DIE VAMPIRE DES DR. DRACULA

The German title. Otherwise known as LA MARCA DEL HOMBRE LOBO, in Spain, and FRANKENSTEIN'S BLOODY TERROR, in the United States. The Germans had a thing for adding "Dracula" to their retitled foreign horror films.

"Alaric de Marnac" -- Darkmoor's Naschy Homage

ANCESTRAL ROMANCE, the latest CD from the Spanish metal group, Darkmoor, has been out for a while, but it was only recently, through a gift from the Molina family, that I was able to listen to it. The third cut, "Alaric de Marnac," is a Naschy tribute song based on the master's famous other alter ego character (Waldemar Daninsky being the first), who appeared in HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB and PANIC BEATS. The lyric page is above.

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.

THE FORBIDDEN SHADOW trailer

THE FORBIDDEN SHADOW (LA SOMBRA PROHIBIDA), the second part of THE VALDEMAR LEGACY, will hit Spanish theaters January 28th. The film contains Paul Naschy's final performance. Below is the trailer.

LATARNIA FANTASTIQUE INTERNATIONAL #1

The first issue of my horror-mystery-fantasy film magazine, LATARNIA FANTASTIQUE INTERNATIONAL, is out now, with three features of interest to Spanish horror fans. The first is a premier review of Paul Naschy last outing as a werewolf--Ivan Cardoso's WEREWOLF IN THE AMAZON; the second is a lengthy interview with actor Andres Resino, in which he discusses his career and working on such films as WEREWOLF SHADOW, JACK THE RIPPER OF LONDON, MURDER MANSION and Jess Franco's DEVIL'S ISLAND LOVERS; and, last but not least, a translation of Gustavo Adolfo Becquer's "El monte de las animas"--"Spirit Mountain"--the inspiration for Amando de Ossorio's Blind Dead series.





Number 1 is a limited first edition limiting printing of 250 copies, all-color, 24 pages on 80 pound paper. Ordering info:

USA: Cost of issue is $7.50, plus $2 first class shipping/handling and bagging for a total of $9.50.

Canada: Add .50, for a total of $10.

Foreign: $11.50 total.

If you want your magazine boarded, please add $2, but that doesn't guarantee that postal delivery will not find a way to bend it.

Note: Once stock starts getting depleted, cost per issue will probably go up.

PayPal ID for payment: mirelski@aol.com

Snail mail: M. Lipinski, PO Box 2398, NYC, NY 10009. Please make check/money orders payable to M. Lipinski.

There's also a Facebook page for the magazine.