DDAY AT DARK DELICACIES! Come and celebrate the release of DELIRIUM #6 this weekend!
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COVER PREVIEW: DELIRIUM #6 Goes Crazy for Kinski and Freaky for Franco!
Prolific Eurohorror auteur Jess Franco made over 200 films in his wildly erratic, fascinating career. Among them is the visually splendid, extremely violent and intense 1976 retelling of JACK THE RIPPER, starring the one and only madman of the arthouse Klaus Kinski as Dr. Orloff/The Ripper.
DELIRIUM has an exclusive new interview with legendary European exploitation http://premier-pharmacy.com/product-category/anti-fungal/ film producer Erwin C. Dietrich and Swiss actress Nikola Weisse on the making of this Franco classic and working with two of genre cinema’s most interesting artists.
Filled with amazing art and edifying words, this is our most outrageous issue yet!
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And look for a MAJOR Full Moon/Jess Franco announcement in the coming week!
Blu-ray Review: Two by Mario Bava
THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and THE WHIP & THE BODY
by Matty Budrewicz & Dave Wain
Amidst the cultural wave of boutique Blu-ray labels, Italian terror titan Mario Bava’s work has perhaps been best served, with superior, often extras-packed editions of his gloriously distinctive shock popping up on a regular basis. This year alone has been particularly rich release-wise, with robust deluxe packages of his long-lost crime potboiler RABID DOGS, the ALIEN-inspiring PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, and a striking limited edition of his magnum opus BLACK SUNDAY hitting shelves either side of the pond; a fitting way to celebrate what would have been the maestro’s centenary. And now two more can join the party: his 1963 double whammy of THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH and THE WHIP & THE BODY, let loose by the UK’s Arrow Video and Odeon Entertainment, respectively.
With a luxurious wealth of Bava goodness to their name already – the aforementioned RABID DOGS and BLACK SUNDAY, and Bava’s third 1963 offering, the Boris Karloff-starring portmanteau BLACK SABBATH – Arrow’s GIRL is yet another impressive string to the companies bow. The quality of the film’s presentation is top-end: Though not quite free from the odd scratch and occasional frame movement, by and large the 2K HD master lovingly struck from the film’s fine grain interpositive – and, partially, internegative – is incredibly pleasing on the eye.
As well as porting over the three key special features from Anchor Bay’s solid 2007 boxset – Bava biographer Tim Lucas’ scholary commentary; a nice nine minute interview with co-star John Saxon; and Italian horror expert Alan Jones’ breezy introduction – Arrow also throw the snappy ‘All About the Girl’ featurette into the supplementary mix; a twenty minute or so appreciation of the film featuring Jones, and filmmakers Richard Stanley (robo-killer thriller HARDWARE) and Luigi Cozzi (goofy Video Nasty CONTAMINATION). Better still, however, is their inclusion of the equally nicely mastered alternative American cut of the film, retitled EVIL EYE by distributor AIP. Despite being just as entertaining, EVIL EYE is, of course, no match for Bava’s intended Italian language version; even if the director himself was unsatisfied with the end result.
THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH is a fluffy murder mystery; a Hitch-cocktail of suspense, thrills and gallows humour as a young tourist (Letícia Román) finds herself at the centre of a decade old set of serial killings. And though, as Bava once exclaimed, it’s wholly preposterous, as a technical masterclass it’s unbeatable; a sumptuously shot pulse-pounder, with Bava’s prowling camera and innovative accent on slick, macabre and violent imagery laying the groundwork for the myriad of gialli that would follow – a genre Bava himself would refine the next year with BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, and later re-work with slasher progenitor A BAY OF BLOOD.
With THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH being widely acknowledged as the first giallo, as author Troy Howarth suggests in his insightful liner notes for Odeon’s THE WHIP & THE BODY, WHIP too could belong to that genre with its overt luridness and mystery-themed narrative. Regardless, Odeon finally gives the film the love it deserves following years of showing up on TV in a washed out, soulless full screen print. The HD clarity is nothing short of astounding, perfect for what is, again, one of Bava’s most beautifully lensed films; from the familiar Anzio-based coastal sequences, to the lush, shadowy textures of the castle interior; dripping with atmosphere and melodrama.
Often – incorrectly – criticized for its supposed languid pacing, really it is here where Bava truly excels, delivering a slow-burning escalation of terror as the ghost of a sadistic nobleman (the immortal Christopher Lee) terrorises his family following his death. With cast and crew all credited with English pseudonyms, the film betrays producer-led aspirations of fitting alongside the gothic vogue of Hammer and the Corman-Poe cycle; Bava, however, may well have surpassed them all.
Just as he did on Arrow’s GIRL, Tim Lucas is present for Odeon’s talk-track duties, the Video Watchdog editor having re-recorded his commentary from VCI’s fourteen year old region 0 NTSC disc in the wake of his knowledge expanding friendship with the film’s lead, Daliah Lavi. It’s another typically comprehensive and rewarding listen. Elsewhere, Odeon have included an engaging and detailed twenty-two minute overview of the film by film historian Jonathan Rigby, and a leisurely forty-five minute conversation with Lee, taken from the the ‘British Legends of Stage & Screen’ series. It may not be quite as lavish as Arrow’s GIRL, but Odeon’s WHIP is every bit as vital for students of spaghetti scares and connoisseurs of charismatic classic horror.
Snap ’em up.
THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH DELIRIUM REVIEW 8/10
THE WHIP & THE BODY DELIRIUM REVIEW 8/10
UK Blu-ray Review: THE VAMPIRE LOVERS
by Dave Wain
Sheridan Le Fanu, the famed Irish author of Gothic tales and mystery stories first published Carmilla in 1871. This tale of a lustful female vampire predated Bram Stoker’s Dracula by just over a quarter of a century, and Stoker’s tale certainly displays a multitude of similarities to hint at a degree of influence being had from Le Fanu’s story. In the celluloid universe Dracula has of course been adapted a myriad of times, Carmilla less so – Carl Dreyer’s VAMPYR and Roger Vadim’s ET MOURIR DE PLAISIR being two notable film versions, but it was with Hammer’s THE VAMPIRE LOVERS that Carmilla would perhaps receive its most faithful retelling.
Making her Hammer debut is Ingrid Pitt who plays the seductive Marcilla Karnstein. Finding herself in the care of General von Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing) and his family in Styria, Austria, Marcilla becomes close to the General’s niece, Laura (Pippa Steel). This bond is short-lived however when Laura experiences a slow death plagued with prolonged sickness. Marcilla, leaving the scene of this tragedy adopts the alias ‘Carmilla’ and settles into a new abode, this time at the home of Mr. Morton (George Cole) whose daughter Emma (Madeline Smith) she grows close to and ultimately seduces. Such nefarious behaviour arouses suspicion in the household, but with the addition of an accomplice in Madame Perrodot (Kate O’Mara), Carmilla becomes a seemingly unstoppable threat.
The beginning of the 1970s accelerated what was already becoming a new dawn in the world of European horror. With the emergence of such iconic directors as Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci and Jess Franco as well as the Naschy / Klimovsky collaborations, Hammer were in danger of being classed as a relic of days gone by. Therefore the introduction of the Karnstein Trilogy of films which http://healthsavy.com/product/cipro/ would continue with LUST FOR A VAMPIRE the following year and then TWINS OF EVIL the year after proved that Hammer were able to move with the times – albeit at the risk of alienating a portion of their fanbase due to these pictures overt sexuality.
It would be very easy to cast aside THE VAMPIRE LOVERS as simply a desperate attempt by Hammer to remain relevant, but in actual fact it’s a classy picture which with its literature based narrative it easily lifts the film into the upper echelons of Hammer’s cannon; its eroticism defining the film as a watershed moment in the studios history. Despite the appearance of both Cushing and George Cole, it’s Ingrid Pitt who makes THE VAMPIRE LOVERS such a worthy movie – and she crucially offers a performance with depth and nuance that far exceeds the simple ‘buxom beauty’ moniker that she’s often predictably labelled with.
If you’re in possession of Scream Factory’s Blu-ray of THE VAMPIRE LOVERS from last year then Final Cut’s edition may seem of little interest to you. Admittedly a double dip would be excessive, and that Roy Ward Baker / Ingrid Pitt / Tudor Gates commentary on Scream’s disc is hard to beat, but Final Cut have certainly put together a tempting package. There’s a new commentary here with respected genre authors Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby which offers a more scholarly analysis of the feature as opposed to the reminiscing nature of Scream’s edition. We also get a new 25 minute documentary entitled ‘New Blood: Hammer Enters the 70s’ which features a slew of well-informed talking heads and a peek inside an archive at De Montfort University in Leicester, England where Hammer have donated a wealth of material chronicling their history.
DELIRIUM REVIEW: 8/10
DELIRIUM #5 RELEASE PARTY! D-DAY AT DARK DELICACIES!
Come and celebrate the release of DELIRIUM #5 at Dark Delicacies in Burbank! Meet Lin Shaye, Tom Holland, Tim Sullivan (who will be simultaneously be celebrating the launch of TNT PRESENTS), Barbara Magnolfi, David Gregory, David DeCoteau, writers David Del Valle and Jason Bene and many, many more! Details to follow! Live webcast from the event! Celebs will sign DELIRIUM mags for FREE!
Stay tuned for the FULL guest list!
WIN A COPY OF SPANISH HORROR FILM “WAX” ON DVD!
Spanish filmmaker Victor (VAMPYRES) Matellano’s new gothic gorefest WAX is a humdinger of an indie horror film, riffing on classic shockers like Andre de Toth’s HOUSE OF WAX while echoing the gloriously exploitative films of the Spanish horror boom of the 1970’s. In its cast are the immortal Eurohorror superstar Jack Taylor, TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD legend Lone Fleming and the voice of the late, great Paul Naschy, in what is his final credited screen appearance.
Full Moon and Wizard Video will release this terrifying and gruesome http://premier-pharmacy.com/product-category/adhd/ Spanish chiller (shot it English) on December 18th on DVD (the film had a preview last month via FullMoonStreaming.com) and it will be packed with special features, including making of documenatry and behind the scenes footage.
But before they do, DELIRIUM has 5 copies of the flick to giveaway to some lucky readers who live for Spanish horror.
To win, email chris@deliriummagazine.com with the words I WANT WAX! in the subject line.
Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!
To order your own copy of WAX today visit www.FullMoonDirect.com
DVD REVIEW: CELLULOID HORROR
By Amy Seidman
If you’ve ever griped about the fault in the latest film festival you attended and thought “Why don’t I create my own? Why not? How hard can it be?” Well, my friend, prepare to have your eyes opened. Sit back, grab yourself a glass of your favorite plonk, and let this 88 minute documentary be your guide.
CELLULOID HORROR follows the trials and tribulations of now legendary writer Kier-La Janisse, the tireless organizer, founder and festival programmer (“and she’s one person!” exclaims a newscaster) of CineMuerte, Canada’s first International Horror Film Festival.
The horrors of Kier-La’s rocky upbringing cleverly coexist with scenes drawn from the films she has screened at the festival that sadly mirror her own life. So what drives this unflagging tough as nails woman? The answer: Anyone starting up a festival has to possess those qualities. You have to eat, sleep and breathe the task, and this film documents just that.
An interesting aspect of CELLULOID HORROR is the support Janisse receives from the founders of competing festivals. From their points of view, Kier-La is a director with an unwavering passion and knowledge of the genre. More than that, she is thick skinned and fully capable of absorbing the hits that taking on an endeavor as big as this one is. They offer assistance in any way possible instead of seeing her work as a threat to their own festivals. In addition to the help provided by other festival organizers along the road to bringing CineMuerte to life, she receives support from friends, volunteers, and her husband as well.
By her own estimation, it costs about 25,000 dollars a year to run CineMuerte, so you may wonder how she funds it? My favorite of her funding tactics has to be the “Torture Garden, which tests a fan’s ability to sit through 12 hours of horror films that Kier-La describes as “truly fucked up.” Starting with a 20 dollar cover (which goes to funding the festival), the rate drops with each hour that you stay, and ends at 5 dollars if you survive that long. Her film selection is, in general, not for the faint of heart as proven by the woman who left crying or the man who LITERALLY fainted twice after watching Cannibal Holocaust.
Looking at the clips, the documentary can also read as a horror “greatest hits” package. If you are a fan of Udo Kier or Jean Rollin and need your fix, this film will cure what ails you. Udo Kier is truly Kier-La and the festival’s biggest cheerleader. Udo uses every press event as an opportunity to plug the fest and question why there is such a lack of support for it. From finding a place for Jean Rollin to get dialysis in Vancouver to separating http://healthsavy.com/product/nolvadex/ from her husband, this film is an inspiring and at times rocky ride.
Now, on to the bonus material…
The first and quite unique special feature of note is actually not in the film at all but in its packaging. Using the technology normally associated with singing birthday cards, just opening the DVD case for CELLULOID HORROR will freak you out when you are greeted by Udo Kier’s voice saying ”Where is Kier-La? I’m going to kill her.” It certainly scared the shit out of me when I first opened it, and had the same impact when I pranked the super-stoned couch surfer crashing in my apartment. It’s a great promotional idea, and you too can amuse yourself by playing the game with unsuspecting friends. When your targets open the box act as if you don’t hear Udo Kier’s voice, and using your finest patronizing tone ask about what drugs they’re blasted on, and as a capper ask them to lie down while you get them water and they reflect on their mental state.
Next is director Ashley Fester’s commentary. Among many anecdotes about the construction of the film, she thoughtfully discusses the accompanying music by Max Mueller that sets the background ambience for the film rather than dominating it. Fester touches on the lengthy process of getting the rights to use clips in the film which was of particular interest to me inasmuch as the film is loaded with them. She also uses the opportunity to thank the unsung heros of the film and all those that made it possible.
Additionally, there are Q&A’s for “Squirm” and with Udo Kier, deleted scenes and plenty of footage not included in the film. Real bang for your buck with this one.
While CELLULOID HORROR is a great tribute to Kier-La and to CineMuerte, it also provides a great resource for films you may not have seen. So if you’re dreaming about your own movie festival, and mimicking a small business start-up like the CineMuerte festival truly was? Well, then, stop daydreaming and prepare to put yourself deep in debt, risk alienating your friends and family, and all for the love of exposing people to films they may otherwise not be able to see. With a little luck you may, just MAY make it in the film fest business.
A final word: Check out this doc, and when you get a chance take a walk off the beaten path of Hollywood blockbusters, and recognize your local film fest by honoring it with your presence. And while you’re at it, how about offering a glass of the aforementioned plonk to a stressed-out organizer. As much as we all love horror flicks, it’s a tough racket.
Go to www.BreedProductions.com to order CELLULOID HORROR today.
DELIRIUM Review 9/10
BLU-RAY REVIEW: SHOCK WAVES
By Jerry Smith
As far as zombie films go, if you’ve seen one, you’ve just about seen them all. With the exception of the original trilogy from Romero, a Fulci film or two and various other horror auteurs who have given breaths of fresh air into the zombie film subgenre, the flesh-eating undead have slowly crept through enough movies to fill the Grand Canyon, and very few do anything daring or unique. Ken Wiederhorn’s 1977 film SHOCK WAVES (aka DEATH CORPS) is not only that breath of fresh air that so many other zombie films fail at providing, but it’s just a damned good horror film in general, and the subject of Blue Underground’s newest HD release.
Beginning its tale with the finding of Rose (Brooke Adams from the 1978 version of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS), a dehydrated sole survivor of a mysterious attack, SHOCK WAVES establishes a mystery of wanting to know what happened, before providing an explanation that is truly one of the most original takes on the zombie film of all time. While aboard a small (and run down) commercial boat filled with a few other passengers, Rose and the others become stranded after a series of events, with everything from the ship’s captain (the late John Carradine) being less of leader and more of a grumpy old man, to engine failure and to top it all off, a massive (and somewhat invisible) ship causing them to wreck their boat.
When the morning approaches, and the gang http://www.buyambienmed.com/buy-ambien/ discovers the captain’s dead body floating through the water, it’s obvious that danger is soon coming. When the stranded passengers discover an old hotel, inhabited only by a recluse (played by Van Helsing himself, Peter Cushing), with a Nazi flag hung nearby. Almost directly after coming into contact with the reclusive old man, a group of undead Nazi zombies rise from the deep waters, murdering the passengers in interesting ways.
What sets SHOCK WAVES so far apart from every other zombie film, is how original it is, with its undead being so very different than any other take on the filmic ghoul. These zombies aren’t interested in flesh or brains and walking at a slow pace, they’re methodical and cunning, slowly stalking their prey before rising from the waters and taking the individual out. Eerie stuff…
The HD transfer is exactly what one would hope it to be, cleaned up, but not to excessively. It looks great in HD, but there’s still that grain and “film” look to it, making for a viewing experience that feels authentic. As far as supplemental material goes, there’s an impressive amount of new interviews with everyone from producer/cinematographer Reuben Trane, to stars Adams and Luke Halpin to Composer Richard Einhorn. Blue Underground never skimps on their releases, and SHOCK WAVES is yet another great release from them and is, in this critic’s opinion, an exceptional treatment of one of the five best zombie films of all time.
DELIRIUM REVIEW: 8/10
