My favorite thing about Nick Yak's THE HORROR FICTION REVIEW was its reverence for the xerox-and-staples sleaziness of the fanzines of yore. For a measly two bucks, it was possible to relive the 80s stink days of THE GORE GAZETTE, SLEAZOID EXPRESS, and Yak's own STINK. Of course, Nick covered horror fiction more than movies, but his efforts to keep his mind in the gutter were definitely appreciated.

Sadly, HFR has closed up (print) shop. Faced with the realities of small press mimeographing, Nick has moved HFR into cyberspace. I hate to see the switch, just as I hated to see the Horror Writers Association newsletter go this route, but this is the 21st century and we can't allow a ... (more…)

Who needs emotions?

After a brief hiatus, Pod of Horror returns to cyber space with Case #43.

The popular horror entertainment podcast, featuring the warped talents of producer/host Mark Justice and Nanci Kalanta, is brought to you courtesy of Horror World.

Pod of Horror is noteworthy because it is one of the few horror themed podcasts out there devoted solely to horror fiction; "The Call of Kalanta" news segment, author interviews, and book reviews don't take a back seat to some self proclaimed "scream queen" that nobody's ever heard of, and we tip our Fear Zone logo-emblazoned baseball caps to them. That's why we've pointed out every new episode since we launched back in September.

This ... (more…)

Back in my first Media Zone column, I lamented the passing of Cinefantastique magazine following the sudden passing of its creator, Frederick S. Clarke. The magazine was briefly revived as CFQ just a few years ago, but the new effort didn't gel for me.

Growing up in a small town where movies hit the only screen months after opening in the key markets, it never bothered me that Cinefantastique was always late to the table; what mattered was its eye opening critical take on science fiction, fantasy and horror films. There hasn't been a magazine like it since, and I honestly do miss it. The recent incarnation still had interesting critical views, but in the age of the internet, when ... (more…)

It's time to take a look at some magazines that many of you may not be familiar with.

First up is GOREZONE, published in the UK. This ultra slick magazine should not be confused with FANGORIA's one-time sister publication (which was a damned good magazine!), but there are similarities. GOREZONE is the Brit equivalent of FANGO or RUE MORGUE, but it has a unique charm and vibe all its own. First of all, when I say slick, I mean SLICK: every page is full color, and I have honestly never seen so many photos jam packed into any magazine in my life! With a name like GOREZONE, you just know this one is focused on horror films, but there are articles on other horror media as well, like books. ... (more…)

Who would have thought that after a 20 year hiatus--since 1985's DAY OF THE DEAD--George Romero would give us not only one, but two more zombie flicks?



I was pleasently surprised when, in 2005, LAND OF THE DEAD opened in screens all around the world. I did in fact love the flick, which was somehow closer to the spirit of John Carpenter movies like ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK than to George's famous original "HolyTtrilogy." However, his original view of the world, an amazing cast and impressive effects couldn't turn the film into a success. It didn't meet box office expectations, so the planned sequel never came to be.



Universal had greenlt the film after the success of Zack Snyder's remake of DAWN ... (more…)

Pictured: Horror Fiction Review #18

Ye Old Editor fondly remembers the good old days in the 1980s, before Al Gore invented the Internet and George Bush mispronounced it, when die hard horror fans craving horror reviews, interviews, and news with a sleazier bent than could be found in the slick commercialism of professional horror magazines found true pleasure in photocopied fanzines.

I remember when when Jimmy Muro, the director of STREET TRASH, came up to me in a bar, panicked because The Sleazoid Express was temporarily on hiatus because its Sleazoid Publisher had been caught xeroxing copies en mass at his job; I remember when SPLAT! gave my film SLIME CITY a rave review but Rick ... (more…)

A short time ago, Fear Zone was the first site to break the news that Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema had patched up their differences and were forging on with a film version of J.R.R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT, as well as a sequel that wills et up THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY. Jackson will produce the film but not direct it. Now comes word from Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News that, while papers have yet to be signed, a director for the project has been chosen: Guilermo Del Toro (PANS LABYRINTH). It's hard to imagine a better choice; Del Toro is certainly a better fit for the material than Sam Raimi. (more…)

OK, this definitely crosses the line as far as relentless self promotion and conflict of interest go, but it's all in fun and it does partly concern Fear Zone. I think you'll give me a "pass" because it's so damned entertaining, especially when my daughter Kaelin does The Slime City Dance.

This week I made my sixth appearance on THE GREG STERLACE SHOW, a long running (13 years! And this is Episode #666!) cable access show in Buffalo, New York. Sterlace is a filmmaker and musician as well as the Bad Boy of the Public Airwaves, and I always enjoy visiting The House of the Future, where the show is taped. I'm in the opening segment, but you may want to continue watching in disbelief!

... (more…)

"They're here! THEY'RE HERE!"

Where? WHERE?

"You're next! YOU'RE NEXT!"

What? WHAT?

Have the technical difficulties which have prevented us from posting Tuesday's Terrors left you feeling like an emotionless Pod Person? Then skip on over to Horror World to hear the latest Pod of Horror. Mention Fear Zone, and I bet they'll give you some money. A LOT of it!

"They're heeeeeeeeeeeeere!"

Guests include authors James A. Moore (whom we already interviewed) and J.F. Gonzalez.

Screeeeeech!

SPLAT! (more…)

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd... but which one? There is, of course, Tim Burton's stylishly gothic, bloody but far from perfect take on Stephen Sondheim's musical version to partake of this holiday season. But like Jack the Ripper, Dracula and Frankenstein, the story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and his culinary criminal accomplice Mrs. Lovett has been told in several different forms in literature as well as on stage and screen. Unlike those other archetypal horror icons, however, the story of Sweeney Todd has no definitive version. Dracula and Frankenstein owe their genesis to Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley respectively, and there are factual records documenting the deeds of Saucy ... (more…)