Noir Publishing

Noir Publishing are thrilling genre fans everywhere with these excellent publications :

The Journal of Horror and Erotic Cinema

Edited by Andy Black

Damn it's been a long time since the last edition of Necronomicon was published, several years in fact…so when Necronomicon Book 5 arrived here at SGM Towers I will admit that it was one of those rare occasions where I actually got excited about kicking back with some genre reading.

For those who have not discovered the delights of Andy Black's sporadically published cult cinema creation they should be aware that this is not yet another simplistic review/comment/illustrate on various genre movies but rather a more gratifying and stimulating read on various aspects of the genre scene by various academic fans. But don't be off out by this as the writing styles and commentary is as vastly different in content as the thematics they discuss throughout.

Kicking off curiously with Adrian Horrock's soap minded overview of mainstream fave Buffy the Vampire Slayer you do wonder whether this is perhaps going to be a misguided attempt at breaching into the mainstream market but as business progresses with pieces such as Melanie Dante's excellent study of the Lustmord genre (sexual murder in art and film - always popular round these parts), Steve Earles fascinating article on the relationship of Quatermass and Carpenter and Black's own delightful overview of the recent upsurge in zombie interest (Repression, Rage and Resurrection!) you soon realise that whilst on the surface Necronomicon Book 5 may have a glossy sheen of the mainstream (the so called tired multiplex 'torture porn' genre is covered in here too) it welcomingly continues to challenge the reader with some stimulating discussion points.

As ever, beautifully illustrated throughout, Necronomicon Book 5 is back and once you've started working through it you'd almost forgive Noir Publishing for the extended break between volumes…but if only they promise not to make us wait another six years before volume six appears. Highly recommended!

UK £13.95

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Edited by Xavier Mendik

Let's get things straight here right away, Xavier Mendik's 'Shocking Cinema of the Seventies' is not the sort of genre book that many of you will likely be expecting. Rather than the usual run down of movies from the period with the plot/review/critique scenario this is in fact a very thought provoking cultural study of a varied selection of genre movie themes from a period of cult cinema that often challenged the mainstream movie scene.

Split into to three main sections, 'Shocking Cinema of the Seventies' attempts to question and re-evaluate your opinion of your favourite cult classics but does it succeed in this? More on that later. Part one of this intense tome looks at 'Hollywood on the Edge'; the political conspiracy movies (The Parallax View and The Conversation), the long lost genre of disaster movies (The Poseidon Adventure and Towering Inferno), The Omega Man and perhaps best of all a reappraisal of the 70's output of the exploitation auteur Michael Winner which will have you seeking out a copy of the infamous 'Death Wish' to revisit viewing.

The second section covers what Mendik refers to as 'The Ethnic Other in Action'; basically an assessment of the racial minorities representation in genre movies (ie Kung Fu and Blaxploitation flicks!) Fans of the excellent Master of the Flying Guillotine will be more than pleased to read Leon Hunt's chapter on the work of the oft ignored Wang Yu, Steven Schneider's overview of the Blaxploitation movie scene is very comprehensive (although perhaps a touch poe faced) and there's an unintentionally amusing chapter on Hammer's cross genre gem 'Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires'.

The third and final section of 'Shocking Cinema of the Seventies' is probably the section that will sate SGM readers the most as it concentrates welcomingly on seventies horror. Here we are asked to look deeper into the underbelly of our genre favourites; Linnie Blake's chapter on the Romero classics is a fascinating extension on what many have been discussing about his work, Johnathon Blake revisits 'Last House on the Left' which although interesting enough has pretty much already been comprehensively exhausted in David Szulkin's essential 'Last House' tome and Martin Jones delivers an engrossing chapter on the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' called 'Headcheese: Beyond Leatherface'. Wrapping things up is Nick Freeman's reminiscing about the last breaths of the British horror film (with coverage of two of my own favourites 'Death Line' and the underated 'Dracula AD 1972') and Andy Black's assessment of both 'The Sentinel' and Martino's 'Anti Christ'.

As I had mentioned at the beginning, 'Shocking Cinema of the Seventies' is not your usual typical film book affair - don't go expecting to learn anything new about any of the films productions. Although some chapters offer some insight into said movies the lean here is actually towards possible underlying themes of a political, racial or just theoretical nature. And it is with this in mind that will define whether or not this is essential reading for you. There will be those among you that watch genre movies and (perhaps rightly) view them purely as straight forward exploitation entertainment, as the ad campaign for 'Last House' said 'It's Only A Movie' after all? And if you fall into this category then this is probably not the book for you (hey, I'll even admit myself that Hunter's appraisal of Hammer's '7 Golden Vampires' as "a deliberate politically subversive reworking of imperialist myths" is head scratchingly bewildering?!) but if you enjoy having your enjoyment of this genre stimulated then 'Shocking Cinema of the Seventies' is a very satisfying and thought provoking read.

Some of the chapters are simply delightful reading (my own personal highlights being Mendik's Winner coverage and Jone's piece on the Chainsaw series) and be assured that if anything 'Shocking Cinema of the Seventies' will certainly make you think twice when rewatching the films discussed. This one should be on the reading list of every film production course - now discuss...

Hardback £18.99 - OUT NOW

Edited by Andy Black

Get those brain juices flowing again folks as Andy Black and the folk at Noir Publishing are out to mentally stimulate us once again with the latest edition of their (irregular but enthralling) fine genre book come somewhat-weighty magazine. And it is with great pleasure I can report that this latest edition shows that the Necronomicon series grows from strength to strength with this being likely their finest edition yet.

What is important to keep in mind that Necronomicon is not your usual sort of film book - where more often the case of such tomes is to plot a film and critique it, Necronomicon goes for a more stimulating outlook with essays on genre faves that are likely to be the grounds for interesting discussion around the fan scene. Don't be wary though, although Necronomicon takes a more 'enlightened' approach to the genre movie scene, it isn't a stuffy experience as there are plenty of light-hearted diversions that should keep most folks attention throughout.

That said, this latest edition opens quite heavily with 'Antonioni's Blow Up-An Existential Horror Film' but quickly brings you smiling back to earth with Andy Black's 'Snakes Alive', a look at the reptilian genre cinema! And that's the way things ride for the expanse of this fine book - there's coverage of 'Suspiria', the New Flesh workings of Cronenberg, a fun piece on 'Danger Diabolik', there's a fascinating interview with Kenneth Anger and a nice article on 'Venus in Furs' that actually has me wanting to check this (till now mostly avoided) Franco flick (well, Maria Rohm looks hot!)

'Necronomicon Book Four' hits the spot once again with stacks of very diverse great reading that is ideal late night fodder for any self respecting genre fan - check it out!

196 pages - £12.95 - OUT NOW

by Andy Black

A history of zombie films - from the black and white classics of the 30's and 40's right up to the gore classics of the eighties and beyond.

Here's one for all you zombie fans !! Andy Black's 'The Dead Walk' is an exhaustive tome of all things zombie cinema from the dawn of film-making, and what a great read it is too. Starting from scratch with an explanation of the origins of the zombie lore and voodoo, Black then slowly takes us by the hand through 'White Zombie' and all the related films (Universal, Hammer, the Italian gore schlockers) right up to present day in a both informative and wholly interesting read.

Unlike other po-faced genre writers, Black manages to avoid torturing the reader with endless theory and opinion (there's just too much going on informatively for him to find space for waffling on!!) 160 pages of in-depth undead reading, and fully illustrated throughout with some great (and rare) pics from a wide range of genre examples.

Nicely written and a great read all-round (I'm still picking it up on a regular basis for re-read entertainment). Fans of the zombie genre will enjoy this one a lot, even for the reminiscing value that it will indeed bring (and have you digging those old tapes out of the cupboard to watch again). Pick it up now !!

160 pages - £11.99 - OUT NOW

by Ratfink and Pete McKenna

Yeah, I know it's not a horror film book but who cares. In my younger days I was a fan of the goth band Alien Sex Fiend and when this one turned up at SGM I had to give it a read. The book follows the true-life misadventures of young Fiend fan Andy Wilson whose dreams come true when he gets to join his fave band Alien Sex Fiend, and it follows the effect it has on his life both as a musician and a family man.

Entertaining with many amusing anecdotes throughout, 'Once Upon...' should be welcomed by not only fans of the Fiends but anyone who has ever been in a struggling band in their younger days. There are many poignant moments in the book that will strike a chord with any struggling musician. And credit to Andy/Ratfink for managing to stay upbeat when it really does come across that he was in fact dealt a rough deal throughout this period, that said though he made sure he had a lot of fun along the way !!

The book's fully illustrated throughout with nice pics that will tickle any Fiend fan. Although maybe not the definitive rock and roll lifestyle book - it's more honest and real, 'Once Upon...' is a heartily recommended read.

104 pages - £11.99 - OUT NOW

edited by Andy Black

Andy Black's annual tome of all things horror reaches year three with great style. Stuffed to the guddles with a very diverse look at genre cinema including reviews and retrospective looks at gems like Wax Mask, Faceless, the Wicker Man, Les Frisson Des Vampires, Werner Herzog's Nosferatu and the Story of O (among others!)

There is also a look at the work of Mario Bava (Baron Blood/Lisa & the Devil) and the career of the stunningly sexy Soledad Miranda (Vampyros Lesbos/She Killed in Ecstasy).

Brian Yuzna also reveals all in a great interview where he discusses everything from Re-animator to future projects like Dagon.

Loads of intelligent and fascinating reading for die-hard fans of the horror scene.

192 pages with loads of great stills for only £12.95 - Recommended !!

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