TETSUO THE IRON MAN: EIGHTH TOWER FLASH FICTION

A splash of flash fiction, based on Shinya Tsukamoto's Tetsuo: The Iron Man, is set to appear in an upcoming edition of Raffaele Pezzella's Eighth Tower Magazine.

I, of course, will be contributing. My segment will depict the aftermath of a biomechanical takeover. I trust it works, that it surprises and maybe even disturbs. That was the point of Tsukamoto's Lynch-ian/Kafka-esque masterpiece, after all.

As with all such Eighth Tower efforts, I'll keep Bizarrechats' readers abreast of developments. Knowing Pezzella's diligence, the issue will no doubt manifest far sooner than later. 🜟

DARK FICTION UPDATE: EIGHTH TOWER'S BODY-HORROR MERGER

Eighth Tower's CEO, Raffaele Pezzella, has decided to merge his planned Dark Fiction, Videodrome anthology with the company's established The Body of Horror: Stories Inspired by the Cinema of David Cronenberg, thus creating a special, new edition.  

The idea makes sense, considering the content's shared elements. This will also allow The Body of Horror to swing back into the limelight, with bonus tales attached, much in the manner of a re-released album that holds extra tracks. 

This refurbishing approach might work for other Eighth Tower releases, too, revitalizing the old with the new. 

As another promotional move, Pezzella's Eighth Tower Magazine will publish an essay on Videodrome, which is set to correspond with The Body of Horror re-release.

I'm all for this grand plan. In fact, I find it nothing short of brilliant. 

Stay tuned for further details, and Long Live the New Flesh!👍

NIGHT (CURSE) OF THE DEMON: A CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES TRIBUTE

Classic Monsters of the Movies has reprinted one of its most coveted editions: Night of the Demon (aka Curse of the Demon in the U.S.).

Authors Nige Burton & Jamie Jones essay the variances between the longer Night and the shorter (Columbia-derived) Curse, which emerged for tighter pacing, though it doesn't matter which version one references or prefers. At its dark, witchy heart, Curse/Night is a stylish, haunting fable, and Burton & Jones cover it from start to finish, including its crafty plot: 

After Professor Harrington (Maurice Denham) perishes in a strange accident, revered psychologist, Dana Andrews' John Holden, investigates. Harrington's niece, Peggy Cummins' Joanna, is adamant that her uncle died because his smug colleague, Niall McGuinness' Doctor Karswell, planted a Stone Henge-cursed parchment on him. This leads to a duel of wits and convictions between Holden and Karswell, and the manifestation of one of cinema's most dynamic demons. 

Burton & Jones acknowledge not only the renowned leads, but its supporting, starring queue, which includes Athene Seyler, Liam Redmond, Peter Elliot, Brian Wilde, Percy Herbert, Ewan Roberts, Richard Leech, Lloyd Lamble, Peter Hobbes, Reginald Beckwith and Rosamund Greenwood, among other impressive performers. In conjunction, the authors  spotlight the movie's Val Lewton-groomed director, Jacques (The Cat People/I Walked with a Zombie/The Leopard Man) Tourneur; its writers, Charles Bennett and Hal E. Chester, who based their tale on M.R. James' "Casting the Runes"; its cinematographer, Ted (Black Narcissus/The Dirty Dozen) Scaife; its composer, Clifton (The 39 Steps 1959/The Hellfire Club) Parker; its demon designers, George Blackwell, Wally Veevers and Ken Adams; among other gifted contributors. 

The 36-pg edition is supported by stills and promotional materials, trivia blurbs and quotes, which connoisseurs will relish. 

Collectors have craved for this issue's resurrection; so why not order a copy of Classic Monsters of the Movies' Night (Curse) of the Demon while the second chance lasts?

https://www.classic-monsters.com/shop/product/night-of-the-demon-1957-ultimate-guide-magazine/

 

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: HAPPY GODZILLA DAY 2026 (11/3)

 

REMIND MAGAZINE (NOV/DEC '26) HOLIDAY ISSUE: DOLLY & THE 25 GREATEST HOLIDAY MOVIES

The ReMind Holiday 2026 Issue is upon us, with a cover salute to the late, great Dolly Parton. 

In addition to highlighting Dolly's accomplishments and holiday traditions, the issue includes a delightful rundown of the "25 Greatest Holiday Films"; the all-time great Christmas songs; a glimpse at classic, Sears catalog offerings; the shimmering success of the aluminum tree, and (for its "Time Capsule" salute) a retrospective on the groundbreaking events that shaped 1993. 

The issue also holds sentimental, reader submissions, trivia, puzzles, TV listings, comics and prizes to warm one's heart and soul. 

Why not partake of the joy by purchasing a copy of ReMind's 2026 Holiday Issue? Better yet, subscribe and experience ReMind's nostalgic wonderment year round!

🎄

⛄

https://www.remindmagazine.com/order/inventory/0/4

DEXTER RESURRECTION, SEASON 2: PREMIERE REFLECTION

I'm chipper as a vengeful lark that Showtime's Dexter: Resurrection, Season 2 has premiered and wish to reflect on the kickoff episode. 

In the case of "Risky Business," I relished Michael C. Hall's rundown of Mr. Morgan's latest, moral slays. Wait! Is that too extreme to say? I mean, I know one disagreeable goofball (a big-time, anti-violence advocate) who'd argue so, but then he's one who believes pedophiles should run free, based on the notion that any form of "love" is A-OK. I wonder what this creep does in his spare time. Too bad there isn't a real-life Dexter to investigate because, well ... 

Anyway, I also found the Lucio Fulci-inspired, New York Ripper inclusion promising and assume it's this season's long-term focus. The character, Don Frampt, is played by cinema's first Hannibal Lecter, Brian Cox, and thanks to the skewed lay of the land, the episode showed the fiend being let off the hook. (We were also introduced to Dan Steven's Lucas Smart, the Five Boroughs Killer, who dominated a large slice of the episode's tail end, but is he just another come-and-go, Dexter casualty? Hmmmm.)

On the broader front, I was pleased that so many of the prior season's characters have returned (though with a few yet on the horizon, whether in the flesh or through reverie): Jack Alcott's Harrison, Kadia Saraf's Claudette, Dominic Fumusa's Melvin, James Remar's Harry, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine's Blessing, Uma Thurman's Charley, David Zaya's Batista, Krysten Ritter's Lady Vengeance and Eric Stonestreet's Rapunzel (the Ponytail Killer). Desmond Harrington's Joey Quinn is there, too, already in regular, legacy-culled mode, which feels right, even kind of cozy. (For what it's worth, I presumed this season would have transitioned to another locale, joined by another crop of characters, but hey, it's fine that it dances on last season's turf, since there's so much yet to explore.)  

Nonetheless, I'm anticipating a deep-cutting duel of serial-killer wits to unfold. It's just a matter of waiting it out, and you got it: I'll submit my hearty two-cents worth when the season is through. 

(PS: Kane Hodder's plastic-wrapped cameo was a genuine treat. It would be cool if he'd nab one for Crystal Lake: Season 2, or better yet, a recurring role in the Voorhees prequel. Fingers crossed!) 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2026