REVISITING A (NEARLY) FORGOTTEN LOVECRAFT FILM

Much has been bandied about and critically discussed over the last couple decades or so regarding the difficulty in filming the works of H.P. Lovecraft. That hasn't seemed to stop any number of filmmakers from having a go at it. The result? Most of them have failed miserably. I said most -- not all. A small number are good, a few more are kinda good, and one -- in my opinion -- stands firmly atop Devil Reef.

Of the few that I deem worthy in my humble opinion, I feel that Daniel Haller's THE DUNWICH HORROR (1972) belongs on the list. Panned mightily by many and, despite its modern setting, I think it captures the feel of foreboding and other-worldliness of Lovecraft's style and the final scene is one of the best to capture the cosmic horror so difficult to visually attain. Roger Corman's THE HAUNTED PALACE (1963) fairly drips in atmosphere, and even though its a bit far afield from any Lovecraft story, it still creates a mood that is not unlike that found in some of his stories. I also think Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR (1985) is an excellent example of Lovecraft unbound in a contemporary setting. Mention should also be given to the Season 2/Episode 12 NIGHT GALLERY version of "Cool Air" that encapsulates one of Lovecraft's most memorable tales of outright horror in just a few short minutes.

But its the weekend and micro-budget filmmakers that have best caught Lovecraft's lightning-in-a-bottle with their 16mm cameras and black and white film stock. In particular, Andrew Leman's THE COLOR OUT OF SPACE is -- once again, in my opinion -- the best adaptation of HPL's work yet. I had the pleasure of watching this on the big screen while attending the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, Oregon back in 2005. It's a silent film, so there is no dialogue or sound effects, just the soundtrack of an orchestra to compel the viewer to concentrate on the images for its short, but effective running time of 47 minutes. As a result, I highly recommend the DVD which is still available from a number of sellers, including the two I suggest listed at the end of this blog roll.

This article from Collider.com I think frames the idea of "Lovecraft the Unfilmable" and the power of Leman's THE CALL OF CTHULHU quite well. It's a good time to revisit this film, as it is an essential and valuable addition to Lovecraftiana that deserves attention.

This H.P. Lovecraft Story Was “Unfilmable” Until This Low-Budget Version Nailed It

By Ron Evangelista | August 24, 2024 | Collider.com

When one thinks of H.P. Lovecraft, his iconic short story "The Call of Cthulhu" immediately comes to mind. Much like his body of work, this tale has been considered a challenge to adapt to the silver screen, owing to the famed author's style that heavily relies on atmosphere, suspense, and cosmic and supernatural terrors that anchor on the unknown. However, in 2005, a low-budget silent film shattered the idea of the immortal story as “unfilmable,” providing one of the most faithful adaptations of his works, to the delight of horror aficionados, Lovecraft fans, and the movie-seeing public as a whole. Directed by Andrew Leman who also co-produced it with Sean Branney, and distributed by the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, The Call of Cthulhu masterfully brings Lovecraft's writing to life through the conventions of an F.W. Murnau/Robert Wiene-esque monochromatic silent feature.

What Is Lovecraft's 'The Call of Cthulhu' All About?

Much like its beloved short story, the film faithfully follows the events of Francis Wayland Thurston as he uncovers something intriguing in the wake of the investigation of his great-uncle, Professor George Angell, and his subsequent mysterious death. Upon examination of his great-uncle's belongings, he discovers a chest full of testimonies about a so-called "Cthulhu cult." The documents outline several stories, which include the lucid dreams of Henry Anthony Wilcox, who produces a bas-relief of the images he has seen, and the events of a cult ritual gathering narrated by Inspector John Raymond Legrasse corroborated by Professor William Channing Webb. Thurston feels his dread increase with every bit of information he absorbs, and retreats to his own research.

He chances upon a newspaper clipping about the story of Gustaf Johansen, who discovers a mystery derelict in the sea. The vagueness of the article piques Thurston's curiosity and he travels around the world searching for Johansen. His journey is for naught, as Johansen's wife informs Thurston of her husband's death. Johansen's widow gives Thurston her late husband's journal, which narrates in terrifying detail how they chanced upon Cthulhu itself in the middle of the ocean, and how he was able to barely escape the crutches of an ancient evil. The film ends with an older Thurston instructing his psychiatrist to burn all the documents related to this impending doom, which now lays dormant in the wide seas, biding its time, waiting for the perfect moment to awaken once again.

A Silent Movie Was the Best Choice to Adapt Lovecraft's Work into a Movie

Lovecraft's infamous penchant for lengthy descriptions brings immense difficulty to deriving cinematic projects from his works. In fact, the opening lines of the short story — "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents" — act as a manifesto for his sometimes esoteric prose. Despite this seemingly insurmountable roadblock, Branney and Leman traverse his words through a spectacular creative choice: making a silent film. Utilizing a defunct manner of filmmaking, partnered with Mythoscope, unleashes the full power of Lovecraft's story. The grainy, old-school feel of silent movies perfectly blends with the eerie, almost uncanny valley, aspect of the tale. Partnered with the quote cards, Lovecraft's dialogue waxes poetic on its own instead of having a character speak them like in a traditional contemporary film. The Call of Cthulhu, after all, describes the monster and the conversation leading to its reveal in such a verbose manner that thrives in the medium of literature but would instinctively fall flat if done in the way the modern world makes movies. The monochromatic, museum-like quality of old silent films then provides a layer of protection against the bastardization of such an esteemed author's work.

The German Expressionist aesthetic provides an avenue for the formalist tendencies of The Call of Cthulhu to shine in every moment of the short film. For instance, the dream sequences of Henry Anthony Wilcox are presented in such a breadth of fantastic images, ranging from the oblique and obtuse angles of the walls to the sheer horror on his face when he wakes up from them. Most important is the reveal of the monster itself, whose very sight is enough to drive those in the vicinity bonkers. The reveal is done in such an artistic fashion as well. The intertwining images of a determined Johansen and his dying sea mate are as alarming as they are strangely seductive, evoking in the viewer a smorgasbord of scared and complicated emotions. The minimalist approach to showing Cthulhu is simply the icing on the cake, leaving spectators to revel in awe and curiosity about what they have just seen, and yearning for what they have not. Such is the power of the unknown, and what strange horrors it carries.

'The Call of Cthulhu' Proves That Lovecraft's Works Aren't Unfilmable

In a way, The Call of Cthulhu is of great significance to the cinematic world. Not only is it merely a blast from the past, it completely shatters the idea that Lovecraft's stories are impossible to film. While it is hardly the first film adaptation of Lovecraft's work, it certainly is the most successful, artistically speaking. It rings true to the spirit of the short story while providing cinematic aspects that enhance the writing of such a beloved literary figure. It stands as a testament that the term "unfilmable" is merely an obstacle that the medium of film will always face and, with the right approach, overcome.

Ideally, the success of this film should encourage filmmakers to dive deep into the tales of horror that Lovecraft painstakingly crafted, given that the breadth of work is such a great pool of material to work on. While garnering a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is not written gospel on whether something is a masterpiece, this film truly is deserving of the perfect score. The picture has that timeless quality, thanks to the filmmakers' intricate weaving of the non-linear stories and testimonies provided by the tale's characters. More than anything, The Call of Cthulhu is a wonderful addition to the ever-growing "Cthulhu mythos," and a testament to the power of cinema, literature, Lovecraft himself, and art as a whole.

CALL OF CTHULHU Official Trailer:

THE CALL OF CTHULHU DVD is available from The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society HERE,

or CREEPY CLASSICS HERE.

THE POST-APOCALYPTIC ADVENTURES OF AXA

A cross between Barbarella and Red Sonja, Enrique Badia Romero's Axa is a sword-wielding heroine whose lusty adventures of survival take place in the future after the "Great Contamination" in a world populated by monsters and strange creatures.

Born in 1930 in Barcelona, Romero began his career as a teenager in 1947 drawing comic strips for Spanish newspapers. In 1953 he published his own magazine, ALEX. In 1955 he launched the publishing company Ruiz Romero, were he created the comic strips CROMOS (Trading Cards), HOMBRES DE LUCHA (Fighting Men) and HISTORIA DE LA GUERRA (History of War). In 1959 he started working on comic strips for the UK's Fleetway, including "Cassius Clay", a chronicle of Muhammad Ali's early life. Later, he contributed to the JUDGE DREDD magazine.

Romero self-portrait.

A significant break came for Romero in 1970 when he was hired to continue the popular UK MODESTY BLAISE strip after its original artist, Jim Holdaway fell ill and then passed away after a heart attack.

Modesty Blaise.

"I started my collaboration in strip No. 2100", Romero said. "I did the best I could, that improvised change of artist, but Peter O'Donnell [the strips writer), who was used to Jim's art, made my first adaptation of his character very difficult. I had only completed a few originals when I received the sad news of Jim's death and the offer to take over the continuation of the series. At first I had a lot of problems adapting, since Jim had created MODESTY graphically in a very specific style, and to make matters worse, he worked with a pen and I with a brush. Peter would point out the faults to me in order to make my job easier. My first MODESTYS were too young compared to Jim's."

Modesty Blaise by Romero.

In 1978, Romero developed an idea for his own comic strip with writer Donne Avenell. "I had always been drawn to fantasy themes," he said, "and I conducted a study on the basis of a possible Holocaust."

On 4 July 1978 the first AXA strip was published in the British tabloid, THE SUN. Romero commented that Axa was "a heroine to my liking and total freedom to develop her adventures."

Opening panels of the first Axa strip.

Axa enjoyed moderate popularity and was translated into several languages, including a 2-issue run as a comic book under the Eclipse imprint. There were even plans for an Axa feature film but it was eventually shelved, apparently because of lack of financial backing. He drew a longer story for the Spanish version of CREEPY that ran for eight issues from 1983-1984. The series was published in English by Ken Pierce in 1985 (see below).

When the Axa strip was cancelled he went back to working on MODESTY BLAISE with writer Peter O'Donnell until 2002 when it was also cancelled.

When asked who his favorite character was to draw, Romero responded: “I’m fond to all my characters, but Axa is my favourite because it’s practically my own child,” Romero said in an interview in 2011. “Modesty stands near Axa, very close to her. Rahan [a strip for the French magazine, PIF] is slightly different, but also an interesting character, because I had complete freedom while doing it. I like all three characters on my own way, but Axa was always very special to me.”

Enrique Badia Romero passed away at the age of 93 earlier this year on 15 February. Currently, his website is still up and you can visit it HERE.

Here are the first two episodes of the series in English that originally appeared in the Spanish CREEPY.

NEW FOLK HORROR DVD SET COMING SOON

“All folk horror is unified by a central theme: 

That contemporary society is a crust 

over something dark, inexplicable, other.

Folk horror, like the old ways, 

will find you before you find it.”

- Austin Chronicle

I heralded the first collection of Folk Horror from Severin a few years ago and was very impressed with the set that included films from all over the world. Now they're doing again, digging deeper into the international roots of the genre. If it's anything like Vol. 1, this one is sure to be a winner, too.

"The first ALL THE HAUNTS... was an incredibly ambitious set, but for this collection we wanted to go a bit further afield," says producer Kier-La Janisse. "I'm really happy with the broad range of regions and perspectives we were able to include, and the many international collaborators who made it all possible. I always try to dig deep thematically while also offering some real obscurities for our genre-savvy audience, and I think this new box set delivers on both counts."

"ALL THE HAUNTS… Volume One was a landmark collection for Severin, for the genre, and for home video," says Severin Films President/Co-Founder David Gregory. "With Volume Two, Kier-La and our team have now gone even deeper and further than before with a global collection that's equal parts discovery, exploration, and dark celebration of Folk Horror. We're enormously proud to unleash its spirit upon the world."

From Severin Films:

ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS: A COMPENDIUM OF FOLK HORROR VOL. 2 [13-DISC BLU-RAY BOX SET + HARDCOVER BOOK]

• 13 DISCS
• 24 INTERNATIONAL FOLK HORROR CLASSICS 
• 55+ COMBINED HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES
• 252 PAGE HARDCOVER BOOK

Unquiet spirits have gathered once again: ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS – VOLUME TWO brings together 24 films representing 18 countries for more of the best-loved, rarely seen, thought-lost and brand-new classics of folk horror, most making their International and/or North American disc debuts including the Worldwide Premieres of the Severin Films productions TO FIRE YOU COME AT LAST directed by Sean Hogan and the documentary SUZZANNA: THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC directed by David Gregory; 55+ combined hours of new and archival Special Features including trailers, interviews, audio commentaries, short films, video essays, historical analyses and bonus feature-length films; a 252-page hardcover of newly commissioned folk horror fiction by luminaries that include Ramsey Campbell, Cassandra Khaw and Eden Royce with illustrations by Drazen Kozjan; and much more, all curated and produced by WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED creator Kier-La Janisse.

Boxed set design by Luke Insect.

DISC 1

TO FIRE YOU COME AT LAST (SEAN HOGAN, UK/USA, 2023)

PSYCHOMANIA (DON SHARP, UK, 1973)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR TO FIRE YOU COME AT LAST

• Audio Commentary With Director Sean Hogan And Co-Producers Paul Goodwin And Nicholas Harwood
• On The Lych Way – Corpse Road Chronicler Dr. Stuart Dunn Discusses The Pathways Of The Dead
• Trailer
• Short Films

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR PSYCHOMANIA

• Introduction By Film Historian Chris Alexander
• Audio Commentary With Maria J. Pérez Cuervo, Founding Editor Of Hellebore Magazine
• Stone Warnings – Dr. Diane A. Rodgers On Stone Circles And Standing Stones In Film And Television
• Return Of The Living Dead – Interviews With Actors Nicky Henson, Mary Larkin, Denis Gilmore, Roy Holder And Rocky Taylor
• The Sound Of PSYCHOMANIA – Interview With Soundtrack Composer John Cameron
• Riding Free – Interview With "Riding Free" Singer Harvey Andrews
• Theatrical Trailer

DISC 2

THE ENCHANTED (CARTER LORD, USA, 1984)

WHO FEARS THE DEVIL (JOHN NEWLAND, USA, 1972)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR THE ENCHANTED

• Audio Commentary With Director Carter Lord And Camera Assistant Richard Grange, Moderated By Filmmaker/Author Kier-La Janisse
• Audio Commentary With Chesya Burke, Author Of Let's Play White, And Sheree Renée Thomas, Author Of Nine Bar Blues
• A Magical Place – Interview With Composer Phil Sawyer
• Hole In The Wall – Character Notes By Screenwriter Charné Porter
• Trailer
• Short Film SWIMMER

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR WHO FEARS THE DEVIL

• THE LEGEND OF HILLBILLY JOHN Alternate Opening Introduced By Actor Severn Darden
• Audio Commentary With Television Historian Amanda Reyes
• Crumble Will The Feet Of Clay – Interview With Producer Barney Rosenzweig
• Silver Strings – Interview With Actor/Musician Hedges Capers
• Manly Of The Mountains – Author David Drake Remembers Manly Wade Wellman
• Occult Appalachia – Occult Historian Mitch Horowitz On The Arcane Texts Of Wellman's John The Balladeer Stories
• Theatrical Trailer

DISC 3

THE WHITE REINDEER (ERIK BLOMBERG, FINLAND, 1952)

EDGE OF THE KNIFE (GWAAI EDENSHAW & HELEN HAIG-BROWN, CANADA, 2018)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR THE WHITE REINDEER

• The Projection Booth Episode On THE WHITE REINDEER Hosted By Mike White And Featuring Kat Ellinger, Author of Daughters Of Darkness, And Talk Without Rhythm's El Goro
• Short Films A WITCH DRUM, THE NIGHTSIDE OF THE SKY,WITH THE REINDEER

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR EDGE OF THE KNIFE

• Audio Commentary With Directors Gwaai Edenshaw And Helen Haig-Brown
• RETAKE – Making The World's First Haida-Language Feature Film
• Short Films HAIDA CARVER, NALUJUK NIGHT

DISC 4

BORN OF FIRE (JAMIL DEHLAVI, UK, 1987)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR BORN OF FIRE

• Igniting The Fire – Interview With Director Jamil Dehlavi
• The Silent One Speaks – Archival Interview With Actor Nabil Shaban
• Between The Sacred And The Profane – Archival Lecture On The Cinematic World Of Jamil Dehlavi By Dr. Ali Nobil Ahmad
• The Djinn Revisited – Director Dalia Al Kury Examines The Role Of The Djinn In Contemporary Arab Culture
• BORN OF FIRE And The Roots Of Pakistani Horror – Interview With Scholar Syeda Momina Masood
• Trailer
• Short Films TOWERS OF SILENCE, QÂF

DISC 5

IO ISLAND (KIM KI-YOUNG, SOUTH KOREA, 1977)

SCALES (SHAHAD AMEEN, SAUDI ARABIA, 2019)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR IO ISLAND

• Audio Commentary With Archivist And Korean Film Historian Ariel Schudson
• Shaman's Eyes – Dr. Hyunseon Lee On Shamanism In Korean Visual Culture
• Short Film THE PRESENT

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR SCALES

• Telling Our Stories – A Conversation With Director Shahad Ameen And Producer Rula Nasser, Moderated By Filmmaker/Author Kier-La Janisse
• Trailer
• Short Film KINDIL

DISC 6

BAKENEKO: A VENGEFUL SPIRIT (YOSHIHIRO ISHIKAWA, JAPAN, 1968)

NANG NAK (NONZEE NIMIBUTR, THAILAND, 1999)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR BAKENEKO: A VENGEFUL SPIRIT

Audio Commentary With Jasper Sharp, Author Of Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History Of Japanese Sex Cinema

Scratched – A History Of The Japanese Ghost Cat

The Vampire Cat – The Classic Folk Tale Read By Tomoko Komura With Original Music By Timothy Fife

Trailer

Short Film MAN-EATER MOUNTAIN

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR NANG NAK

• Audio Commentary With Mattie Do, Director Of THE LONG WALK, And Asian Gothic Scholar Katarzyna Ancuta
• Love And Impermanence: NANG NAK And The Rebirth Of Thai Cinema – Interview With Director Nonzee Nimibutr
• Trailer

DISC 7

SUNDELBOLONG (SISWORO GAUTAMA PUTRA, INDONESIA, 1981)

SUZZANNA: THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC BLU-RAY (DAVID GREGORY, USA, 2024)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR SUNDELBOLONG

Hantu Retribution – Female Ghosts Of The Malay Archipelago

Short Film WHITE SONG

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR SUZZANNA: THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC

• A Conversation With Director/Co-Producer David Gregory And Co-Producer Ekky Imanjaya
• Trailer

DISC 8

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (JURAJ HERZ, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 1978)

THE NINTH HEART (JURAJ HERZ, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 1979)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

• Audio Commentary With Film Historian Michael Brooke
• Archival Interviews With Director Juraj Herz And Actors Vlastimil Harapes And Zdena Studenková
• Short Film FRANTIŠEK HRUBÍN

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR THE NINTH HEART

• Audio Commentary With Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness
• The Uncanny Valley Of The Dolls – The History And Liminality Of Dolls, Puppets And Mannequins
• The Curious Case Of Juraj Herz And The Švankmajers – Video Essay By Czech Film Programmer Cerise Howard

DISC 9

DEMON (MARCIN WRONA, POLAND, 2015)

NOVEMBER (RAINER SARNET, ESTONIA/POLAND/NETHERLANDS, 2017)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR DEMON

• Introduction By Slavic Horror Scholar Dr. Agnieszka Jeżyk
• Audio Commentary With Film Historian Daniel Bird And Film Critic/Actress Manuela Lazić
• In The Shadow Of The Dybbuk – Video Essay By Peter Bebergal, Author Of Strange Frequencies: The Extraordinary Story Of The Technological Quest For The Supernatural, And Filmmaker Stephen Broomer
• Trailer
• Short Film DIBBUK

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR NOVEMBER

The Supernatural Lore Of NOVEMBER – Archival Video Essay With Film Critic John DeFore

Kratt Test Footage

Theatrical Trailer

Short Films BOUNDARY, JOURNEY THROUGH SETOMAA, MIDVINTERBLOT

DISC 10

LITAN (JEAN-PIERRE MOCKY, FRANCE, 1982)

BLOOD TEA AND RED STRING (CHRISTIANE CEGAVSKE, USA, 2006)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR LITAN

• Audio Commentary With Film Historian Frank Lafond
• Un Tournage LITAN – Archival Making-Of Made For Antenne 2
• Jean-Pierre Mocky, Un Drôle D'Oiseau – 1982 Episode Of Temps X

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR BLOOD TEA AND RED STRING

• Introduction By Director Christiane Cegavske
• 2021 Indie Scream Online Film Festival Q&A With Christiane Cegavske
• Production Stills And Concept Illustrations
• Trailer
• Trailer For SEED IN THE SAND, Cegavske’s Work-In-Progress

DISC 11

NAZARENO CRUZ AND THE WOLF (LEONARDO FAVIO, ARGENTINA, 1975)

AKELARRE (PEDRO OLEA, SPAIN, 1984)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR NAZARENO CRUZ AND THE WOLF

• Audio Commentary With Adrian Garcia Bogliano, Director Of HERE COMES THE DEVIL, And Nicanor Loreti, Director Of PUNTO ROJO
• Short Film LOVE FROM MOTHER ONLY
• Audio Commentary For LOVE FROM MOTHER ONLY With Director Dennison Ramalho

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR AKELARRE

• The Realistic Inquisition – Interview With Director Pedro Olea
• Empowered Woman – Interview With Actress Silvia Munt
• Playing The Villain – Interview With Actor Iñaki Miramón
• Invoking The Akelarre – Dr. Antonio Lázaro-Reboll, Author Of Spanish Horror Film, On The Basque Witch Trials

DISC 12

FROM THE OLD EARTH (WIL AARON, WALES, 1981)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR FROM THE OLD EARTH BLU-RAY

• Introduction To FROM THE OLD EARTH By Musician Gruff Rhys
• Getting A Head In North Wales – Interview With Director Wil Aaron
• FROM THE OLD EARTH By The Book – Welsh Folklore And O'R DDAEAR HEN
• A Sword In The Battle Of Language – Welsh Film Scholar Dr. Kate Woodward On The Welsh Film Board
• Short Films Introduction To BLOOD ON THE STARS By Gruff Rhys, BLOOD ON THE STARS, Reunion Hotel – BLOOD ON THE STARS Cast Reunion From Gwesty Aduniad, THE WYRM OF BWLCH PEN BARRAS

DISC 13

THE CITY OF THE DEAD (JOHN LLEWELLYN MOXEY, UK, 1960)

THE RITES OF MAY (MIKE DE LEON, PHILIPPINES, 1976)

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR THE CITY OF THE DEAD

• Introduction By Kay Lynch, Director Of The Salem Horror Fest
• Audio Commentary With Film Historians Kim Newman And Barry Forshaw
• Archival Audio Commentary With Film Historian Jonathan Rigby
• Archival Audio Commentary With Actor Christopher Lee
• Archival Audio Commentary With Director John Llewellyn Moxey
• Sir Christopher Lee Remembers THE CITY OF THE DEAD
• Archival Interview With John Llewellyn Moxey
• Archival Interview With Actress Venetia Stevenson
• Burn Witch, Burn! A Tribute To John Llewellyn Moxey – Video Essay By TV Historian Amanda Reyes And Filmmaker Chris O'Neill
• Trailer

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR THE RITES OF MAY

• Audio Commentary With Filipino Film Historian Andrew Leavold
• ITIM: AN EXPLORATION IN CINEMA – Archival Documentary
• Portrayal Of Guilt – Filipino Film Scholar Anne Frances N. Sangil On The Darkness Of THE RITES OF MAY

Pre-order from Severin Films HERE.

See more about Folk Horror HERE.

EC FANS REJOICE!

If you're a fan of EC Comics (and who isn't?) you're in luck. Fantagraphics has recently published issue #6 of the excellent EC FAN-ADDICT FANZINE, edited by long-time EC experts Roger Hill and Grant Geissman. Mr. Hill had to pass the torch to Geissman as he fell ill last year and sadly passed away in December. Let's hope he keeps the terror train rolling in the future.

There's a bit of a down side to this announcement: Fantagraphics have already sold out of all their copies! Fortunately, it seems like Amazon has an unknown number in stock (that's where I bought mine) and you can grab yours HERE. My highest recommendation!

From the publisher:

This 136 page, full-color issue is loaded with vintage E.C. lore and rare artwork. With articles on the recently discovered 1954 cover to Buster Crabbe No. 5, Jack Davis’s Lucky Star comic, an unpublished interview with Dr. Fredric Wertham, more Jack Davis and Coca-Cola, a conversation with Graham Ingels, a feature on Marie Severin’s illustrations done for the Financial Follies, a portfolio of Marie Severin’s signed and numbered E.C. cover colorings issued by Russ Cochran, the final installment on the creation of the legendary E.C. fanzine Squa Tront, and much more.

Unfortunately we have sold out of our first run of EC Fan-Addict Fanzine No. 6.

STILL SCREAMING AFTER 40 YEARS

Last week in this slot I posted the first issue of the UK's SCREAM! horror comic magazine from the 1980's. Well, it seems like it has garnered a cult following as just this last May a collection of all the issues (15) was published, titled 40 YEARS OF SCREAM! Here in the States it was listed for pre-order by PREVIEWS WORLD back in February for $61.99. Like so many other reprinted collections of fan favorites from the past, the print edition is already sold out (one greedy bookseller has it up for sale at Amazon for 400 bucks)! A digital edition has been made available from the publisher (see below). Who would'a thought?

From the publisher:

Beginning with introductions by editors Ian Rimmer and Barrie Tomlinson, this gorgeous archival collection reprints the strips and covers from each issue in order, as well as extras such as unpublished pages and a gallery of Ghastly McNasty images.

Not for the nervous! Celebrating 40 years since IPC launched the UK's most iconic "horror" anthology, this single volume collects all of the strips included in the 15-issue run of Scream! Produced "from the depths" of King's Reach Tower by the mysterious "undead" editor Ghastly McNasty, the first issue of Scream! was unleashed on March 24, 1984. More tongue-in-cheek than horrific, the comic was an immediate hit with younger fans as it included a pair of fake vampire fangs attached to the cover and a number of fantastic new strips from such talents as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Jose Ortiz, Cam Kennedy, Tom Tully, Alan Grant, and Eric Bradbury.

[SOURCE: Previews World.]

Order the 40 YEARS OF SCREAM! digital edition HERE.

MONDAY IN MONSTERVILLE

More demented (and dated!) drawings from the inkpot of cartoonist Hal Sherman in this Dell one-shot magazine from September 1962.

MANDRAKE VS. THE WITCHES

Lee Falk's creation of the newspaper strips THE PHANTOM and MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN were (and still are) popular -- strike that -- very popular not only in the U.S. but around the world. Both were reprinted in comic books and collections in numerous languages and were a reflection of the appeal that the characters had, as well as the stories that included everything from adventure, mystery, fantasy, science-fiction, the supernatural, crime and more.

Shown today is an example of a MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN comic book that had a run in India. It was published by Indrajal Comics, an imprint of  The Times of India, Bennet, Coleman & Co that began in March 1964. The first 24 issues featured Falk's THE PHANTOM. Mandrake first appeared in issue #46.

During its 805-issue run (that lasted until April 1990), Indrajal used many comic strip characters from the King Features Syndicate including Flash Gordon, Rip Kirby and Buzz Sawyer. Sometimes revisions and outright censoring was made to better coincide with Indian society and enable some of the stories more understandable to readers.

"The Witches" was the title of Indrajal Comics #121 with a cover date of 1 November 1970 and is the 130th story of the Mandrake dailies. It was written by Lee Falk and drawn by Fred Fredericks. Frank Thorne and Bob Fujitani ghosted for Fredericks for two weeks during its original run.

Cover art by Govind Brahmania (aka B. Govind).