March 2016 – THE STRANGE, FAR PLACES

FILM :: DAVID CRONENBERG :: HORROR MASTER :: POSTERS + HAIKUS

David Cronenberg… A master standing at the nexus of the psychological, the sexual, the surreal and the body. His films are nothing short of controversial. Their success lies in that. It is the vivid, pulsating and often uncomfy issues that come out of that nexus that make even the most unhinged films of his oeuvre truly memorable.

This is part of a new series I’ll be posting to TSFP in tribute to masters of the horror film genre. For each post, I will feature a set of posters that master’s work inspired me to create and share reviews of the corresponding films. These reviews will be a bit different than my usual, however. Rather than the full-depth explorations I am prone to, these will be in the form of haikus. Though I can’t promise that they will reach ANY level of artistic value, the idea is that successful art should inspire more art

For Mr. Cronenberg, I am featuring 5 films he directed and one he starred in. Enjoy!

Like the posters? You can find out how to get them at my poster site.

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SHIVERS

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THE REVIEW ::

Prototypical,

Paranoid Body Horror.

Primal Lust Means Death.

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THE BROOD

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THE REVIEW ::

Through “Psychoplasmics,”

Rage Creates Mutant Offspring.

Divorce Devastates.

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SCANNERS

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THE REVIEW ::

Telekenetics –

Reading Minds, Exploding Heads.

Ironsides Steals Scenes.

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VIDEODROME

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THE REVIEW ::

Sex, Torture, Murder –
TV Throbs With Lurid Life.

The New World Order.

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THE FLY

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THE REVIEW ::

It’s The Little Things.

Hubris Evolves, Destroys, Kills.

Horror With a Soul.

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NIGHTBREED

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THE REVIEW ::

Fantasy Horror –

Clive Barker’s Butchered Opus.

Dr. Decker Slays.

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FILM :: BEST OF HORROR SHORTS… “SUCKABLOOD”

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Big ups to Ben Tillett for this week’s Horror Film Short at TSFP. This one has a wonderfully childlike quality and that makes it even more devilishly enjoyable as a horror short.

“Suckablood” serves as a sterling example of “how to make a dollar out of 50 cents,” creating something very fun and very skillful in its simplicity with limited resources and few players in the mix. Writing, casting, narration, cinematography, lighting are all on point here and give us a polished package.

Though “Suckablood” isn’t fright-filled for adults, it’s a ton of creepy, gothic fun just the same. Call the kids for this one.

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ART :: THE TOP 50 HORROR POSTERS OF ALL TIME… 10 >> 6

As you may be able to tell, I love great poster art, but especially posters from the great horror movie cannon. This is the fifth installment of my countdown of the best of the genre.

Here’s how I selected the list. I used three main criteria to shape my decisions ::

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>> DESIGN / IMAGE — This is the baseline. As a designer by trade, I feel strongly that any great or effective poster HAS to start here. Is the poster effective as a piece of art? Is the poster is a strong representative of the art of graphic design? Did it capture a particular spirit or movement in design?

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>> TITILLATION / PROMOTION — Though we tend to contextualize film and the associated collateral as “art,” it is ultimately a form of commerce. Any movie poster has to promote the film it supports either through a delicious tease or overt sales pitch. How effective is the poster at selling the film it is tied to?

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>> IMPACT / LEGACY — Sometimes even mediocre films get truly great posters. Sometimes, we even remember the image of the poster far longer than the film itself. What was the lasting effect of the poster? Was it iconic or timeless in some way? Was a part of a larger context?

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Every poster on this list is a cocktail of the above elements, mixed in different ways. All successful in their own right. Let’s jump in to 10 >> 6…

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