FULL MOON'S 'DELIRIUM' MAGAZINE

Is it too early to be nostalgic about horror films from the 1990's? Not if you're Charles Band, son of cult director Albert Band, who has managed to reinvent, resuscitate, and re-imagine his Full Moon Entertainment film properties on a somewhat regular, and spot-on timely basis. Just when you thought you'd never hear again from franchises like SUBSPECIES, PUPPET MASTER and TRANCERS, Band turns out another one in the series to keep fans' attention.

And speaking of fans, Full Moon has been around since the 1980's and has managed to maintain a core base of loyal followers, similar to what Troma has accomplished as well -- which may account for large numbers who enjoy productions from both. I have watched a fair amount of Full Moon films over the years; the aforementioned TRANCERS, NETHERWORLD, DR. MORDRID, THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM and MERIDIAN to name a few. A surprising number of stars who went on to A-list (or near A-list) films have paraded through these decidedly B-list movies, including Lance Henrikson, Sherilyn Fenn, Ashley Laurence, Helen Hunt, Tim Thomerson and Oliver Reed. Even a horror icon or two. like Angus Scrimm, Martine Beswick, Barbara Crampton and Jeffrey Combs have had roles in FM films. The films have been helmed by the competent direction of names such as Stuart Gordon and David DeCoteau. Overall, Full Moon as a company is well-branded, has a cool logo, has lots of characters from its films to make toys and collectibles out of, has a streaming video subscription channel, and even has a "house" signature sound from brother and composer, Richard Band.

Now,we are waiting for the soon-to-be-released 8th issue of FULL MOON PRESENTS DELIRIUM magazine, the latest in a long string of sideline merchandise from horror's "Band of Brothers". Optimistically announced on a bi-monthly publishing schedule, it will probably appear -- like so many others -- less regularly. The fact that they offer subscriptions is promising enough.

At first glance, DELIRIUM appears very similar to the page layouts used by FANGORIA. No wonder -- it is edited by FANGO's own editor and scribe, Chris Alexander, and it's got his mark all over the place. While I found the return of GOREZONE to be rather lukewarm and anemic, Alexander's oversight and his writing have never seemed more enthusiastic. It seems like he is enjoying a refreshing break from the strictures and confines of a magazine that he has held the reins on for, well, many a full moon.

The snappy blurb on the DELIRUIM website is worth repeating here:

“'Full Moon presents DELIRIUM' is a breathless, bold, bloody, beautiful, brainy and ballistic bi-monthly 21-gun-pulp-fiction-salute print periodical dedicated to exploring and celebrating the uninhibited joy of making outrageous movies while high-fiving the fevered audiences who just can’t seem to get enough of that far-out stuff…

Published by Band, produced by the Full Moon Features team and edited by filmmaker, film journalist and FANGORIA Magazine EIC Chris Alexander, DELIRIUM is a passionate work of lurid wonder, jam-packed with exclusive interviews, bizarre stories, garish photos from Band’s expansive and foreboding vaults (many of which have never, ever, EVER been seen before), posters, retrospectives, special FX make-up secrets, laughs, shocks, thrills and chills. DELIRIUM aims to chart indie horror and fantasy’s secret history using the Empire/Full Moon/Band legacy as the foundation but then careening madly into unexpected directions.

Each issue has a mix of independent and exploitation coverage beyond that of Full Moon movies. For example, issue #2 has an excellent, in-depth look at the TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD quartet of films. About a third of every issue is dedicated to articles on the Full Moon film franchises.

So, fans who are looking for a well-balanced diet of Full Moon madness and other coverage from the "nostalgic 90's" and there abouts, there's enough guts and gravy to fill up the most ravenous of revenents.

Issue #1

Issue #8