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Amicus The Studio That Dripped Blood edited by Allan Bryce (Dark Side/Stray Cat). When people think of British horror, the first name that comes up is Hammer. But, as a youth of the sixties/early seventies, I’m well aware of the stiff competition Hammer got from Amicus. Our local theaters/drive-ins regularly booked Tales From The Crypt, Asylum, and From Beyond The Grave. Amicus featured some of Britain’s best talents, such as Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Caroline Munro, Susan Penhaligon (okay, maybe we’re putting her into fairly lofty status, but she always did a professional job and was certainly cute) and directors Roy Ward Baker and Freddy Francis. Anyway, this is a fact filled overview of the Amicus studio, as well as critical analysis of their films. As with all Dark Side publications, there are dozens of rare stills and reprints of posters.

Asian Cult Cinema by Thomas Weisser (Boulevard). With such a buzz about collecting/viewing Asian films, one needs a reliable source for information. There are plenty of books on the market and this is the best. Short, well written reviews make this an easy book to digest. Thanks to Thomas Weisser, my “want list” for Asian films has tripled.

The B-Movie Survival Guide by Gary Cook, Debbie Rochon, and Peter Schmideg. Illustrations by Dave Gatzmer. (Wild Things, 529 S. 7th. Street #219, Minneapolis, MN 55415). Looking for substance? Well this ain’t the place. However, if you want some humorous observations concerning “B Movies” and light reading for the beach, this could be the answer. The Survival Guide has plenty of tips for avoiding lunatics, monsters, the devil, and mad scientists. There are some industry war stories from people such as Fred Olen Ray, Ron Bonk, and Lloyd Kauffman. Joe Bob Briggs wrote its introduction. Maybe it’s not essential, but, more often than not, it’s fun.

Beyond Terror the films of Lucio Fulci by Stephen Thrower (FAB Press). It’s a safe bet that most people who check out VC are Lucio Fulci fans thanks to his stunning horror films, such as House By The Cemetery, Zombie, New York Ripper, and, especially, The Beyond. But Stephen Thrower’s 311 page tome covers a lot more than that. He details Fulci’s westerns, mysteries, science fiction, and even children films. There are sharp critical essays written by someone who knows the genius of Fulci, but that not everything he did was a masterpiece. When on, especially in his horror period, Fulci had few peers. His violent imagery is something few can forget. Besides detailing Fulci’s fifty-two feature films, there are also filmographies for his major stars. Scores of photos and poster reprints flesh out the writing. Now that so many of Fulci’s films are being released on DVD, this is a much needed biography of one of the horror genres most creative directors.

Blood & Black Lace by Adrian Luther Smith ( DarkSide Publishing). This amazing book has to be seen to be believed. As far as text goes, it has to be viewed as the authoritive tome on the Italian sex/horror genre. The works of the masters such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci are covered, but so are more obscure films like The Iguana With The Tongue Of Fire. Smith's brief critiques are informative and trustworthy. He's capable of cramming a lot of information into a small space. Even if Blood & Black Lace wasn't overflowing with more facts than one brain could ever hope to remember, it would be easy to recommend it. On every page there are rare photos and reprints of original posters. I find myself continually coming back to Blood & Black Lace to look at the pictures. The most frustrating thing about Blood & Black Lace is the sheer number of films discussed which aren't readily available for viewing. I really want to see every movie Adrian Luther Smith writes about in Blood & Black Lace. It's going to be a lot of work tracking the more obscure titles down. I just hope I'm up for the challenge.

Cine East Hong Kong Cinema Through The Looking Glass by Miles Wood (FAB Press, P.O. Box 178, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 2YU, England). Nice quick read which should be entertaining and informative for Asian film fans. In Cine East, Miles Woods conducts a series of interviews with directors, actors, and actresses that give a glimpse into the world of movie making in Hong Kong. Some of the people written about in Cine East are Peter Chan, Maggie Cheung, Joe Ma, Simon Yam, and Johnnie To. Don’t let Wood’s straight forward style fool you. This might be easy to read, but there are plenty of facts to digest. When contacting FAB, always ask about their other publications.

Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again by John Stanley (P.O. Box 687, 1082 Grand Teton Drive, Pacifica, CA 94944). Rivaling Michael Weldon’s The Psychotronic Video Guide is John Stanley’s horror encyclopedia. There are close to 500 pages of solid reviews written by Stanley. Like Weldon’s book, this one has some unnecessary reviews. Do we really need to cover Honey I Shrunk The Kids? Still, there’s enough info on obscure films within its pages to entice all VC readers to pick it up.

Essential Guide To Deadly China Dolls by Rick Baker & Toby Russell (Eastern Heroes Publications). These days, everyone seems to have the Asian film flu. One of the many reasons for this phenomenon is the actresses. Thanks to tough, butt kickin’, gun totin’, sexy women like Amy Yip, Carrie Ng, Michelle Yeoh, Moon Lee, and Chingamy Yau there’s plenty of activity in the Asian departments of DVD shops. For the novices, as well as the seasoned fans, this book is a must own. Well written biographies of dozens of starlets and hundreds of breathtaking photos.

Euro Girls illustrated by Lucas Balbo (Midnight Media). If the names Marisa Mell, Helga Line, Rosalba Neri, and Erika Blanc are familiar, then this book is for you. This book has insightful biographies of these European horror actresses. But the best part has to be the many photographs which are used. There are candid shots, stills from movies, and rare posters.

Fantasy Females Edited by Allan Bryce (Dark Side/Stray Cat). Horror/fantasy films have always featured sexy girls. No doubt this is one of the many reasons young boys have always been drawn into the world of horror. The Dark Side’s editor Allan Bryce, along with writers Charlie Richards, John Martin, Pete Tombs, Steve Swires, Pidde Andersson, and Maitland McDonagh, has chosen some of fantasy’s most durable fantasy femme fatales for a very entertaining read. The women covered in this book include Asia Argento, Martine Beswick, Linda Blair, Sybil Danning, Brigitte Bardot, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura Gemser, Susan George, Brigitte Lahaie, Barbara Leigh, Fiona Lewis, Caroline Munro, Barbara Steele, Dyanne Thorne, various French actresses, “prehistoric women,” and the ladies of Hammer. Yeah, there are omissions and one could question the inclusion of Sarah Michelle Gellar (I certainly respect her, but her body of work pales in comparison to the other women in this book.). Still, the writing is top-notched and the photographs are sizzling. I’m eternally grateful to Mr. Bryce for the shots of VC fave Brigitte Lahaie.

Flesh & Blood (c/o Harvey Fenton, P.O. Box 178, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 2YU, England). After ten issues of publishing one of the best film zines, Harvey has taken Flesh & Blood into book form. In the first edition, there are pieces on Coffin Joe, Freddie Frances, Gerard Damiano, Hong Kong action movies, Tinto Brass, Cafe Flesh 2, sex cult rock band Rockbitch, and, my favorite article of all, Mitch Davis’ lengthy diary of the American Film Market. The writers for Flesh & Blood look at everything with a sharp, critical eye, but they still come off as fans, not a bunch of arrogant snots. Tons of information stuffed into 208 pages.


Immoral Tales by Cathal Tohill & Pete Tombs (St. Martin’s Griffin). One of my favorite reference books. Published in ‘95 this tome covers European sex and horror films between the years of ‘56 & ‘84. There are wonderful overviews of Italian, German, French, and Spanish movies. Plus, there are detailed pieces about Jess Franco, Jean Rollin, Jose Larraz, Jose Benezeraf, Walerian Borowcyk, and Alain Robbe-Grillet. If that’s not enough, there are rare pictures on nearly every page. Not only is it a book overflowing with information, but it’s an unbelievable visual treat.

Making Mischief The Cult Films Of Pete Walker by Steve Chibnall (FAB Press). Pete Walker is one of England’s more interesting directors. From the late sixties until the early eighties he was responsible for some of the wildest stories ever to hit the silver screen. From sex comedies to horror (often combining the two), Pete Walker had a flair that thrilled fans and sickened mainstream critics. This is an outstanding overview of his colorful career. Excellent observations of his classics, House Of Whipcord, Frightmare, and Flesh & Blood Show, as well as his little seen (on our shores, unfortunately) sexploitation gems. With Pete Walker helping Chibnall get the facts straight, this is a very informative book and an excellent overall look at the British sex/horror scene. Add in the mix nearly every page has photos from one of Pete Walker’s films and this is as much fun to look at as it is to read.

Mondo Macabro by Pete Tombs (St. Martin’s Griffin). Published in ‘98, Pete Tombs returns to cover bizarre movies from India, Turkey, Japan, Philippines, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and more. Tombs is quick to point out Europeans and Americans don’t have the market cornered for the weird. Wait until you see stills from the Turkish version of Star Trek. Speaking of stills, this book, like Immoral Tales, is filled with great pictures. That’s also the frustrating part. Most of the films discussed here will be virtually impossible for Americans to see. One will find themselves continuously returning to Mondo Macabro.

Necronomicon Book edited by Andy Black (Creation, 83 Clerkenwell Rd. London, EC1, UK). Like Flesh & Blood, Necronomicon has gone from magazine to book form. Likewise, the results are superb. Great articles on Jean Rollin, Barbara Steele, Dario Argento, Witchfinder General, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Last Tango In Paris. Under the watchful eye of editor Andy Black, the crew at Necronomicon take a somewhat scholarly look at filmdom’s depraved.

Necronomicon Book II edited by Andy Black (Creation Books). Like the first book, this takes a more literary look at the world of horror and adult movie making. Some of the essays in this are on Jess Franco, Russ Meyer, George Romero, Cemetary Man, Dario Argento, and Walerian Borowczyk. Often thought provoking, it’s refreshing to find this approach to films most critics ignore. Fantastic photos, too.

Necronomicon Book III edited by Andy Black (Noir, P.O. Box 28, Hereford HR1 1YT, England). More well written essays on horror and erotica. Some of the subjects covered in Book III are director Brian Yuzna, Scream & Scream Again, actress Soledad Miranda, Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu, Story Of O, From Dusk Till Dawn, Wax Max, and Wicker Man. As with the previous books, this is a heavier, more serious look at genre movies, not a quick read. Note that this is a different publisher than Books I & II.

Psychotronic Video Guide by Michael Weldon (St. Martin’s Griffin). Essential. Nearly 700 pages of sharp, on-the-money reviews of some of the coolest movies ever shot. If there’s a downside, it’s the fact there are more mainstream pictures covered in this volume (there was a previous book). Still, it’s a moot point, as one will use this book more than any other to look up films.

Sex, Murder, Art: The Films Of Jorg Buttgereit by David Kerekes (Headpress, 40 Rossall Avenue, Radcliffe, Manchester M26, 1JD, England). It somewhat baffles me that Jorg has been persecuted as much as he has. Sure, his low budget epics have dealt with necrophilia, suicide, murder and sex--but is he more dangerous than H.G. Lewis? This is a well written overview of Buttgereit’s notorious career. There are chapters on his films, Nekromantic, Nekromantic 2, Der Todesking, and Schramm, as well as his shorts. Author David Kerekes has done a fine job interviewing many of those involved with Buttgereit’s projects and put together an insightful book. Even if one hasn’t had the opportunity to see these films, this book is an excellent primer for indie filmmakers. Germany’s Jorg Buttgereit is one of today’s most inventive directors. Sex, Murder, Art certainly does him justice.

Video Nasties! by Allan Bryce (DarkSide). Faithful readers of The DarkSide are well aware of the silly censorship laws that prevail in England. The hundreds of banned horror films are called "video nasties," hence the titles of this book. Allan Bryce has compiled 75 of the most notorious video nasties. He's reprinted the original video box art and then written a description of the film. Lots of cannibal, zombie, and slasher films are on this list. The most suprising has to be Andy Milligan's The Ghastly Ones. Banning this proves British politicians are just as clueless as our own political leaders. Before you get all snooty about how our country wouldn't outlaw horror films, let me remind you there's a fine line between the religious right and the politically correct, and neither one seems to like horror or sex in movies. Video Nasties has great chapters on some of my favorite films, ranging from Evil Dead to Dead & Buried. Like other DarkSide publications, one only needs to look at the pictures to get enjoyment. These video reprints are a treat for the eyes. The fact it has well written and informative text is a bonus. Personally, I wouldn't want to live without owning this book. Nor would I want to live in a country that would ban such great films as Inferno, House By The Cemetary, and Driller Killer. Order Video Nasties today.

Virgins & Vampires by Jean Rollin & Peter Bluemenstock (Crippled Dick, P.O. Box 3864, 78027 VS-Schwenningen, Germany). Jean Rollin certainly has his share of detractors. They often complain his stories are confusing and action is non-existent. Around here, Jean Rollin is a bonafide God. His creepy tales are beautifully shot--often using bleak beaches or deteriorating castles for sets. His stories are dense, making the viewer work a bit harder than usual. Being a fan of Jean Rollin is a lifetime obsession. His dreamlike pictures are hauntingly erotic, a quality often heightened by using the sensual Castel twins or the gorgeous Brigitte Lahaie. This lavish book is filled with stills from his movies, as well as essays by Jean Rollin. An added bonus is a CD of the soundtrack of his film Two Orphan Vampires.

Zombie edited by Allan Bryce (Dark Side/Stray Cat). No secret around here that my favorite horror films usual involve the walking dead. Another fave is the excellent British horror magazine The Dark Side. So, imagine how high my expectations were when I heard that the editor of The Dark Side, Allan Bryce, was releasing a book titled Zombie. Did I build my hopes up too high? Nope, this is a book that should be on the shelf of every serious horror fan. Allan and his well respected fellow writers, Nigel J. Burrell, Alan Jones, Adrian Luther-Smith, John Martin, and Maitland McDonagh have written the definitive opus on the creatures too restless to stay dead. There are essays on Italian zombies, George Romero, Tom Savini, Evil Dead Trilogy, Return Of The Living Dead, Living Dead At The Manchester Morgue, and Lucio Fulci, as well as well as a Zombie Movie Guide, which will surely add titles to everyone’s “want list.” The book is visually a stunner, too. Designed by Kevin Coward, the color photos and reprints of posters are perfect eye candy.