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Book Review: Untold Horror by Dave Alexander

 

Untold Horror by Dave Alexander

Dark Horse Comics, 2021

ISBN-13: 9781506719023

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology  Bookshop.org )

 

Untold Horror includes interviews by the former editor-in-chief of Rue Morgue, Dave Alexander,  about horror projects that never saw the light of day, with horror legends such as Joe Dante, John Landis, William Lustig, George A. Romero, and more.

 

Among the discussions in Untold Horror, I found quite a few that were more eye opening than others. An interview with film historian David J. Skal reveals historical information about early drafts of Dracula, Frankenstein, and a few other titles that never came to be. A discussion with Jared Rivet, John Goodwin, and Brandon Wyse regards Tobe Hooper’s vision for a remake of White Zombie. Joe Dante and Matty Simmons at one time wanted to create a National Lampoon version of Jaws. Interviews with William Lustig, Buddy Giovinazzo, and Stephen Romano reveals information on Lustig and Spinell’s Maniac sequels that never came to fruition. Particularly interesting is the revelation that George A. Romero “nearly kick-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe” (p. 67) in the 1980s with a project titled Copperhead. This chapter comes complete with preliminary sketches of characters and storyboards.  

 

There are so many other projects that I could mention, but I think anyone interested in film history should pick up Untold Horror. The book features scripts, sketches, photographs, and other material from unfinished projects. It is heartbreaking to see how many films were never made. Who knows? With the unearthed history, maybe some of these can be resurrected somehow…I can hold out hope anyway. Highly recommended

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 

Graphic Novel Review: Just Beyond: Monstrosity by R. L. Stine, illustrations by Irene Flores, inks by Joana Lafuente

cover art for Just Beyond Monstrosity by R.L. Stine  

Just Beyond: Monstrosity by R. L. Stine, illustrations by Irene Flores, inks by Joana Lafuente

BOOM! Studios, 2021

ISBN-13: 9781684156979

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, comixology 

(Bookshop.org |  Amazon.com )


 

 

Ruthie and Ezra Dillon’s father Matthew and uncle Frankie have purchased the old Hollywood movie studio, Monstrosity, known for the best horror flicks of the 1950s. Matthew’s dream is to resurrect the defunct studio and produce modern horror movies with a nostalgic feel. While Poe, an elderly caretaker of the studio, takes the children on a tour of the grounds, the brothers bicker over the financials of running the business.

 

One of the former film directors eventually starts work on new films for Monstrosity, only to be thwarted at every turn. Matthew and Frankie hire on a new studio manager, Eve, to try to get things in order. During one of their excursions on the studio lot, Ruthie and Ezra discover the old animatronic Wolfescreem, as well as others around the place. When the story shows the tale of the creation and potential destruction of the Wolfenscreem automaton, things in the modern day start to get a little more interesting.

 

The story was great and, while it is meant for middle grade readers, adult readers may enjoy the story as well. The graphic novel is fast paced, and made for a good distraction. The artwork is well-done, and the creature designs are reminiscent of those from the classic creature features, but different enough to make them unique. Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Book Review: Cult Cinema: A Personal Exploration of Sects, Brainwashing, and Bad Religion in Film and Television by Howard David Ingham

cover art for Cult Cinema by Howard David Ingham

Cult Cinema: A Personal Exploration of Sects, Brainwashing and Bad Religion in Film and Television by Howard David Ingham

Room 207 Press, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781684055982

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition ( Amazon.com )

 

 

Howard David Ingham follows up We Don’t Go Back: A Watcher’s Guide to Folk Horror with Cult Cinema: A Personal Exploration of Sects, Brainwashing and Bad Religion in Film and Television. In this book, Ingham posits that religious extremism has dogged humanity’s heels from the formation of Christianity up to the current era. Ingham does not solely focus on horror, looking at other genre sources such as situational comedy, drama, and more. The author looks at why and how people join abusive religious groups, the process of and what it means to brainwash, and at times eventual escape. He frames his book in terms of his personal experience belonging to the evangelical Christian church. Ingham’s time in this group gives Ingham’s analysis a firsthand account of what occurs with cults and cultish behavior. Ingham provides a look into what makes the cult “work”, or not. Just as fair warning from Ingham, and myself, if you are one to shy away from material regarding abuse in a myriad of forms, including child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, and others, avoid this one. However, if those sensitive topics are not triggering for you and you are interested in religious cults, carry on reading this review (and, of course, consider picking up this book).

 

In the first chapter, “God Only Knows What You’re Missing”, Ingham frames their conversion to evangelical Christianity with a discussion of their experience at a Polyphonic Spree concert in 2003 that felt like a religious experience, and how even an ardent sceptic can be converted in the film The Sound of My Voice. The second chapter, “The Opposite of Brainwashing”, begins with a discussion of four stages of conversion and subsequent brainwashing and the Moonies. All of this leads to a further discussion on cult deprogrammers. Films include Ticket to Heaven, Split Image, Holy Smoke, and Faults to show different applications and results of brainwashing and subsequent deprogramming. In chapter three, “Exiles” Ingham writes about how difficult it is to leave extreme religious groups, analyzing The Passion of Darkly Noon, Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and The Endless. “The Atrocity Tour” covers the Big Ones. A book on cult activity would not be complete without mentioning the big events: Jonestown, the siege of the Branch Davidians in Waco, the Heaven’s Gates’ mass suicide, Aum Shinrikyo’s attacks on the Tokyo subway, and the Manson family murders are presented. Ingham covers film and television including Manson Family Vacation, Charlie Says, Mandy, The Sacrament, Red State, and American Horror Story: Cult. In chapter 5, “Live Together or Die Alone” Ingham describes the fictional popular culture theme of what they call the “Pagan Village Conspiracy,” emphasizing that there is no such thing in the real world of cults. The Wicker Man, Kill List, Midsommar, and Doomsday are the films in which this theme is strong. The Church of Scientology is the focus of chapter 6, titled “Clear”. Ingham looks at The Master and The Path for this section.

 

“You Can Be a Person by Being A Person”, chapter 7, focuses on cults that don’t necessarily have a religious component, but have more of a philosophical and sociopolitical center, such as fascist groups. Films Ingham includes in this chapter include Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss by Passing through the Gateway Chosen by the Holy Storsh, Safe, The Invitation, and Fight Club. The latter is explored at length in this chapter. In the eighth chapter, “Sects Education”: Ingham discusses different sects of Christianity, focusing on Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons extensively, looking at the films Apostasy, The Children Act, Son of Rambow, September Dawn, and Gentlemen Broncos. “Praise Be to He” presents an extensive discussion of American conservative evangelical Christianity. Ingham writes at length of their time as an evangelical, discussing the prosperity gospel, gay conversion therapy, what it is like to attend Christian conventions, and more. Ingham uses media such as The Righteous Gemstones, Don Verdean, But I’m a Cheerleader, and The Miseducation of Cameron Post to frame their discussion.

 

In the closing chapter, “Chastity, Poverty, Obedience, Pain”, Ingham tells the story of Father Stephen, the chaplain at their secondary school. He mentions the “cloistered divine” in Catholic circles, and looks at films including The Magdalene Sisters, Black Narcissus, The Devils, Mother Joan of the Angels, Flavia the Heretic, and Martyrs.

 

The book includes an index of film and television programs the author discussed in the book.

 

Original versions of many of the essays in this book were written between January 2017 and December 2020, and were published by Room 207 Press. Highly recommended.

Contains: spoilers

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker