The Eyeball Compendium edited by Stephen Thrower is a collection of essays, reviews and interviews on sex, horror, art and exploitation cinema. This book was vital to developing my interests in the wider world of weird cinema and beyond vanilla cult films.
The Cannon Film Guide - Volume 1: 1980-1984 by Austin Trunick (@cannonfilmguide.bsky.social) is the first part of a mammoth endeavour to cover the history of the legendary Cannon Film group. Its a passionate, funny & charming ride filled w/ great reviews and interviews. Volume 2 is out now!
Exciting!
Gun And Sword by Chris D is an enormous (800+ pages) encyclopedia covering every Japanese gangster film it is possible to cover. A history of a genre, a country, studios, actors and directors weaves their way through this mammoth book.
That is really good to know! Going to seek it out.
I’d strongly recommend the original, not the revised version. The new material only dilutes the clarity of his observations. We’re currently rewatching his wonderfully selected “Sadean Trilogy”. Superb selection of publicity photos too.
A New Heritage of Horror by David Pirie is an updated version of his classic text, A Heritage of Horror. One of the first books to seriously examine British horror cinema. Overshadowed by some great books that followed in its wake but still set the standard & worth checking out.
Larry Cohen - The Stuff of God's and Monsters by Michael Doyle is an in-depth, book length interview with Cohen about his whole career. The book is filled with wonderful anecdotes and insight from the director of Black Caesar and the writer of the truly classic Maniac Cop.
Borrowing @cevni.bsky.social's picture for Nightmare USA by Stephen Thrower. An epic love letter to regional American horror film making. We learn about many technicians who went onto great success but Thrower focuses his attention on the enthusiastic amateurs & those who only had one shot.
I was at the London Rex show in 1999 when Steve Albini revealed to the world that his favourite biscuits were chocolate Hobnobs.