We at Maniacs and Monsters will always rise to defend the oft-maligned B movie. No matter how you interpret the designation, there is no shame inherent in B movies, and we hope to combat the stigma connected to the label. Given the association with low budgets, independence, and minimal recognition, perhaps B movies are a... Continue Reading →
Brain Teaser
Brains. Most of us have one. But who among us has ever stopped to consider whether our brains are friends or foes? We don’t question the loyalty of our brains, which is a sign they are hiding the answer from us. Brains issue decrees with divine authority that we are powerless to deny. Your brain... Continue Reading →
Roger Corman, The Cinematic Cheese Doctor
Let’s get one thing out of the way up front. Producer/Director Roger Corman is responsible for some great movies. His many films starring Vincent Price and based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe immediately come to mind. But Corman knew he was in the B-movie business and took pride in making films with next... Continue Reading →
Greasy Magic: An Interview with Author Scott S. Phillips
Regular readers of this site (are there such a thing?) will have noticed that I occasionally make mention of Cheese-Magnet.com. It was on Cheese Magnet that I weaseled my way into my first blogging opportunity. I was in a bit over my head writing alongside real, published authors but was welcomed into the fold nonetheless. ... Continue Reading →
Christopher Lee, Legends Never Die
(This article originally appeared, in a slightly different form, in June of 2015 on the site GeekPr0n.com. Gone but not forgotten.) Today marks what would have been Christopher Lee’s ninety-eighth birthday. It’s been almost five years since his passing and it is still hard to accept. Christopher Lee gave us numerous reasons to assume he... Continue Reading →
Blood & Gourd: The Pumpkins Are Coming
Back in the late 1970’s, a small group of friends and I were regular patrons of the Saturday matinee at the Capitol Theatre in St. Thomas, Ontario. Hosted by ‘Uncle Ron’, the show included a cartoon, a Three Stooges short, an old Batman serial, and a feature film. It was at these matinees in which... Continue Reading →
We’ll Tear Your Soul Apart
(This article originally appeared, in a slightly different form, in March of 2013 on the site Cheese-Magnet.com. Cheese-Magnet is thicker than water.) I’m a little ashamed to say that prior to 2013, I had not seen Hellraiser. When it came out back in 1987, I was certainly aware of it. I can remember the hype about... Continue Reading →
Burn for Your Sins
The mid-eighties saw the appearance of the consumer camcorder and with it a whole new generation of amateur movie makers. Andrew, my Maniacs and Monsters co-host, and I spent many a weekend, late night, and summer break creating cinematic masterpieces with our friends. Most commonly, the artistic process involved the realization that we had a... Continue Reading →
The Oppressiveness of Waiting: An Interview with Author Robin Bailes
The name Robin Bailes may not be immediately familiar to some. If, however, you are a fan of B-Movies and, in particular, horror films, you may be acquainted with his work on YouTube. Robin is the creative force, along with director Graham Trefler, behind Dark Corners (of this Sick World), a web series primarily focused... Continue Reading →