Mocata's Den of Horror

In the 1970s and 1980s, Italy released numerous movies dealing with cannibalism.  Starting with Il paese del sesso selvaggio (aka Man from Deep River, Deep River Savages, Sacrifice! , and many others), they were initially adventure movies set in the jungle.  The cannibal element was initially a minor subplot, with the later films concentrating more and more on cannibal carnage as the films also went stampeding into the horror realm.  These movies would become notorious for various reasons in the years after their original releases, some getting banned in various countries and most getting cut to ribbons in many countries.  Regardless of any controversial content these films may feature, they are an important part of horror and exploitation cinema.  I am also a big fan of these movies in general, so I am going to discuss some (maybe all), one at a time. First up is undoubtedly one of the most notorious, Cannibal Ferox .  Released in the U.S. as Make Them ...

A long time favorite band of mine is Necrophagia, which initially formed in the early/mid '80s before splitting then eventually resurfacing with a new lineup in the late '90s, continuing on until the death of its founder, Killjoy, in 2018. Set list from Necrophagia show, plus flyer and stage-used drumstick from drummer Shawn Slusarek There are a couple of recent releases from two different labels released as tributes to the band and the memory of Killjoy.  The first is a best-of compilation and the other is a cassette release containing the band's demos from the '80s. Best-of collections are generally a bit of a weird thing for me, personally, as they are derivative by nature.  However, they are good for people who are trying to get into the band, but don't know where to start.  I also find them good for situations where you want to listen to a specific band, but want to hear stuff from different albums, which I find does happen to me from time to time.  Th...

Most people don't realize that there is much more to comic books than superheroes like Spider-man or Superman.  Over the decades, many different genres have had their ups and downs in the world of comic books: western, science fiction, horror, crime, romance, and, of course, superheroes.  Comics are also not just an American thing; they are produced in many countries around the world.  Today, I want to write about one such comic-- the Italian fumetto dell'orrore (horror comic), Dylan Dog . Two different issues of Dylan Dog Dylan Dog, created by Tiziano Sclavi and published by Sergio Bonelli Editore, debuted in 1986 and continues to this day.  At this moment, the regular series is at #400.  Dylan Dog, the character, is a private investigator residing in London.  However, he does not handle normal cases; he is the nightmare investigator.  He deals with monsters, ghosts, deranged killers, etc. Dylan Dog is a man who lives somewhat nonchalantly,...

Finally, the 1968 Hammer Films classic, The Devil Rides Out , has gotten a Blu-ray release in the U.S.  This release is courtesy of the folks at Shout Factory/Scream Factory. U.S. Blu-Ray release from Scream Factory There are two versions of the film included on the disc: the original version as released in the U.S. (including the alternate title of The Devil's Bride ) and there is also the revamped version Hammer released in the U.K. with the modified special effects.  Obviously, making changes to an old movie is a contentious issue, so it is a good move to have both versions, rather than just choosing one or the other.  For those who are curious to see the enhanced effects, it is there, but at the same time, you aren't stuck with it if you don't like it.  There is still the regular version to watch. Much of the bonus stuff is carried over from some previous releases, such as the audio commentary featuring Christopher Lee, plus some featurettes from the Ha...

In honor of Halloween, I am going to write a bit about one of the greatest albums ever recorded (in my opinion, at least).  That record is also quite appropriate for the season: November-Coming-Fire by Samhain (Glenn Danzig's criminally overlooked band between the Misfits and Danzig). Originally released in 1986, this was the final release the band had during its existence.  Glenn would record a few more songs over the next few years to complete one last EP for the band, Final Descent, which was accompanied in its original release by the 1987 reworked version of the band's other EP, Unholy Passion , making it something of a compilation album. Even though Samhain was only around for about 3-4 years, there is a lot of growth evident on the records.  Each release had its own feel and each was brilliant in its own way.  Initium was the punkiest of the records, but the songs were darker and featured various moody touches, such as chimes ringing through the atmosphe...

Few things are as pleasant as having a couple of beers and watching a good horror movie.  For some horror movies, there are certain beers that are especially appropriate to drink while watching, usually due to that beer popping up in the movie itself.  Here are a few to start with.  At some point, I will likely do another, because there are certainly more than I will be listing now. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)- Shiner Premium To start off, we have Tobe Hooper's classic, which features some country guys drinking some Shiner Premium in a cemetery at the beginning.  The choice of Shiner makes sense for the movie, as it is a Texas beer, brewed in Shiner, Texas.  This particular beer was, as far as I know, discontinued for some time, but it showed up some time back on shelves, with the label looking very close to the ones visible in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre .  So if you plan on watching this one and want to really get into the vibe of the movie,...

Hammer's classic adaptation of Dennis Wheatley's novel, The Devil Rides Out , is now 50 years old.  Both the book and film tell the story of a group of old friends who deal with a Satanic cult. The novel, first published in 1934, is part of a series based around the character the Duc de Richleau.  The earlier novels in this series deal with an elderly Duc and his adventures with the group of friends featured in The Devil Rides Out , while later on, the novels told about his younger days. Hammer would later adapt another of Wheatley's black magic-themed novels, To the Devil-- a Daughter , with the film differing so far greatly from the source novel that the two are virtually unrelated.  There do still remain a few elements that the film has in common with the novel, but to call this one an adaptation is using the term extremely loosely.  Hammer also adapted one of Wheatley's non-occult oriented tales, Uncharted Seas , as The Lost Continent , but I am focusing on his...