WES CRAVEN, R.I.P.

-= WES CRAVEN =-

(1939 - 2015)

'MANOS, THE HANDS OF FATE' OST COMING NEXT MONTH

Who would've thought that another movie would come along and bump Ed Wood's PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE as the "worst movie of all time"? Well, loyal viewers have found another film to both scorn and revere for the same reason -- MANOS, THE HANDS OF FATE, directed by a Texas fertilizer salesman and nearly lost at one point (to which many would say, "too bad").

The 1966 film's jazzy soundtrack has been preserved for your listening enjoyment from Ship to Shore PhonoCo. With liner notes by monster melody meister, sometimes MMW contributor, and all-around swell guy, Tim Ferrante, this is a vintage release you won't want to miss.

Here's the official 411:

Oft considered one of the worst movies ever made, the jazz-centric score for Hal Warren's 1966 horror "Master"-piece MANOS THE HANDS OF FATE is forthcoming from Brooklyn's own Ship to Shore Phono Co. The company sourced its audio from the 35mm soundtrack negative that was created for making theatrical release prints. The master tapes have never surfaced, thus leaving this 35mm neg as the closest one can get to the original recorded material.

The company is offering three vinyl variants that will total a press run of 2000 LPs. Expected release date is late September 2015. More info about MANOS and how to buy the different vinyl color editions is here:
http://shiptoshore.storenvy.com/products/13817541-manos-the-hands-of-fate

Ship to Shore's soundtrack is timed to coincide with the Synapse Blu-ray DVD of the fully restored MANOS (release date: October 13, 2015). Its sourced from the original camera Ektachrome film. That's right, Hal Warren didn't use negative film...it was shot using 16mm Ektachrome reversal stock! See:
http://synapse-films.com/synapse-films/manos-the-hands-of-fate-special-edition-blu-ray/

MARK VOGER'S 'MONSTER MASH' REVIEWED

MONSTER MASH:

THE CREEPY, KOOKY MONSTER CRAZE IN AMERICA 1957-1972

Written and Designed by Mark Voger

John Morrow, TWO MORROWS Publishing

June 2015

www.twomorrows.com

If you are looking for the printed version of a time machine that will transport you back to the period of the 1960s legendary “Monster Craze”, then your search is over. Mark Voger, journalist by trade and monster kid at heart, has delivered via Two Morrows Publishing (the folks that gave you THE WARREN COMPANION), a compendium of legendary lore and memorabilia from those near-mythical, halcyon days of “hor-yore”. If the news of this book hasn’t made you jump off your lab slab, you are in dire need of a new pair of electrodes, my friend.

Between the boards of this hard bound beauty lays a most comprehensive collection and discussion of just about every toy, model, mask, trading card, book, magazine and TV show from that memorable decade that delivered to kids of all ages an infusion of monster plasma straight into the bloodstream of American pop culture.

Sure we’ve seen some of these images before, and many can be viewed with a simple click on any computer search engine. But, Mr. Voger’s adept and skillful journalistic skills come into play here to make the overall concoction one part walk down memory lane and one part archival history. Readers can pull this book of the shelf (or the coffee table) and be instantly immersed in 60s monster culture.

Voger begins our journey with a forward by the venerable Zacherle and then with an introduction detailing his reminisces about his own experience growing up and – much like Larry Talbot under the light of the full moon – transforming himself from a nice neighborhood kid to a slavering, addicted fan of anything that resembled a monster.

What follows, fright fans, is a fusillade of fun filled to capacity and seldom seen in book form. There are chapters on TV horror hosts, the first monster film magazine (FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, of course!), Bobby “Boris” Pickett and THE MONSTER MASH, monster models, 8mm monster movies, monster trading cards, monster masks, monster toys, the Weird-oh and Rat Fink phenomenon, TV shows … the list goes on. Included are interviews with John Astin, James Warren, Forrest J Ackerman, George Barris, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Jonatan Frid, and more. The middle of the book leans heavily on THE ADDAMS FAMILY and THE MUNSTERS TV shows, but that’s because a lot of the people who were stars in the show are still alive and are willing to share their memories. Otherwise, each subject is well-represented.

At 191 pages, there’s plenty to dive into, but I think you’d wish after reading it, that it was twice as long. The book is beautifully designed, the text is sharp and the colors are true. The cover sports a fitting, full-page image of the icon of the era, the pop-eyed, snaggle-toothed, ghostly green reanimated rotting road kill aptly-named, the “Shock Monster”.

If you are looking for a social treatise on Monster Kid Kulture, you won’t find it here. But, if you want a fun-filled ride that recaptures a time that lives on in many a Monster Kid’s heart, then this is it, fellow monster lovers.

So, everybody jump in your way-back machines, set the controls for “MONSTER CRAZE”, and indulge yourself in a few hours of nostalgia from an era that will forever be a beloved part of American pop culture.

This book gets MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD’s highest recommendation!

NEW ISSUE OF 'EXHUMED MOVIES', SPANISH HORROR MAGAZINE

The ninth issue of the Spanish horror film 'zine, EXHUMED MOVIES is advertised for sale at the MONSTER WORLD blog. Unless the postage is more to send to the U.S., I figure it will cost 30 or more bucks to order an issue. Not bad when you consider that it's a book-sized 384 pages.

Here's a list of the (translated) contents:

DARK SPANISH FILM

The howl of the devil

Docugramas on the Royal Palace and the Escorial

Last will

The Orgy of the Dead

Burned face

Denver

The clan of the Nazarenes

The night of anger

The vampire highway

The sound of death

The call

The power of desire

Corruption of Chris Miller

Nothing mama ... just a game

FANTA-illustrated stories

Reflections of the abyss

"After the dark side"

GIALLO

George Hilton, the devil has many faces

Alibi red disc

SUMMARY bloody small Estefania

You did with Solange

5 females for a murderer

ARCHAEOLOGY OF CULT FILM

The return of Sabina

SYMPTOMS

Whirpool

Sexology classes on the screen, the Hygiene - pictures to the reports of schoolgirls.

Lolitas, "Tender perverse"

Josefine