In conjunction with my Psychotronic Tourist trip through the locations for Dick Maas’ 1988 water-killer thriller AMSTERDAMNED (see the full epic tour with then-and-now pics, history and maps HERE), Dutch journalist Michael Minneboo accompanied us, armed with a video camera, and turned out this awesome capsule of our day together with Dick Maas on the canals, revisiting AMSTERDAMNED 25 years on.
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In what could be seen as the ultimate anti-tourism film, Dutch enfant terrible Dick Maas paints Amsterdam’s historic canals blood red as a scuba-diving serial killer roams the waters, slashing victims with a giant diving knife.
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There are as many horror fans who loathe zombie movies as there are those who love them. Described as an “anti-zombie zombie movie” THE BATTERY is the most reinvigorating take on this overworn subgenre I’ve seen in ages.
Read more »There is a synchronicitous plethora of films either just released or in the works about the 80s VHS explosion – from Josh Johnson and Carolee Mitchell’s SXSW hit REWIND THIS to Mike Malloy’s PLASTIC MOVIES REWOUND, Dan Kinem and Levi Peretic’s ADJUST YOUR TRACKING and Mark Hartley’s Cannon Films-focused ELECTRIC BOOGALOO – but while there’s no doubt that all these films document a game-changing media revolution whose practical and nostalgic effects linger on today, how many of their directors can claim that VHS actually helped to overthrow a totalitarian regime in their country? Ilinca Calugareanu can.
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“It was as if, in some delightful way, his secret gave him a fortress, a wall behind which he could retreat into heavenly seclusion.”
- From Conrad Aiken’s SILENT SNOW, SECRET SNOW (1934)
Presentation is everything, and the UK’s Death Waltz Records—one of our favourite specialists in high-end collectible soundtrack reissues—have reinvigorated some of the genre’s most beloved soundscapes with intricate packaging by an international roster of artists including Graham Humphreys (who designed the UK campaign for RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and debuts new artwork for DW’s HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY release exclusively here), Jay Shaw (who designed our eye-popping website header) and Gary Pullin of Rue Morgue fame.
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Glasgow-based horror crit Andy Stewart’s debut short film DYSMORPHIA has been hitting gag reflexes all over the festival circuit since it premiered at Manchester’s Grimmfest last fall. Often paired with the Soska Sisters’ AMERICAN MARY, which shares its gruesome penchant for DIY surgery, DYSMORPHIA is something of a showstopper itself. A Man. A Room. A Decision; a modest setup, but one, I assure you, you will not soon forget.
Andy Stewart talks to FANGO about his transition from critic to director, the pleasures of body horror, and gives us a tease at what his follow-up plans are.
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A record-breaking 3,425 people voted in the 11th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards, and the results are in! Congratulations to all the winners!
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One of New York’s most colorful performance-based events, MEET THE LADY tribute series dedicated to cinema’s leading ladies turns its attention this week to some of the big screen’s most memorable female obssessives with MEET THE LADY IS WATCHING YOU – where a throng of special guests will explore the dark and sometimes campy delights of women who won’t take no for an answer.
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35mm enthusiast Josh Saco puts on some of the most drool-inducing exploitation and horror events in London (UK) under the banner “Cigarette Burns Cinema” (like their Facebook page HERE!), with monthly screenings at The Rio, bi-monthly screenings at The Prince Charles as well as a bevy of special one-offs featuring rare 35mm prints spanning an impressive list of faves including PROFONDO ROSSO, THE KEEP, PSYCHOMANIA, WHO CAN KILL A CHILD?, EQUINOX, MS. 45 and more – always featuring amazing custom poster art by Silver Ferox and friends (see the gallery of all the previous posters HERE)
After a screening of one of the unsung classics of the 80s slasher canon – Fred Walton’s APRIL FOOL’S DAY – next Friday April 4th (details HERE), next up on the Cigarette Burns calendar is John Hancock’s moody madwoman film LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (full disclosure: it will be introduced by yours truly) on Thursday April 18th at London’s ICA Gallery (details and tickets HERE).
To commemorate the event, Silver Ferox has turned out a STUNNING retro poster which you can see above.
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