R.I.P. Jean Rollin

French horror auteur Jean Rollin has died at the age of 72, according to Fangoria. It is common to refer to directors as “one of a kind” upon their passing, but Rollin truly was. In films such as Le viol du vampire (Rape of the Vampire), La vampire nue (The Nude Vampire) and my personal favorite La fiancée de Dracula (Fiancée of Dracula), he created a distinctive blend of surrealism and eroticism that will be difficult to match. I’ve watched Fiancée of Dracula three times, and I still don’t know what it’s about, although I like. To quote one of his films: “The person evaporates, but the memory remains.” R.I.P.

So, Ya Wanna Be In Pictures?

Well, you can be. Your name can be, anyway. Greg Bartlett has filmed an adaptation of the short story “Making Friends” by noted horror author Gary Raisor (Less Than Human, Obsessions). Filming is completed, but the filmmakers need to raise $600 by January 5th to finish it. To get the money they are soliciting donations, and donating brings you various goodies, including having your name in the credits. It’s certainly a lot easier than hanging out at Schwab’s drugstore day after day. Depending on the size of the donation, you can also receive a digital download of the film, a dvd, and/or a signed poster. You can view the trailer for the film here, and you can pledge a donation to the film here. I’m planning on doing it, and you might want to check it out, too.
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Southern Gods Sold To Nightshade

Due to extremely light posting of late (I basically took the month of November off from my blog. But now I’ve used up my blog vacation time up, and need to get back to earning big blog bucks. Weak joke completely run into the ground.) I was remiss in not noting one of the more significant events to occur in my circle of friends: the devilishly handsome John Hornor Jacobs sold his novel Southern Gods to Nightshade Books. Big congratulations to John and to his outstanding agent Stacia Decker. Nightshade is a prestigious publisher, and this is really big news, even if I am three weeks behind in saying so.

When this book becomes the success it so deserves to be, will anyone remember one of the earliest positive reviews of it? No, of course not. Prophets are without honor in their own time. Anyway, this is a book you are going to want to read. More details as they emerge.

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R.I.P. John Steakley

The author of Vampire$ and Armor died last Saturday at age 59 of liver disease, according to the Dallas Morning News. He was less than prolific (publishing two novels and four short stories) but the quality of his work gained him an extensive fan base.
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New Apollo 18 Poster

Looks cool:.

R.I.P. Ingrid Pitt

Thanks to my friend Jim McLeod, I've learned that horror icon Ingrid Pitt has died. If you are a fan of the Hammer Horror films, Ms. Pitt was the most recognizeable female actress, and her roles in Countess Dracula and The Vampire Lovers, brought Hammer to a new level of eroticism. More details at BBC News.

I Have Been Assimilated