EMPUSA trailer

The last film directed by Paul Naschy...EMPUSA. But when, oh when, will we be able to finally see this film?

Juan Piquer Simon (1935-2011)

Spanish horror/fantasy/sci-fi director Juan Piquer Simon died on 1/7/2011 after a battle with lung cancer. Simon directed over a dozen films, but it was PIECES that made him famous worldwide and in the United States, where the film was a theatrical hit and, later, a popular video rental. Simon crafted the film with an American sensibility (and using several American actors), so that few were aware that it was, in fact, a Spanish film.

I had the opportunity to interview Juan Piquer, via e-mail, several good years ago, and he was very gracious in answering my questions and provided me with photos to illustrate my interview. I had intentions of contacting him again for my Spanish horror book project.

Here are highlights from his most notorious film, a perfect Times Square movie during that district's last decade or so of double-bill showings:

THE BLIND DEAD Comic

Well, almost. David Zuzelo's "Ascension of the Blind Dead," rendered by artist Billy George, is now part of the ZOMBIE TERRORS collection from Asylum Press. Available at your favorite comic book store or, at 32% off, from Amazon.com.