It’s January 1st as I write this and usually I would spend the day reflecting on the challenges and accomplishments of the past year. Today is a little different though and I found myself reflecting on not just last year but the past 13. The reason? In December of 2011 I decided it was time to leave my position as Art Director of Rue Morgue Magazine to pursue a freelance career.

I’ve been with the magazine since almost the beginning and calling it my dream job is an understatement. As a lifelong horror fan, it has been nothing short of incredible to design 112 issues dedicated to something I love. I did not make this decision lightly, in fact it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.  Rue Morgue gave me the opportunity to meet and work with so many of my idols but it is the life-long friendships I made there that I cherish most.

I am excited to say that my good friend Justin Erickson will be taking the reins behind the design desk.  I know I am leaving the magazine in good hands. He is an amazing talent, and I am excited to see where he takes it.

Even though I am no longer the Art Director, this is not really a goodbye because the house of horror wouldn’t let me go that easily.  I will still be turning up in the pages of Rue Morgue, contributing artwork and doing a bit of writing. I have also been working with Rodrigo Gudiño on his first feature film, The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh, something I’m very excited about. So while it may seem like I’m absent from the magazine, I will still be around. In fact, you may be seeing me a bit more often. One of the many goals I have for this year is to appear at more conventions and meet more like-minded artists and horror fans.

Thank you to my wife Nicole for all her support and my Rue Morgue family and friends during this transition into my own digs. Over the past 13 years I have watched the magazine grow, weather a few storms and celebrate many milestones. It has truly been a pleasure to creatively collaborate with all of you.

I also want to thank all the writers, readers and crazy folks I’ve met along the way. I was looking through the covers of Rue Morgue and it has been an incredible journey. Each issue tells a story of where we were professionally and personally at that moment in time. Here’s to new beginnings and I wish everyone continued success in the new year. I have some amazing projects lined up and I am excited to see all of the things 2012 brings.

American Grindhouse 2010

As a cursory glance into the world of exploitation cinema, American Grindhouse works pretty well. The film moves chronologically from the dawn of exploitation to the present. Interviews, outrageous film clips, exploding cars, cheap monsters and plenty of skin and sin abound. The interviews are good. Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Jack Hill, Larry Cohen, Fred Williamson, Bill Lustig and H.G. Lewis give insights to what must be an exhaustive subject to them by now. The production value is high and the steady narration from genre actor Robert Forster makes it all feel pretty legit. The always animated John Landis offers the most memorable commentary: “These pictures all have a lot to say and they’re all very interesting. Most of them are shit. But every so often there’s a good one.” Perhaps I was expecting the filmmakers to spend a bit less time showing trailers and more on the history of the theatre’s themselves. Who dared to screen such sickies as “Maniac“, “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS” and “Blood Feast“?  Who owned these houses of ill-repute and why did they vanish? Sure, American Grindhouse makes for a fun crawl along the ally’s of exploitation, but ultimately it doesn’t quite cut through the gristle.

Diagnosis: 3 Big Doll Houses out of 5

Terror in the Aisles 1984

Available as a bonus feature on the recent release of Universal’s controversial 30th Anniversary Halloween II Blu-Ray, Terror in the Aisles stars the late Donald Pleasence (Halloween, Phenomena) and actress Nancy Allan (Dressed To Kill, Robocop), as they narrate through some rather dodgy social commentary on why audiences love a good scream and what makes horror fans tick. There is an impressive amount of horror, sci-fi, and thriller clips here – watch out though. I’m sure most movie goers would remember key scenes from Jaws, Poltergeist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Omen, Friday the 13th, Carrie, Rosemary’s Baby, Halloween, Kongo and Evil Inside Us(?). At times, the film assumes too much, giving away some major plot points and in some cases, entire endings. Such as 1981′s Night Hawks, a crime thriller starring Rutger Hauer and Silvester Stallone, in which the good doctor was once looking forward to. Still, as a bonus feature on a cheap Blu-ray and as a nostalgic trip through the halls of horror cinema, you’ll get your fix. Just watch out for those spoilers in the aisles.

Diagnosis:  2.5 bags of popcorn (unbuttered) out of 5 

Machete Maidens Unleashed! 2010

Offering a fresh perspective, Machete Maidens is a fast and furious doc on the hidden world of exploitation films produced in the Philippines. Roger Corman, John Landis, Jack Hill, Joe Dante are all back in front of the camera. The real treat is catching up with Pam Grier and the many women who endured productions on cheap and nasty productions like “The Big Bird Cage”, “Caged Dolls” and “Firecracker”. Filmed under what looks like the most dire of conditions, their stories are surprisingly candid and empowering. The editing is used to full dramatic effect, punctuating the interviews with outrageous clips and shocking stories about the horrifying stunt industry there. A hysterical chapter on the career of the late Weng Weng, the James Bond of the Philippines, (a.k.a. Ernesto de la Cruz, actor and martial artist who stands only 2 feet, 9 inches), really needs to be seen to be believed. Slickly produced and well edited, Machete Maidens Unleashed! was a blast to watch and comes highly recommended. Now, I just need to find me some Weng Weng. Rated R for Ridiculous!

Diagnosis: 4.5 exploding helicopters out of 5 

Here’s a few quick photos of us presenting Guillermo with our poster after his inspiring two hour talk. His face lit up when he saw the art and he exclaimed, “This will go in the Bleak House!” For anyone who doesn’t know, the Bleak House is a building by his home where del Toro keeps a massive collection of art and movie memorabilia. Needless to say, the monster kid is me was beaming. Limited to 100 and printed with metallic inks, the silk screened 12″ x 36″ posters are currently only available in the TIFF Lightbox store at their King Street location, downtown Toronto but there will be some artist copies available soon, so be on the look out for that. Thanks to Nicole for the pics.

It’s officially Halloween everyone, be safe and happy hauntings!

Ghoulish