films Mutilation Man meets both the devil (in the one on TV” Reid.) Groove! On that cool-as- form of a kinky goth chick), and an angel The cover promised a “gripping suspense fuck surf tune that plays over the closing who finally leads him to peace after a brutal thriller... Amityville meets Sixth Sense", but credits! Run! To the home vid outlet of your and somewhat confusing finale in which I don’t remember wanting to smash my head choice! Rent! Blood Surf. Before! I abuse audience members turn on each other in a through an iron plate halfway through either any more exclamation marks! massive bloodbath. of those movies. They were thoughtful and

-John W. Bowen The Mutilation Man is a rare example of a creepy, but this straight-to-video dud has

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Carnival. Tttt Most Popular Cruse une n the wortd more in common with trashy Joan Collins Evil Gets romance novels. Oil Roxana Zai is Juliet, a woman who seems An Change - to have everything a beautiful house, three Mechanical Warrior Hakaider luxury cars, two cute little girls, and a loving Starring Hiroshi Matsumoto, husband, played by William “I was in Kazuhiko Inoue and Mai Hosho Ghostbusters" Atherton. sailing in her While Directed by Keita Amamiya yacht one day, she accidentally knocks her Written by Yoshinori Kitase daughter overboard and watches as the girl based on a story by Shotaro drowns. Juliet is overcome with guilt until a Ishinomori mysterious stranger with a heavy accent, Tokyo Shock played by Robert Cuccioli, delivers a doll Even if you're a house for the little girl. He convinces Juliet mega-fan of Japanese to keep it, which affords them the opportuni- sci-fi, you may not ty to have many insipid conversations about remember the name “the longing for passion”. Almost immedi- Hakaider. Even so, in ately she begins having lusty fantasies about the seventies he was the man. She fears that if she cannot control Hakaider: Power Rangers one of the most popu- meets The her urges around this Italian stallion, she Last of Christ. lar characters on may suffer a fate similar to her mother’s, Japanese television, as wholly repressive society? Nothing that who was shot dead after being caught in the the arch-nemesis hasn’t been said before, I guess. That arms of another man. cyborg of Kikaider, the system sucks and villains are cool The Stranger is too flat to be considered a the good robot after isn’t exactly groundbreaking, especially thriller, too tame to be considered softcore which the show was named. If you are a fan, after a decade of action anti-heroes Spawn pom, and far too dull to even be bothered it probably doesn’t matter though, because and the Crow gaining massive popularity with. The slow pacing robs the movie of any the modem day Hakaider (Hakai meaning within the genre. tension, and by the end destroy) has been souped up, dimmed down, Of course, none of this is really bad, nor there’s more weeping and wholly recreated as a futuristic saviour does it do damage to the quality of this film. and emotional feely in a world of Milton-esque archetypes and What really breaks Hakaider's balls is that stuff than a typical really cheesy special effects. Unfortunately, it’s so damn goofy. The action sequences are episode of Oprah. Some this attempt to modernize the character is PG-friendly, while the costumes and effects nice locations in Europe met with failure in the face of the reality that are just too laughable to be taken seriously. make for a few pretty says its hard to make a serious parable out of Some may say that’s the point, but 1 doubt it; pictures, but the film Voltron action figures. try to picture what it would be like if the has no real style and it Some time in the future, the populace of Power Rangers showed up at the end of The gets far too bogged the questionably named Jesus Town is Last Temptation Christ. down by long-winded ruled of by the iron fist of their conservative leader, a Talented director Amemiya maintains his scenes. William Ather- man who secures peace through all sorts of strong sense of style, but seems out of his ton’s inclusion is espe- violent acts, like lobotomizing free thinkers. element here. Only a few flashback dream cially bizarre; after all, The establishment is uniformly white, and is sequences which reminded me of Cemetery who honestly believes Juliet would pass protected by a white and silver robot with Man really raise this film from your average, over a hunk with a ponytail for him? angel wings. Meanwhile, a group of under- everyday cheesy Japanese sci-fi show. The steamy climax is worth a few giggles, ground rebels, cloaked in black, plan an Hakaider may be an attempt at “brainier” but it’s no more passionate than standard uprising with the newfound help of the action hero fluff, but Camera 3, this ain’t. soap opera fare. The scariest thing about almighty ass-kicking Hakaider. Things go Check out Amemiya’s superior Moon over The Stranger is how badly its cover pur- pretty predictably from there. Tao, also available from Tokyo Shock. posely misleads; there's nothing gripping or So what does it say that an old TV villain terrifying about this over-melodramatic dri- -Aaron Lupton has been brought back as a knight in shining vel. armour against -Pete Sankey a symbolically holy and

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The Three Ms of tice. What ensues is basi- and Sisters director Serial Murder cally Apt Pupil meets Nat- Pete Jacelone) are strong ural Born Killers in lo-fi as enough to keep things mov- Bloodletting told by Kevin Smith: a ing. And while writer/director Starring Ariauna Albright and whole lotta murderin’, Walsh ladles out the gore James L. Edwards mutilatin’ and mayhem with merry abandon (gotta Written and directed by Matthew interspersed with heated love the Amazing Exploding Jason Walsh debates over the nebulous Baby sequence!) and doesn't Tempe Video protocols of serial murder. shy away from humour.

In a set-up that admittedly smacks of a cer- Some of these diatribes Bloodletting is at heart a cau- tain Stephen King novella, Serena (Albright, work much better than oth- tionary fable about the who also co-produced) comers notorious ers, but the performances destructive potential of sim- serial killer Butch (Edwards) and half-black- by both the principals and ple loneliness. The bonus: that rarest of rarities, a twist ending you won't actually see

My Parents Went to coming. (Well, at least I sure didn’t.) Hollywood and All I If microbudget shot-on-vid horror is to Got Was This Lousy Movie remain viable, a lot of filmmakers would do well to study the ways in which Bloodletting

American Vampire compensates for its low production values Starring Carmen Elektra, Trevor Lissauer and Adam West with solid performances and tight scripting, Directed by Luis Esteban neither of which costs a dime. The most Written by Rollin Jarrett common downfall of these backyard pro-

Maverick Entertainment jects is that they simply haven’t been suffi- ciently thought out in pre-production; seat- There are those of us out there who would argue a great portion of-the-pants filmmaking has doubtless It ititini' hon-or flicks boast little merit beyond appealing AncKiU^ VAnPIRt to the jack-off resulted in some of the genre’s greatest ' ' I " fantasies of twelve-year-old boys. By the look of it, I pegged works, but too many aspiring auteurs these American Vampire starring, er... featuring, Carmen (I married a famous person) Elek- days seem to miss the point and embrace

tra as a profound example of this trend popularized by the '80s slasher craze. The real- incompetence for its own sake. Happily, this ity of it, though, is a fluffy vampire comedy set in the beaches of . Basically isn’t the case with Bloodletting, which

a brainless teenage farce that, thankfully, doesn’t feature Elektra as a major player. works primarily because it’s so much more

American Vampire is actually about a guy named Frankie, who looks a lot like Mark tightly focused than most of its peers. Wahiberg, but isn’t. When his parents jet off for a fabulous European vacation, they -John W. Bowen foolishly entrust him with their very enormous, very expensive beach-front condo. On the flawed advice of his stoner bud Bogie - who looks a lot like Johnny Depp but isn’t Sponsored By Frankie invites a trio of California bloodsuckers to crash at the place for a Virgin Megastore while. The two daft bombshells and Moondoggie, an aging surfer vampire - who looks a lot like Richard Lewis but isn’t - pretty much negate the theory that vampires make Dracula 2000 great houseguests. Starring Justine Waddell, Gerard Butler

They’re messy, stay up all night and probably don’t flush, but when they start and Christopher Plummer

mooching off the blood of his friends, it’s the final straw. Frankie bumps into a Donald Directed by Patrick Lussier Sutherland look-alike who sends him to the Big Kahuna, an old hippy vampire hunter Written by Joel Soisson

who looks a lot like Adam West, and actually is. Together they stumble their way into Alliance Atlantis saving America’s beaches from those bloodsuckers for bloody good. Unlike the majority of my RM peers, I For some reason, I can’t think of one really good vampire comedy out there and I’m haven’t entirely given up on the idea that talking about the kind of movie where the focus is clearly more on the comedy than the modem filmmakers can riff off of Stoker’s horror {Fright Night doesn’t technically count, although I’d recommend renting it ten done-to-death classic with any success, but times before even considering American Vampire). There may yet be one great vam- the chances of a revivified Dracula coming parody out there somewhere, but when your sub-genre classics include Once Bitten and from a major company are pretty slim. Nev- Kristy Swanson’s BuJJy’, it’s time to rethink the premise. What about a bulimic canni- ertheless, the makers of Dracula 2000 felt bal? Gay Frankenstein? Jason in space? Aw fuck it. -Tom Dragomir they were onto something when they put their film together, though we suspect some

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e M A I L ; j Hue Morgue 45 essarily mean influence. I had personally

hoped that its success might rekindle wide- spread interest in independent horror films, or perhaps even nudge Hollywood toward actually making some interesting and innov-

ative horror again. But no - the indies still struggle in obscurity and the big studios have gone right back to churning out shitty

Horror Lite© just as if nothing had ever hap- pened.

All this makes Strawberry Estates - a Blair Witch-stylt mockumentary about ghost hunting in an abandoned mental hos- pital - something of an anomaly, especially in terms of timing. Of course, with primi- tivism being an integral part of such a film,

it’s not surprising that it would be undertak-

en by a mainstay of the lo-fi scene like Ron

Bonk. What’s baffling is that he’s chosen to Dracula 2000: Still last year's mashed potatoes, even on video. deviate from some of the principles of the second-guessing not garlic). In the end Drac is finally put to archetype, most notably in that the dialogue delayed the project so rest. Van Helsing is killed and the winner in Strawberry Estates isn’t improvised and that most people saw proves to be Virgin Megastore, suppliers of much of the action seems quite deliberately it in early 2001. fine audio/visual product at less than reason- choreographed. The film is also hampered Judging from the able prices. by some truly dreadful performances, nor- results, Dracula 2000 -Emma Anderson mally an occupational hazard in low-budget was birthed in that horror but absolute poison in a mockumen- most frightening of The Too Little tary. places, the corporate Too Late Project Nonetheless, when Strawberry Estates boardroom. Execs lined up a fulproof plan occasionally works, it works remarkably for reintroducing the original vamp to the Strawberry Estates well, delivering some truly jarring shocks. new millennium: cast a Vangelis-look-alike Starring Jason Reed and Besides, it’s no mean feat in the titular role; secure a corporate sponsor Chrissy Frick to incorporate clever visual and liberally splatter their logo throughout Written and directed by nods to both Halloween the film; throw in Schwarzennegger-style Ron Bonk and Rear Window into a one-liners as a prelude to overdone action Sub Rosa Studios film shot entirely on hand- sequences and, lastly, pay Wes Craven an If substance abuse hasn’t held video. While it’s plain undisclosed amount for the rights to put his rendered it too difficult, cast that the pseudo-documen- name on the results. All things told a fail- your mind back to the summer tary format lends itself to safe plan. Unless, of course, you’re making of ’99. Remember how we all visceral chills in much the a good horror film, in which case it isn’t braced ourselves for the same way that it works for very fail-safe now, is it? inevitable onslaught of Blair comedy in Spinal Tap and Despite less than honourable intentions, it Witch knock-offs in the wake Best in Show, I’d never wouldn’t be fair to say that no cool ideas of that film’s runaway suc- Strawberry deny that Bonk is a talented managed to worm their way into Dracula cess? Well, it never really Estates filmmaker (see Andrew 2000. It turns out that Van Helsing has been happened, did it? The ensuing Bailes’ review of Bonk’s keeping his nemesis imprisoned in a sealed period saw one or two pale clever psychological coffin, and has kept himself alive by shoot- imitators like The St. Francisville Experi- thriller The Vicious Sweet in /?A/#14). It’s ing small doses of vampire blood into his ment and a small handful of parodies. A year just a shame that the genuine jolts in this veins. This causes a few complications when ago, the ill-advised Blair Witch 2 came with effort are surrounded by so many groan- he has a child (part vampire) who finally dis- a bang and went with a whimper. Blair inducing flaws. covers the origins of the real Dracula: he is Witch will probably always enjoy a presti- •John W. in fact Judas Iscariot, the very one who trad- Bowen gious spot in horror history, but events (or ed Jesus’ life for thirty silver coins (which rather non-events) of the last two years explains why he hates crosses and silver, but would indicate that its popularity won’t nec-

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Rue Morgue 47 King describe him as a sweet and kind man, while Bela

Lugosi Jr. is less impressed, claiming that Wood exploited his father in the twilight years

of his life simply to get the financing he needed for his films. Through these inter- views, scenes from his films and archival footage, Wood emerges as a man passionate

about his art, willing to do any- thing and everything he had to Haunted World: The inimitable Ed Wood. in order to tell what emerged to be highly "Look Back In personal stories, most notably the infamous Angora^' cross-dressing opus Glen or Glenda. Obviously The Haunted World... will be obsessed with the fifties and anxious to The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood of most interest to the legion of Wood devo- prove that Elvis is still alive and well (you With Maila "Vampira" Nurmi, Dolores tees seeking enlightenment about this enig- mean, he isn ‘t? -Ed). Unfortunately, it seems Fuller and Conrad Brooks matic director. Fans of Tim Burton’s biopic that everyone she meets is a diehard Beatle- Written and directed by Brett Thompson will also be interested just to what see that maniac or just wishes she would get with the The Wade Williams Collection film misrepresented about this largely times. Things seem hopeless, until Iris unknown man. What he lacked in talent he Longtime readers of Rue Morgue will encounters a dead ringer for the King, made up for in passion, and that is why know that many of its staff have a fondness played by Paul Stevenson, who was bitten Edward D. Wood, Jr. endures when so many for Ed Wood, deemed “worst director of all by a vampire on his way to an Elvis looka- of his more respected contemporaries have time” in the days before Michael Bay and like contest back in ’56. Now that the pom- long since been forgotten. Joel Schumacher were squeezing them out. padoured bohunk is loose in Manhattan, he’s The mind behind such dubious genre clas- -Brad Abraham looking for a hunka hunka bumin’ love. sics Bride of the Monster and Plan 9 From There is a lot to like about Outer Space, Wood’s films are defined by A Pain in the Neck Vampire. It’s got some hilarious dialogue, it ludicrous plotting, atrocious dialogue and a picks apart fifties nostalgia with precision, Rockabilly Vampire delirious lack of coherence... so why, more and it is filled with original, memorable Starring Margaret Lancaster, than twenty years after his characters. The soundtrack is pretty cool too, Paul Stevenson and Stephen Blasckehart death, is he such a fasci- with the rockabilly sounds of the Frantic Directed by Lee Bennett Sobel nating character? Flattops, Voodoo Swing, and The Royal Written by Lee Bennett Sobel and The Haunted World of Crowns. Paul Gambino Edward D. Wood, Jr. Nonetheless, the movie is a disappoint- A Troma Team Release examines the, uhm, dis- ment since it’s essentially goreless, a fact tinguished career of “the There has been such a glut of awful vam- that drains most of the excitement out of the Orson Welles of low-bud- pire movies over the past decade that you story. As a result, the film drags and the get pictures”. Mostly have to wonder if the genre has any steam amateur cast can’t quite sustain interest for

comprised of interviews left. That said, Troma can always be count- an hour and a half Had director Lee Bennett

with those that knew and ed on for the most outrageous, wildly imag- Sobel used a little less restraint and allowed worked with Wood, what inative movies on the video shelf, regardless the blood to flow by the bucketful. Rocka-

emerges is a portrait of a of subject matter. True to form, their Rocka- billy Vampire could have been spectacular.

man who was a walking billy Vampire manages to put a fantastic As it stands it’s an amusing little film, but

contradiction. Misunder- twist on tired old vampire cliches, but its only fans who appreciate low-budget inde- stood genius or talentless hack? Depends on slow pace and surprising lack of gore still pendent filmmaking will be able to sit whom you ask. leaves a lot to be desired. through the whole thing.

Wood starlets Dolores Fuller and Loretta Margaret Lancaster plays Iris, a woman -Pete Sankey OF TFPPOP THE HORROR COLLECTOR’S VIOEO SOURCE SIRCE 1903 2.000 IVHSIVIPEOS EXPLOITATION • SEXPLOITATION • SLEAZE Sii)ee i966 - Jlew Eogland's First S G^lyl CULT • RARITIES - SCLR • GORE • EUROTRASH CLASSIC M©VIE OBSCURE CINEMA • ADULT CLASSICS • ACTION MUSEUM 90 Battle Street -Bristol. CT. www.morticl«smorgtie.cofTi/lot.html VISA • MC • AMEX • PAYPAL 06010 EMAIL tapesofterrorOmortlcl8smor9ue.com FAX 713-723-3689 tci.860-583-8306 - www.witcbsduQgeoQ.or^ SEND $2 FOR THE LATEST VIDEO CATALOG P. RIGGS, 11430 MULLINS OR., HOUSTON, TX 77035-2632

48 Rue Morgue HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?

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2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DEFINITIVE SPECIAL DVD includes over 4 hours of EDITION DVD includes new never-before-seen high-deFinition transfer and special features! 1.5 hours of extras!

THR SIIXNCE OR THE WMBS WET NIOHrmARES Sii'Cri Imm m Inm SoTTfoui Si!fw?5

there, \ .-A:^sE K.Vi i; adventure Darian seduces and infects her mistress. all who come in contact with her with an Lust For Frankenstein does have some insatiable girl lust that can only be appeased memorable moments of bondage and bad through constant sex. acting, and some nice scenery, not to men- Plot twist two has Darian 's condition tion a bluesy heavy metal soundtrack by attracting a journalist and her cameraman Mikcl Sagucs and Franco himself. On the looking for a story, and though the camera- downside, the film is heavily afflicted by a man is never onscreen, he almost steals the ca.se of the uglics and can wither the most

show with his macho comments about the ardent pomophile if they happen to look at goings-on at . The story is the screen at the wrong time. Nevertheless, rounded out by a repeat perfonnance of the Franco’s eye for horror archetypes and sex-crazed gorilla from part one (who seems naked, if not voluptuous, flesh docs a decent to want to Jump anyone he secs), and a Job of sexing up the mad doctor Franken- detective looking for the cause of the mass stein’s creepy masturbations happening in the Bac- castle with a chusvillc Woods. host of

All in all. Erotic Witch 2 is a laugh-out- wanton sex-fest - ioud that rises above the average I e s Erotic Witch Project 2: Book of Seduction softcore out there and manages to poke fun bians. Starring Darian Caine, Katie Jordon and at both horror and pom flicks, though this -Ina A.J. Khan being an all-girl bonanza there is no actual Cent Directed by John Bacchus poking involved. Written by John Bacchus and Michael Jess Franco’s Lustfor Frankenstein, on the

Beckerman other hand, is funny for all the wrong rea-

Seduction Cinema/El Cinema sons... and much naughtier as a result. Some of the actors really should have kept their Lust for Frankenstein clothes on. though I guess the fact that they Starring Michelle Bauer, Lina Romay and didn't upped the horror content Amber Newman and/or turned their sex scenes into groaning Jokes. Written and directed by Jess Franco Adding to it is a prevalent thick European Shock-O-Rama Cinema/El Cinema accent from members of the cast, which

Sexploitation movies really have some- makes for incomprehensible dialogue that's thing over most other kinds of films. In their doubly funny because the acting is so dead own loveable way they prove to be masters serious. of comedy, providing hours of laughs Lust follows Moira (Lina Romay), the through cheap sex and cheaper effects. daughter of an infamous rcanimalor Lovers of horror may well get behind these descended from the original Dr. pom parodies of scare flicks new and old. Frankenstein. Having been sexually Today's recipe: some girl-girl-girl titillation mistreated during her formative years by courtesy of the folks at El Cinema, who her evil stepmother, Moira c.scapcs to an have been cultivating a brand of sincma that unhappy marriage that leaves undoubtedly will leave viewers scared stiff her unloved and unfulfilled. Eiviic Witch Project 2, directed by John Her father's ghost takes pity Bacchus and brought to you by El's girl-on- on his rather plain looking girl Seduction Cinema line, is as tongue in daughter, and encourages her cheek (and other moist body parts) as soft- to revive his lust monster God- core porn inevitably is. Starring Darian dess (played by scream queen Caine and Katie Jordon, 2 takes place at the Michelle Bauer) to bring Khan Institute for Mental Health which Moira to sexual fulfillment. houses Darian - one of the three girls who Soon the doctor's plans go originally went to the Bacchusvillc Woods awry yet again, as Moira's looking for the Erotic Witch. Still possessed sexual awakening sends Goddess into a Jeal- by a lingering nymphomania from her ous rampage anytime someone lusts after

50 Rue Morgue "I was glued to the set with this movie and was

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Rue Morgue 51 Killer Klowns from Outer Space Donovan's Brain

You're all alone. . . it’s late at imagined. Doctor Cory's experiments in keeping night... you’re driving down a “We didn’t set out to make a brains alive long after the body has died lonely mountain road without cult classic, campy B-movie, we backfire when millionaire Donovan's brain a single soul in sight. What's were making a legitimate horror begins to exert control over the modest the most terrifying thing you film,” says director Stephen dur- country physician. Soon can imagine materializing ing a conference call with all Cory is walking, dressing, from ? For me it three Chiodo (pronounced key- and behaving like the ass- would probably be a naked oh-do’h) Brothers. “This is not hole Donovan was in real

Bea Arthur straddling an old Killer Tomatoes, we’re not lam- life. Only perpetually banana seat bicycle with a pooning. That was the fine line soused Frank and wife come-hither look in her eyes, we were running, we wanted Janice (Davis, the future but for the three brothers Chio- everybody to play it straight Nancy Reagan) suspect do, the answer was unquestionably harle- because the humour comes out of the con- the nefarious plans Dono- quin. What if you saw a clown starring back trast. If you played it silly it would be stupid. van has for Cory. at you? How scary would that be? The actors had to play the moment real, I wish I could recom-

That tiny kernel of thought blossomed into which I think makes it sustain after all these mend Donovans Brain, their first venture into the even scarier world years.” but in the face of the far superior and very of producing an imaginative low-budget Now, thirteen years later. Killer Klowns is similar X - The Man With the X-Ray Eyes, monster movie for the ages. The concept getting the wide release it deserved all the brain loses out over the eye candy. Sadly, was simple, or simply twisted depending on along. Donovan never really gels as a film... the your perspective: an alien race that just so “Finally we have a company who is back- mad doctor’s plot to control others through happen to look like our earth clowns terror- ing it,” says Charles, “whereas the original telepathy is dodgy, and while Ayres acquits ize a sleepy small town community called production company didn't really promote himself, he doesn't nearly convey the

Crescent Cove. the film properly.” tragedy that Milland does in X. With a trail- Since its original release in 1988, Killer Thanks to MGM’s line of Midnite Movies er as this DVD’s only extra, Donovan's Klowns From Outer Space has been steadily you’ll now be able to track down a copy Brain remains a better encyclopedia entry gamering a cult following in the horror com- pretty much anywhere, and at a decent price than a purchase. munity as well as online, where fan-based to boot. Adds Stephen, “They’re cheap! So -Brad Abraham websites have made the film more popular buy two and send one to us, I'll autograph it now the it Just than even Chiodo's could have and send back. do a postage paid Dr. Goldfoot and the return with the DVD and we’ll sign ’em. That would be cool.” Bikini Machine

Special features include a hilarious com- The nefarious mad scientist Dr. Goldfoot mentary track with all three Chiodos, bloop- is building bikini-clad sexbots to seduce the five ers, featurettes, a look at Charles’ fan- world’s wealthiest men into signing over tastic original artwork, some very early their fortunes, and it's up to Frankie Avalon Bros. Productions, even Chiodo and a cou- and Annette Funicello to stop him. In the ple of nifty Easter eggs you’ll have same vein as most to uncover for yourself. As for the '60s potential for a Killer Klowns sequel. movies, this spoof of The Chiodo’s agree the time is now, spy films is a little too “As far as we’re concerned, over silly to really be enter- the last thirteen years there should taining. There are have been eight,” says Edward. some highlights, There has even been talk of a tele- including the wacky vision series based on the carnivo- chase scene at the end, rous carnival dwellers. But until that clearly an inspiration day comes, we at Rue Morgue say; for Pee-Wee's Big fridge stock your with seltzer, pile Adventure, and the ten of your best friends into a tiny opening claymation car, hit your local video store and sequence produced by discover what we all suspected was going on , creator of . Vincent behind closed circus doors all along. Price, who could seem creepy reading a Mailing information the Chiodo Broth- for phone book, is enjoyable as the title villain, ers can found on their website at but overall Dr. Goldfoot irritates more than it www.chiodobros.com. amuses. Tom Dragomir -Pete Sankey

52 Rue Morgue 1

enhancing serum can also act as x-ray The Thing With vision. Testing the potion on himself (never Two Heads a good idea in a low-budget horror film), Xavier finds he can see through walls, cloth- When a bigoted transplant surgeon (Ray ing and even flesh. But Xavier’s curiosity to Milland) leams he’s dying, the only way he see further beyond reality can save himself is to attach his teaches him that there are head onto the body of a black con- some things men were vict (“Rosey” Grier). The Thing never meant to see. With Two Heads truly has it all: a

A" is a fine example of rampaging two-headed gorilla

what a little moxy and (played by FX wizard Rick drive can accomplish on Baker), some fantastic over-the- limited funds. The film top car chases, and delightftilly stands in fine contrast to awful special effects. The witty the opulent Poe adapta- banter between the two heads and tions Corman produced an overall playful tone make this during the same period, movie more entertaining than most X- The Man With yet deals with many of the big-budget Hollywood movies. Too bad the DVD didn’t come with more THE X-Ray Eyes same themes - madness and the evil men do in the name of good. Includes the theatrical than a trailer; a biography on “Rosey” Grier Proving that “low budget” does not neces- trailer, Corman commentary and a deleted is especially missed (he played football for sarily equal “crappy”, 1963’s X - The Man prologue. An X-cellent addition to any col- the New York Giants, and wrestled Sirhan With the X-Ray Eyes tells the tale of Dr. Sirhan to the ground after Robert Kennedy Xavier -Brad (Milland), who learns that his sight- Abraham was shot in 1968). -Pete Sankey

in this collection is the audio commentary by . The legendary producer/ director reveals a wealth of information and his insights make House of Usher a must- RULES! own for any fan of hoiTor. -Brad Abraham TH£ Pit and tary by Connan, whose obvious affection for Pendulum collaboration with Price) Twice Toed Talcs provides the viewer with information about

Don Medina (Price) is a psychologically all aspects of the production. Also included: Originally filmed under the title The twisted man tormented by the traumatic the theatrical trailer and a deleted prologue. Corpse Makers (why, I have no idea) Twice gr. childhoodciiiiuiioou memoryineiTiory ofor which is as disturbing as anything this Told Tales is a very classy and stylistic trilo- watchingmatching his father tor- reviewer has seen in some time. gy of terror loosely adapted from the stories 1 I t u . >i‘ti ture then his bury mother „ j a. • of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and one of five ,. r- ,,, , -Brad Abraham 'HouVcofU^hca alive. Francis (Kerr) horror films From 1963 that starred Vincent amvesarrives at Medina'sMedina’s sea-sca- Price. Unfortunately. MGM gives us the Sideside castle only to find proverbial middle HOUSt, OF USHER finger as far as Special ^ his sistersistpr ElizabethRli7ahpth (and/nnH Features arc concerned, McdinaMedina'ss wife) has died. The first of the Poe adaptations brought to with only a shoddy look-

« t i',{f ^ When it is seemingly the screen by Roger Corman. House of ing trailer included for -

Tr\ revealed that Elizabeth Usher became one of the top grossing films the fans. The main menu ' was in fact buried alive, of I960 and launched a subsequent series itself looks very poverty 'n]||pp.i.^|\T[|IP^

Medina goes over the edge... and starring Vincent Price. Scripted row. It probably doesn’t lUlU

that’s when the real fun begins. by Richard Matheson and star- matter much, though. The successful follow-up to since the real focus ring the incomparable Mr. Price. of . 4y j|^

House of Usher, Corman ’s Pit is attention here is the late . Usher a masterpiece of horror, \ "“"'VnTT-,'T*d rrHt and the Pendulum promises relying on atmosphere for its Vincent Price. Not really yjli I, ^ more of the same - chills, scares ® — many chills. an eftbrt for the horror another and magnificent perfor- The DVD is astounding, with buffs, but TIT'S reissue mance by Vincent Price, com- the sumptuous Cinemascope looks great in its widescreen 1.66:1 format, plemented by the equally image looking better than it ever and as always, Vincent's starring role is impressive Barbara Steele. The has. Included is the original the- alone worth the (bad pun alert!) Price of new DVD features a commen- admission. atrical trailer, but the real prize -Aaron. Lupton, ^

Rue Morgue 53 NALnJIITO.N AGUTTEH DUNNE AMERICAN firWerewolf ‘^LONDON

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Academy Award® 6 the registered &ad»nark and service mark ot the Academy of Motion FKtures Arts and Sciences. O 2001 Unwsal Studios. Alt Rights Resaved. The Best Just Got Better

Re-Animator DVD Starring Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott and

Directed by Meg. There is also a Written by , William J. Norris deleted scene in which and Stuart Gordon Herb injects himself with Elite Entertainment his own serum, which better explains his Is there a better horror film that combines descent into madness. zombies, syringes filled with glowing green The deleted scenes are ooze, a mad scientist, nubile co-eds and a interesting to watch, but fake rubber cat attacking people in a base- ultimately it seems most ment? Re-Animator is the Citizen Kane of were cut with good reason. The trailers and talking severed head movies, man! Since its Re-Animator: The best zombie-severed TV spots included are also hugely entertain- head-mad scientist-beserking-fake rubber release in 1985, it has become an influential ing. It’s hard to imagine this not cat-horror movie ever made! cult classic, brilliantly mixing-and-matching DVD becoming part of every horror fan’s person- elements from different genres and combin- full of walk-on characters you’ll have a hard al collection. Re-Animator has never looked ing them into a seamless whole. Now re- time following it. Festa does an admirable or sounded better; once again Elite Enter- released on Elite Entertainment, DVD by job of copping a lot of Argento ’s visual gags, tainment has done to the incredible. Stuart Gordon’s cult masterpiece looks bet- but the oversaturated colour scheme is beat •Pete Sankey ter than ever. to death and the seemingly slow Very loosely based on a short story by H.P. motion running-through-fog scenes laugh- Lovecraft, Re-Animator tells the tale of Her- "Ah God, It's able. The murders are brutal and graphic and bert West, a maniacal med student obsessed Terrible" go a long way towards saving the film from the idea with of bringing the dead back to the shitstorm of bad acting that threatens to life. Fatal Frames: Special Edition DVD He succeeds, only to find that the dead engulf it. Starring are tremendously difficult to Stella Stefania, Rick Gianasi and subdue. The Fatal Frames is at its core a vanity project movie David Warbeck rolls along from one wildly imagina- for producer/ “star” Stefania who, despite tive Directed by Al Festa gross-out scene to the next at a frantic her top billing, plays an ancillary character. Written by Al pace. This is a viscous Festa, Alessandro Monese black comedy loaded Exhibiting the sex appeal and thespian abil- with gore and Mary Rinaldi and humour, and one that no hor- ity of humus, Stefania drops one stilted line ror fan should Synapse Films miss. of dialogue after another. Featured in a spec- The DVD comes with a couple of audio Al Festa ’s paean to the Italian giallo genre tacularly limp sex scene, the camera beauti- commentary tracks. On one, Gordon pro- is a by-the-numbers affair that borrows fully captures her back-lit, panty-clad bot- vides insightful some details on the pre-pro- heavily from the Argento trick- tom grinding away in duction film. of his There are some great bag. Alex Ritt (Gianasi) is a ecstasy in the air above anecdotes, but the highlight is easily the famous American video direc- Gianasi’s groin. The director’s methodical description of what tor recruited to produce a big normally affable War- actually occurs to the body when it dies, budget clip designed to propel beck, in his final film which proves to be as creepy as anything in Italian singer Stella to interna- appearance, delivers an the movie. The commentary is formal and tional stafdom. Not even in uncharacteristically does tend to get a little too technical, espe- for a day, Ritt wimesses a shrill performance, cially since this was Gordon’s first film, but brutal murder. Of course, by embarking on a ram- is highly informative for Re-Animator fans. the time the polizia show up page of scenery chew- the track, On second cast members Jeffrey the body is gone. After a video- ing in the film’s denoue- Combs, Robert Sampson, Barbara Crampton tape turns up documenting the ment that is nigh embar- and Bruce Abbott, along with producer crime, Ritt is immediately a rassing to witness. Brian Yuzna {who would go on to direct the suspect. His plight is not But the most ignomin- sequel Bride of Re-Animator) reminisce helped by the fact that his wife ious fate is reserved for about the picture making and laugh at each died in the same manner. Donald Pleasance, rest other’s onscreen foibles. This commentary As more murders pile up, Ritt is caught in his soul. Pleasance, well into his 70s, hob- isn’t nearly as insightful as Gordon’s, but it an ever-tightening web of guilt, and if bles through his few scenes before ending captures the spirit that must have been at you’ve seen any of the Argento gialli you his career Plan Mne-esque, via a stand-in work when the film was being made. already know where this film is going. To and a painful reference to his most famous Also included is over twenty minutes of Festa ’s credit, the double twist ending does film role, replete with the distinctive theme additional footage, including a ridiculous hold a surprise and the ponytail red herring tinkling away in the background. As Pleas- scene Dr. where Hill hypnotizes Dan and is unique, but the plot is so convoluted and ance passed away before filming was com-

56 Rue Morgue Special Edition DVD and VHS

£rrV» “^fevers ‘’'or $«

available at

MOTION PICTURE CgMKgNJjj We Know /lloW^^SHl pleted, this is no doubt a heartfelt tribute, but

it’s painful for all the wrong reasons.

The criticisms of the film stop short at its presentation. This is a Special Edition DVD

that lives up to its title. Not only is it a fan-

tastic looking transfer (as it should be, given

that this is a recent film); included are delet-

ed scenes, the original theatrical trailer, a Making of, commentary from Festa and Stella, star bios and a of bad Euro pop videos.

There is a certain trash charm to Fatal Frames that will appeal to the hardcore

EurobufF, but for an introduction to the genre, stick with Argento or Bava. The cred-

its and package prominently tout the film as the Winner of the 1996 Grand Prix Award, a distinction which, given Fulci’s notorious irascibility towards The Marsupials: Thrills on par with Mutual of Omaha’s Wild his colleagues, has no doubt resulted in a Kingdom.

few sepulchral revolutions by the late mae- peers, she manages to land the lead in an Original Nightmare, howev- stro. Australian horror movie called Shape er, in spite of my better judg-

-The Gore-met Shifters 8. Amid meddling scientists, a hos- ment, had it been called tile army contingent and likely subpar craft Howling IV: The Marsupials The Dingo Ate services, she simultaneously manages to II I’d do my damnedest to Your Movie bridge werewolf/human relations, fall in beat or Man Bowen, Mr. Sparling and Von love, give birth to a wolf-boy and even win Lupton to the pouch.

The Howling III - The Marsupials DVD an Oscar for best actress. -Tom Dragomir Starring Barry Otto, Imogen Annesley and However, the only teeth the DVD compo- Max Fairchild nent has to offer is in its overall visual pre- Bark At Written and directed by Philippe Mora sentation of the film. An 1.85:1 anamorphic An American Werewolf In London DVD Elite Entertainment widescreen transfer from what must have Starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter been a remarkably well preserved print There’s a small pocket of us Morguites in and Griffin Dunne keeps colour tones lush throughout, and film constant competition for the best of the Written and directed by John Landis grain is almost minimalized to nil. That said, worst titles to land in the office, and believe Universal Home Video give credit to Elite for polishing this sun- me when I tell you we get a towering stock- dried turd into a beautiful golden brown. Whatever John Landis did and didn’t do in pile of these ill-conceived efforts. The recent The new Dolby digital 5.1 audio track is a his career, he gave the world An American DVD reissue of Howling III: The Marsupi- nice touch but hardly necessary for a mostly Werewolf in London. Chopped liver and a als strikes me as just ridiculous enough to dialogue driven comedy/horror. A still photo side dish of innards that ain’t. American warrant entry into this strangely coveted cat- gallery and promo trailer make for weak Werewolfhas easily gone down as one of the egory. Filmed for about a million in ’86 out- bonus materials, as does the well meaning most innovative, suspenseful, funny and side of Sydney, The Marsupials does its best albeit pretty dry directory’s commentary by horrific movies ever made, and that’s saying to put an Aussie spin on lycanthrope lore by Phillipe Mora. a lot when you take all those ingredients into tracking the emergence of the now extinct Aside from certain gems like Redneck account. Landis did it the way horror films Tazmanian tiger (a.k.a. marsupial wolf) into Zombies or Killer Klowns from Outer Space^ are supposed to be made, with a lot of an outback cult of who carry a a scant few of these wonderfully wacked-out atmosphere (check out all that fog over the little extra storage space down under. titles ever truly live up to their fantastic British barrows), wit (the title says it all), When Jerboa, an attractive young wolf- premise on screen. That said, I won’t be originality (did you read that title?) and gore girl, becomes estranged from her hairy clamouring to rediscover Howling IV: The FX (from Rick Baker, who snagged an

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F-maii: 13e9 MADISON Ave N EW YORK, NY 1 1 2B I 'Video Is sent Priority mail | - There are only three stories instead of five. The stories are based on ones written by

Stephen King, but King himself is not the screenwriter. George Romero writes, but doesn’t direct. And Tom Savini serves only as effects supervisor, not the hands-on guy.

In synch with this “less is okay’’ philosophy comes this DVD reissue, another example of taking good ideas and not going anywhere with them.

In fact, the major highlight of this DVD is the film presentation. The anamorphic trans-

fer at 1.85:1 is pristine, with good contrast

and few shadows. While the picture is great,

the sound is less so - sharp Dolby Surround but otherwise inconsequential.

Unfortunately, Anchor Bay skimps on the extras, a sin in my book of DVD reissue

musts. Included is a trailer in Dolby Sur- round that brings back memories of an era of American Werewolf: One of too many forgotten yet classic scenes. cheesy, but fun horror flicks. In addition, a Academy Award for his which had pining for the old nights. me good three-minute collection of about thirty work). Yes, the sequel did suck ass, and no, you behind-the-scenes stills is Hard to believe it’s been won't find anyone here apologizing for it, included, mostly of makeup twenty years. But it has, not that they needed to. After twenty years, application procedures. One and all we can say here at American Werewolfcontinues to stand on its of the more creative aspects Rue Morgue is thank the own as a top contender for best werewolf to 2’s DVD pre- devil hisself that the film ever suits made. On a side note, if you hap- sentation are the sub-menus didn’t let this one slip by! (We were serious- pen to a store own and order the DVD direct which are set up like a comic ly concerned.) Unlike many of its less cele- from Universal, they’ll throw in a free bag of book, with hands that turn brated brethren, American Werewolfgets the Tootsie Rolls. So go ahead, do it for the kids, pages as you move through full DVD treatment, clocking in at over four do it for Halloween. it it’s right. Do ’cause screens. This feature ties the hours with the extras included. What you -Emma Anderson film together with its EC horror theme, but get: a solid interview with Baker who dis- like the other extras on the DVD, it’s ulti- cusses the way the to it masters used do with mately peripheral. rubber and latex; a personable interview Thanks For the Ride, For what it’s worth, Creepshow 2 has with Landis, audio commentary with actors Lady! never looked better than it does on this DVD Naughton and Dunne; storyboards; photo reissue. But as everyone knows, fans are Creepshow 2 gallery and behind-the-scenes; a making of always screaming for something more. What Starring Lois Chiles, featurette, production notes, trailers and George Kennedy and about commentary by George Romero or DVD-ROM features. Ah yes, then there’s Dorothy Lamour special effects “supervisor” Savini? At least Directed the one-hour, thirty-seven digitally remas- by Michael Gornick let us in on the genius behind the immortal tered minutes of prime film stock, presented Written by George A. Romero refrain “Thanks for the ride lady, thanks for in widescreen for your viewing pleasure. the ride!” Since a film like Creepshow 2 Even though I should, by rights, be burned As part of the Anchor Bay horror reissue probably doesn’t have many diehard fans to out on this flick because I’ve seen it so many juggernaut comes the quintessential ’80s begin with, a DVD reissue does sort of times, 1 can’t tell you how good it was to horror sequel, Creepshow 2. Quintessential, demand something, well, extra. finally see American Werewolf in all its because it was everything its predecessor -Aaron Lupton DVD glory. Landis' direction is flawless and was, only less. In fact, you might say the More Reissues British setting adds a whiff of Hammer Creepshow 2 was Creepshow cut in half on page 64! Amphisory

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Saturday Night Fever! I

Second-Tier Fulci lighthearted film of this era. There are two specific elements that make it memorable: The Black Cat DVD Sergio Salvati’s cinematography and David Starring Patrick Magee, Mimsy Farmer Warbeck’s performance. Salvati’s kinetic and David Warbeck camera provides the cat’s visual perspective Directed by Lucio Fulci and follows it through its dark visitations. At Written by Lucio Fulci, Biagio Proietti, times, the scenes are composed to resemble Sergio Salvati frames of an issue of the glorious EC DVD Comics of the late 1 950s. Warbeck, reputed- I ly a long-shot candidate to replace Starring Christopher Connelly, Martha Sean I Connery as England’s most famous super- I Taylor and Cinzia de Ponti spy, gives a dead-on Bond impersonation as Directed by Lucio Fulci the Inspector. From his reckless entrance on Written by Elisa Livia Briganti and Dard- a motorcycle to ano Sachetti his suave demeanour and supple brow, Warbeck is Bond. He even gets Between the years 1979 and 1983 Italian the girl, before Fulci shatters the Bond myth horror director Lucio Fulci made ten feature and runs him down! films. This prolific period is widely regard- Taken from the original camera negative. the strings), this film is essentially bloodless. ed as Fulci’s golden era and his output dur- The Black Cat suffers from an annoying Also recycled are some musical cues from ing this time has received the greatest criti- scratch that appears on the right-hand side of The Beyond, even though long-time Fulci cal attention. The latest additions to Anchor the screen for varying lengths of time. The collaborator {Zombie, House By Bay’s Lucio Fulci Collection include two widescreen aspect ratio restores visual infor- the Cemetery) delivered a solid original films made during that period that are gener- mation vital to advancement of the plot, and score. Guglielmo Mancori’s ponderous cine- ally regarded as lesser in the Fulci canon. although damaged, the print is still a won- matography is at times stunning, but the Overshadowed by the gory excesses of Zom- derfully detailed departure from the murky opening scenes in Egypt are more than com- bie, City of the Living and cropped Lightning Video release. The fortably reminiscent of the beginning of The Dead, The Beyond and supplemental materials include the original Exorcist. Neither a good film nor a bad one, House By the Cemetery, theatrical trailer and a Fulci biography. Manhattan Baby is a technically adept they occupy awkward Manhattan Baby came on the heels of the melange of something old, something new, and unique niches in the critical and commercial failure of The New something borrowed, something blue. Fulci fimography. York Ripper {Lo squartatore di New York), Anchor Bay presents a near pristine print

After the success of and on the cusp of a popular cycle of super- in the original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio, natural thrillers based on mummies, tombs with only a few traces of discernible print {Paura nella citta dei and pharaoh’s curses. Christopher Connelly damage. As with The Black Cat, the morti viventi), Fulci stars as George Hacker, an Egyptologist widescreen presentation restores crucial made the crime film assailed by an ancient curse after opening a visual information lost in the old Lighming Contraband {Luca il contrabbandiere) previously undiscovered tomb. Venturing Video VHS release. Included as extras are before returning to straight horror with The into the bowels of the tomb, he is struck an interview with Italian screenwriter Dard- Black Cat {II gatto nero). “Freely adapted” blind by a beam of blue light emitted from from the story of the same an ancient symbol embedded in the wall. At name, the plot ultimately bears little resem- that same moment - and a creepy one at that blance to the source material. Patrick Magee - his daughter receives a charm in the form {A Clockwork Orange) lives in a rural Eng- of the same symbol by an old Egyptian lish village, a medium who tape-records crone. Back in New York, Hacker recuper- conversations with the dead in the local ates from the incident in the tomb, while his cemetery. He also shares a sadistic symbio- children travel through time, and people sis with the malevolent feline of the title. around them begin to die mysteriously. “We are bound together in hatred,” he Despite some inspired moments, Manhat- intones. “He wants to kill me.” After a series tan Baby is a pedestrian film undermined by of bizarre deaths, each precipitated by the script rewrites and Baltlestar Galactica-WkQ presence of the prowling cat, Scotland Yard visual effects, as well as a general lack of Inspector Gorley (Warbeck) is called in to enthusiasm for the material. The ultra-gore investigate. Gorley recruits an American that is Fulci’s trademark is sadly absent here. tourist (Farmer) to photograph the bodies, Other than a gratuitous face plant on a bed of and together they search for answers to the spikes recycled from - ironically enough - strange deaths. The Black Cat, and a vicious attack by a The Black Cat is the most playful flock and of stuffed birds in the climax (look for The blind shenanigans of Manhattan Baby. 62 Rue Morgue ano Sachetti {Zombie, The Beyond), the the- One of the more creative efforts on the 13th series. Although atrical trailer and talent bios of Fulci and reissue is the interactive menus. When you they don’t replace the

Sachetti. Fulci completists will embrace this navigate between menus and extras, a first personal touch of an actu- handsome disc, but most fans will just yawn. person camera races to different blood-splat- al interview, these bios do tered locations inside the titular house. Two the job in filling in the -The Gore-met digitally transferred trailers are included; historical blanks. both of which are way too gory to have ever The DVD also includes

a short still gallery that I Don't Wanna Go been seen by wide audiences. A TV spot is Down to the Basement also included, which remains in its raw pre- primarily features inter- sentation. national poster art, another standard bonus The House the Cemetery DVD by Like Anchor Bay’s Dario Argento collec- for Anchor Bay reissues. There is also an Starring Katherine Maccoll, Paoio Malco tion, the DVD features informative talent easy to find easter egg - a deleted scene that and Ania Pieroni bios, in this case detailing the careers of reportedly has never been seen before. It’s a Directed Lucio Fulci by Fulci and writer . The silent but very gory scene (thank God!) that Written by Dardano Sacchetti Fulci bio is lengthy and composed primarily takes place right after Norman Boyle stabs Anchor Bay Entertainment of quotes from books and magazine articles. the bat chewing his hand. Anchor Bay’s Lucio Fulci Collection con- However, since the EC DVD contained The House by the Cemetery is essentially a worthwhile reissue, mainly because its tinues to steamroll with a reissue of the Ital- footage of an interview with the director | at ian Maestro’s last great grue-fest, twenty from Eurofest 1 994, this extra seems to be a anamorphic widescreen presentation is after series years after its initial release. The reissue has notch disappointing. Sacchetti’s bio is 2.35:1 so gratifying a of been given a beautiful transfer and some slightly more informative, and makes for a absolutely horrible video versions. The I

respectable special features, but ultimately nice touch since he is a personality who is colours are solid and pronounced, all the I

doesn’t seem to go far enough for a film of not given enough coverage despite massive better for viewing Fulci ’s unrelenting blood- I

this stature. Whether or not you like Fulci, genre contributions. In case you’re a - letting. Uncut and remastered, there’s more I

the guy’s got a rare cult following, and phyte, Sacchetti is the writer behind Inferno, than enough red stuff to go around on this I Demons, Bay Blood, Zombie, The Beyond, baby. While the extras could have used a House by the Cemetery is one of four rea- of | sons why {the others being Zombie, The and many other legendary entries in the documentary or so, Anchor Bay does go the distance in acknowledging the film as a Beyond, and City of the Living Dead). Still, canon of Italian horror. At one point the if you belong in the Fulci camp, you will writer remarks that Sacchetti’s work on Bay minor historical horrifact. want to track down this DVD. of Blood went on to inspire the Friday the -Aaron Lupton

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Rue Morgue 63 Jeepers Creepers, Wally!

Dracula vs. Frankenstein

Starring Lon Chaney Jr., Regina Carrol

and Forrest J. Ackerman Directed by Al Adamson Written by William Pugsley and Samuel M. Sherman Troma Team Video

Dracula vj. Frankenstein is one of those campy 1970’s monstrosities of an exploita- tion movie. visions of a white-faced A fabulous disaster, so wrought with problems from figure and strangely the get-go, that it’s only natural drawn to an abandoned, Unkie Lloyd and the Troma team would it palace-like amusement give the royal treatment for its inau- gural park. An acknowledged DVD release. Originally written (and shot!) as a biker gore flick inspiration for both Night called Blood Seekers, and later of the Living Dead and They're Coming to Get You, Al The Sixth Sense, Carnival Adamson and Sam Sherman turned it into a monster bash to capitalize on the of Souls is as much a Director Herk Harvey in Carnival of Souls, early ’70s classic monster . No less creepy horror film as it is an example of than four trips to (continuedfrom page 60) low-budget artistry. the editor later, the vastly re-shot Dracula vs. Frankenstein eventually Dementia /i is primarily known for being Classics on the Cheap pits two of golden horror’s popular one of Francis Ford Coppola’s first director- most monsters {who, incidentally, never squared A KILLER B DVD DOUBLE FEATIJRF ial efforts, but it also succeeds as an eerie off for Universal), mano a mano. thriller. Shot in Ireland, it follows a series of Carnival of Souls Dr. Durrae (J. grisly axe murders that plague a wealthy Car- Staring Hilligoss, Candace Sidney Berger rol Naish) is the last of family, all of which are somehow related to and Francis Feist the Frankenstein the death of their youngest daughter years clan, Directed by Herk Harvey the wheelchair-ridden earlier. The film combines an atmospheric Written by John Clifford creepy old curator of a set and moody lighting with an approach to beach-front house Dementia 13 storytelling similar to Hitchcock, which of horrors. A visit from Staring William Campbell, Luana Anders gives it a dynamic style and makes it superi- , played and Bart Patton or to most low-budget thrillers. While the by Adamson’s stock- Written and directed by film is flawed, most notably in the wooden broker (named Zandor Francis Ford Coppola acting, it is still competently executed and Vorkov Marengo Films consistently interesting. Both have already by Acker- man), convinces the been re-issued in pristine, deluxe Everyone has a cheapskate friend who DVD edi- old man to reanimate the tions. In comparison to the sharp transfers Frankenstein would love this DVD. This is the friend who corpse, with shocking on those Special Editions, the sound and pic- results. As we’ve doesn’t care if their copy of The Exorcist come to expect Ifom Troma reissues, the ture quality of this is barely was just recorded off TV, or who doesn’t expanded adequate. Both films appear grainy and DVD component hits all the mind if their bootleg copy of Evil Dead 2 marks and more. The digitally mastered scratched, and the audio is pic- has an occasional picture scramble. Carnival muddled. What’s ture worse, there’s not looks good and packs a smorgasbord of ofSouls and Dementia 13 are two incredible so much as a trailer bonus goodies. included with either. Of course, the requisite orig- films, but this bare-bones Double Feature Carnival Souls and Dementia inal trailers are here, along with running would only interest fans on a budget. of 13 are audio commentary both good films that are definitely worth a by Sherman, Adamson's Harold “Herk” Harvey’s Carnival ofSouls long-time partner and president look. However, if you truly want to appreci- of Indepen- was a rare gem, the first and only feature ate these two movies, save dence International Pictures. You’ll also find film by a small group of industrial filmmak- your money and an alternate ending and some get the versions with all the bells and whis- unreleased ers. An effective, deeply unsettling film, it tles. footage, which includes a lost Ackerman tells the story of a young organist played by scene and an interesting look at Sherman’s Candace Hilligoss, who is the soul survivor -Pete Sankey original 8mm location footage. of a car wreck. She is haunted by chilling

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CEMETERY DANCE PUBLICATIONS • P.O. BOX 943 • ABINGDON, MD 21009 • 4I0 569 5683 So what if Dracula sports a full wanky A Flower Without distant association with looking beard and uses a cheesy decoder Andrews, the film has ring to incite Power even cheesier FX? And so what little to recommend it. if the monsters only clash in the film’s final Flowers in the Attic DVD Victoria Tennant minute? And who really cares that Frankie Starring Victoria Tennant, Kristy Swan- stars as the mother to looks more like a half dissolved Frankenber- son, and Louise Fletcher insufferably cute twin ry marshmellow when we get to watch a half Written and Directed by Jeffrey Bloom tykes and two bright drunk Lon Chaney Jr. stumbling around Based on the novel by V. C. Andrews teenagers. When her countless plot holes (nay, chasms) in his Anchor Bay Entertainment husband dies suddenly, final film appearance? The whole thing she is forced to take the The late V. C. Andrews is likely spinning brings a distinct Rocket Robinhood sensibil- children to live with in her grave as Anchor re-releases ity to Bay the two of horrors most beloved creatures their grandparents, to whom she hasn’t spo- - 1987 film version of her most popular novel. a result so entirely flawed it can’t help but ken to since before the children were bom. Flowers in the Attic, on This entirely entertaining. DVD. clumsy be She hopes to win back her father’s love, as thriller skimps on all of the novel’s trashier •Tom Dragomir well as some of the inheritance, after being themes, and as a result whimpers where the cut out of the will for marrying her uncle book packed a wallop. In fact, other than the (yes, that’s right). In the meantime, the chil- dren are imprisoned in a tiny bedroom Group Hug of the Living by Dead their ridiculously evil grandmother, played Night of the Living Dead: 25th Anniversary Documentary by Louise Fletcher, who gives the exact same With George Romero, John Russo, Russell Streiner and performance she gave as Nurse Ratch- Karl Hardman et in One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest. Written and directed by Thomas Brown Flowers in the Attic lumbers along like a El/Suburban Tempe drunken sailor whose had a couple of bottles smashed off his head, lacking any real direc-

Ultimately. I don 't know whether to hate John Russo or pity him. tion or motivation. Apparently it would take -Joseph O’Brien. RM#\2. these seemingly resourceful kids nearly six 1 have no idea what relations between George Romero and months of being imprisoned in an attic John Russo have been like since Russo added that lame new before they begin to realize that something’s footage to Night of the Living Dead in 1999 (an act of vandalism not right. Writer/director Jeffrey Bloom uses

on par with exhuming Natalie Wood’s corpse and giving it breast some terribly shoddy dialogue, as grown implants), but all appears to be sweetness and light in this 1993 documentary. What’s adults spout lines like, “someone should impressive is the way that Thomas Brown - apparently just an avid fan with some video have told us that fathers die, even good

gear - has managed to corral Romero, Russo and producer/stars Russell Streiner (John- fathers!” The stiff acting makes it even more ny) and Karl Hardman (Harry) for a round table discussion-cum-backslapping session. unbearable. A pvQ-Buffy Kristy Swanson, as If that’s not enough, he’s also snagged appearances from horror gods Wes Craven, Sam the oldest sibling, seems particularly embar-

Raimi and Tobe Hooper as well as B-mavens and David DeCoteau, all rassed.

of whom gush (understandably) about the influence of Romero’s first feature. The film’s transfer is only adequate, with Much of the film is taken up with Romero and friends reminiscing about NOTLD\ some edge enhancement and solid ,

oft-troubled production, and while most fans have heard these stories before, it's still but the colour throughout is still very muted. genuinely inspiring to hear them told firsthand by the film’s creators. Inspiration, after The audio is equally disappointing, with

all, is probably an even more integral part of NOTLD's legacy than any nightmares it only a monaural track that is as unevenly has caused down the years, as the celeb interviews attest. Craven and Hooper both assert mixed as the film itself. The only extra that that they had originally planned to make self-indulgent arthouse fodder until NOTLD was included was the trailer, which proved convinced them that horror films could actually function as both entertainment and to be the most exciting part of the disc. Inex- social commentary. Likewise, while it’s no secret that Romero’s Living Dead films were plicably, the insert poster that came with the heavily influential on , it's interesting to hear this explained in detail by disc lists Wes Craven as director and co- Raimi himself. writer.

While Romero remains relatively humble about his achievements. Russo, Streiner and Although the book has become a library

Hardman make no bones about the pride they take in NOTLD and its historical signifi- favourite, Flowers in the Attic is a slow, stiff, cance, and that’s pretty understandable. In a documentary about virtually any other and stupid movie, and seems destined to be

modem horror film, such self-fellating would get very tiresome very fast. But when the long-forgotten. The only thing shocking film in question is rivaled in terms of influence only by The Exorcist and Halloween, a about the film is that Anchor Bay even both-

bit of crowing seems entirely appropriate. ered with it. -John W. Bowen -Pete Sankey

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Rue Morgue 67 The invisible Ghost 1941 Starring Bela Lugosi, Poly Ann Young and John McGuire Directed by Joseph H. Lewis Written by Al Martin & Heather Martin

The Corpse Vanishes 1942 Starring Bela Lugosi, Elizabeth Russell and Angelo Rossitto Directed by Wallace Fox Written by Harvey Gates Marengo Films The Invisible Ghost: Even portraits aren’t safe from the fiendish Bela Lugosi!

If by some medical twist of fate I live to on a ha’penny budget in less than twenty raise The Invisible Ghost a cut above the the age of 70, roughly once every eight days. The Corpse Vanishes is a mostly cheap average Monogram horror feature. Unfortu- months I’d have to watch at least one movie play on his previous Dracula popularity. He nately, the potentially enthralling murder- featuring original terror titan Bela Lugosi to and the Countess Lorenz (Elisabeth Russell) mystery angle fizzles when Dr. Kessler is be able to rightly claim I’ve even sleep in matching revealed as the killer far too early into the seen them all. Starting some- coffins, for apparently no film. The DVD release hits absolute zero in where in the middle, I bid you other reason than to say, the bonus department, with nary a bio or welcome to two of Lugosi’s “Bela Lugosi’s in our movie trailer in sight! And the print actually looks poverty row Monogram Film and he’s sleeping in a cas- a little too good for seminal drive-in appearances of the early 1 940s, ket... get it?’’ schlock, where a little hiss and pop only now reanimated by Marengo for As an aging aristocrat tor- serves to enhance the murky atmosphere of DVD consumption. In The tured by the disappearance the movie itself Corpse Vanishes, Bela stars as of his wife, Lugosi’s Dr. Of Lugosi’s 108 credited onscreen appear- Dr. Lorenz, a deranged scientist Kessler paddles a slow boat ances The Corpse Vanishes and The Invisible abetted by a sinister dwarf who to crazy-town in The Invisi- Ghost would probably rank somewhere in kills and kidnaps the bodies of ble Ghost. A series of baf- the upper bottom half While Lugosi often newlydead brides. Notably sim- fling murders at Kessler’s brought a talent to his films that usurped the ilar to his portrayal of Dr. sprawling manor is wrapped movies’ inherent worth, in doing so he

Mirkle ten years previous in Murders in the in an intriguing whodunit narrative, which injected a dose of artistic integrity capable of Rue Morgue, this time instead of injecting excuses the film’s sheer lack of ghosts transforming bad movies like these into not brides with gorilla blood, Lugosi drains their and/or invisibility. The characters are well only watchable, but worthwhile experiences. bodily fluids and injects it into his aging presented and strong performances by shrew of a wife as a magic youth elixir. Shot Lugosi and Clarence Muse as butler Evans •Tom Dragomir

68 Rue Morgue 2.

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Rue Morgue 69 The tricK-or-treaters have alf gone to bed; the Oinnefs Ready! beasties and things that go bump in the night are afoot. Yon dim the lights and turn on the television. !t's Malloween, what do you watch? Presented for

your edification and viewing pleasure is a list of

blood-soaKed classicKs perfect for a little Ail Hal- lows Fve mayhem.

iORE/AET

UljThe Gore-met says “Happy Halloween” to all his faithful readers! Pemons ( 1985) The premise is simple: a disparate blood, Catherine shambles off to her dilapi- I of bikers. Brain blasting action, heaping group of people are given free passes to dated estate and reunites with her lesbian helpings of first-rate gore and another stellar the screening of a violent horror film in a lover. It soon becomes apparent that only the turn from Saxon! grand Gothic theatre. When events in the fresh blood of the living will sustain Cather- theatre begin to mirror those in the film the ine. Can her and Helene seduce enough men Fgry of the Wolfman audience is slowly transformed into a horde to keep her alive? An under-appreciated hor- ^ (La furia del of pus-oozing, scalp-ripping, Hombre Lobo) eye-gouging ror film that is both melancholy and demons! (1972) ’s action/horror poignant, infused with healthy doses of hybrid remains one of the most purely shocking violence and gore. Prof. Waldemar Daninsky () enjoyable horror films of the ’80s, and per- kills his unfaithful wife and her lover before haps of all time. Demons features buckets of ^City Of Th? Walking Dead dying in a car accident. When an evil female Sergio Stivaletti gore FX, scientist ’80s metal, and " (La invasion de los Zombies disinters his body, the full moon Bobby Rhodes as Tony the Pimp, one of atomicos) (1980) revives Daninsky as a rampaging werewolf! horrordom’s most quotable characters. “You In a bizarre plot twist, she becomes a were- A mysterious plane lands at the city airport act like you was afraid to break them!” wolf too! Brain bending continuity errors and is immediately surrounded by police. and chainsaw editing plop this one in the toi- After a short standoff, the belly of the plane Daiightprs Of Parkne$s (1971) let of bad filmmaking, but this deranged 2 bursts open, unleashing a horde of machete A 300-ycar-old lesbian vampire and mess mustn’t be missed by Naschy fans. her waving atomic zombies! They need blood to servant/lover seduce and rend apart a young survive, so they kill and suck everything in couple honeymooning in a Belgian Night of tho Doagglls resort their path to lifeless husks. The zombies y town. A languorous pace and dream-like * (La noche de las gaviotas) rampage through city streets and disco TV cinematography perfectly complement the (1975) shows while the military ponder and dither.

film’s surreal atmosphere and 1 4th century shocking vio- This film is so full of dubious gore, oatmeal- A cult of Satanic, blood drink- lence. An excellent example of the erotic ing Templar Knights faced zombies and risible dialogue that you are blinded and burned vampire sub-genre, this one will chill at the stake by a your can’t help but love it. horde of horrified villagers. blood while it warms your loins! As the flames engulf them, they vow to Cannibal Rpocalyps? return for revenge. Five hundred years later, Oead Gml the withered corpses of the Knights rise 2 Living 5 (Apocalypse domani) (1980) (La morte vivante) from the grave to exact their revenge on the (1982) John Saxon and Italian horror whipping boy descendants of the vigilante mob. Amando Two workmen illegally dumping nuclear John Morghen are Vietnam vets having dif- de Ossorio made four films with this same waste in a seemingly abandoned crypt ficulty readjusting to civilian life; they have plot, of varying quality. This final install- decide to try their hands at grave robbing as been infected by a virus that forces them to ment of the series is a creepy chapter short well, inadvenently reanimating the corpse eat human flesh! When their insatiable on dialogue and long on atmosphere, one of the beautiful Catherine Valmont. After appetites overwhelm them, they find them- that remains woefully overlooked. dispatching the two workmen in an orgy of selves on the lam from the cops and a gang

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1-891946-13-7 It's a miracle that sassy, self-proclaimed punk-cowgirl Trade pb, pages FallAA/inter 2001 Release Layla MacDonald hasn't gone off the deep end: Her 272 mother gruesomely murdered in a Charlotte, scandalous love triangle, 'Daddy-Useless' drinking himself into despair, another temp job leading Look for these and other nowhere fast, and the painful memories of her Design Image Group titles at your boyfriend's abuse still as fresh as open wounds. Till favorite retail and online booksellers. she meets Ian. And suddenly, dormant desires are awakened. Madness is unleashed. Surreal violence Or, to order direct, call toll-free 800-563-5455 9 - explodes. Because Ian is a ghost... AM 5 PM CST Visa and MasterCard accepted.

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S The Eloquence of Tourneur Reissue from The Zone

Experiments in Erotica

HilitodlK I’jiily (aiiriin FMBRACEC LiDark eroticaU

The Cinema of Nightfall: producer Val Lewton blossomed at RKO Richard Matheson’s with the making of Cat People, Zombie and Jacques Tourneur Twilight Zone Scripts, Vol. 1 Leopard Man. These were stylish, chilling Chris Fujiwara * Stanley Wiater, Ed. films which favoured suggested scares over The Johns Hopkins overt ones and established Tourneur as a Edge Books University Press box-office force. Night ofthe Demon (known Submitted for your approval one Richard as Curse the As a movie fan, not a cineaste, film theory of Demon in Britain, where it Matheson, writer of horror, , was produced) was made independently and which distills filmgoing (at its best, a viscer- suspense and fantasy. One of a now leg- suffered from meddling producers al, poignant experience) into a purely intel- who endary group of writers known as the South- undercut Tourneur’s lectual exercise has never appealed to me. subtlety by inserting a ern California Sorcerers; the author of such rubber monster in the titular role against the Fortunately, The Cinema of Nightfall, Chris classics as Hell House, I Am Legend and The - Fujiwara’s analysis of director Jacques director’s wishes (see Classic Cut RMttb Incredible Shrinking Man. Richard Mathe- for details). Tourneur’s oeuvre, combines a fan’s enthusi- son is all too familiar with the world of shad- Fujiwara’s asm with a scholar’s rigour. affection for Tourneur’s work is ow. A world that lies beyond our own. A palpable (he calls In his 43 years in film, the French-bora Cat People “a perfect dimension of sight. A dimension of sound. A film”) but never mawkish. less light Tourneur directed 33 feature-length flicks, No a dimension of mind. For Matheson is a resi- than Martin Scorsese - himself a vocal from westerns (Canyon Passage) to spy dra- dent, and a guide to those brave souls who Tourneur fan - praises Fujiwara mas (Berlin Express) to film noirs (Out ofthe in his fore- will forever visit The Twilight Zone.... word for his “thoroughly researched Past). But readers of Rue Morgue will be and per- This, the first part of a two volume set of ceptive treatment.” If Tourneur himself most interested in Fujiwara's critiques of Matheson ’s complete Twilight Zone scripts is remains Tourneur’s horror classics: Cat People something of a mystery, it may be a more affordable version of the rare and because, as his wife Christiane told one (1942), I Walked With a Zombie (1943), The expensive hardcover released by Cemetery interviewer, “[he] never talked about him- Leopard Man (1943) and Night ofthe Demon Dance a few years back (and worth every (1957). self, really.... He was never impressed by penny by the way). The new collection will people, The son of director Maurice, Tourneur and he never wanted to impress be a treat for the legions of fans of the clas- them.” began his career in the ’20s as a Hollywood sic show, and serves as a good introduction Thankfully, impressed us - the bit player and script clerk before joining his Tourneur to novice viewers and readers of Matheson. fans - with a body of work father as an editor and assistant director on that treated the The eight teleplays presented within will supernatural with respect and wonder, several European films. A return to Holly- a fact trigger memories in older fans of TZ, and are Fujiwara acknowledges wood precipitated his entry into feature film- with eloquence and entertaining reads on their own. Screenplays making with MGM, while a friendship with insight. are meant to be dramatized, not read, and -Sean Plummer Matheson ’s abilities as a novelist are compli-

Rue Morgue 73 merited by his ability to write thought-pro- vaginas with teeth and monsters with penis- The Black Gondolier voking (and creepy) television, the likes of es like cruise missiles. Pointing out how and Other Stories which have been rarely seen since. Famous unerotic most “erotic horror” tropes actually Fritz Leiber episodes Nick Of Time (the one with the for- are, Guran deliberately sought out some-

tune telling box), The Invaders (the one thing different. Consequently, all of the Midnight House almost completely dialogue) devoid of and work in Embraces is stylish and much of it The Black Gondolier and Other Stories Little Girl Lost (a BIG inspiration for Pol- experimental and most of the monsters here collects eighteen stories from one of the 20th tergeist) are accompanied by lesser known are the ones that lurk in the human id. century’s most influential authors of fantastic efforts like Young Man’s Fancy and genre Nancy Holder’s allegorical opener. You literature. The dilemma 1 had with this book vet Stanley Wiater does a fine job spurring Give Fever Me takes the torch song line is probably a microcosmic variation of the Matheson’s recollections on each story. The quite literally. Charlee Jacob’s Torpor makes problem with Leiber’s writing career in gen- second volume will include Spur of the one man’s obsession with stomach-turning eral. The man had far too much range for his Moment and the famous Nightmare At grotesquerie not only believable, but touch- own good. Lovers of his Fafhrd and the Grey 20.000 Feet (see Classic Hope- ing, CntRMUlS). Jay Russell’s First Love takes mother Mouser fantasy classics were likely bemused fully, we can someday expect the same treat- love beyond the most imaginable extreme. by science fiction novels like Gather Dark- ment for Charles Beaumont’s scripts. TZ David Schow’s Saturnalia and Steve Rasnic ness and many of his science fiction fans Tern’s Creeps both explore the limits of -Brad Abraham were probably put off by horror novels like desire with fascinating and disturbing Conjure Wife. Embraces: Dark Erotica results. Joycean excesses are one of the Some of the stories in this col- greatest pleasures of Robert Deveraux’s Paula Guran, Ed. lection suffer the fate of much hilarious tale of the orgasm fairy. On The Venus Or Vixen Press science fiction from that period Dangers Of Simultaneity.... in being too conceptually and In her introduction to Embraces, a new Even though Embraces doesn’t manage to stylistically old-fashioned for anthology of dark erotica, editor Paula transcend the oxymoronic dilemma poised modem audiences. The Black says, “If Guran you want unsurprising, com- by the concept of “erotic horror”, envelopes Gondolier presents the concept fortable ‘erotic horror’... put this are book successfully pushed. This is a surprising, of sentient, if not downright down RIGHT NOW... and go find Fangs challenging and important anthology and at malicious oil; and stories like for the Mammaries XXIV or some similar the very least, it will turn you on to some red Mr. Bauer And The Atoms and tome.” hot writers. The book can be ordered online The Man Who Made Friends With Electrici- True to her word, there is a distinctive from www.venusorvixen.com. ty deal with such concepts as sentient elec- shortage of knife-wielding sex maniacs, •Dale L. Sproule tricity.

1 was much more impressed by stories like Gothique Lie Still, Snow White, which deals with necrophilia in a tale of erotic horror that Kyle Marff'm seems decades before its time. Likewise, The Design The Image Group, Inc. Secret Songs is a stylistically daring and oblique take on drugs and insanity. Other sto-

1 was given a choice of a few books to review, and the only one 1 ries like The Phantom Slayer are timeless

didn’t want was Kyle Marffin’s Gothique because it was a vampire thrillers.

story, and I felt I'd already O.D.’d on my share of those. As it turned While it’s sad that much of Leiber’s non- out, Gothique restored my faith in the great vampire novel. sword-and-sorcery work has faded into

In the story, Colleen, an all American girl, is thrown into the world something approaching oblivion, it is under-

of vampires when her roommate, a wannabe vampire goth kid, is mur- standable. When you pick up a book expect- dered during a graveyard rendezvous. The police are unable to explain ing Sheelba of the Eyeless Face and

why his body has been drained dry of blood, and are equally confused when the corpse Ningauble the Seven-Eyed Wizard, it can be disappears from the morgue. Vowing to find the killers and avenge his murder, Colleen disconcerting to find yourself reading: “Aim recruits her boss, his policewoman girlfriend, and a war veteran to destroy Gothique, a to plant her in hemp and opium poppy, Son, vampires’ lair disguised as a goth club. But they all soon find out more than they bar- with benzedrine bushes between the rows” gained for when they learn just how cooperative city officials and civilians have been (The Old Rancher); or “Yeah, but what legal in welcoming the evil new residents. crop you fixin’ to raise, Dad?” (The Young This bare-bones plot summary doesn’t even scratch the surface of the intricate story- Cowpoke). When you pick up The Black

line. it Suffice to say that everything about it is hypnotic - the plot, the subplots, the Gondolier and Other Stories, do it with an drama, the relationships, the emotions, and the profound understanding of the desires of open mind and let Leiber take you to places this underworld. you weren’t expecting. -Nina Mouzitchka -Dale L. Sproule

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and sorts through the scanty accounts of his tion. Dracula lore became mired in purpose- six-year rule as voivode in Wallachia. ful misdirection in the 1970s. little to none Though it is clear that Vlad took a fancy to of which has ever been redressed. (Surpris- impaling his enemies and friends. Miller ingly, it turns out that Anne Rice is not to points out that most of the tales that have blame.) Nor did a century of “faithful” cine- come down to us were recorded by the Turks matic adaptations help matters - Coppola and - the Gennans in other words, Vlad’s culpa, Coppola maxima culpa. opponents. Easily the most notorious of these for-the- Miller moves the discussion to a dissec- most-part groundless speculations is the tion of vampire folklore its and origins. 1 notion that Dracula author Bram Stoker found this to the least interest- be based his character on the historical figure ing chapter in the book, being Vlad “The Impaler” Tepes. versed in werewolf mythology "Accepted as axiomatic, cir- myself (apparently, the werewolf cumstantial at best,” states and vampire have much in com- Miller - quite generously, mon). However, the following considering her case against chapters on Bram Stoker’s genre that little point. detlning novel and the Count’s Other well-known claims present-day incarnations kept that Miller stakes include the iny interest to the end. Miller’s seeming omnipresence of comprehensive look at Stoker's vampire bats in Europe (an sources and the interpretations ambitious commute from of his book, not to mention the South America - how disap- literature and movies that sub- pointed they must have been

sequently sprung from it. makes .lot to have appeared in Stok- as a historical figure from Dracula. for an eye-opening read. er's novel) and the Count's aversion to day- Though Miller could not avoid all the trap- light {Dracula offers no fewer than seven pings of the coffee table Dracula book (some of the instances of its protagonist working 9-to-5). pictures do not directly Elizabeth Miller relate to the subject Miller divides her expose into six specific matter and seem to be little more than wall- Parkstone Press sections, including the sources, the author, paper), her obvious love for and experience the novel itself, and an entire chapter con- No doubt in response to the rising demand with the topic make this an educational cerning the facts in the case of M, Impaler. for coffee table books on eveiy topic con- glance at the most of the famous famous Examination of dubious claims in ceivable, Canuck vamp monsters. 1 point/counterpoint fashion, coupled with the scholar Elizabeth Miller -Mary-Beth Hollyer scholar’s exclamatory enthusiasm for the seems determined to bring process of debunking - “Balderdash!” a certain degree of acad- ^ Dracula: Sense & Nonsense "Triple trash!” “Rubbish!” - makes for an erne into her books, even Elizabeth Miller entertaining, episodic read. those of the coffee table The last word on Dracula? Desert Island Books Miller herself variety. Her Dracula is points out that the first word (after the novel) just that; chock full of Elizabeth Miller has come not to prate remains the yet-unpublishcd collection of wonderful colour pictures about Dracula, but to bury him - or at the Stoker's own Working Notes And Papers and lovely large print, this very least drag him kicking and screaming For Dracula. available for public viewing at full-sized tome aims to into the sunlight. Dracula: Sense & Non- the Roscnbach Museum & Library in make the reader a casual expert on the sense lays to rest close to one hundred pop- Philadelphia. That said, Dracula: Sense & world’s most famous vampire: Dracula. ular misconceptions about the infamous, fic- Nonsense is a coffin full of bones worth True to form. Miller exposes 20th century titious vampire. It is the Memorial Universi- picking and dirt worth turning; an undeni- misconceptions to the killing light of day. ty of Newfoundland professor’s third acade- ably enlightening read for Transylvanian tracing the development of the vampire and mic text on the monster and his myths. tourists and children of the night alike. the myth of Dracula through the ages. She Bad blood? As fellow vampire scholar begins with a history of Vlad Tepes/Dracula Clive Leatherdale explains in his introduc- -Gary Butler

Marginal Distribution - Creepy Books" 277 George Street, North, Unit 102, Peterborough, ON K9J 3G! ph (705) 745-2326 - fx (705) 745-2122 [email protected] ^ww.marginalbook.co moroinoi oistriTution ^II^Jwntej^x^or^e-maiKor^catalogue^of^our^SOO^reaky^itle^ 76 Rue Morgue lives closer, to home ihan you d think

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AnimEigo hunts demons to return them to hell, but 60-minutes/Dual Language DVD preys on "beautiful people", taking their blood and leaving them as peaceful /om- Himiko. a p.syehie rioiis laughing girl with the powers of a bies. with no cares or worries, while laugh- investigator, has her vampire but none of the weaknesses, and ingly avoiding all of llimiko's attempts to work cut out lor her*^^'' her silent, eloaked eompanion. cast her as the villain of the piece. - I. in these flrsltwofirst two lumpin' Priiuvss is a Miyu modern clas- Unlortunately. the quality of this DVD

7wj|v\ I episodesepisotles of a;» lourfour sie of physiologieal horror, relying not on reissue doesn’t match that of the series. The r episode series. gory visuals but on and j mood atmosphere picture and subtitles are blurry in several First, she hnshas to to ereate tension and suspense. The detailed places, an image gallery is the only addi- eonsulleonsult on the easeeiise baekgrounds and eharaeter designs, espe- tional feature, and the fact that all four »l'»ol a l'«l>:little Sirlgirl in a eially the intrieate ™i,<™i..u..„..;, f'aeial expressions, add a episodes weren’t squeezed into one disc eomn. while a rash lot to the overall elfeei. This is a world really feels like price gouging. A wonderful of vainpire-Iikc killings oeeur around her. where shadows lie everywhere, and ordi- series, but a second-rate production elTorl, I The disappearanee of severalrveral .sehool high nary people are helpless against what lies expected more from Animl:igo. students is made more sinisterinisier by the within them.

grotesque wooden dolls whieh are left in Miyu herself is a eompletely amoral erea- their plaee. At.so involvedxl is Miyu. a myste- ture. .seemingly existing outside our con-

BLOOD - THE LAST VAMPIRE Manga Entertainment - 45 minutes/English Language lerieal school nui'se ^ nnd the always pissed litooil is .lapan's finsi fully digitallv ani- for the .Americans as a demon hunter. After Saya have lo go one mated film, the latest major project of the a fatal ease of mistaken identity on a sub- on one with demons studio and director GV/tnv ^ of in ihc.ShvIL way (whieh gets quickly eo\ered up), she masquerading as slu- and one of the most anticipated (and is sent to a .school on an American Air dents during the mili-

hyped) titles of the year. it delivers And Force lia.se. w'ith bombing missions to laiy base Halloween ’ (well. okay, mostly). North Vietnam constantly coming and party. ^ Set in Japan in l^bb. the movie follows going. The movie then unfolds as an anime Visually, this movie Saya. a young (maybe) girl who is working version of From Dusk Till Dawn, ' as a hys- is stunning. Though ^ most of the baek- ANGEL SANCTUARY grounds are completely computer rendered, US Manga Corp the eharaeters were created using traditional Three 25-minute episodes/English Language cel animation, and then digitally transferred virtually (no pun intended) into a seamless \ Angel Sanctuary is a strange, more than he seems, and learns that Sara finish. The fight • scenes are quick, baital. and strange title. Its goal seems to be just might feel the same way about him! entirely realistic. And the movie even logi- to portray as many screwed up, Oh yeah, and if Alexiel happens to return, cally switches between subtilled dialogue weird, and downright perverted she’ll trigger the apocalypse. (when two Japanese speakers are present) to relationships in as wholesome a The war between heaven and hell linglish as (w hen any American is around). way possible, set against feuding angels played out on Earth is something we’ve M'ost of the dialogue was actually written in and the possible end of the world. seen before (most recently in X: The linglish Here’s the (an anime first), with Youki Kodoh story: Sakuya has a problem. Movie), but Angel Sanctuary does a better (.V//OU- Falling on Cedars) playing He’s hopelessly in the role of love with his sister Sara, job of it, keeping the number of charac- Saya. to the point where he has to check their ters manageable and developing them a The movie's greatest problem is birth records to be sure they’re related length; (yep whole lot better because of it. Sure, some clocking in at forty-live they are, bad!). minutes, it’s way too too His mother hates him, of the explanations are still force-fed, but short leaves and he’s and loo many questions unan- only got one friend, his classmate we know who everyone is and what they swered. Blood was conceived as a true multi-, Kira. He's also the reincarnation of the want (usually someone they’re related media project, including a novel, the movie, female angel Alexiel, who once lead a to!). and a PlayStation 2 game, all released in rebellion against Heaven and lost. God is The biggest problem with Angel Sanctu- Japan w ithin now asleep, several months of each other, each a and factions are trying ary is that it ends on a cliffhanger which din'erenl part of Saya 's to reawaken story. While the her for their own ends, includ- may never be resolved. But if you want to ing movie will have a limited theatrical run in a child demon and her own twin brother see angels bleed, forbidden love, Tokyo North America in the fall, we may be out of Roshiel, both of whom she was apparently Tower blown up yet again and the admis- luck on the involved with. other two parts for some time. So Sakuya 's got angels and sion that God can be “surprisingly goofy’’, Still, it’s a must-see. demons after him, finds that Kira’s a lot you’ll want to check this out.

78 Rue Morgue "IF THERE IS AN ANIMATION MOVIE YOU MUST NOT MISS, X MARKS THE SPOT" - protoculture addicts

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in JUST MAG»E: STAN LESBAIMAN by Lee and Kubert COLOUBA DC (Jomiij* SIKANCEHAVEN by Millidge ’^Gary Butler Abiogenesis Press by Larsen Image Peter Parker had been bitten by afKIRAIH ome sixty years after a bat, this very likely would by Bendis and Austen

one man took the • ^ ^ have been the result, then or MARVEiyMARVEL KNIGHTS mantle of a bat, and now. In other words: Stan Lee I6ANE CLOWN POSSE 7W PEMXJLUM some forty years Forever. by McCann and Beck after another got the pow- Chaos! Fans of David Lynch’s ers of a spider, the latter’s Twin Peaks, Patrick | creator is taking the for- McGoohan’s The Prisoner and mer for a glide. Not sur- William Shatner’s The the ramifications of killing a time prisingly, Stan Lee’s take Devil's Rain probably traveller, albeit an evil one.) This on Batman is equal parts pounced on Gary story arc is Larsen’s tribute to caped crusade and ’70s Spencer Millidge’s and ’80s Marvel comics - fittingly, crawled wall. And Strangehaven when it was known depending on what you’re the era when Marvel as launched in 1998, but “the house of ideas”. Current cov- looking for, it works. anyone who likes a good “small ers are specific John Byrne What Lee leaves Batman: his parental town with plenty of secrets” kind homages (check out Larsen’s new, blood-debt, his belief injustice in an unfair of story should jump in immediate- stylized signature). world, his physical prowess and his iconog- ly. The first twelve issues are avail- Issue #86 finds a desper- raphy {right down to the costume, the cowl able in two, separate trade paperbacks ately-in-need-of- support of which is now a fully realized bat’s head). {Arcadia and Brotherhood), and issue Dragon reunited with Ann What Lee borrows from Spidey: his misun- #13 is only just hitting the stands now. Stevens, a.k.a. Mighty Man. derstood teen syndrome, his innate good- Writer/artist Millidge juggles a vast Problems solved? Not like- ness, his harnessing of science to enhance collective of some dozen bizarre, charac- ly: altered Arm doesn’t know his abilities and his wrestling phase (from ter-driven plots without ever missing a that she’s also a man(!). Spidey’s first appearance, true believers!). throw - but always adding plenty of Dragon helps Stevens dis- Lee also firmly places this story in the catches. And while the main story is far cover her powers moments golden age of comics despite giving it a con- from resolved, Strangehaven has already before a Martian bent on temporary setting by invoking said era’s been optioned by Hollywood. For fans of murder attacks him, and it's up to to over-fondness for alliteration; Batman’s real MM sorcery, bloodlust, gossip and taking the save the day. The only hitch is that the name is Wayne Williams, his nemesis, wrong turn at Albuquerque. world’s mightiest man Handz Horgum. Artist Joe Kubert does a chokes - after all, (s)he’s a fantastic job of synthesizing the looks of Whether you’re a Dragon afi- nurse. Just when you thought Bob Kane’s ’40s Batman and Steve Ditko’s cionado or merely a savage, you have to you’d read it all: a ’60s Spidey - or maybe that’s Joe’s style in agree that few action writers can cram in archetype gets performance the first place? even half the two-fisted plot points that Erik anxiety. Keep devouring Regardless, Stan Lee's Batman stays true Larsen manages to toss in to an average those sugar-coated cereals, to the central, defining characteristics and issue of Savage Dragon. In the current, - Erik (not to mention those situations that launched two of comics’ altered reality continuum “Savage New classic issues of Fantastic greatest legends, merging them almost World” - faces and places may be the same, Four). seamlessly, and throwing in a wholly unex- but little else can be taken for granted. juried pected resolution to boot. If Bruce Wayne (When Dragon judged, and executed “This blade 1 am holding, i have

had seen a spider on his windowsill or if Darklord in issue #75, he failed to consider died at the end of it. I tell you this because I

Comics. Horror.Movie Posters, Action figures.ModeISjOh my!

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226 Queen st.w. basement. McCaul st. entrance Toronto,Ontario Canada M5V-IZ6. (416) 974-9211 email us at [email protected] Rue Morgue 81 1

want you to know logue scenes to life; given

that every time I the fact that ten-on-one use this blade - ninja fights are a staple of

every time I slice Elektra stories, it’s too bad into a man’s flesh that his sense of active

with it - 1 know action needs work. (Yes, a

exactly how it sai could be thrown right in feels.” No one to the barrel of an Uzi, but

gets to the point putting an airborne sai in better than Mar- one panel and a plugged gun vel’s toughest in the next one leaves more

soldier of fortune, than just a little to the imag- Elektra. In the debut to her inevitable - ination.)

frankly, overdue - Marvel Knights series, They might be insane the Greek typhoon who died and was resur- clowns, but this ain't no rected and died and lived to tell about it psycho circus. The question finds her father’s murderer, holds him at sai- is: does CHAOSl’s take on horror-rock stars ICP or Twiztid? Comic point and recounts her life story. And that’s violence in comics kick ass, or does it merely KISS book the way just the first ten pages. KISS used to do it. it? The answer lies somewhere between, So why was Brian “dead-on dialogue” though this miniseries does score points for the living shit out of each Bendis assigned the task of scripting Mar- originality in a couple of areas. Every indi- vel’s woman of few words? Meet other just about every sec- vidual, polybagged copy comes with a CD ond issue without giving a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Stanley, and delight in featuring new ICP music; by concluding rat’s ass if innocent people watching him talk the talk as he tries to fox issue #12, hardcore fans will own the duo’s get caught in the crossfire. the fox. And meet Nick Fury again for the complete new album before it’s released by Yes, there’s a plot that involves first time; Bendis only gives the man five a demon the record company. Plus, as comic charac- wickeder than, I dunno, panels, but he’s never been more paternally Ozzy Osbourne in ters, neither the insane clowns nor their his fat, hairspray years, but let’s face it: patriotic, not to mention plausible, Artist labelmates, Twiztid, are afraid to present you’re buying this story Chuck Austen does a dynamite job of bring- for the ICP dia- themselves in an unflattering light. To wit: logue, like, “Damn. I dropped faster ing two cat-and-mouse, sidewalk cafe dia- than a the two duos are actually enemies, beating new Slipknot album!” ^

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dOLLEOTIBU BACK IBBUEBI

Issue #3 Issue #4 Issue #5 Rue Motgue talks to Tom Savini; CHAOS’ Comics president Brian On set with Bnde of Chucky; FaniAsia videographer Fiona Sigismotuli; horror Pulido; Leon Theremin and his '98: Convergence IV goth fesL

an in western cuilure, THEM!, more. S6 invention; approaches to horror in him; Holywood goes raane; Poe's Ligeia, Collect back issues from the more. S6 more S6

Issue #6 Issue 4>7 Issue #8 ONLY GENRE MAGAZINE THAT GIVES John Carpenter interview: ; Nacho Cerda on Aftermath and Nosferaiu resiiriecteiO*clo!^El\y’s Angus Scnmm bids farewell; Batman Genesis: James Bernard: age of hogoiviC^ ^ti^ijirworld of EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO MAINSTREAM retrospective: Curse oi the Demon, revisited: Cal People, more. S6 The Burgess: more. $6 more. S6 AND OBSCURE HORROR FROM Issue #10 Issue #1 Issue lf% i'TA Charles Band and Ful^sotrV^e Todd McFarlane's M| AROUND THE V^ORLD! David Cronniibjjrg anv^^ltliZ? N The Blaii WycIf^ltOWLiii; Willi Curse oL the lG|l0lV«mamoi, more. S6

Issue #12 Issue #13 Issue #14 Issue #15 Issue #16 Special Issue! includes Tales Comics Scary Music Special Issue; The Sex Horror Spoaul I^XjloTd* RoboCop and the return of Exorcist interview with William Peter From the Crypt, From KeU; Sleepy Dead Hale the Living!; best ^mbie Liniiea Quigley: cyber/splatler; horror anime: Soren Blatty; Tenor on TV; Vampire Beach Hollow: on set with the Misfits S6 films: Joe R. Lansdale; Slipknot SB Sini^rTloriar Erotica: Jarboe. SB Kierkegaard; Agalhodaimon. more. SB Babes; Pamela Williams. SB

Issue #17 Issue # 1 Issue #19 Issue #20 Issue #21 Issue #22 The scariest book of the year, House Shadow of the Vampire and German Friday the 13th Special Issue: Jason Ginger Snaps and Werewolves ol the Universal Monsters Tribute Issue: Reissue Issue: Dario Argento on Sus-

of Leaves; Poe; Le'Rue Detashay: Expressionism; inter- X. Series Oven/iew, Mew Coroner's Silver Screen; Buckethead; Charles Chapman, Ackemian, Gogos... piria, William Lustig on Maniac: Haunted House ol bngerie, more. $6 view; Blau Witch games, more. S6 Report; Cradle of Filth, more. SB Beaumont, more. SB Rammsiein, more. SB Midnight Syndicate, lots mdre. SB

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SSJSS-l>i M>n SSX-Dec£nt St-Dmi. %-Dfuvu. DOA-Dlad Om Arrival I Reichenstein as siding with the blood I

beach vibe of Karloffornia (i.e. The '' Ghastly Ones) rather than the demented

psychobilly of New Jersey (i.e. Psycho 1 jit m Charger). In other words less punk and 4U more camp. Don't let the indie label scare you off though, this debut is a nicely produced undead musical P homage to late night creepshows and haunted house thrill rides. Around here, 1 we call this the soundtrack to our After- lives. Available from www.shadowre- BRIDE DIED JUST ichenstein.com. -GC SSSSS All Hallow's Eve NDN Records 1 lA We here at the Audio Drome live and die Reviews by Greg Chant, Tom Dragomir, Rod Gudino and Aaron Lupton for horror punk. So you can imagine our I excitement when a UK punk album RhMZO). Fans will remember that the comes in featuring production from The DVD contained newer (read: significant- Damned's and song titles ly warped) renditions of classic tunes, like London After Midnight, Rosemary’s and basically this album puts them Baby, and Jack's Theme. Bride Just together for easy consumption. What’s Died avoids the inevitable comparison to to say? If you thought The Third Reich the Misfits due to a lack of sing along ‘N’ Roll, Songs For Swinging Larvae or anthem-choruses, but unfortunately for The Gingerbread Man already sounded us, this isn't the only thing they lack. demented, you haven't heard a damn While the horror vibe seems in place and thing! The irony may be that The Resi- ready to go, the band doesn't really go The Dark Archives Vol. I dents succeed in reinventing previously anywhere with their sound. Standard Hollows Hill unlistenable tunes to the point of listen- SACRED FLESH three-chord punk that comes off more This album landed in our office long after ability. I wonder if that was intentional. lazy than minimalist and horrid vocals its' release in October 2000. but hey, no Band of Pain -RG SSSS Cold Spring Records that don't sound eerie, evil, or even better time than RMs Halloween issue angry. The songs here are roughly the to review one of the 's marquee A very black, dank and twisted spirit same quick burst of moderated aggres- ghoul bands, the darkly original emanates from this CD, truly a work of Sex sion over over again, lacking the Children. the bleakness striking originality and genuine audio and Gang Copping quirky pop most often associated with of Siouxie and the Banshees, the of horror. The occasion, the latest effoil by style Nigel Wingrove, a director who holds the ^is sort of thing, thanks to bands like glam, the sounds of punk, and a grave- Forbidden Dimension. yard aesthetic all their dubious honour of having been the last Razor and own, SGC There are occasional creepy moments became and remain one of the most man in Britain to be succesfully perse- here and there, especially on Deadbeat, confusing and inaccessible names in cuted for "blasphemy" (after his last film, which features Scabies on keyboards. death rock. Visions of Ecstasy). His newest, called The aptly named Dark sincerely appreciate this band's Archives is disc set, the first con- Sacred Flesh, chronicles the internal tor- We ded- a two ication to our beloved genre, for what taining recordings, ments of a medieval nun as she battles so the band’s demo the it's worth, you may want to keep collection sexual desire, her vows of chastity and your second being a ‘best of with AMAZING SOUNDS OF future projects just in hits like Into the fear of eternal damnation. Aided by eyes on case. The Abyss and Beasts, as SHOCK THEATRE -AL SS1/2 well as other favourites like Cannibal Girl keyboards and stifled vocals, writer/ The Lawn Jockeys and Draconian Dream. composer Steve Pittis creates an inner For those Big Beef Records already acquainted, chasm of throbbing ambient noise and this CD is a nice Who is Dr. Creep, anyway? If you hap- addition since you get to hear the old bruised soundscapes. Sacred Flesh will pen to have resided in Southwestern semi-classics with the still undoubtedly have to go through a few cobwebs Ohio between 1972 and 1985, there intact, but newbies be forewarned; Sex more obstacles before it reaches West- probably isn't any doubt in your mind. Children’s remains a walled- ern shores (already the film was almost Gang name Sporting a garb that recalls an undead secret for a reason. High pitched banned in Britain), but we'll keep you up Mennonite and a bellowing laugh that vocals, a doomy, protruding bass and posted. In the meantime, this soundtrack sounds like Santa doin' his best Hal- completely off the wall songwriting has is distilled ambient, as sinister as it is loween, the bad doctor became a cult their legacy a little too freaky for smothering and unsettling in a most made figure of late night TV with a show called to others. beautiful way. Available from www.cold- some and downright annoying Shock Theatre. For whatever reasons, spring.co.uk. -RG As always, we’re big on plugging stuff the affable host has taken it upon himself SHADOW REICHENSTEIN from the fringes, but do so with caution. to release an album of reti’o-dance vibes Shadow Reichenstein -ALSS1/2 interspersed with audio bits from the hor- (Independent)

ror movies he featured for over a If you’re reading this review, chances are

decade. For the project, he hired a rag- you’ll want to take a peek at our piece on

tag team of jammers who call them- psychobilly rock. In fact, we're not entire-

is selves The Lawn Jockeys and the rest ly sure why this band didn't make it onto

really obscure history. Numbers like Dr. the bill; this here is pure graveyard rock

Funkencreep, ZZ Shock, Ebony, Ivory & and roll with songs that run the gamut Jade and Funkengunn ought to tell you a from zombies and vampires to madmen

lot. What’s to say? If you live for reruns and terrors in Texas. Shadow Reichen- and late night cable TV, The Amazing stein know how to put out a Halloween ICKY FLIX Sounds of Shock Theatre may actually spread; they offer haunted hot rod rock

The Residents make musical sense to you. As for us, and roll on Black Car, spooky beach East Side Digital we’re pretty dumbfounded and, for the music on Cemetery Surfin’, a loony B- ROZZ WILLIAMS Those of you with a taste for the darkly first time ever, are at a loss on how to movie vibe on Zombie Dance Trance Live in Berlin actually rate this bizarre will be able to take it up a notch album. Enter at your and a vampire version of The Animals' Hollows Hill

with the release of this companion own risk. -GC ? classic House Of The Rising Sun (which I’ve got no problem calling Rozz soundtrack to The Residents’ recent they rename Fear Of The Rising Sun). Williams an artist, even though I loathe audio/visual feature Icky Flix (see The set might peg Shadow to use such terms when describing pop

Rue Morgue 85 :

There's an old scene bubblin' with fresh ingredients and everywhere the tids are dressing up lite the undead, h new film

casts its gaze on a new wave of horror roct and roil...

" ' * ” • ' -'i'r r I eUf , 1 pwWf mt I i*t I i i, 4

by Gregorius Chant

Somehow, somewhere, the white country sounds of

Elvis and Johnny Cash ran afoul of the living dead as

they burst from late nite drive-in screens across

the country. In a way it was inevitable; lurKing

behind the puppy love ballads of the fifties was a

date with corruption, and it came in a wave of

B-movic honor and punk new documentary called ethos. The rosiili was psy- iraS? chobilly. sometimes called York'"'f‘rltilmmakcrs""'f'" Pamela"T

golhabilly, and what it was Ijfj Theodotou and Kris Wclhcr-

; what it is: the timeless Chronicling the Hal- mantra ofrock and roil, the / \ lowecn 2000 premiere of the ancient allure of the grave, First New York Big Psy- together at last in a black chobilly Rumble which vedding of hair gel and attracted over 22 bands and Halloween makeup. XOO fans from around the

Although it may sound world. American Riimhic oddly archaic, psyehobil- captures one of the weirdest

ly is really just now com- cvolutionaiy leaps in the his-

ing into its own with a tory ofrock and roll.

funeral procession's worth of Though the film doesn't concern itself

pale-faced practitioners the likes with history, it's worth noting that gothabil-

of Cult of Psychic Fetus. Psycho ly- had its first real incarnation in the garage Charger. Demented Are Go. The music of The Cramps, an Ohio-bred four-

Brimstones. The Spectres, The some which came together in the mid-sev- Hangmen, Los Gatos Locos. enties. With songs like Human Fly. Goo

The Nckromantix and too many Goo Muck and Don't F.at StulT Off The others to mention. What they Sidewalk. The Cramps corroded the puppy have in common is a religious love of fifties radio tunes and the sunny devotion to the gospel of liquor vigour of with the decadence of and sex. early rock and roll and punk and the black glitter of .sado- classic gore and horror films. masochistic sex and B-horror. The scene is the focus of a As late as 19X3. The Cramps were quot-

Ghoul Rock: (from top) American Rumble hosts Reverend Doom and Mistress Persephone welcome you to the dark world of psychobilly and (bottom) New York staple Psycho Charger. r

musicians, whether or not they have it a good beat. Includes a live version of

entire t)ooks of paintings under their belt. So What, Reload 12" and, as the twisted Yes Williams was the godfather of death centrepiece, Jesus Built My Hotrod star- rock, an original punk musician, and one ring Gibby Haynes. -GC i S S S of the driving forces behind US goth music, but with so much dark creativity

stemming from one individual, it seems almost unjust to label him as this or that.

More importantly, however, is the fact

that Williams seems a rare case in which his presence alone was his music's pri-

mary asset. Such a quality finds its eval-

uation on this live album, recorded in October of 1993, and covering material from a variety of William’s different musi- cal projects, including goth staple Shad- ow Project and the poisonous, if less MURPHY morbid Daucus Karota. If you're the sort PETER Alive - for Love who is skeptical of the prospect of goth Just Metropolis In the raw, at least check out this album

only it bjm out that seminal for a sampling of Williams' uncanny Not does chansma, which had him dubbed both goth stalwart actually does his best to an angel and a demon, as well as the have a soul, but he also does

tear it from his rib cage and bare it to the reincarnation of E.A- Poe. Live in Berlin entire audience of LA’s El Rey Theatre Hillbilly Horror: More madness from Los Gatos Locos. showcases a more rock-oriented Rozz - complete Williams, something whic^ serves him on Alive Just for Love. One late ing horror host Ghoulardi on The Jet Black Machine, which well outside the dank confines of the stu- "warts and all" set recorded in November 2000 accompanied by Porno their album Slay Sick and songs draw fire from a big gun gui- dio. The world will never see another and Rozz Williams performance, but given For Pyros guitarist Peter DiStefano likc The Creature | tar. three piston virtuoso violinist Alive is a last year’s From Christian Death to Hugh Marsh, From The Black drums and a . strange and introspective take on Mur- Death artbook and now this album, it Leather Lagoon Cjl")* Ilfii 1' standup bass, the phy's old solo material. An ultra-stripped 1 would appear that a promise is being ful- down approach to classical instrumenta- wore advancing the preferred getup of filled to keep the man's death-obsessed tion ensures Murphy’s trademark bellow cause that rock and many of these legacy alive. If the effort continues, is front and centre, even kicking things maybe we'll finally hear the end of the roll music was still undcad outlaws, off with version of Alice Cooper vs. Marilyn Manson argu- an Accapella Cool sexy, dark and dan- I Inevitably, points Cool Breeze. Throughout side one Mur- ment. A worthy addition to your death

I bares his inner lizard, croon- gcrous. In doing so, of reference rock archive. -AL iiiM2 phy lounge The Cramps brought together include Bill Haily ing trademark dark matter with a sincer- ity of passion that might have been the prime ingredients of psy- and the Comets, Screamin' washed over by production elements in chobilly: the purity of early Jay, spaghetti westerns, clas- the studio versions. Fans of Bauhaus will rock and roll, the decadent spir- sic monsters, invasion flicks be very interested to check out the four

it of punk and the devotion to and porn - not to mention the encore tracks on disc two which winds down with an onstage mariage propos- the counterculture art of Russ "fuck you" rally cry of punk al and a sombre take on Love Me Ten- Meyer and Hcrschcll Gordon rock. der. It seems FrankenMurphy was just

Lewis. Gothabilly. of course, has looking for love all along. -TD SS Though their Icga- spread farther and wider than

cy is felt in Ameri- the New York Big Psychobilly can Riimhle's cast Rumble. The southern US MINISTRY of macabre miscrc- scene - Deadbolt, The Ghast- Greatest Fits ants, modem psy- ly Ones, Ghoultown, Dead Warner Bros. Even people who don't like Ministry chobilly has a cou- EIvi and The Legendary would have a hard time denying that the pic of extra pistons in Invisible Men - offer up more a band was an innovator in bringing the its engine and a wilder punk theatrics and less punk while feel of our beloved genre into the lan- vibe. Hosted by Cult of Psychic mixing their rockabilly with guage of modem (for the very Fetus' Reverend Doom and sul- heavier doses of surf music, lack of a better term). So at least, an album like Greatest Fits (which try vamp personality Mistress That said. American Rumhie chronicles thirteen tracks from Ministry’s ANDRACULOID leaves little doubt that horror Persephone. American Ramble Warner Bros, period circa 1987 to the Observations In

is a slice of the putrid pie as has found a new avenue of present) is a welcome entry to their lega- Human Error

seen from the inside. Though expression in the shocking cy. Here’s the rub: I happen to have liked DSBP Stanley Kubrick and Steven Spielberg’s An eerie, diabolical vibe opens the gates the film largely comes across as sounds of psychobiliy. on this concept-like album from one Al but I thought Ministry's cameo was a mishmash of drunken Whatever mayhem t\ kinda cheesy, especially having those John Thomas, who here goes under the remarks and fuzzy hard rock bands like androids getting killed Roman-to-the- pseudonym Andraculoid. Featuring the _ ^ comic art of Steph Oumais (see sounding song clips, it n Slipknot continue to lions style while the band played on. dark • - raisinlove.com), Andraculoid’s debut nevertheless captures muster, these kids That tune called What About Us? is the obvious impetus behind this release album is an experiment in industrial the defiant soul of psy- 2' have alighted on the and, following on the heels of Tapes of noise terror (think Suicide Commando chobilly rock roll. sacred truth and one Wrath, must mean that someone some- and Noisex) seared by demonic vocals

At its heart are bands * about rock and roll; where is looking for a paycheque. Still, and a blitzkrieg of beats. Although Mr.

like Batmobilc, The Photon it's all about the devil. like I said. Ministry is one of the greats. No only did they sing about physical tor- More Audio Drome Torpedoes and Tim Polecat Amen. S & on page 90! ture, they made it sound like it and gave

Rue Morgue 87 S ilSMWE) aHEIWS

l«H}.iaimB-«QKI feUK-IMlUSSMr-tLHe«SHie sepMl

ClASSiC ITALIAN SOUNDTRACkS FROM DRG A rare European lobby poster for Dario Argento’s Cat O’ Nine Tails.

THE HORROR FILMS COLLECTION Vol. Two Various

Volume two of DRG’s Horror Movie Col-

lection moves into the late seventies to the early nineties, and the broadening of THE THRILLER THE HORROR FILMS musical horizons is noticeable. The disc COLLECTION COLLECTION starts off on familiar territory, slighOy Ennio Morricone Various more upbeat cues for An Open Tomb... GOTHIC DRAMAS Two discs, thirty four selections; this is a As trite as it may seem, probably all the An Empty Coffin, Lady Frankenstein. Ennio Morricone celebration of the Italian soundtrack known King’s foray into suspense and horror music for Italian horror films can The Vienna Strangler. Seven Shawls of The man behind the music for Dario covering the period of 1969 - 1974. The be whittled down to Goblin and Ennio Yellow Silk and Seven Murders For Scot- Argento’s Stendhal Syndrome and John - album aims to run d)e gamut of Morri- Mom'cone. Of course, that’s nowhere land Yard all of which take heavy influ- Carpenter's The Thing apparently had cone's lesser known outings, such as near the truth, as this compilation makes ence from Ennio Morricone (circa Once over twenty westerns under his belt by 1971’s Senza movente (Without Appar- clear. of Granted, most you have proba- Upon a Time in the IVesf). That said, it’s 1969. Once the seventies kicked into ent Motive). 1972’s II diavolo net cerveF bly never even heard of films like It trono interesting to see how took gear, however, the golden age of the to (The Devil in the Brain), 1977's II di fuoco (The Throne of Fire) or La notte Morricone's structures and manipulated cowboys came to a close and Morricone mostro (The Monster) and 1978’s Holo- del diovoli (Night of the Devils) or 7 Note them to suit their own nightmarish ends. was left to cut his teeth into an ever- caust 2000 (The Chosen), among oth- ers. in nero (Seven Notes in Black), not to Two selections from signal a widening array of filmic genres; gangster Surprisingly, there's a dearth of music from Morricone's Argento period, mention the names of the soundtrack turning point for the disc, more into the films, romance and, of course, homor. composers. except for the jazzy Caf O’ Nine Tails In truth, most of the titles on areas of progressive music Following his eariy work with Argento, (widi cues for the Night Walk sequence The Horror Films Collection are decided- that had me remembering those old Tan- Morricone landed a 1977 television and an alternate version of the Final Pur- ly second-tier fright fare from overseas gerine Dream records. With The New series called Drammi gotici (Gothic Dra- suit). True to Morricone’s genius, the with the exception of Argento’s Proffon- York Ripper, composer Francesco De mas) which featured episodes loosely music is subtle and listenable, wistful in do rosso (Deep Red) and maybe Mario Masi takes us into a jazzy prog rock based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft parts and full of the great flavour of the Bava's Terrors nello spazio (Planet of number that could only work in the film and Nicolai Gogol, among others. This Italian westerns and dramas, and with, the Vampires). Nevertheless, this comp (sorry guys!), but the second cue uses compilation brings in the highlights from of course, lots of anxiety and suspense. has been assembled with a lot of heart, strings to add suspense. More synths in the show; musical selections which are Although The Thriller Collection cuts a

not least of it which broad swath through parts of Morri- finds a Deep Red Conquest and prog rock for You'll Die At among the composer's most chilling. Of cone's suite by Giorgio Gaslini that talent, his genius comes out incorporates Midnight before a Lucio Fulci Suite note is La strada della follia, which intact. A worthwhile - and imminently lis- cues written for the film but not neces- which covers music from the late mae- opens up with a children’s choir accom- tenable - collector's item and a fantastic sarily used. The disc is worth the rarity stro’s last three films, namely. Demon. A panied by harp counterpointed by a sub- primer for anyone working in scoring for Argento fans. Marco Werba also Cat in the Brain and The Door to de hint of a threat just - enough to get horror pictures. -GC SSS1/2 pays tribute to Italy's master of the Silence. Eerie, wistful and percussive, under your skin. For Diario de un pazzo, macabre with of original a creepy opener these selections are easily the crowning Morricone samples manic laughter, tor-

music aptly titled Dario’s Theme. We jewels of the compilation. Volume Two mented weeping and piercing screams won’t lie to you; many of the selections ends off with two cues from 1991's Hob- in an eleven-and-a-half montage of are mired in their time (1960s and ’70s) goblin (Hobtitle and Hobterror) which deep-seated lunacy. A few of the other

place if and (Italy), but the thought of brings the ceremony to a close with a selections veer from the path, but over- inhabiting your very own European hor- ghoulish bang. A fine slice of macabre all, Gothic Dramas conjures places sinis- ror movie has resonance with you, this music and a great way to expand your ter, weird and desolate. A fine testament disc is the way to do it. For fans of rare horizons beyond Morricone and Goblin. to Morricone’s impeccable musical repu- Eurohorror all the way. -GC SS -GCSSi1/2 tation. -GCftSiS

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©2001 5KG MUSIC LLC www.dreflniworksrecord}.(om iuLuu),poiiiERmAn50oo.com Andraculoid obviously has got more factor we got on , Fictional chanical vocals. The results are impres- experimenting to do before he reani- has got a dark melancholia at its heart, sive, making this retrospective album a mates his monster to triumphant evident especially on tunes like Hang- fine introduction and/or celebration of undeath, Odservaf/dns in Human Error man, On Helloween, Nightmare and the band’s growing cult status in the reveals that he's mixing the right potions. Dream Of God with their sharp contrast European underground. Like-minded

All it is now is a matter of time. Available of lyrics and upbeat music. peers such as Funker Vogt, Wumpscut from dsbp.com. -GC SSS Fictitious is already a club classic and and VNV Nation, among others, take there’s not much more to be said at this turns remixing some fifteen tracks from

point, other than that this re-release will the band’s career, always adding their anticipate second a album later this year own twists to an already twisted vision. I DIE FORM or early the next, -GC J J S S missed seeing Rammstein in the credits Die Puppe but, overall, Re_Laborat is a great Some Experiences primer of electronic and modern industri- With Shock al elements in dark European music. Metropolis Records -GC SSSS Unquestionably an acquired taste vrithin the land of industrial darkwave. Die Form resists our efforts to pinpoint exactly what they are about and some-

thing tells me that's the way they like it. FICTIONAL Often grating, usually skittish and some- Fictitious [+] times fractured in the most beautiful Metropolis Records ways. Germany's Philipe Fichot and Fictional is the brainchild of Gerrit Elaine P. splatter electro-synthetic art d Thomas, the same mind that gave you ICH DAS la nobody else all over the conventions Ravenous and Funker Vogt (see Audio Re_Laborat of pretty much every established Drome RM#M). Apparently, Thomas Metropolis Records machine based music form out there. formed Fictional specifically as a hybrid Hailed as one of the most important Ger- Their more recent attention to overall between the two bands and - guess man electronic/industrial acts around. HAUJOBB presentation somehow manages to what? - he hits the mark bang on. Those Polarity add significant darkness to an blend the band's notorious sado- of you wiUi a taste for keyboard heavy already dark sub-genre created Metropolis Records by masochistic imagery with an appropri- dub music with a fetish/goth allure will Kraftwerk elaborated Generally known for remix work with and by Ein- ately opposed electronic cross between want this album bad. even if you already sturzende Neubauten and Die bands like ;Wumpscut; and Front Line Knjpps. the ethereal versus the chaotic. And have it {Ficti^ous [+] is tenchically a rere- Comprised of vocalist Stefan Acker- Assembly, Haujobb’s back from a two- somehow it only seems natural to work lease of Fictional’s debut with new art- mann and keyboardist Bruno year hiatus with nineteen new electro- Kramm, backwards towards Metropolis’ two most work and a couple of bonus tracks). Das Ich adds a cyanide capsule based gothic dance-scapes. Aptly of apoc- recent, yet earliest Die Form releases. Though the inclusion of Thomas on alyptic anticipation into a club named. Polarity winds up into digital Die Puppe is the first official recording, vocals significantly reduced the angst sound of harsh noise loops and biome- beat work, down to solemn airy inter- originally put out in a very limited vinyl ludes and repeats the formula for the release. This first tortured step in the next 52 minutes. Subsonic, the only real musical devolution of Die Form shows a standout, leans on some of the more surprising amount of energy actually industrial elements ^at fans of their devoted to song structure, albeit mini- early work will remember, and the mix malist in nature. Elements of loneliness plays neatly off the softer breakdown and automation are still thrust forth in elements. Unfortunately there’s not spite of obviously primitive equipment much to separate the rest. Vocals are but it’s still a daunting task to listen from suitably drawn-out, but the actual lyrics start to finish. Some Experiences With seem like a string of monosyllabic words Shock is a more intriguing step back- plucked randomly from Roget’s German ward, divided into an analogue half titled to English dictionary. forgettable face A Survival & Determination and a more within the crowd of dark electronic disturbingly progressive piece of digital music, Polarity pulls closer to negative work titied Lacerations & Immolation. than positive for the most part. -TD AS The analogue end careens between base industrial and pre-techno German

organry worthy of a giallo flick. On the digital side, Survival Of A Severely Burned Child, while not only a helluva

song title, plays out a quick and painful sound story without words or what you

could even call music. It’s about as hor- rifying as ‘music* can possibly get and for that. Die Fonn should rightly remain

as one of the most horrific industrial- based artists tomomow, today or yester- day, -TD FOETUS Die Puppe - A A 1/2 Flow Some Experiences With Shock -AAA Thirsty Ear

I’ve always wondered what in hell hap- pened to J.G. Thirwell. At very least you come to expect a new release of some sort once every year or so, either under

the Foetus moniker or some other thinly

veiled pseudonym. So when Flow finally

gushed into the Drome, I made absolute

sure I was the one to sink my Drago

claws into it. After no less than fifteen

spins (with Foetus sometimes it takes a

90 Rue Morgue THE DAlVIlSnED "GRAVE DISORDER" t^yo'iiiit - NEWTjEw albumaUAiiTTi outoiif August 21st. I On tour this fall!

"THE ART OF DROWNING See AFI on tour this fall!

SON OF SAjVI "SONGS FROM THE EARTH Featuring: Davey Havok, 1 Todd Youth, Steve Zing 5 anda London Mav little longer to really sink In), I think I've produced aggro-metal sound borrowing got it figured out. The first track is a heavier elements of White Zombie and decent enough opening for a Foetus Rammstein that rightly melds the disc, a sprawling mix of styles and gen- absolute precision of programming with res. leaning slightly more toward indus- the force of raw human emotion. Thrash trial than the better Thirwell material out guitar riffs, metal hooks, throat bending there which flouts classification. Cirrho- vocal pops, keyed FX, power chords and sis Of The Heart, witti its bossa-nova churning drum loops bring a violent rumba, is the typical Foetus deviation, soundscape to five new and four mixed nearly destroying itself with radio friend- tracks. I Am The Gas to Burn and The ly swing-tones and less clever lyric con- War Of Minds might be the best dark tent. However, Grace Of God redeems industrial to come along since Ministry’s things and then some, with classic Thir- Psalm 69. Perhaps the only miscue here well vocalization, humbled lyrics and is the inclusion of a lyric sheet. From catchy rhythm arrangement. Suspect Quest For Nothing: ‘Have a laugh have aims to become part of the best horror a smoke try a jest choke/Jest giggling soundtrack of our age, and Someone laughter/My tas^ earwax drops into your

is without the Who Cares doubt best cut, mouth for years uncounted." But I guess comparable to the better end of Nail Or it's not always about what you sing, but

Hole. -TD SS5S how you sing it, and Testify do it with their guts hanging out their nuts. Be afraid. -TD«SSS1/2

KRISIUN Ageless Venomous Century Media INTEGRITY The brothers of the apocalypse return Closure with a new album boasting more self- Victory Records production, a detail that the band feels Integrity is a peculiarity in the hardcore will lend to a more personal sound. world. Constantly heralded as the Slayer

Funny, since Age/ess Venomous sounds of hardcore in terms of their impact and

100 percent identical in every aspect to influence on the genre, the band’s fol- last year’s Conquerors of Armageddon. lowing is really not within the hardcore

This Brazilian death three-piece’s name community at all. In fact, with each suc- translates from Latin to ‘Seas of Abomi- cessive album, listeners are left to ask, nation," and their latest blasphemous ‘\vhat the hell Is Integrity supposed to outing has them praising the serpent on be?" Originally half , half a semi-concept album based around the metal-core, these guys made a transfor- biblical symbol of evil - big surprise. mation to Ministry’s punk rock offspring.

Unfortunately, the album does not fea- At all times, however. Integrity has ture as many H.P. Lovecraft themes as skipped the majority of the scene's poli- the band did in the past, a somewhat tics in favour of a dark and brooding common subject for (ttie vision of the world, very often entering band does in fact claim Inspiration from the domain of metal. Check out tracks Lovecraft and ). Brutal, like Bloodlust, Delemorte, and Le grinding, groove death metal growling Mmurb. Sound like your average hard- the soundtrack to the blissful end of a core act? With closure we have a mixed hateful human race. Any more ques- bag of rancid treats, including sombre tions? -AL«S* ambient, terrifying noise-core, dark

brooding rock, and of course, evil metal

core. What’s interesting here is the strong Danzig ambience. The album

cover is basically identical to the first Danzig album, Angela Delemorte fea- tures the trademark devil-blues, and the

album indudes a cover of The Misfits’ Hybrid Moments which, unfortunately,

they butcher all to hell. Closure is still worth acquiring, mainly for the band's experimental tracks; Mine, The Martyr

Inside, and Le Mmure, are all intriguing TESTIFY and irresistible slabs of dark noise and Crack the Mind fine samples of what most heavy music Van Richter Records misses. Of course, even after listening to Closure, still don't From Essen Germany, Testif/s fourth we know what the hell Integrity is supposed to be. album Crack the Mind is a remix feast tinkered with by Die Krupps, Die Warzau ALJSA1/2 and Plastic Noise Experience. A highly 5 ' t*, 'ji.

PAR/>LY8EB AGE

EFIPIREGETHE VArUPIRE EnSLAVlHG THE ITIASSES

EniPERPiT LAST RITES

a s 6 s L + R i +

KATAKEYSni BRfOtnETHEUS r.ATAKI.YSf’-T

EPIC ( THE POETRY OF WAR,) darkest material to date, but we're still twice from the same tribute, as Century forced to contend with high-pitched cat- Media gives this album (originally

erwauling, nerdy guitar solos and songs released by Black Sun in 1998) another

that are five minutes too long. Ultimately go around. Fans will remember that, at the music is about as innovative as their one time, was renowned for horror themes are modem, so approach bringing death from the jungle. Satan,

with caution. -AL black magic, undead warriors and tribal

chants were wrapped up in some of the most brutally violent music of the time. This album seems more concerned wift those early days and allows the Scandi-

navians to try their hand at Latin Ameri- DRY KILL LOGIC can evil, the result being a host of new Darker Side of Nonsense Horror Show songs that can be comfortably filed ROADRUNNER RECORDS Century Media under “cheesy but good." Sepulchral

Normally, I don’t expect much from American power metallers Iced Earth Feast is another one of those tribute bands that look like this (braids, goa- have a history of delving into the dark albums where the bands don’t stray from tees, strategically pierced faces), but I stuff, usually through concept pieces, a the tributee, but here it actually ends up was seriously enticed by the very sick tactic probably used most prominently in being the reason the album works. and disturbing amputee artwork that this particular musical niche. Just take a Bands that we normally do our best to SEPULCHRAL FEAST - A decorates the Darker Side of Nonsense. glance at the band’s history: The Night of TRIBUTE TO SEPULTURA ignore (Gooseflesh, Guardinian) are It looked like an artistic interpretation of the Stormrider was a concept album Various actually quite listenable for sticking to drawing inspiration from a based around a man’s pact with evil Century Media the bloody roots. All in all an effective, if particularly twisted nightmare. Unfortu- forces of nature and his eventual fate in unnecessary, tribute to the original pur- Easily one of the most influential metal nately for us however. Dry Kill Logic's hell; Burnt Offerings contained a 16- veyors of . -AL bands of the 1990s, Sepultura benefits S 44 music is not nearly as inspired as the minute musical take on Dante’s Inferno, band's artwork, and sounds just like while The Dark Saga was an entire what you'd expect. Scream-driven album based around the band's interpre- hardroc^ crap with melodic passages tation of Todd McFarlane’s Spawn. So it dedicated to teen angst, anger and is not at all out of character for Iced aggression. This is one of those bands Earth to now release an album in which that will no doubt be advertised as “defy- (almost) every song is centered on some ing easy classification," and “pushing famous horror villain, from the Wolf Man musical boundaries,' so we'll let the cat and Dracula to the Mummy. Unfortunate- out of the bag. Sounds like: Kom/Slip- ly Iced Earth are and will always be a knot. File Under: New metal. Nice try power metal band, a style of music that guys, but you ain't fooling anybody. ages as well as homogenized milk. Fans

-AL DOA may say Horror Show is Iced Earth’s

Abbra Cadaver

It’s official. Cradle of Filth is the world's biggest band, a fact that has lead to much resentment from the band's corpse-painted contemporaries. While the idea seems strange that such a group - whose thematic obsessions include

blood soaked lesbian nuns - could be mainstream, there are certain aspects to the band that definitely separate them from their black metal brethren. Singer Dani Filth's prose is surprisingly elegant, as he rasps and shrieks about moonlit graveyards, misty forests, and vampyre temptresses. At the same time, the use of gothic keyboards and female operatic vocals add to that Hammer film charm.

Perhaps most refreshing is the absence of a bitter-tasting right-wing agenda

being pushed down our throats. Even the title of this latest CD seems to betray

the band's more lighthearted approach to life and death. Regardless, the UK

blasphemers are about to make the big leap to Sony, the first such step for their

genre, but before Cradle of Filth begins their trek into unknown territory, they offer

the fans a self-released disc, with the fans in mind. Bitter Suites to Succubioffers

three new versions of old classics, a Sisters of Mercy cover, and six slices of orig- inal sin. The re-recordings (Principle Of Evil Made Flesh. Summer Dying Fast, and The Black Goddess Rises) are basically identical to the original tracks, and are recommended only for those who worship the band with candles and incense. track is an excellent idea, not only because Cra-

dle of Filth has been so instrumental in inviting black metal to embrace its obvi- ous gothic leanings. The original material on Bitter Suites has been touted as a

return to pure black metal, but don't worry, we didn't buy into it either. Sure, there are not as many keyboards, but Dani's banshee vocals and the group's dark

romantic qualities are omnipresent, making it only a slight musical left turn. Check out Suicide And Other Comforts for a perfect example of COF's sweeping

sense of style and ability to mix bitter aggression with haunting beauty. For fur-

ther proof check out this CD’s multimedia on the Cradle of Fear horror film, as well as an upcoming Cradle of Filth DVD featuring the twisted Circus Of Horrors. -AL 44441/2

94 Rue Morgue riEOREcs.roM BUCK CILEBRATIOK

Im ^LC'ctRic Hci

HE ElECTRIC HELIFIRE CLUB THE TASTE OF SIIE Electronomicon • CLP 1166* The bnllant and ambitious new studio aibum from these elec- tro-black metal pioneers, Elecironomicon merges past with future in an engaging sonic maelstrom of Sat^ic proportions! Recorded at the infamous Abyss Studios in Sweden with prodocer/engineer Tommy Tagigren and guest ^>pearances by members of Hypocrisy. Dark Funeral, and Irt Aetumum. Scare the bfriesus out of your neighbors this Halloween*

[reinforced industrial hitsf '-.'*

IM stores mow ICnSFERATIi Cleopatra Films proudly presents the ultimate horror classic, F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu' Watch this chilling spectacle come to life with the addi- tion of a haunting gothic industrial soundtrack fea- turing Rozz Williams of Christian Death. The Electric Hellflre Club and others'

sis here is more on raging anger than genuine fear, but Van Richter has effec- TvJC pRon CRYPTo/^YI tively sewn up the heretofore ripped underbelly of the electronica genre. CRYPTOPSY -AL SSI/2 Blasphemy Made Flesh None So Vile Century Media Much has been said of the musical extremities pushed by Montreal’s Cryptopsy and the band's expansion into

progressive new school hardcore. It seems you can’t read about the Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge or

Coalesce without running into Cryptopsy at some point. MIND RIPPER - THE VAN RICHTER REMIXES What is never discussed, however, is the band's lyrics and the changes they’ve Various gone through with the introduction of a new lead singer, a self-professed 'huge Van Richter horror buff." But before him, Cryptopsy was ruled by the sick, genuinely disturb- ing diatribe of lead singer Worm. Although his stage name might suggest other- If staring at you on the front wise, Worm was probably more intelligent than most would realize, dravring from cover of this compilation isn't clue ...AND OCEANS his degree in psychology and English Lit. to get into enough, this album showcases the dark- Allotropic/Metamorphic • the mind of serial murderers and deviants and trying er sides of . Much of the Genesis of Dimorphism to fathom why they do the ghastly things they do. materiai is danceable, but overall the (A.M.G.O.D.) Both Blasphemy Made Flesh and None so Vile offer music presents a fairly heavy guitar Century Media equal amounts of off the wall musical extremities, laced electronica with the emphasis on Now there’s a title and a half. And what’s with Vile coming out a notch ahead due to improve- angst and aggression. That doesn't stop with the songs? Intelligence Is Sexy, ments in production. By the same token, Blasphe- things from geteng dim, however, with TBA In A Silver Box. For a band clearly my's rawer sound is complemented by slightly more most of the artists here bordering on the written into the black metal book, ...And perverse lyrics. Defenestration's description of a gothic and apocalyptic. Plastic Noise Oceans are on a different page altogeth- young girl falling to her death being a consistently Experience represents solidly dark ana- er. The drag is that their obvious attempt disturbing moment. But like any fan of the band log beats witf) a really creepy voice-over, at being “eccentric” makes them come knows, picking favourites is impossible. Each album while Fair Sex prefer dreamy, gothic off as the Rush of black metal, what with (there are four in total) has been a new step in musical perplexity. Century Media overtones which call to mind a Blade the futuristic aesthetic and hokey key- has re-released these first two albums with the promise of new artwork and not Runner aesthetic. But the highlight for boards. And although the band never much else. What is new is pretty insignificant, so you may not want to run out and readers of this magazine will no doubt really comes across as horrific as the buy these again if you already own them. But even if you do, check those lyrics be Toronto’s own Death And Horror Inc., majority of their dark metal brethren, we again, you may have missed something the first time around. Certainly not for the back from the rusty industrial graveyard couldn't ignore the comparisons drawn squeamish, but if you're reading this review, we re sure you're not. -AL with another dosage of dismal future between their music and horror/dark sci- Blasphemy Made Flesh - J S S 4 apocalyptic hell noise. Again the empha- fi movies like Event Horizon, Aliens, None So Vile- an

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Blade Runner and even some graver, Humanicide 666 seem to aspire to topics ing in water-logged trenches), silly ultra- personal grief and all around melan- Satanic fare. We suspect their anarchic beyond theological horror. That's all violence, and thick, mindless riffing. With choly. But if you’re like me, you’ve and often goofy disposition will alienate decent and good by the usual black too many extreme metal bands taking become a little sick of this "I shed tears most fans of the genre, but A.M.G.O.D. metal standards, but if you look too themselves way too seriously. Jungle in the graveyard"-style . adds some refreshing possibilities to the deep. Enthroned may leave you with a Rot stand as a refreshing throwback to Whatever happened to the pure fun of shrieking vocals, blasting beats, and much more bitter taste in your mouth the genre's original message; kill, maim, fusing horror and pop music? Daeonia creepy lyrics for which the black metal than you initially bargained for. destroy. aren't a terrible band or anything, but sub-genre is so well known. -AL 4S1/2 -AlU -ALSSSS1/2 there really isn’t a lot of genuine emotion that comes across on “personal" songs

like Bitter Sweet and The Ghosts Of

Christmas Past. Sorry goth kids, but for

all their best intentions, Daeonia aren't your next Perfect Circle. -AL S S

ENTHRONED JUNGLE ROT DAEONIA Armoured Bestial Hell Dead and Buried Crescendo Blackened Olympic Candlelight

I can’t deny it; I’ve got a big soft spot in Jungle Rot play simplistic, old school Naming themselves after “a dark and my heart for black metal. There's just death metal. Their approach to the mysterious land out of an ancient forgot- something about the campy corpse genre is primitive, brain dead, and bru- ten myth," Daeonia is pretty much text- DEFILED paint, the shrieking vocals and the “A for tally effective, like a horde of somnam- book gothic rock, and not really the Ugliness Revealed effort" devotion to heresy that does it for bulant zombies on autopilot ripping a metal band which they are being adver- Necropolis Like the majority me. What I really don't like about the small town to shreds. Likewise the lyrics tised as. Hailing from the Netherlands, of death metal's scene, though, is when bands lose touch are juvenile and unduly simplified with these guys demonstrate their European undead crop, Defiled play brutal, vile, with their clownish roots and get into un- lines like “We kill, we maim, destroy at heritage by limiting instrumentation to ominous, and sickening music. The humorous topics like war and extermina- the snap of a finger/ No fear, no pain, guitars, drums, and keyboards, as meaty, disjointed riffs are like rotting tion. Enthroned follow the black bible turn Earth to a burning cinder." The opposed to the tendency to merge Goth flesh coming off the bone, and the vocals guidelines pretty closely here, with the whole ordeal reads like a Sargent Rock with electronica. The band draws influ- call to mind AC/OC's Bon Scott choking iead screecher going on about the blood comic book, due in large part to the ence from such sources as Tolkien, Hux- on a throatful of puke. All of this is very of the Virgin Mary and such things, but band’s war theme (jungle rot is the foot- ley, Sisters of Mercy, and The Mission odd, though, since these death heads the album art, title and songs like rotting disease soldiers get from stand- U.K., which translates well into songs of from Tokyo (of all places) say that horror

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' Domain of DcMh, MORnCIAN’s. / ' magnum oplM shows the band continuing to mSM both stylistically J' CoagulaiinJ tire extremes of goregrind and deafti ft^al.-r pand coDccptuw^ mangling and EXHUMED deliver blazing, bloodsoaked brutal|wj|*v ovcrwhclmiogjnnih^ encounter. } forged in fire and formed in flame. Now available: LimTRf* / edition saw shaped CD with bonus track! BOKimflOF - c;;i _L

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Rue Morgue 99 movies ate too frightening to watch, and spawned all those gore grind bands with lauds those accomplishments by show- gore real death too gruesome to write about. lyrics that sound like they’re straight out casing the bands who took up the

Coupled with their belief that Satanic of a medical textbook? The answer rests grind cause. Unfortunately, the entire bands are really just a bunch of kids try- in the blood-soaked legacy of UK’s Car- album gets lost in a convoluted predica- ing to piss people off (fancy that), you’re cass, whose lyrics really were taken ment of chaotic grind blasts and lyrical probably wondering what attracted these from medical textbooks, courtesy of themes that could only make sense in

If Car- guys to the genre in the first place. frontman/medical student Jeff Walker, college funeral studies programs.

Cover art by Wes Benscoter (who’s who penned such over-the-top titles as cass can hear this from that big morgue smiling. done artwork for Slayer, Kittle, Nile and Crepitating Bowel Erosion, Heptatic Tis- in the sky. I’m sure they’re others) would seem to indicate some- sue Fermentation, and Empathological -ALSiSS1/2 ttiing seriously sinister at work behind Necroticism. The fact that Carcass were the sounds, but there's not much terror all vegetarians is probably not a coinci- to be found on tracks like Lies For A Lie REQUIEMS OF REVULSION dence, but it makes for interesting trivia. or Uncovered Plots. Defiled may seem • A TRIBUTE TO CARCASS It's probably safe to say that the outfit brutal, but they don’t have what it takes Various took death metal to artistic, musical and to push the envelope enough to really Necropolis Records lyrical extremities that have yet to be get your attention. -AL S S S Ever wonder what in God’s name matched, and Requiems of Revulsion

CLAN OF KYMOX NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND

Merging haunting and atmospheric synth structures with a variety of dark rhythms. Moles from the Underground is a melting pot of the Clan of Mymox's past, present and falore. FRONTLINE ASSEMBLY Sore to mesmeriie and inspire any fan of gothic, darkwave, or art-. EPITATH Bill leeb [DeleriamI and Chris Peterson gel back to their CLAh Op XymOX roots and replant them with front Line Assembly Epitaph. This latest sonic attack is possibly their best album to dale IXi«p;5fY(rr.'.r.|KvntC featuring building intros, trancy synth tines, pulsing beats, A and solid melodies. The first pressing of Epitaph will be a limited edition digi-pac with a bonus track. Epitaph's contagious anthems for the new future of industrial music

will eipand, awe, and captisate your mind until there is

nothing left but silence. Auailable in a limited edition digi- pak which includes a bonus track!

PETER MURPHY ALIUEJOSTFORLDUE

As a member of the early art rock pioneers known as Bauhaus, Peter Murphy has impacted the world with his deep sensual singing Pef;ef Mwf and heart-felt lyrics. After the break-up of Bauhaus, Peter Murphy began a solo career legacy; selling out shows and wooing crowds

all over the globe. Now Metropolis Records is giving a taste of his live shows to people who have never witnessed this powerful vocalist, and a kindling of memories for those that have, alive Justforlove is the fully Hninlerrupled set from the El Roy show in Ins Angeles on November Sflth during the Peter Murphy Just for Love Tour 2000, featuring Peter OiSlephano on guitar. The entire live

acoustic disc is brilliantly recorded, crisp and clear, with thick rich vocals, and elegant treatments. The tracks flow smoothly and

peacefully beginning to end. All the Peter Murphy favorites are included such as “Indigo Eyes,* “I'd fall With Your Knife,* “A Strange kind of love,* and “Cuts You Up.' alive Justforlove also features a bones disc, containing the entire live acoustic encore with former Bauhaus member Oavid J from the December 1st show in los Angeles. This supplemental disc features three versions of the Bauhaus t songs 'Who Killed Mister Moonlight,* “All We Ever Wanted,* and 'Hope.* Peter Murphy alive Justforlove is an incredible album per- fect for those quiet nights alone or tor a romantic interlude with someone special.

Released S Marketed by Metropolis Records - for forther iofo: wwiw.metropolis-records.cooi

Frank says: like Roadkill.”

www.rue-moraue.com

^ 9^ Visit Often

100 Rue Morgue —

The Mystery Continues Mystery Rummy Case No 3: Jekyll & Hyde U.S. Game Systems Card Game - www.usgamesinc.com

From the creators of Mystery Rummy Cases No. 1

and 2 {Jack the Ripper and Murders in the Rue

Morgue - see R/l^10). comes the third installment

in this rare line of horror-themed parlour card games: Jekyll & Hyde.

The game is basically a version of rummy that

incorporates characters and situations from the famous story. Players score

points by making combinations that correspond to the states of the doctor’s

split personality. You win when you “become" either Dr. Jekyll Mr. GAMES by Marco Pecota or Hyde. lot A of people won't see much In a game like this, but I loved it. The cards RULES; Gunivore is Great, Omnivore is Ok, Ve^an Sucks are artful and garish and go a long way to adding a sinister dimension to a straight-forward card game. Also, the elements from the story have been

worked Into the game in such a way as to actually generate some mystery.

Whether you can actually get behind a game like this in the age of PCs and

PlayStations or whether you are a collector of rare horribilia, Jekyll & Hyde won't disappoint.

PLAYABILITY: Omnivore GRAPHICS: Carnivore SHIVERS; Omnivore

Back to the Past

Necronomicon - The Gateway to Beyond Dracula - The Last Sanctuary Dreamcatcher PC Game 006 0©0©OOC* ©0 www.dreamcatchergames.com ' ‘ * • '

Buy It! Inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, Necronomi-

- con places your character beyond science and into a ^ Diablo II Expansion Set dark and eerie realm of fantastic shadows. Your friend's Lord of Destruction life is at stake, and it's up to you to solve puzzles and Blizzard Entertainment discover a mysterious apparatus that will save him from PC Game - www.blizzard.com cosmic doom. A myriad of unearthly sounds and effects

What Is the best endorsement that a reviewer can give a accentuate the dark trappings to be found in Necronom-

That it game? he bought with his own money! That, gentle icon, making it an eerie experience if you dim the lights

^ reader, is I ^ in fact the case. couldn't wait for a review copy of and lose yourself in the frightmare.

Diablo II Expansion Set to land in our offices, so I went out Unfortunately, the game has been designed to work on really low-end PCs, and and secured I tell myself a copy and can you there are no therefore comes off as pretty dated fare, even though it was released earlier this regrets. Close on the heels of the original Diablo II release year. Case in point; although Necronomicon is a first person RPG, your character

(see RMHId), the set expands the existing universe of dark doesn’t actually walk across the screen. Instead, you point and click with your sword and sorcery. The fact that Diablo II: Lord of Destruc- mouse to jump to selected areas. This happenstance makes it impossible for you to tion has become the fastest selling expansion set ever, shat- get sucked into the horror of the thing. tering sales records worldwide with over one million copies All this also holds true for the second release by Dreamcatcher, called Dracula - sold, ought to tell you something. Last Sanctuary. j The To its credit, Dracula does have 1 Here’s what you get; two new character classes (Druid some really great “cinemagraphics" that kick off the and Assassin), an entire new Act (the mysterious Barbarian game (I’m a sucker - pun intended - for high quality

Highlands with a slew of new monsters and an expansion graphics in movie form, and this game delivered with a into the Diablo mythos), item swapping capabilities, a signifi- wicked intro). Once that’s through though, we’re back cantly improved hirable NPC interface, lots of additions to ^ pointing and jumping. the Items list and interactive environments which allow you lo the game, you play Jonathan Harker and you *’ to carve your own path through Act V by destroying break- must rid Mina of the vampire’s curse. The hunt takes able wall sections, barricades and siege towers. Think of this the player through the story’s staples; turn-of-the-cen- update as MORE, more fun to play, more action and gore tury London and Transylvania, an insane asylum, and more of that eerie soundtrack. This is definitely a PC * Dracula's castle and an underground prison littered staple; game to know Diablo is to love Diablo. with the bones of forgotten men. Although the visuals do have a creepy charm to

them, I can’t say I recommend either game, unless you happen to be particularly PLAYABILITY: Carnivore GRAPHICS: Carnivore adept at or interested in puzzle-solving. SHIVERS: Carnivore PLAYABILITY: Omnivore GRAPHICS: Vegan SHIVERS: Carnivore

Rue Morgue 101 ZOMBIE SOLDIER DEATH ACTION FIGURE US $69.95 to $89.95

Jason, Michael. Freddy blah, blah blah. At some

point, having a gory toy is a good thing only if the toy is

gory. So what’s in a name, after all? This one is - named Gregory and he's a Zombie Soldier

good enough! The little bugger comes in fully posable 1:6 scale body, authentic uniform and accessories and, best of all, realistic battle WACKY WOBBLERS damage, the likes which has his ribcage US $12.99 exposed and his brains spilling out the side of his head. saw those Count Chocula wobblers, we A truer patriot you won’t likely find in any history book! Ever since we - - but these Whether your subscription to Soldier of Fortune were hooked. Call us crazy er, whacky magazine leaves you wanting more blood for your Whacky Wobblers are the desktop application of choice for of things. Fitted with buck or whether you are simply a lover of all things those who discern about these types that wobble at every movement, zombie, Gregory and his mates are the definite fit for the bill. So overproportioned heads manicly nodding to go ahead, show off the battle scars you wished you had with this these critters endear themselves by army of soldiers not-quite blown to smithereens. Bedecked with your every casual remark. comics bloodied clothing, torn limbs, hanging jaws and empty eye-sock- Done up in the style of characters from dimestore are only ets. these Death Action figures will follow your every command, of a bygone era, the Wacky Wobblers not good

providing you don’t stray from the time-honoured “At ease!” quality, they’re unique. Perfect for your dashboard. Choose

Available from Village Comics at 212-777-2770. from El Diablo, Demonique, Johnny Fang and Ed Roth’s Rat Fink. Go ahead, your hot rod's dying to be haunted. Available from www.funko.com

GHOSTS OF MARS COLLECTIBLE TRADING CARDS US $5 per pack

We know what you’re thinking: why would anyone col-

lect trading cards based on a movie that has a villain

named Big Daddy Mars who looks suspiciously like Mari-

lyn Manson right down to the piercings? You overlook

the obvious: these Ghosts of Mars trading cards will

probably outdo the film on every level. At any rate

creators have certainly done their bit to ensure

that the cards stick around way past the whole

week the film is in theatres.

The cards are easily the best I’ve seen; they’re BLAIR’S DEATH SAUCES glossy and colourful, have pertinent character US $44.95 per six bottles information on the reverse along with a helpful Sweet Satan in Hellfire, they don't call this Death Sauce for nothing! Fact You Did Not Know (such as that the afore-

Actually, prior to the arrival of these fine sauces at the Rue Morgue mentioned Big Daddy has over two-hundred pierc- to their authenticity. Don’t make the offices, we had serious doubts as ings). Best of all though, is that these decks don’t same mistake we did! One tight dab of this stuff and you’ll be bawling have the dubious one out of ten cards that are like a baby as you run for the keg! fuzzy and definitely not worth collecting. Of course, if you dig that kind of masochism then you can now murder Even viewers who are not going to get much available Original Death, Jalapino your bowels in any of the six ways; farther than Ice Cube in the credits will want to Death, Sudden Death, After Death, Salsa de la Muerte (for the non-grin- check out a limited edition John Carpenter card Effects is gos) and the absolutely terrifying Possible Side Sauce. This no signed by the master himself, buried in only a

- mild variations in this lineup, the ones joke although there are some few of these decks. We’re not going to lie to whole lot but. please, that say hot are CRAZY HOT. Our advice; buy the you; we doubt G/iosfs of Mars will even make yourself favour read the labels first. Each comes with its own do a and it to orbit, but the rabid Carpenter fanatics will want to scoop

plastic skull key chain for added value. Last rites not included. these up, ’cause we’re talking about the guy who made Halloween, after

Available from wwrw.deathsauce.com. all. Available on Ebay! (www.ebay.com)

102 Rue Morgue .

LIVING DEAD DOLLS II US $24.99 to $29.99

There is absolutely no truth to the old adage that says you can get enough of a good thing. Look into the eyes of these adorable

kids and try saying it to their faces! Of course you can’t. That’s

because you can never say “no" to kids, particularly when they bear outward signs of advanced demonic possession.

The Living Dead Dolls are, bar none, the most beautifully

twisted idea that has been brought to life for our collective edification. Series two offers a schoolhouse theme with a

sacrilegious Catholic Girl, a bleeding Prom Queen, a goth-

ic cheerleader, little Lou Sapphire (that’s Lucifer for the slow ones out there), not to mention a pre-adolescent but

post-execution Lizzie Borden. Halloween’s around the cor-

ner and the class of 666 will be letting out, ready to run into your waiting arms! Available from www.mezco.net.

LORD OF THE RINGS COLLECTIBLES SERIES 1 & 2 Busts: US $50 to $75 Statues: US $100 to $150

Even though J.R.R. Tolkien’s book has always

been associated with sword and sorcery, it's

easy to overlook the enduring impact it has had

TORTURED SOULS on fans of horror. Gollum, the Wringwraiths, the US $7.99 to $9.99 Dark Lord Sauron and the land of Mordor,

Will you get a load of these guys?! The Swiss Family Robinson they where the shadows lie. No doubt about it, Lord ain't! We told you about Clive Barker and Todd McFarlane's unholy of the Rmgs is an epic narrative of good against

union back in RMU20. but we never thought the resulting abominations the deepest, darkest, dankiest forces of evil, in all could be so wickedly cool! Of course, these gruesome figures now of their slithering glory! proudly reside at the RM offices, and we can't get over how detailed That’s why we suggest you line up to check these and truly twisted they are. absolutely incredible collectibles from Sideshow

McFarlane wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to revolutionize Toys, the folks who specialize in the classic mon- the toy industry, and Barker was the guy to put him over the edge. sters of yesteryear. The series will bring you From the grotesque Scythe-Meister to the unbelievable Mongroid, to satiate your morbid eye, including the

these Tortured Souls are for those who can handle body horror all the Ores (a decrepit Ore Overseer and a horrify-

way. In other words; you. Get the set at www.spawntoys.com. ing Lurtz Ore). The likenesses of these figures

are unnervingly detailed with human and hobbit features that

MASKS FROM DISGUISE INC. are truly uncanny in their authenticity. In fact, it's hard to

US $10.99 to $11.99 believe they could have been done any better.

There’s something about a good Series Two offers more horrors in the shapes of a Moria mask that always scares people. Ore Swordsman, Ore Warrior and Pitmaster, Look at Michael Myers; he knew a Uruk-Kai Scouts and the terrifying Lurtz Captain, along with thing or two about instilling fear. members of the greater Fellowship

(Legolas, Gimli and Boromir the traitor). If I’d known less. I would

have said that Michael Sideshow seems poised to save the best

bought his at Disguise for last with Series Three and beyond (we’re

Inc., the folks respon- waiting for the Black Riders. Gothmog, Lord

sible for the lineup of the Nazgul, and - our fave - the ghastly The

of truly hideous Mouth of Sauron on his undead horse!). Heads visages you see before you. Far from merely covering up: these babies are going to be raining out of up your head, these things literally jump off your face the sky when the movie hits theatres later this with their original gruesome likenesses. Too many year and you may want to start clearing off to choose from, but here are a few ideas for the shelves. Beware the messengers of the you as you plan your Hallows Eve. dark.... Go to www.disguise.com. Available from www.sideshowtoy.com.

Rue Morgue 103 /

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Mcrcwri^ TVicAtrc's RAbio Pr»>t»McfiOM of THE WAR OF THE WOnLDS VSA ' !9?» StArriM5 Dam ScvfWOMr. OrsoM Welles amO FrAnU HeAOicU Dlrecfeb bvj OrsoM Welles amO PamI StewArt

WritteM bvf HowArO Koeb bAscO om a storvj bvi H.G. Wells

he Mercury Theatre's radio adaptation of H.G. station. As Americans listened intently, living being had f J Wells' The (Par ofWorlds in 1938 is still consid- reports trickled in that a § ered to be the most famous in radio history. Not emerged from the cylinder, a tentacled only did the broadcast capture the cars of six million thing with black eyes and saliva dripping

its "It's large as a bear people, it also convinced an estimated one million of from huge mouth. them that they were in the midst of a hostile takeover by and it glistens like wet leather,” Phillips Martians who were invading Grover's Mill, New Jersey and blurted into the airwaves. giant surrounding cities. What initially was said to be a When Orson Welles initially decided to go foi-ward with a radio meteorite speeding toward the earth eventual- fleet hostile in York's back- show, it did not cross his mind that the adaptation would be taken ly morphed into a of Martians New too as truth. In fact, he was initially disappointed with the script, yard. The simulated mayhem was orchestrated perfectly, maybe claiming that nobody would believe a word of it. “We've got to do perfectly. something about this." he was heard to say. Momentarily, the CBS switchboard, the police and newspapers A series of accidents and coincidences transformed the presenta- were inundated with telephone calls. People took to the streets with the tion in the coming day. Under the direction of Welles (the voice of handkerchiefs over their mouths to protect themselves from

Profcs.sor Pierson), the first script was scrapped and hastily rewrit- noxious gas which was supposedly being released by the alien ten to simulate a real newscast along the lines of Archibald invaders. Adding to the hysteria were reports from people who MacLeish's radio play Air Raul. In preparation for the broadcast claimed they had actually seen the Martians. Frank Rcadick, who played Carl Phillips, repeatedly listened to a At some point, Dan Seymour interrupted the broadcast to recorded radio report of the Hindenburg crash. Then CBS censors announce that it was only a dramatization, but the damage had pa.ssed the script back with name changes, including the substitu- been done. The throngs packed highways, train stations and bus tion of the fictitious Park Plaza with the real Hotel Biltmore. terminals in a mad rush to escape the alien menace, but as the International events also played a part; growing concerns in the evening progressed, it became clear that the broadcast was purely news caused radio listenership to increase exponentially in the fiction. The next day. newspapers across the US reported on the week leading up to The War of the Worlds. A few days prior, Mus- greatest hoax in modern times. solini had issued proclamations in Italy to ban the films of Chaplin. Even though Welles' War of the Worlds is remembered with Marx and the Ritz Brothers and, worse. Hitler had recently roiled fondness, there is a darker side to the story in a later broadcast in

into Austria. To add to the climate of fear and anticipation, it was Spanish. After realizing it was a hoax, listeners in Ecuador the of Halloween. 1938. America was waiting for something to attacked the local radio station, set it aflame, and killed 15 people happen. in the process. Back at home, the participants in the New York pro- At the time. Mcrcui-y Theatre On the Air typically took a small duction were propelled to stardom: scriptwriter Howard Koch went share of the radio audience (3.6 percent), who preferred to tune on to write Casahhmea: musical director Bernard Hermann landed into Edgar Bergen's and Charlie McCarthy's popular ventriloquist PsyefuK and executive producer John Houseman went on to win an act on NBC. After listening to Bergen's opening comedy skit, how- O.scar for his performance in The Paper Chase. As for the 23-year- ever. an estimated four million people simultaneously began dial old Welles, he went on to direct Citizen Kune and become an icon switching, missing the disclaimer for Welles' production of The of radio, stage and screen. War of the Worlds. Dials landed on WABC just as "newscaster" Now sixty-three years old. War of the Worlds still holds up as a Carl Phillips announced that a large meteorite had crashed on work of striking quality. Welles' genius lay in his ability to isolate Wilmuth Farm in Grover’s Mill. "It doesn't look very much like a a prevalent fear of his time and to play on it. Stardust Records has classic Halloween meteor... it looks more like a huge cylinder." Phillips deadpanned recently re-relcascd the Mercury Theatre's to the audience. broadcast on CD. which also features a highly acclaimed produc- Intermittently, updates from Grover's Mill interrupted what tion of Brain Stokers Dracida, performed by Welles for CBS' seemed to be a scheduled musical program on WABC. and then radio show First Person Singular. newscasts were intciTuptcd as the reporters lost contact with the -Mary-Beth Hollyer

104 Rue Morgue TREAT YOURSELF HRILLS AND CHILLS

The Legend of Hell House

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Ws-ivtfu

The Omen 4-pack

Phantom of the Paradise T OR DVD SEPTEMBER OWN THEM ON VHS

O 2001 TM^letnCenhuyFoi Horn Enteitainmeni.lnc. All Rights Reserved IwmtieihCefltwyFai'. 'Fn* and their associaled logos are ihe prwerty M Twentieth CerUry Fn Film CorpnAon .

FINAIiY. .

the one day of the year where you get to scare the aTiS#lute hell right outta them. ..and leave 'em lying on the ground crying for Mama. DON'T BLOW IT.

•iSguiSe

Halloween's not complete without a great Disguise™,

disguise, com

Availa1}le at retailers including Spencers. Spirit. Hallov.’een Adventure. Halloween Scene. & Gags ft Games.

€> 2001 Sisgulse, a diTislon ol C^sar.