New work announcement. Coming in May from Umbrella Entertainment, STORM WARNING (2007), an Australian outback horror film from director Jamie Blanks (URBAN LEGEND) and legendary "Ozploitation" screenwriter Everett De Roche. I contributed an interview with Blanks for the booklet that comes with the limited collector's edition, which also includes a soundtrack CD and other goodies. Only available from the Umbrella website.
STORM WARNING Collector's Edition Pre-Order
I was thrilled to get the chance to record an audio commentary for this upcoming Kino Cult release of the sleazy Klaus Kinski flick CRAWLSPACE (1986). My first solo commentary to be released! Coming in Feb 2025.
New work announcement! Coming in March from Kino Lorber as part of their Kino Cult imprint. I provided the audio commentary track for this Blu-ray release of BOBBIE JO AND THE OUTLAW (1976), a 70s drive-in action riff on the classic Bonnie & Clyde tale, directed by Mark L. Lester (CLASS OF 1984, FIRESTARTER, COMMANDO) and starring the stunning Lynda Carter (on the cusp of her WONDER WOMAN superstardom) and enigmatic former child evangelist Marjoe Gortner. In 2020 my book on Gortner's film and television career, WILDCAT!, was published by Bear Manor (and is still available), so obviously my commentary track for the movie centers quite a bit on Marjoe's life and work, but also covers lots of other angles that I hope those who buy the release will enjoy.
I haven't posted any updates for a while, as there has not been much new to report, but I have had a few people reach out, so thought I'd share a quick update on the status of my KISS book, CREATURES OF THE SCREEN.
The text of the book has been finished and with the publisher for several months now. I was initially hoping it would see release between Halloween and Christmas last year, but clearly that didn't eventuate. The publisher (Bear Manor) recently absorbed another publishing imprint, one that specializes in Disney books, so I imagine that put their whole schedule behind for a bit.
However, the layout for the book has now pretty much been completed by the publisher. Once they generate the index at their end and insert into the book, I then get a proof of the whole thing to go through, and that is pretty much the final step. So hopefully it should arrive not too far into the new year.
Ultimately, I want the book to be as good as can be, so if that means a few months delay then it is worth it. And on the positive side, going through and compiling the index has also allowed me to pick up on a few little grammatical errors to correct. But for those who have been looking forward to it, it is still coming and the finish line fast approaching!
Had a great time checking out Phillipa Berry's latest exhibition of shrines at the One Star Gallery in Melbourne today. As usual, some beautiful and amazing creative works devoted to a variety of (often neglected) filmmakers, movie stars, musicians, Mexican wrestlers and other cult celebrities.
Plenty of tears and sadness, but also lots of laughs and an abundance of love and warmth at Lee Gambin's farewell today. I'm glad his love of horror cinema was not neglected. He will be much missed, but he will also be well remembered, and will long remain a source of inspiration to so many.
Received my contributor's copy of the latest WE BELONG DEAD book project, UNSUNG HORRORS HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE. Another mammoth and beautifully produced volume, for which I contributed essays on Jeff Lieberman's BLUE SUNSHINE (1977), William Grefe's DEATH CURSE OF TARTU (1966), Brian De Palma's SISTERS (1972), and Rod Hardy's THIRST (1979). Fabulous work once again by editors Darrell Buxton and Eric McNaughton, cover artist Paul Garner, and everyone else. Available in both soft and hardcover editions. Order UNSUNG HORRORS HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE Here!
A little peek at my eight-page article in the latest issue (#10) of CINEMA OF THE ‘70s magazine, in which I take a look at rock and roll movies from that decade…from WOODSTOCK to GIMME SHELTER to KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK and SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND! 100 full color pages, available from Amazon in most regions. Always a great read that covers a wide range of cinema from that milestone period of filmmaking. Great work as usual by Dawn Dabell and Jonathon Dabell and the other contributors.
New work announcement! I was thrilled to contribute an essay on the great English actor Ian McShane for the collector's edition Blu-ray release of the 1974 hi-jack thriller RANSOM (aka THE TERRORISTS), starring Sean Connery. Coming in April from Umbrella.
New work announcement! Thrilled to be contributing an essay on post-apocalypse genre cinema for the 48-page booklet that will accompany the special collector's edition of Umbrella's Blu-ray release of the cult classic, TANK GIRL (1995). My essay will cover films produced in the 50 years between the first atomic bomb detonation of 1945 and TANK GIRL's release. Amongst the films I'll be discussing will be FIVE (1950), ON THE BEACH (1959), PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO (1962), PLANET OF THE APES (1968), THE OMEGA MAN (1971), ZARDOZ (1974), A BOY AND HIS DOG (1975), THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981), CAFE FLESH (1982) THE DAY AFTER (1983), THREADS (1984), CHERRY 2000 (1987) and many more, not to mention all the great Italian exploitation films which followed in the wake of THE ROAD WARRIOR and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981). Coming in April from Umbrella.
New work announcement! I provided the essay text to the 44-page booklet that accompanies this upcoming Wes Craven Blu-ray set from Via Vision Entertainment, which collects three of the horror master's mid-period films: DEADLY BLESSING (1981), THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW (1988), and THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS (1991). Coming 13 March in a 3D lenticular hardcase box with bonus art cards!
Thrilled to receive my comp copy of the stunning new Blu-ray release from Treasured Films in the UK, MAUSOLEUM (1983). For this deluxe release I contributed a 20-minute video essay on the film's enigmatic male star, Marjoe Gortner (who was the subject of my last book, WILDCAT!). This was my first video essay and while I am always a little uncomfortable being on camera (especially on a stinking hot day such as this one was filmed on), I still had fun and appreciated the opportunity, and very grateful to Jarret Gahan and Chris Chappell for their invaluable assistance. Haha, the end credits on the featurette even includes some outtakes of me whinging and complaining about the heat, and wishing Treasured had just asked me to do a standard booklet essay instead! But it is all a good learning experience, and I am happy to be doing more work for the company moving forward. Order MAUSOLEUM Here!
