Rue Morgue (Issue 45: May 2005) Review Score: 8/10 | Date Posted: May 18th 2005 In: Media Reviews Rue Morgue Issue 45: May 2005 Revenge of the Vampires Vs. Zombies Rue Morgue throws a brief and somewhat unflattering review about our own independent film in this latest issue of Rue Morgue. (Boy Scout??? I’ll give you a f*@#ing Boy Scout, Mr. Last Chance Lance!) …Nah, just kidding. Reviewing a mag that has a review of your own film in it – I wonder if this was how Roger Ebert felt after Beyond the Valley of the Dolls…? Alright, let’s get to the real meat of the issue at hand: Issue 45… Well, first of all, I definitely liked it more than last month’s, but for this review I’ll try something a little different and break it down into the sub-categories of articles & departments. Sick Inside the Machine: This is the main article of the month, the films of acclaimed Japanese indie/cult director Shinya Tsukamoto – written by Dave Alexander. Tsukamoto’s most well-known and widely accessible film is his 1988 cyber-punk cult-horror Tetsuo: The Iron Man. And while the article basically focuses on this film and its 1992 sequel (Tetsuo: Body Hammer), what we also get is a revealing and entertaining interview with the filmmaker himself, which is then tied into another sideline interview with the author of a new book about filmmaker Tsukamoto (this sideline article is also by Dave Alexander), and then we get a follow-up article by Tom Mes that takes us through all of Tsukamoto’s eight feature films over a two-page spread. At this point, I’d have to say that this issue of Rue Morgue is worth it for these articles alone. Ah, but they don’t stop there! Generation Black: An article on writer/cartoonist Charles Burns who’s ten-year, twelve-volume graphic novel series on adolescent mutation (as a warped variation on STDs) and social ostracism was recently completed. Amazing stories with panels from the comics and lots of cover art to drool over. Article written by Gary Butler. The lengthy discussion with creator Burns on his works (titled “Black Hole”) is truly insightful. Effigies of Anguish: This is an amazing, inspiring, eye-opening article by Jovanka Vuckovic on horror-influenced art from paintings and sculptures (and artists) dating back to 1450! Sidebars on Salvador Dali, Mattias Grunewald, and a full-page layout titled “Medieval Monster Manifesto” that focuses on seven pieces in particular. I was really impressed with this one. Grim Glamour: An article on horror-fashion photographer Ward Boult –by Emma Anderson- is a little short on literal narration, but if a picture’s worth 1000 words, then I guess this article’s about 6000 long. I’m just kidding around a little – hey, it is an article on photography, after all. Check out the unrecognizable (yet beautiful) portrait of horror scream queen Linnea Quigley! The Departments… Notes from the Underground: Our reliable editor-in-chief rants off about not being able to find a decent horror movie (hence, fodder for his now-monthly magazine publication) in the recent months. Funny, because I personally wouldn’t limit this opinion to horror alone… Cinemacabre/Reissues/other miscellaneous horror film reviews: Rue Morgue scribe Chris Alexander is given plenty of pen time, and he uses his page count to throws us opinions ranging from the informative (Roald Dahl’s Tales of the unexpected) to the entertaining (The Fiend review and his Bloody Pit of Horror personal retrospective) to the ridiculously over-reactive (Killer Barbys vs Dracula). Meanwhile, The Gore-Met not only serves up a delicious look at Italian Cannibal movies and the Cannibal Ferox special edition, but he give us the appetizer that is the Dangerous Seductress review (in Reissues). Jovanka Vuckovic rattles off a Donnie Darko (Director’s Cut DVD) full-page review that is written from the perspective of a Donnie Darko fan. Not actually certain if there’s a lick of comprehensible insight to those that have never seen the movie before (or even possibly to those who have) – and Darko virgins beware: this review contains MAJOR spoilers. Like giving away the ending of the whole movie. Blood in Four Colours: A neat (yes, neat) look at genre screenwriter Eric Red’s new zombies-in-space comic series entitled Containment. Well, there’s still way more stuff inside issue 45, but that about wraps it up for me. If you’re interested in the Asian films –from Tartan Video- advertised right on the back cover, then you can also check out the reviews of some recent and upcoming releases from their “Asia Extreme” line right here at HollywoodNorthReport.com in the DVD review section!

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