Weng's Chop #6.5 (2nd Annual Spooktacular Special)

Issue #6.5 is a digest-sized 109-page special issue that is smaller in size and page numbers, but still has the high level of writing we come to expect from Brian, Tim, Tony & Steve. After a mostly funny series of editorials about Halloween by Brian, Tony and Tim (who still manages to throw in a couple of little-known Indian family-friendly fantasy films into his editorial), there's a 25-page review section of genre films from the 1950's & 60's (THE LEECH WOMAN - 1960) till today (WEREWOLF RISING - 2014), some (like writer Steve Fenton's review of the Jack Palance-starrer CRAZE - 1973) getting more space than others. All the reviews are written by different people and are enjoyable reads that make you want to go out and buy some (which I plan to do on Amazon once I am done with this review). We then move to the interview section, where the first person to be interviewed is director Daniel Stamm (THE LAST EXORCISM - 2010; 13 SINS - 2014; both films I found highly entertaining) by writer Art Stevenson, which covers Stamm's career in films from the beginning and is very informative. The next article is Stevenson's interview with director Marcus Dunston, who was the architect of the SAW film franchise (2004 - 2010) and directed the effective home invasion flicks THE COLLECTOR (2009) and its sequel THE COLLECTION (2012), which were twisty, booby-trapped horror films. Next up is Louis Paul's collection of reviews of 70's porno films, back when porno had a plot as well as hardcore sex. I'm not a big porno fan, but Louis could make ice an interesting subject to Eskimos. Following that is Part 1 of George Pacheco's overview of strange director Mario Siciliano, who made Italian porno films, while directing weird non-porn films like EVIL EYE (1974) and ROLF (1983; his last film). Siciliano made 16 films between 1974 and 1983, the majority of them being hardcore porn films. Pacheco does a great job of describing the films of this obviously deranged director and I can't wait to read Part 2. Next up is Brian Harris' article on the six most ridiculous shark films of the past nine years and I couldn't agree with his choices more (He wisely avoids the SHARKNADO franchise because we all know how awful they are), although I do like HAMMERHEAD: SHARK FRENZY (2005), just for the stupidity of it all. Author Stephen R. Bissette then goes into a lengthy review of director Kevin Smith's horror film TUSK (2014), which he advises those who have not seen the film not to read his article until they do (I'm also in the minority of liking Smith's other horror film RED STATE - 2011). I have seen the film and agree (mostly) with Stephen's assessment of it. Up next is the strangest article in the issue: Writer James Bickert's pairing of the top 10 pumpkin beers and the films each one should be watched with. I don't know where James (a.k.a. "Dirty Uncle Jimbo") came up with this novel idea, but it sure as hell was an entertaining read. We then move on to Tony Strauss' article on the lesser-known Halloween animated TV specials, many that haven't been shown after they originally aired. Did you known The Grinch made a Halloween special? Well, he did, in 1977. Following that is Christos Mouroukis and Christoforos Theodorou's career retrospective of Greek director Nikos Nikolaidis, who is best known to western audiences for directing the violent and controversial SINGAPORE SLING (1990), but as you will read, he made much stranger films than this and was also a novelist and TV commercial director, to boot! The always-enjoyable Steven Ronquillo then offers his recollections of his favorite 70's & early-80's Halloween TV shows, including THE PAUL LYNDE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (1976; the look on Lynde's face when he first looks at rock group KISS is priceless!) and the highly effective 1981 Halloween horror film, THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW. The issue closes out with a review of author Lee Lambert's book "The Illustrated History Of Don Post Studios" and bios on all the writers who contributed to this issue. Once again another winner of an issue, which is all information and no advertisements. Please pass on the information to all your friends how good WENG'S CHOP is and how nothing in the DIY zine universe comes close to this in sheer informational and entertainment value.

Great format! What a happy surprise for those of us into the darker films.

A great read.