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Dr_AC-Fool_For_Blood
http://www.kitleyskrypt.com
http://horror101withdrac.blogspot.com
Howdy folks,
As some of you might be aware, in October 2007, Midnight Marquee, Inc. published HORROR 101: THE A-LIST OF HORROR FILMS AND MONSTER MOVIES, VOL. I, which I edited. The book (known in certain circles as "the Horror Primer") is composed of 101 essays on 110 essential films by 78 writers from over a dozen different countries - many of whom are active participants right here on the IMDb horror boards, i.e. your cyber-friends and neighbors.
here's what the big boys had to say:
As the title implies, Horror 101 is something of a textbook written for horror students by horror students. Edited and complied by Dr. AC (Aaron Christensen), this collection of essays provides in-depth readings on some of the most important, influential and just plain great movies that have shaped the fright genre. To an aficionado, this journey outside the industry and into non-pro reactions can bring back fond memories; for the newbie, this is a meticulous introductory course to cinematic works all fear buffs should know.--Rebekah McKendry, Fangoria
…just the right gift for the budding horror fan in your life. The must-sees are sufficiently covered here, from the silents (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, The Phantom of the Opera) and early Universal creature features (Frankenstein and friends) through ’50s American sci-fi (Them!) and Hitchcock to latter-day classics from the ’70s and early ’80s (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween and sundry slashers). The love and respect these folks have for the genre is beyond question. All this, and an intro by Tom Savini – what’s not to like?--John W. Bowen, Rue Morgue
A master stroke...something absolutely different and essential. If you find yourself feeling negative about the horror genre, you need to take a look at this book.--Nick Digilio, News/Talk 720 WGNRadio Chicago
A great read for both veterans and those new to the horror genre…Highly recommended!!--Aaron Crowell, HorrorHound Magazine
ONE YEAR IN HEAVEN: January 25, 2007
You guys probably already know what a big sentimental softie I am, so I'll try to rein it in a little.
I grew up in the 70's, reading whatever monster movie reference books the library had and watching Bob Wilkins on "Creature Features" on San Francisco's Channel 2. While some of my friends were into horror, there was only one buddy who dug it as much as I did and we would re-enact battles scenes from monster movies on the playground. When I wrote my "Who is your hero" essay on Godzilla, my 3rd grade teacher thought I was being a smartass and sent me to the principal. I was stunned and surprised, because I was completely serious. I innocently worshipped the big green stomping machine. He stood up for the little guys (this was later G, obviously, not the Tokyo-burning one) and kicked some serious ass. Who better to have as a hero? Luckily, the principal saw where I was coming from, but advised me that I should probably keep such future observations to myself.
This was the first time that I encountered prejudice against the horror genre. Sadly, it would not be the last.
As I grew older and began to become more of a film fan, I quickly learned that horror films were held in low regard by most “serious” critics and artsy types. In high school and college, while people would admit to liking horror films at times, you were considered “weird” if you admitted an all-out passion for them. Wanting to fit in (I know, the ignorance of youth), I suppressed my enthusiasm, allowing it to show its face only when I was around like-minded weirdos (an all too rare occurrence).
Time passed, and my interests moved on to other things, but the horror bug was always in my veins. Finally, about four years ago, a friend gave me John Stanley’s (Bob Wilkins replacement on Channel 2, ironically enough) horror guide, Creature Features for Christmas. Whatever issues you might have for the man’s opinion, the book itself is a great resource for genre film. As I flipped through the pages, I kept coming across title after title that I had heard of, and had always wanted to see, but never actually experienced firsthand. I decided that I would make a concentrated effort to make a list of these films, and damn well see them. (1400 films later, that goal has been achieved, but I keep discovering new ones all the time. There is no bottom to the rabbit hole.)
However, in my quest to find a rare movie online one day last January, I stumbled across an Internet Movie Database comment. Accidentally clicking on the comment’s author, it took me to the message board sign-in page. Now, I’d never been on a message board in my life, imagining them to be an enormous time-suck (and God, how right I was). Still, I figured I’d see what there was to see.
That night the Fool was born. It was like Alex Haley at the end of ROOTS: I felt like I had finally found my tribe. I think my first “Howdy folks” thread had something like 150 posts in one night. I knew I’d stumbled onto something truly special. I wasn’t wrong.
The past year has been one of so many blessings, and as corny as it sounds, finding the Horror Boards has become one of the most significant moments of my adult life. I love this place. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome and allowing me into the fold. I learn something new here every day, and my life has been enriched.
I’ll stop yakking now, but I would have been remiss not to mark the occasion. To all boarders past and present that I’ve crossed paths with over the past 365, you guys are the BEST.
Back to it. Fool out.
My personal favorite 40+ Horror Films (ones that I can watch over and over and over):
The Exorcist (73)
Halloween (78)
Godzilla vs. Megalon (73)
King Kong (33)
The Thing (82)
The Wicker Man (73)
The Raven (63)
The Pit and the Pendulum (61)
Habit (97)
The Howling (81)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (56)
The Incredible Shrinking Man (57)
Blood Feast (63)
Evil Dead II (87)
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (58)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (56)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (74)
Tarantula (55)
Targets (68)
X: The Man with X-ray Eyes (63)
Young Frankenstein (74)
The Blair Witch Project (99)
Cannibal Holocaust (80)
The Haunting (63)
Psycho (60)
Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (71)
The Fly (86)
Phantasm (79)
Food of the Gods (76)
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (84)
Robot Monster (53)
Cat People (42)
Jurassic Park (93)
Session 9 (01)
The Wolf Man (41)
Frankenstein (31)
Vampyres (75)
Vampyr (32)
Alien (79)
Curse of the Demon (57)
When a Stranger Calls (79) (well, the first 20 minutes at least)
Trilogy of Terror (75) (The last 25 minutes)
Reviews
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)
Differences between Paramount DVD and Japanese laser
All right, not that anyone (other than the true-blue HammerHeads) really cares, but here's what we've got. I was comparing the Paramount R1 DVD with a dubbed version of the Japanese laserdisc, so these scenes may not be on the UK VHS either.
Changes or trims: (SPOILERS) 50 min: There is a doozy of a cut here, with Cushing's Dr. Frankenstein assisting Shane Briant with an operation by using his *teeth* to hold the stitching in place (as a result of his hands being burned, presumably from FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED's climax). I've seen this in stills, but never on screen.
52 min: couple of brief trims involving close-ups of an eyeball.
59 min: the skull-sawing sequence is trimmed.
1:28 min: throat slashing has a *tiny* trim.
1:29 min: Sequence with inmates tearing monster to pieces is trimmed, missing a particularly gruesome bit where someone treads upon a gizzard of some sort.
I don't know that it adds up to five minutes or not, but those are all the difference I noted.