Contents MOTHER OF TEARS: THE THIRD MOTHER: A Video Watchdog Round Table Discussion:
Maitland McDonagh makes a long-overdue return to our pages to discuss, dissect and analyze Dario Argento's latest release with
Tim Lucas, Kim Newman, Richard Harland Smith and Brad Stevens.
Is it an unworthy disaster, a surrealist masterpiece,
or something in between?


DVD Spotlight

Three by Jean-Pierre Melville

Rebecca and Sam Umland review the best of
Jean-Paul Belmondo and Lino Ventura in these
essential new releases from the master of French crime cinema:
LeON MORIN, PRIEST, Le Doulos and Le Deuxi?me Souffle!



Plus Reviews of...

The TV remake of THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN... Ed Wood's bestiality romance THE BRIDE AND THE BEAST... William Cameron Menzies' CHANDU THE MAGICIAN with Bela Lugosi... Wong Kar-wei's captivating and imaginative romance CHUNGKING EXPRESS... the Ballardian and Australian CRASH TEST... the contemporary giallo DARKNESS SURROUNDS ROBERTA... J. Carrol Naish keeps DR. RENAULT'S SECRET... we apply some critical soap to DRACULA'S DIRTY DAUGHTER... Vincent Price presages his classic Poe performances in the 1940s melodrama DRAGONWYCK... Miles Davis scores Louis Malle's directorial debut thriller ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS... Horst Tappert organizes THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY... Roddy McDowall reanimates a golem in IT!... Charlotte Gainsbourg's tense household is overtaken by a LEMMING... Anthony Hopkins and a scary ventriloquist's dummy double talk their way through MAGIC... THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB PRESENTS ANNETTE... Jacques Dutronc and Sophie Marceau make beautiful rhymes together in Andrzej Zulawski's MY NIGHTS ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOUR DAYS... Gillian Hills stars in the surprisingly erotic Granada Television family entertainment THE OWL SERVICE... in the near future, rock music converts the masses to conformity in Peter Watkins' PRIVILEGE... Kathryn Harrold tends to a psychic patient in THE SENDER... Oliver Reed pursues Carol Lynley into THE SHUTTERED ROOM... colors explode in the Wachovski Brothers' SPEED RACER... Ken Foree and Lynn Lowry return to the screen in SPLATTER DISCO... David Carradine stars in SUNDOWN: THE VAMPIRE IN RETREAT... Fred Olen Ray taps into the erotic side of anime in SUPER NINJA DOLL... an undead Elvis impersonator plays house in TRAILER PARK OF TERROR... and a strange albino ape turns amorous in THE WHITE GORILLA!


And...

Ramsey Campbell on the bizarre Turkish comedy-adventure KORKUSUZ KAPTAN SWING!


Books: Sam Umland reviews Taschen's latest piano-sized book THE INGMAR BERGMAN ARCHIVES, and Tim Lucas reviews Carl Wilson's LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE: A JOURNEY TO THE END OF TASTE.


All this and much, much MORE!

Contents CHARLIE CHAN: Curtain Down at Fox:

Kim Newman covers the last of the Sidney Toler programmers
included in Fox's CHARLIE CHAN COLLECTION VOL. 5:
CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA, CHARLIE CHAN'S MURDER CRUISE, CHARLIE CHAN AT THE WAX MUSEUM, MURDER OVER NEW YORK, DEAD MEN TELL, CHARLIE CHAN IN RIO
and CASTLE IN THE DESERT.


DVD Spotlight

KAIDAN:

David Kalat discovers a copy of Hideo (THE RING) Nakata's
'lost' ghost story Kaidan and compares it to the earlier
Nobuo Nakagawa film on which it is based.



Plus Reviews of...


88 MINUTES,
ABOMINABLE,
BACTERIUM,
BAD BLOOD,
Jack Arnold's BOSS (BOSS NIGGER),
THE CHASER,
DARK FORCES,
DEAD SET,
THE DEADLY DUO,
THE DEVIL'S CHAIR,
George A. Romero's DIARY OF THE DEAD,
EAGLE SHOOTING HEROES,
THE HEIRLOOM,
HEROES OF THE EAST,
MADHOUSE,
Herschell Gordon Lewis' MOONSHINE MOUNTAIN,
NEIGHBOR NUMBER 13,
POLICE STORY 2,
POPULATION: 1,
RED,
RETURN TO SLEEPAWAY CAMP,
THE RUINS,
SECRET THINGS,
THE SKELETON OF MRS. MORALES,
SLASHERS,
STARDUST,
Alex Cox's STRAIGHT TO HELL and WALKER,
THE STRANGE VENGEANCE OF ROSALIE,
THE TRIPPER,
WAR OF THE LIVING DEAD,
WINTERBEAST




And...

Ramsey Campbell on INTO THE MIRROR!


Douglas E. Winter's 'Audio Watchdog' look at the latest Italian horror and fantasy soundtrack CDs!


All this plus Biblio Watchdog, Letterbox and much, much more!

Contents Stranger Than Truth:
The Rise of 'Fictuality':

J-HORROR author David Kalat's essay on reality trends in current fantastic cinema looks at the reasons for it, traces it back to its origins in the silent cinema, and considers how films like CLOVERFIELD, DIARY OF THE DEAD and CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST have sharpened the cutting edge of horror and fantasy.


DVD Spotlight

HAMMER FILMS:
ICONS OF HORROR COLLECTION:

Kim Newman reviews the latest batch of Hammer classics from
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment: THE GORGON, THE CURSE
OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB, SCREAM OF FEAR, and a version of Terence Fisher's THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL more complete than any previously released in England or the United States.



Plus Reviews of...

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET in Blu-ray,
BARRACUDA,
BLOODSUCKERS FROM OUTER SPACE,
BURST CITY,
CAREFUL,
CHOCOLATE,
DEATH RACE: UNRATED,
DONNIE DARKO THE DIRECTOR'S CUT in Blu-ray,
DRAINIAC!,
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE,
EDEN LAKE,
ELECTRIC DRAGON 80000V,
THE FABULOUS BASTARD FROM CHICAGO,
FORTRESS OF THE DEAD,
FREDDY VS JASON in Blu-ray,
THE FURY OF JOHNNY KID,
THE ICE HOUSE,
IN THE FOLDS OF THE FLESH,
ISLAND FURY,
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D ,
JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER,
LIFE THE WAY IT IS,
MAGDALENA'S BRAIN,
MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION,
M SQUAD: THE COMPLETE SERIES,
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR,
NO MERCY, NO FUTURE,
OUR MAN IN HAVANA,
R-POINT,
SCREAMERS: THE HUNTING,
SEEDING OF A GHOST,
THE SIGNAL,
SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK,
TIMECRIMES



And...

Award-winning novelist Ramsey Campbell on Juan Piquer Simon's PIECES.

Audio Watchdog:
Douglas E. Winter's reviews the latest soundtrack CDs, including Hans Zimmer's THE DARK KNIGHT, John Murphy's SUNSHINE, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES and more.


Biblio Watchdog:
A Super Hero selection of book reviews: SUPERMAN VS. HOLLYWOOD, JOHN PHILLIP LAW: DIABOLIK ANGEL and
THE AMAZING TRANSFORMING SUPERHERO.



All this and much, much more!

Contents The Superhero Blu Initiative:

Rebecca and Sam Umland review the Blu-ray releases
of 2008's top superhero blockbusters:
THE DARK KNIGHT, IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK!


Let the Twilight In:

Everybody likes one better than the other, but Stephen R. Bissette argues the equal importance and complementary qualities of 2008's young vampire phenomena, TWILIGHT and LET THE RIGHT ONE IN!



DVD Spotlight


Kim Newman reviews the nine obscure mystery/detective features included in VCI's FORGOTTEN NOIR COLLECTORS SET SERIES 3!

Plus Reviews of...

QUANTUM OF SOLACE,
SAW V: UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT,
THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN,
MY BLOODY VALENTINE (1981),
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE,
WANTED,
GAMERA THE BRAVE,
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN),
and AGE OF CONSENT,
EXPOSED,
DEADLY SWEET,
THE ROMANCE OF ASTREA AND CELADON,
LAST HOUSE ON THE BEACH,
ALICE IN WONDERTOWN,
HAND OF THE ASSASSIN,
SUZIE HEARTLESS



Plus...

Ramsey Campbell on Georges Franju's classic JUDEX!

Douglas E. Winter on a three-disc box set of music from the TV classic THE PRISONER!

Brett Taylor on the autobiography of Ed Wood star Dolores Fuller!

...and Two All-New Columns!

Video WatchBlog--the print version of Tim Lucas' award-winning blog!

AVI Watchdog--Brad Stevens inaugurates a new column about rare films downloadable online from file sharing websites!

All this and much, much more!

Contents Down the Block from Bergman

"THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT"

and Beyond

Eric Somer traces the debt of Wes Craven's directorial debut
to Ingmar Bergman's THE VIRGIN SPRING and the films it has inspired, including THE NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS, CHAOS and the new
LAST HOUSE remake!


DVD Spotlight

MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION

Denholm Elliott as Dracula!

Ian Holm as Frankenstein and Frankenstein's Monster!

Kim Newman reviews Network Video's 4-disc collection of the surviving episodes of a classic British teleseries!


Plus Reviews of...

THE CHECKERED FLAG,
DOOR INTO SILENCE,
KILLER'S MOON,
MEGA SHARK VERSUS GIANT OCTOPUS,
STORM TROOPERS U.S.A.,
THIRST,
PAPRIKA,
THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE,
THE SHE-BEAST,
THE ENTITY,
GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS,
GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES,
LILIOM,
LIFE THE WAY IT IS,
THE REAPING,
THE SINFUL DWARF,
DOROTHY MILLS,
SWAMP THING-THE SERIES: SEASONS ONE & TWO,
TOKYO ZOMBIE,
BLIND CORNER,
SZAMANKA,
YANKEE.


Plus...

Ramsey Campbell on PAPRIKA!

Douglas E. Winter on the 35th Anniversary trilogy THE PRISONER FILES!

Charlie Largent reviews CREEPY ARCHIVES and EERIE ARCHIVES!

And...

Video WatchBlog--Tim Lucas on Italian Soundtracks!

AVI Watchdog--Brad Stevens reviews Ingmar Bergman rarities!


All this and much, much more!


Other contributors featured in this issue:

Michael Barrett, John Charles, Bill Cooke, Shane M. Dallmann, Sheldon Inkol, and Richard Harland Smith.

Contents While We Were Dreaming

Millennial Unreality at the Movies

Michael Barrett outlines possible new generic territory by exploring the ways in which 21st century cinema complicates, denies or just plain loses touch with reality!


DVD Spotlight

CRUISING

Drew Fitzpatrick on William Friedkin's controversial 1980 thriller,
now made more controversial by editorial changes made to
Warner Home Video's new "director's edition!"


Plus Reviews of...

FUNNY MAN,
HOUSE OF DREAMS,
THE LODGER,
PATRICK,
SIMON SAYS,
THE VAMPIRA SHOW DVD,
ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION,
BUG,
DEAD IN 3 DAYS,
HOME SICK,
JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN,
NAKED RASHOMON,
PLAGUE TOWN,
REPULSION,
LONDON IN THE RAW,
PRIMITIVE LONDON,
THE LONDON NOBODY KNOWS,
LES BICYCLETTES DE BELSIZE,
PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE.



Plus...

Ramsey Campbell on MUM AND DAD!

Douglas E. Winter on Mellotrons at the Movies!

J. Todd Kingrea reviews SACRED TERROR and Brett Taylor reviews
ED WOOD: MAD GENIUS!

And...

Video WatchBlog--Guest Blogger David Kalat on CRESCENDO and the Warner Archive Collection!

AVI Watchdog--Brett Taylor on NIGHTMARE ANGEL!

Contents Weird Scenes Inside the Fun House

The Making of MALATESTA'S
CARNIVAL OF BLOOD:
Shaun Brady interviews director Christopher Speeth
and other veterans of a 1973 low-budget attempt to wed
arthouse and exploitation cinema, shot in Pittsburgh, PA!


DVD Spotlight

PHANTASM

PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD

PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION


Bill Cooke digs deep through the topsoil at Morningside Cemetery to exhume reviews of Don Coscarelli's original PHANTASM and its second and third sequels, now available from Anchor Bay Entertainment!



Things From the Attic:

An assortment of "overlooked DVD" reviews, including Criterion's THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER, the bizarre Spaghetti Western MATALO!, the Nick Cave-scripted Aussie western THE PROPOSITION, Warner's THX 1138: THE GEORGE LUCAS DIRECTOR'S CUT~2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION and Higuchinsky's hallucinatory geometric horror, UZUMAKI!




Also Reviews of...


ATTRACTION (NEROSUBIANCO),
THE BED SITTING ROOM (Blu-ray import),
THE BOOBY HATCH,
BLACK MAGIC 2,
THE CENTERFOLD GIRLS,
COME DANCE WITH ME,
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON,
DEADGIRL,
HELLRAISER: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION,
THE HOWL,
MARTYRS,
MONSTER SQUAD,
MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D,
NAVAJO JOE,
ONE STEP BEYOND - SEASON ONE,
PINOCCHIO (Blu-ray),
THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (Blu-ray),
SLEEPING BEAUTY (Blu-ray),
SPLINTER,
SYNGENOR



Plus...


Ramsey's Rambles:
Ramsey Campbell on Sam Fuller's VERBOTEN!


Biblio Watchdog:
Reviews of Gregory William Mank's BELA LUGOSI AND BORIS KARLOFF: THE EXPANDED STORY OF A HAUNTING COLLABORATION and Jerry Vermilye's BUSTER CRABBE: A BIO-FILMOGRAPHY!


Audio Watchdog:
Douglas E. Winter reviews the CD soundtracks of 28 WEEKS LATER, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and many others!



Other contributors featured in this issue:
Michael Barrett, John Charles, Shane M. Dallmann, Sheldon Inkol,
David Kalat, Charlie Largent, Tim Lucas, Constantine Nasr,
Kim Newman, Eric Somer, Brett Taylor, and Sam & Rebecca Umland.