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Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide To Cult Cinema

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    C.D. Workman
    Senior Member

  • Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide To Cult Cinema



    Edited by: Nico B
    Written by: Various
    Released by: Cult Epics/SCB Distributors
    Released on: February 6, 2018
    Purchase From Amazon

    Cult Epics' first foray into print publishing, The Art of Rozz Williams: From Christian Death to Death, met with critical acclaim when it was published last year. The company's second exercise in publishing, Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide to Cult Cinema, continues the class act by acting as both a coffee-table offering—at least, for those with families who aren't offended easily—as well as an introduction to the company's DVD and Blu-ray releases. Edited by Cult Epics founder Nico B, who also provides an introduction detailing his ascent into the world of film and the founding of his company, the hardback book looks much like an oversized museum piece, replete with innumerable b/w and color posters and still images on thick, high-quality, glossy paper. The layout and design are exquisite.

    The book began life as part of an online Indiegogo campaign in March 2017, with initial contributors receiving not only the book but also extras such as the Death Laid an Egg Blu-ray and DVD combo. The book was intended as part of the company's 25th anniversary, and what a great way to celebrate!





    In addition to being beautiful to behold, it's also a strong journalistic effort featuring some of the biggest names in the cult-review field, including musician and film critic Stephen Thrower (Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci, Nightmare USA), producer Nathaniel Thompson ('Cannibal Apocalypse' Redux, 2002), and Rock! Shock! Pop! founder Ian Jane. Of course, these are only a few of the contributors; much of the book is written by Michael Den Boer (10kbullets.com), Mark R. Hasan (Rue Morgue Magazine), Rayo Casablanca (6 Sick Hipsters), and Heather Drain (mondoheather.com), among others. The writing itself ranges from average to excellent, though no review is anything less than informative. These reviews not only offer plot descriptions and background information about the individual films covered, but also details concerning extras on the DVD and/or Blu-ray releases. Each review is accompanied by that release's DVD or BD cover art as well as technical info. Images from the films themselves are included, along with the occasional poster art. Some of the images contain nudity and violence (as with the films they cover), so this is definitely mature reading. The images are sharp and compelling, and the book is handsomely produced.

    Cult Epics: Comprehensive Guide to Cult Cinema is divided into sections: Arthouse, Horror, and Erotica, with each section including subsections based on individual filmmakers (Fernando Arrabal, Walerian Borowczyk, Jí¶rg Buttgereit, Tinto Brass, and Radley Metzger) or specific themes (Bettie Page, Vintage Erotic). In addition to the film/DVD/BD reviews, there are also introductions to filmmakers and/or films, as well as interviews with Fernando Arrabal, Walerian Borowczyk, Jí¶rg Buttgereit, and Tinto Brass. The final section is devoted to Nico B and includes subsections about Bunny Yeager and The Claire Sinclair Show.




    A complete rundown of the introductions, reviews, and interviews, as well as who wrote them, follows:

    Un chant d'amour by Michael Den Boer
    Black Night/Spiritual Exercises by Nathaniel Thompson
    Population: 1 by Michael Den Boer
    Here is always somewhere else by Michael Den Boer
    Kiss Napoleon Goodbye by Michael Den Boer
    Slogan by Mark R. Hasan
    W.S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine by Scott Pewenofkit, Jr.
    Stay as You Are by Michael Den Boer
    Interview with Fernando Arrabal by Ramí³n F. Suí¡rez
    Introduction to Viva la Muerte by Rayo Casablanca
    Viva la Muerte by Nathaniel Thompson
    Introduction to I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse by Rayo Casablanca
    I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse by Nathaniel Thompson
    Introduction to The Guernica Tree by Rayo Casablanca
    The Guernica Tree by Mark R. Hasan
    The Fernando Arrabal Collection 2 by Nathaniel Thompson
    Interview with Walerian Borowczyk by J.P. Sarré & A. Dauman
    Introduction to The Beast by Daniel Bird
    The Beast by Mark R. Hasan
    Introduction to Goto, Island of Love by Rayo Casablanca
    Goto, Island of Love by Mark R. Hasan
    Introduction to Love Rites by Rayo Casablanca
    Love Rites by Mark R. Hasan
    Behind Convent Walls by Nathaniel Thompson
    Introduction to The Driller Killer by Brad Stevens
    The Driller Killer by Mark R. Hasan
    Introduction to In a Glass Cage by Stephen Thrower
    In a Glass Cage by Nathaniel Thompson
    Introduction to Death Bed: The Bed That Eats by Stephen Thrower
    Death Bed: The Bed That Eats by Nathaniel Thompson
    Cinema of Death by Michael Den Boer
    Dead Leaves by Mark R. Hasan
    American Gothic by Mark R. Hasan
    Manson Family Movies by Mark R. Hasan
    Hysteria by Michael Den Boer
    Zero Killed by Michael Den Boer
    Interview with Gerald Kargl on Angst by Marcus Stiglegger
    Angst by Charlie Hobbs
    Interview with Jí¶rg Buttgereit on Nekromantik by David Kerekes
    Introduction to the Films of Jí¶rg Buttgereit by Matthew Whoolery
    Nekromantik by Nathaniel Thompson
    Nekromantik 2 by Nathaniel Thompson
    Der Todesking by Nathaniel Thompson
    Schramm by Nathaniel Thompson
    Venus in Furs by Nathaniel Thompson
    Maria Beatty Fetish Films by Marcus Stiglegger
    School of the Holy Beast by Mark R. Hasan
    Viva by Ian Jane
    Introduction to Bettie Page Pin Up Queen by Bettie Page
    Bettie Page Pin Up Queen by Mark R. Hasan
    Introduction to Bettie Page Bondage Queen by Mark R. Hasan
    The Irving Klaw Classics Vol. 1-4 by Mark R. Hasan
    The Erotic Dances of Bettie Page by Michael Den Boer
    The Mysterious M. X by Alexandre Dupouy
    Vintage Erotica Anno 1920 by Mark R. Hasan
    Vintage Erotica Anno 1930 by Mark R. Hasan
    Vintage Erotica Anno 1940 by Mark R. Hasan
    Vintage Erotica Anno 1950 by Mark R. Hasan
    Vintage Erotica Anno 1960 by Mark R. Hasan
    Vintage Erotica Anno 1970 by Mark R. Hasan
    Vintage Lesbian Erotica by Mark R. Hasan
    American Nudes Vol. 1-3 by Mark R. Hasan
    Introduction to the Films of Tinto Brass by Nico B
    Interview with Tinto Brass by Nico B
    Deadly Sweet by Mark R. Hasan
    Attraction by Mark R. Hasan
    The Howl by Mark R. Hasan
    The Key by Mark R. Hasan
    Miranda by Mark R. Hasan
    All Ladies Do It by Mark R. Hasan
    Frivolous Lola by Mark R. Hasan
    The Voyeur by Ian Jane
    Cheeky! By Michael Den Boer
    Private by Michael Den Boer
    Monamour/Kick the Cock by Michael Den Boer
    Paprika by Nathaniel Thompson
    Introduction by Radley Metzger by Radley Metzger
    Radley Metzger's Cinema of Delights by Nathaniel Thompson
    Score by Nathaniel Thompson
    Lickerish Quartet by Nathaniel Thompson
    Camille 2000 by Nathaniel Thompson
    Interview with Nico B by Ian Jane
    100 Girls by Bunny Yeager by Mark R. Hasan
    Pig/1334 by Heather Drain
    Gitane Demone: Life After Death by Bill Gibron
    The Claire Sinclair Show by Ian Jane
    Sin by Heather Drain

    The goodness doesn't end with the book and its many and varied articles, however. It also includes a DVD containing trailers or promotional shorts for most of the films covered. A note at the beginning states, “This promotional disc does not necessarily represent the quality of our Blu-ray and DVD releases.” And the quality does indeed vary heavily. The disc begins with a short promotion for Bettie Page Pin Up Queen, then moves into promos or trailers for The Driller Killer, Venus in Furs (1994), The Beast, All Ladies Do It, Pig, The Key, Miranda, Viva la Muerte, The Black Glove, The Elegant Spanking, In a Glass Cage, Death Bed: The Bed That Eats, Frivolous Lola, Bettie Page Dark Angel, American Gothic, School of the Holy Beast, The Guernica Tree, Goto Island of Love, Transgressing, Vintage Erotica Anno 1920, Do It!, Un chant d'amour, Nuit noire, Spiritual Exercises, L'uomo che guarda, Slogan, American Nudes Vol. 1, A Heavenly Melancholy, Population: 1, Here is always somewhere else, Kiss Napoleon Goodbye, The Howl, “the artful penetration of barbara,” Viva, Car Cemetery, Emperor of Peru, Behind Convent Walls, Vintage Lesbian Erotica, Monamour, Kick the Cock, Score, The Lickerish Quartet, Camille 2000, 1334, Hysteria, Zero Killed, Senso 45, The Claire Sinclair Show S8 Bonus, Hot Love, Nekromantik, Nekromantik 2, W.S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine, Stay as You Are, Der Todesking, Angst, Paprika, Schramm, Sin, Exotic Dances of Bettie Page, Mondo Weirdo, Obsessions, The Flesh, Death Laid an Egg, Moon Child, and Frank and Eva. The compilation runs a whopping 2:41:40. There are no chapter breaks between promos/trailers, but this is a small complaint to make about what is essentially a very cool freebie.

    The hardcover edition of the book is limited to only 1,000 copies.
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