R.I.P. - Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore.

While most of America watched football and/or watched in disbelief at the debate between our two main Presidential candidates, others were mourning the death of a legend. On Monday, September 26th, 2016, Herschell Gordon Lewis, the beloved "Godfather of Gore," passed away in his sleep.

I had a chance meeting with Mr. Lewis years ago at a Monster-Mania Convention. I was walking backwards in the main lobby of the hotel, while talking to my friend Adam, when he suddenly pointed over my shoulder and said "Hey, is that guy someone famous?" I turned and there was H.G. Lewis in the flesh! I excitedly shook Lewis' hand and said "thank you for the films you've made," then got a quick photo. (Sadly said photo is long gone - lost in the memory card of an old cell phone.)

But even before that, H.G. Lewis had a major impact on me. While I am now constantly driving around the tri-state area in search of retro film fests (which are thankfully plentiful these days), I got bit by the 35mm bug back in July of 2014. A now defunct event called Mondo Movie Night kicked off a series of screenings with a 35mm presentation of BLOOD FEAST. Not only was I hooked on seeing films in their original format, but it instantly made me a fan of Lewis' work!


And speaking of which, Herschell Gordon Lewis directed nearly forty films in his lifetime, and was a jack of all trades. He composed music for some of his films, worked on the effects for others, and wrote the screenplays for at least half of the movies he directed! Lewis strove to show moviegoers something they had never seen before, and it all started with his 1963 classic BLOOD FEAST. Though you can't really say it's a good film, it was the first splatter flick in existence, and opened the door for a growing genre that was looking to push the envelope.

Had Lewis not introduced the world to Fuad Ramses and his cannibalistic cuisine, we may never have had the films of George A. Romero, Peter Jackson, Sam Raimi, and the slew of Horror filmmakers that came after. So thank you Mr. Lewis, for your contributions to film, particularly in the realm of exploitation cinema! As long as your films exist, you will never be forgotten. 

By all accounts (and my brief personal experience), Lewis was a kindly gentleman that embraced his fandom, and the world shall not look upon his like again. Here's hoping that his swan song (i.e. BLOODMANIA) finds a new audience once it is released, and helps carry on his memory for years to come. Rest in peace Herschell - we'll miss you.

Behold the posters & trailers for H.G. Lewis' BLOODMANIA, WHEN ANIMALS DREAM, and THE HORROR NETWORK.

Playing catch-up on some news from my overflowing inbox! Below are the posters (and trailers) for three upcoming genre films: BLOODMANIA, WHEN ANIMALS DREAM, and THE HORROR NETWORK! The former is a new film from "The Godfather of Gore" himself, Herschell Gordon Lewis (BLOOD FEAST, THE WIZARD OF GORE, THE GORE GORE GIRLS,), and it's damned good to see him still working!

The latter are a new-ish werewolf flick from Denmark, about a young girl going through a monstrous case of puberty, and a new indie horror anthology! To learn more about these three upcoming films, scroll on down to view their posters and trailers!

CLICK IMAGE FOR A CLOSER LOOK!

As stated above, BLOODMANIA is a new horror anthology from legendary gore-master Herschell Gordon Lewis. The film is comprised of four distinct segments that feature a raucous combination of satirical humor, horror, and enough surprises to satiate the appetites of a broad range of film enthusiasts and horror fans alike. Scope out the trailer below!


There's no info on a release date for BLOODMANIA yet, but once I find out, I'll be sure to let all you gore fans know!

CLICK IMAGE FOR A CLOSER LOOK!

This Danish Horror/Drama revolves around a teenage girl's sexual awakening, which unleashes something primal within, thus revealing a dark family secret. On the run and in mortal danger, embracing a century’s old curse will be her only way to survive. WHEN ANIMALS DREAM was an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival last year, and is getting a limited theatrical (and full VOD) release by Radius Entertainment on August 28th! Scope out the trailer below to see Danish lycanthropic puberty!

CLICK IMAGE FOR A CLOSER LOOK

Here's a new title from Wild Eye Releasing that is coming out in time for Halloween! THE HORROR NETWORK, is a new indie anthology featuring serial killers, ghostly phone calls, inner demons, otherworldy monsters, and creepy stalkers. This upcoming film was created by Brian Dorton and Douglas Conner. This first volume of terror tales features segments directed by Dorton, Conner, Joseph Graham, Manuel Marín, Lee Matthews and Ignacio Martín Lerma, and has been hailed as "a collection of nightmares that scream for all horror fans to see."

There's no official release date for the DVD yet. Expect an update on the disc's release date, specs, and extras as October draws nearer! In the meantime, check out the trailer for THE HORROR NETWORK below.