Nick Cato's Blog, page 48

This Ain't Your Daddy's Conga Line!

If there's one thing I can't stand as a horror film fan of over 35 years, it's false advertising. Hence, when something with a wickedly sick trailer and nearly-instant "must see" status is given to a film that seemingly came out of nowhere, I approach with intense skepticism.

Despite a bit of a silly (and typical) start, once our stranded American tourists land in the house of a demented German surgeon, THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE instantly becomes (almost) too grim for words...no easy feat considerin...

Factory! Factory! It's Burning! It's Burning! *

THOUGHT FORMS by Jeffrey Thomas (2009 Dark Regions Press / 268 pp. / tp)
Thomas' latest is like reading two separate novels. Cousins Ray and Paul (both factory workers) are affected by an event that happened when Ray was a child; the murder of his parents. Now older, Ray moves back into the home where they were killed and begins to see Satanic-looking robed people sneaking around his property while his sleep is continually haunted by eerie (and realistic) nightmares.
Meanwhile, Paul works the g...

My 3rd column up at CINEMA KNIFE FIGHT

How I remember this stuff is beyond me.

http://cinemaknifefight.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/suburban-grindhouse-memories-presents-zombie-island-massacre/

Now Here's a Funny One...

GATOR A-GO-GO by Tim Dorsey (2010 William Morrow / 336 pp. / hc)
Dorsey's 12th novel (and the first I've read from him) is basically a Carl Hiassen-ish yarn set within an 80s "Spring Break" type of film, and regardless if the reader loves or hates it, one thing can't be argued: GATOR A-GO-GO is wickedly funny (and surprisingly violent).
Serge and his side-kick Coleman are enjoying spring break festivities in Panama City Beach when Serge follows a sign for free pancakes. As he swtuff his face...

CITIES OF NIGHT by Philip Nutman (2010 Chizine Publicati...

CITIES OF NIGHT by Philip Nutman (2010 Chizine Publications / 238 pp. / tp)

Bookended by a short & sweet 2-part apocalyptic thriller, this collection of ten stories by Philip Nutman (author of my all-time favorite zombie novel, WET WORK) features 7 reprints and 3 originals, each different from the other.

After the opening section of 'Unearthly Powers,' 'Full Throttle' is a nihilistic speed-ball of a tale that will surely get your blood pumping, while "Pavlov's Wristwatch' is a creepy (and humo...

My 2nd column posted @ CINEMA KNIFE FIGHT

Over 20 years before Brian Keene's THE RISING and 10 years before Philip Nutman's WET WORK, zombies ran, shot machine guns, and sliced off boobies with knives and ice picks. Check out this review of my 1983 screening of CITY OF THE WALKING DEAD!
http://cinemaknifefight.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/suburban-grindhouse-memories/

Blatty Digs Deep

DIMITER by William Peter Blatty (2010 Forge / 302 pp. / hc)
Blatty's mind-twirling mystery revolves around the elusive title character, a dead body found at the site of Christ's tomb, and an Arab Christian detective named Meral who attempts to piece these (and several other occurences) together in the wake of his recently-deceased wife and daughter.
After a violent (yet wonderfully written) opening scene in 1973 Albania, the story shifts a year ahead to Jerusalem, where we're introduced to Dr. ...

DIMITER by William Peter Blatty (2010 Forge / 302 pp. / h...

DIMITER by William Peter Blatty (2010 Forge / 302 pp. / hc)
Blatty's mind-twirling mystery revolves around the elusive title character, a dead body found at the site of Christ's tomb, and an Arab Christian detective named Meral who attempts to piece these (and several other occurences) together in the wake of his recently-deceased wife and daughter.
After a violent (yet wonderfully written) opening scene in 1973 Albania, the story shifts a year ahead to Jerusalem, where we're introduced to Dr. ...

Elves, Bullets, and a Hi-Jacked Holiday!

THE SANTA THING by Robert Freese (2009 StoneGarden.net Publishing / 56 pp. / cb)
Gun-toting mercenary Franklin is called to Santa's castle when his elves report the Big Guy has been acting strange. Before you can say the third HO!, we're bombarded with zombie elves, alien parasites, mutant reindeer, and arguably the most demented Santa Claus this side of sanity. Freese's brief tale doesn't waste any time bringing the fun; it's a gore-filled, monster-infested holiday horrorshow you won't be...

BREAKING NEWS! Werewolves Wage War on NYC!

THE FRENZY WAY by Gregory Lamberson (to be released 6/10 by Medallion Press / 356 pp. / tp)
Anthony Mace, the captain of a NYPD homicide squad, gained popularity after nabbing a high-profile serial killer. A film was made from a book about the case, and he's now easily recognizable...which makes it tricky when he's working out in the field. And his latest case is a doozy: a body is found decapitated and shredded to pieces. Then another is discovered left in a similar manner. Bodies start to...