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Fangoria (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Fangoria is an internationally-distributed US
film
fan magazine
specializing in the genre
s of horror
, slasher
, splatter
and exploitation film
s, in regular publication since 1979.
s for a primarily teenaged audience, Fantastica was intended to cover fantasy film
s for a similar audience. The publishers were anticipating a groundswell of interest in fantasy owing to the plans at that time for bringing Robert E. Howard
's Conan the Barbarian
to the screen, plans first announced in 1978.
The Conan film did not arrive until several years later and, when it did, no groundswell in the demand for fantasy films occurred. But before the magazine was even launched, other factors intervened to change the magazine's focus and direction.
The first issue was assembled under the editorship of "Joe Bonham," a pseudonym taken from the quadriplegic hero of Dalton Trumbo's pacifist novel Johnny Got His Gun
. This was a cover for Rolling Stone
contributor and screenwriter Ed Naha
and writer Ric Meyers
, best known for his encyclopedic Great Martial Arts Movies: From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan.
Shortly after the publishing trade press announced the coming launch of Fantastica, the publishers of a Starlog competitor, Fantastic Films
magazine, brought suit on the basis of "unfair trade," contending that its young audience would be confused by the magazine's similar title.
The launch of the magazine was delayed by several months as the court deliberated the issue. When, in early 1979, the decision was made in favor of the plaintiff, the publishers of Fantastica were without a usable name, and a pressing need to get the long-delayed issue to the printers. Some quick brainstorming sessions resulted in the name Fangoria, over the objections of Robert "Bob" Martin, who was hired as editor during the delay.
By the time that issue number four was on the stand and number six was in preparation, the publisher confided to Martin that the magazine was losing approximately $20,000 per issue, not an amount that the small publisher could continue to sustain for long.
Two phenomena allowed Martin to reshape the magazine and bring it back from the abyss of debt. First, was the immensely positive audience response to one of the articles that appeared in the first issue of Fangoria, an article that celebrated the craft of special makeup effects artist Tom Savini
, and his very wet-looking special effects for the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead
.
Second was the palpable stench of defeat that was surrounding Fangoria. With its demise all but certain, senior employees and the two owners of the publishing firm stood back from the fray and allowed the untried young editor to take the lead, reshaping the entire book according to what he believed would work.
Issue seven, with a cover story on Stanley Kubrick
's adaptation of Stephen King
's The Shining
, was the first issue of any national magazine to wholly concern itself with horror film as produced in the closing quarter of the 20th Century, with no trace of daintiness about its subject matter. It also was the first issue of Fangoria to achieve a profit.
Subsequent issues would sharpen the focus, but by issue twelve, the formula was well-set, and remains largely unchanged to this date. Martin continued as editor to 1986, with co-editor David Everitt added in the early 1980s, and after leaving Fangoria worked with film director Frank Henenlotter
on the screenplays for Frankenhooker
and Basket Case 3: The Progeny
. Everitt left the magazine shortly after Martin's departure, and was replaced by Starlog editor David McDonnell, who handled both magazines for several months before turning over the reins to longtime editor Tony Timpone
.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, Fangoria tested numerous international horror markets, releasing issues of the magazine modified for various foreign languages. These publishings (released in Italy, Japan, Czechoslovakia, and elsewhere) lasted only a handful of editions before being discontinued.
In 1990, Timpone brought current managing editor Michael Gingold
on-board, having been previously introduced to his horror-themed fanzine
, Scareaphenalia. In addition to his editorial duties at the magazine, Gingold posts the majority of the news updates at
Creative Group purchased Fangoria (and its parent publication Starlog
) in the early 2000s, hoping to branch out the brand identity of the magazine to radio, television, and comics. After several failed ventures, Creative Group filed for Chapter 11 on March 21, 2008. In the summer of 2008, Fangoria and all of its related brands were purchased by The Brooklyn Company, Inc., led by longtime Fangoria president Thomas DeFeo. Under DeFeo's ownership, Fangorias brand identity was radically modified in early 2009. The most notable of his changes were the transformation of the company's long-standing logo and a drastic overhaul to the magazine's cover. Starting with Issue 281, Fangorias cover no longer carried its original logo, trademark "film strip", tagline, or additional embedded photos.
In February 2010, Chris Alexander
, a Toronto
-based former writer for Rue Morgue, succeeded Tony Timpone
as Fangorias new editor. Under his management, the magazine altered its image again, reverting to a layout similar to what it had in the early 1990s. The cover's layout was again altered (this time by graphic artist Jason Beam) - keeping the new logo, but honoring reader requests to bring back the embedded photos and a horizontal "film strip." Several new staff members were also hired full time including Sam Zimmerman, Rebekah McKendry, and Robert Feldman all of whom had previously worked with Fangoria. In addition, several new writers for both web and magazine were brought in.
As of 2010, Fangoria's publishing office is located just north of New York City
's Times Square
, with Alexander's satellite office in Toronto
, Ontario
. They also have a satellite office in Los Angeles
, California
and several writers based out of Richmond
, Virginia
.
In 2011, Alexander resurrected the original logo, presenting a classic Fangoria look, coupled with illustrated covers and a bottom page filmstrip that Alexander freely admitted to "borrowing" from long defunct monster magazine Castle of Frankenstein
. The new covers often feature original painted portrait artwork from filmmakers and artists like Marvel Comics' Nick Percival
, impressionist UK animator Ashley Thorpe
and Australian artist Michael Broom. The changes reflect Alexander's editorial focus on horror history as well as a more experimental aesthetic.
Fangoria branches out Starting in 1985, Fangoria has sponsored annual horror movie conventions known as the Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Chicago (with Austin, Texas added in 2008). These conventions were produced in association with Creation Entertainment
. After breaking ties with Creation in 2009, Fangoria began their own conventions, titling them the "Trinity of Terrors."
In 1991, Fangoria began honoring horror cinema with their annual Chainsaw Awards, which were voted on by readers of their magazine. The winners were announced at an awards show in Los Angeles
, California
, which was produced by Fangoria's managing editor, Michael Gingold. While the Chainsaw Awards continued in the magazine, the awards show was stopped after 1996.
In 1990, Fangoria created Fangoria Films
, with the goal of financing one feature film a year under this banner. The first film was 1990's Mindwarp
, starring Bruce Campbell
. They then created Children of the Night in 1991 and Severed Ties in 1992 before ceasing production.
In 1996, Fangoria Films re-emerged as a distribution company, occasionally using their "Gore Zone" label, to release twenty low-budget horror features over the next ten years.
From 1999 to 2003, they partnered with Bedford Entertainment to attain wider releases of certain Fangoria titles. Movies released during this time included I, Zombie: A Chronicle of Pain
, The Last Horror Movie
, Slashers, and Dead Meat. Many of these films featured the Fangoria logo along the top of their video/DVD covers, while Fangorias involvement in other releases was substantially more subdued.
In 2004/2005, Fangoria Films produced and distributed Fangoria's Blood Drive, two DVD compilations of award-winning short horror films. The first volume was hosted by musician-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie
, and the second by MuchMusic's (now called FUSE
) Mistress Juliya
.
After their purchase by Creative Group in the early 2000s, they developed Fangoria Entertainment. This allowed both parties to agitate the Fangoria brand identity to a number of other media outlets in 2006. Creative Group also added a new "Vampire Skull" logo to Fangoria's properties, which was used extensively after its inception. As of 2010, all of Creative Group's Fangoria brands have been halted.
, which contained all back issues of Fangoria and Starlog
magazines, burned to the ground. As back issues of Fangoria are not re-printed, the only remaining back issues are now housed in private collections or those available on the secondary market.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
fan magazine
Fan magazine
A fan magazine is a commercially written and published magazine intended for the amusement of fans of the popular culture subject matter which it covers. It is distinguished from a scholarly or literary magazine on the one hand, by the target audience of its contents, and from a fanzine on the...
specializing in the genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
s of horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, slasher
Slasher film
A slasher film is a type of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe...
, splatter
Splatter film
A splatter film or gore film is a subgenre of horror film that deliberately focuses on graphic portrayals of gore and graphic violence. These films, through the use of special effects and excessive blood and guts, tend to display an overt interest in the vulnerability of the human body and the...
and exploitation film
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
s, in regular publication since 1979.
Planning
Fangoria was first planned in 1978 under the name Fantastica as a companion to the science fiction media magazine Starlog; just as Starlog covered science fiction filmScience fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
s for a primarily teenaged audience, Fantastica was intended to cover fantasy film
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
s for a similar audience. The publishers were anticipating a groundswell of interest in fantasy owing to the plans at that time for bringing Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
's Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
to the screen, plans first announced in 1978.
The Conan film did not arrive until several years later and, when it did, no groundswell in the demand for fantasy films occurred. But before the magazine was even launched, other factors intervened to change the magazine's focus and direction.
The first issue was assembled under the editorship of "Joe Bonham," a pseudonym taken from the quadriplegic hero of Dalton Trumbo's pacifist novel Johnny Got His Gun
Johnny Got His Gun
Johnny Got His Gun is an anti-war novel written in 1938 by American novelist and screenwriter Dalton Trumboand published by J. B. Lippincott company.-Plot:...
. This was a cover for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
contributor and screenwriter Ed Naha
Ed Naha
Ed Naha is an American science fiction and mystery writer and producer. He was born June 10, 1950 in the town of Linden, New Jersey. His first known publication was artwork that appeared in the first issue of Modern Monsters magazine, dated June 1966....
and writer Ric Meyers
Ric Meyers
Richard Meyers, is an American columnist, author and comic book writer. For his contributions to the martial arts film industry, was the first non-martial artist to be inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Ric Meyers has met, talked with and written about the most influential people...
, best known for his encyclopedic Great Martial Arts Movies: From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan.
Shortly after the publishing trade press announced the coming launch of Fantastica, the publishers of a Starlog competitor, Fantastic Films
Fantastic Films
Fantastic Films was a US film magazine specializing in the genres of science fiction and fantasy.-Publication:Fantastic Films began regular publication in 1978 under the banner of Blake Publishing Corp. Issue no...
magazine, brought suit on the basis of "unfair trade," contending that its young audience would be confused by the magazine's similar title.
The launch of the magazine was delayed by several months as the court deliberated the issue. When, in early 1979, the decision was made in favor of the plaintiff, the publishers of Fantastica were without a usable name, and a pressing need to get the long-delayed issue to the printers. Some quick brainstorming sessions resulted in the name Fangoria, over the objections of Robert "Bob" Martin, who was hired as editor during the delay.
Publication
The first issue of Fangoria was entirely designed around the original "fantasy film" concept for the magazine, and proved to be an abysmal failure, as were several issues that followed, all continuing with the same conceptual approach.By the time that issue number four was on the stand and number six was in preparation, the publisher confided to Martin that the magazine was losing approximately $20,000 per issue, not an amount that the small publisher could continue to sustain for long.
Two phenomena allowed Martin to reshape the magazine and bring it back from the abyss of debt. First, was the immensely positive audience response to one of the articles that appeared in the first issue of Fangoria, an article that celebrated the craft of special makeup effects artist Tom Savini
Tom Savini
Thomas Vincent "Tom" Savini is an American actor, stuntman, director, award-winning special effects and makeup artist. He is known for his work on the Living Dead films directed by George A. Romero, as well as Creepshow, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler, and Maniac. He directed the 1990...
, and his very wet-looking special effects for the 1978 film Dawn of the Dead
Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)
Dawn of the Dead is a 1978 zombie film, written and directed by George A. Romero. It was the second film made in Romero's Living Dead series, but contains no characters or settings from Night of the Living Dead, and shows in larger scale a zombie epidemic's apocalyptic effects on society...
.
Second was the palpable stench of defeat that was surrounding Fangoria. With its demise all but certain, senior employees and the two owners of the publishing firm stood back from the fray and allowed the untried young editor to take the lead, reshaping the entire book according to what he believed would work.
Issue seven, with a cover story on Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
's adaptation of Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's The Shining
The Shining (film)
The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. A writer, Jack Torrance, takes a job as an...
, was the first issue of any national magazine to wholly concern itself with horror film as produced in the closing quarter of the 20th Century, with no trace of daintiness about its subject matter. It also was the first issue of Fangoria to achieve a profit.
Frank Henenlotter
Frank Henenlotter, , is an American screenwriter, director and film historian. He is known primarily for his horror comedies, though he would prefer to be classified as an "exploitation" filmmaker . "I never felt that I made ‘horror films’, he has said. "I always felt that I made exploitation films...
on the screenplays for Frankenhooker
Frankenhooker
Frankenhooker is an American black comedy horror film that was released in 1990. Very loosely inspired by Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, the film was directed by Frank Henenlotter and stars James Lorinz as medical school drop-out Jeffrey Franken and former Penthouse Pet Patty Mullen as the...
and Basket Case 3: The Progeny
Basket Case 3: The Progeny
Basket Case 3: The Progeny is a 1991 American comedy horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter. The third installment of the Basket Case series the film follows Times Square Freak Twins Duane and Belial Bradley and several fellow freaks as they help Belial's girlfriend give birth and...
. Everitt left the magazine shortly after Martin's departure, and was replaced by Starlog editor David McDonnell, who handled both magazines for several months before turning over the reins to longtime editor Tony Timpone
Tony Timpone
Tony Timpone was the longtime editor of both Fangoria Magazine and its website, . He began working with the publication in 1985 and continued there until February 2010, when he was succeeded by Chris Alexander, a Toronto-based former writer for Rue Morgue...
.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, Fangoria tested numerous international horror markets, releasing issues of the magazine modified for various foreign languages. These publishings (released in Italy, Japan, Czechoslovakia, and elsewhere) lasted only a handful of editions before being discontinued.
In 1990, Timpone brought current managing editor Michael Gingold
Michael Gingold
Michael Gingold is an American journalist, screenwriter, and actor. He has been the managing editor of Fangoria Magazine since 1990.His writing credits include reviews for The Motion Picture Guide, The Blockbuster Video Guide, and Movies on TV and Videocassette...
on-board, having been previously introduced to his horror-themed fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
, Scareaphenalia. In addition to his editorial duties at the magazine, Gingold posts the majority of the news updates at
fangoria.comCreative Group purchased Fangoria (and its parent publication Starlog
Starlog
Starlog was a monthly science-fiction film magazine published by Starlog Group Inc. The magazine was created by publishers Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs. O'Quinn was the magazine's editor while Jacobs ran the business side of things, dealing with typesetters, engravers and printers. They got...
) in the early 2000s, hoping to branch out the brand identity of the magazine to radio, television, and comics. After several failed ventures, Creative Group filed for Chapter 11 on March 21, 2008. In the summer of 2008, Fangoria and all of its related brands were purchased by The Brooklyn Company, Inc., led by longtime Fangoria president Thomas DeFeo. Under DeFeo's ownership, Fangorias brand identity was radically modified in early 2009. The most notable of his changes were the transformation of the company's long-standing logo and a drastic overhaul to the magazine's cover. Starting with Issue 281, Fangorias cover no longer carried its original logo, trademark "film strip", tagline, or additional embedded photos.
In February 2010, Chris Alexander
Chris Alexander
Chris Alexander is a Toronto based film critic, composer, TV and radio personality known primarily for his knowledge of horror and dark fantsy film history. Has cult following due to his counterculture point of view, experimental music and participation in "Raging Boll" boxing stunt with filmmaker...
, a Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based former writer for Rue Morgue, succeeded Tony Timpone
Tony Timpone
Tony Timpone was the longtime editor of both Fangoria Magazine and its website, . He began working with the publication in 1985 and continued there until February 2010, when he was succeeded by Chris Alexander, a Toronto-based former writer for Rue Morgue...
as Fangorias new editor. Under his management, the magazine altered its image again, reverting to a layout similar to what it had in the early 1990s. The cover's layout was again altered (this time by graphic artist Jason Beam) - keeping the new logo, but honoring reader requests to bring back the embedded photos and a horizontal "film strip." Several new staff members were also hired full time including Sam Zimmerman, Rebekah McKendry, and Robert Feldman all of whom had previously worked with Fangoria. In addition, several new writers for both web and magazine were brought in.
As of 2010, Fangoria's publishing office is located just north of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, with Alexander's satellite office in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. They also have a satellite office in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and several writers based out of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
In 2011, Alexander resurrected the original logo, presenting a classic Fangoria look, coupled with illustrated covers and a bottom page filmstrip that Alexander freely admitted to "borrowing" from long defunct monster magazine Castle of Frankenstein
Castle of Frankenstein
Castle of Frankenstein was an American horror, science fiction and fantasy film magazine, distributed by Kable News and published in New Jersey from 1962 to 1975 by Calvin Thomas Beck's Gothic Castle Publishing Company. The first three issues were edited by Larry Ivie and Ken Beale. From 1963 and...
. The new covers often feature original painted portrait artwork from filmmakers and artists like Marvel Comics' Nick Percival
Nick Percival
Nick Percival is a British graphic artist primarily known for his published comic book, concept artwork and career in computer animation.-Biography:...
, impressionist UK animator Ashley Thorpe
Ashley Thorpe
Ashley Michael Thorpe is an Australian cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler who played for Durham. He was born in Kiama....
and Australian artist Michael Broom. The changes reflect Alexander's editorial focus on horror history as well as a more experimental aesthetic.
Fangoria branches out Starting in 1985, Fangoria has sponsored annual horror movie conventions known as the Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Chicago (with Austin, Texas added in 2008). These conventions were produced in association with Creation Entertainment
Creation Entertainment
Creation Entertainment is an entertainment company located in Glendale, California which produces fan conventions for fans of comic books, and various films and television series, mainly in the sci-fi, horror and fantasy genres. It was founded in 1971 by Gary Berman and Adam Malin in New York....
. After breaking ties with Creation in 2009, Fangoria began their own conventions, titling them the "Trinity of Terrors."
In 1991, Fangoria began honoring horror cinema with their annual Chainsaw Awards, which were voted on by readers of their magazine. The winners were announced at an awards show in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, which was produced by Fangoria's managing editor, Michael Gingold. While the Chainsaw Awards continued in the magazine, the awards show was stopped after 1996.
Fangoria Films
Fangoria Films
Fangoria Films is a film production and distribution company based out of New York City, New York. It is a subsidiary of Fangoria Entertainment, which encompasses various branches of Starlog's Fangoria brand.-As Production Company:...
, with the goal of financing one feature film a year under this banner. The first film was 1990's Mindwarp
Mindwarp (film)
Mindwarp is a 1992 post-apocalyptic science fiction movie, starring Bruce Campbell as Stover, Angus Scrimm as the Seer, Marta Martin as Judy, Elizabeth Kent as Cornelia, and Wendy Sandow as Claude...
, starring Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
. They then created Children of the Night in 1991 and Severed Ties in 1992 before ceasing production.
In 1996, Fangoria Films re-emerged as a distribution company, occasionally using their "Gore Zone" label, to release twenty low-budget horror features over the next ten years.
From 1999 to 2003, they partnered with Bedford Entertainment to attain wider releases of certain Fangoria titles. Movies released during this time included I, Zombie: A Chronicle of Pain
I, Zombie
I, Zombie: A Chronicle of Pain is a film which was released by Fangoria Films in 1998; it was written, directed, produced and scored by Andrew Parkinson....
, The Last Horror Movie
The Last Horror Movie
The Last Horror Movie is a British horror film directed by Julian Richards, starring Kevin Howarth, Mark Stevenson and released in 2004. It is filmed in a found footage style.- Plot :...
, Slashers, and Dead Meat. Many of these films featured the Fangoria logo along the top of their video/DVD covers, while Fangorias involvement in other releases was substantially more subdued.
In 2004/2005, Fangoria Films produced and distributed Fangoria's Blood Drive, two DVD compilations of award-winning short horror films. The first volume was hosted by musician-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
, and the second by MuchMusic's (now called FUSE
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
) Mistress Juliya
Juliya Chernetsky
Juliya Chernetsky , is a television personality best known for her popularity on the music-themed network Fuse, formerly known as MuchMusicUSA. She is best known by her stage name Mistress Juliya. She hosted the heavy metal-themed program Uranium and a call-in and e-mail advice program called Slave...
.
With Creative Group
- Fangoria TV, originally conceived as a network television station dedicated to horror films, was eventually modified to fit a limited online format in 2006. It ceased production in 2007.
- Fangoria Radio debuted on Friday, June 23, 2006. It was a horror-themed talk radio program which aired on Sirius Radio Channel 108 and XM Radio Channel 139 on Friday nights. It was hosted by Dee SniderDee SniderDaniel "Dee" Snider is an American singer-songwriter, screenwriter, radio personality, and actor. Snider is most famous for his role as the frontman of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister...
, Debbie RochonDebbie RochonDebbie Rochon is a Canadian B-movie actress and former stage performer, best known for her work in Troma films.-Biography:...
, and regularly featured then-editor Tony TimponeTony TimponeTony Timpone was the longtime editor of both Fangoria Magazine and its website, . He began working with the publication in 1985 and continued there until February 2010, when he was succeeded by Chris Alexander, a Toronto-based former writer for Rue Morgue...
. It ceased production in 2009.
- Announced at San Diego's Comicon International in 2006, Fangoria ComicsFangoria ComicsFangoria Comics was an American publisher of horror comics, releasing issues solely in the year 2007. It was a distinct unit under the larger Fangoria Entertainment umbrella, which also included Fangoria Magazine, Fangoria TV, and Fangoria Radio.-Planning:...
launched in June 2007. For various reasons, the line abruptly ended in August 2007.
- In association with FUSE TVFuse TVFuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
, Fangoria first televised its Chainsaw Awards in 2006. The event occurred on October 15, and was aired on FUSE on October 22. The event was not renewed for 2007, although the awards continued in the magazine.
- In 2008 Fangoria premiered a competition for its first-ever "Spooksmodel". The winner of the contest would appear at all of its Weekend of Horror conventions, as well as be featured within the print magazine. Actress Shannon LarkShannon LarkShannon Lark is an American Writer, Dancer, Director, Producer, professional Scream Queen, and Film Festival Director...
won the first contest, claiming the title for 2008 - 2009.
- In 2011 Fangoria partnered with producer Carl Amari (The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas)to create FANGORIA'S DREADTIME STORIES, a "Lights Out" style dark horror radio drama series hosted by Malcolm McDowell and featuring original music by Fangoria editor-in-chief Chris Alexander. The show is streamed off the Fangoria website and can be heard on air on Sirius XFM.
Warehouse Fire
On December 5, 2007, a warehouse operated by Kable News, in Oregon, IllinoisOregon, Illinois
Oregon is a city located in Ogle County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 3,721, down from 4,060 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ogle County.- History :...
, which contained all back issues of Fangoria and Starlog
Starlog
Starlog was a monthly science-fiction film magazine published by Starlog Group Inc. The magazine was created by publishers Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs. O'Quinn was the magazine's editor while Jacobs ran the business side of things, dealing with typesetters, engravers and printers. They got...
magazines, burned to the ground. As back issues of Fangoria are not re-printed, the only remaining back issues are now housed in private collections or those available on the secondary market.
In other media
Fangoria has appeared or been mentioned in various media outlets, usually pertaining to its significance to the horror film industry.- "Debbie" (Tracie SavageTracie SavageTracie Savage is an American actress and journalist. She has starred in movies and on television.-Career:...
) reads an issue of Fangoria shortly before her death in Friday the 13th 3-D (1982).
- The film Redneck ZombiesRedneck ZombiesRedneck Zombies is a 1987 very low budget independent horror comedy trash film directed by Pericles Lewnes and released by Troma Entertainment.-Plot:...
(1989) by Troma Entertainment a mental patient is seen reading an issue of Fangoria. Redneck ZombiesRedneck ZombiesRedneck Zombies is a 1987 very low budget independent horror comedy trash film directed by Pericles Lewnes and released by Troma Entertainment.-Plot:...
(1989).
- One of the flatmates in BBC2's The Young OnesThe Young Ones (TV series)The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
is seen reading an issue of Fangoria in the 1984 episode "Nasty"Nasty (Young Ones episode)"Nasty" was the ninth episode of British sitcom The Young Ones. It was written by Ben Elton, Rik Mayall and Lise Mayer, and directed by Geoff Posner...
(an episode about them attempting to watch a VHS video nastyVideo nasty"Video nasty" was a colloquial term coined in the United Kingdom by 1982 which originally applied to a number of films distributed on video cassette that were criticized for their violent content by the press, commentators such as Mary Whitehouse and various religious organizations.While violence...
).
- An issue of Fangoria is featured in the trunk of Ash's Oldsmobile in the film Army of DarknessArmy of DarknessArmy of Darkness, also known as Evil Dead III: Army of Darkness or simply Evil Dead III, is a 1992 horror comedy fantasy action film directed by Sam Raimi. It is the third and final installment in The Evil Dead trilogy. The film was written by Raimi and his brother Ivan, produced by Robert Tapert,...
(1993).
- The film BrainscanBrainscanBrainscan is a 1994 horror film starring Edward Furlong, Frank Langella, Amy Hargreaves, Jamie Marsh and T. Ryder Smith. Music was composed by movie composer George S...
(1994) prominently features Fangoria, giving the magazine a rather important role in the movie. It is through an advertisement in the magazine that the main character discovers the titular video game.
- In The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "22 Short Films About Springfield22 Short Films about Springfield"22 Short Films About Springfield" is the twenty-first episode of The Simpsons seventh season, which originally aired on April 14, 1996. It was written by Richard Appel, David S. Cohen, Jonathan Collier, Jennifer Crittenden, Greg Daniels, Brent Forrester, Rachel Pulido, Steve Tompkins, Josh...
" (1996), bus driver Otto Mann takes a photograph of Lisa SimpsonLisa SimpsonLisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
with various foodstuff stuck in her hair, claiming, "Fangoria will pay me twenty-five bucks for this shot!" Several months later, the magazine published the "pic" of Lisa with the gum in her hair.
- Chucky masturbates while looking at an issue of Fangoria in the film Seed of ChuckySeed of ChuckySeed of Chucky, also known as Child's Play 5: Seed of Chucky or Child's Play 5, is a 2004 horror comedy film, which is the fifth entry in the Child's Play series. The film was written and directed by Don Mancini, who created Child's Play and has written all sequels to date...
(2004).- Additionally, the Child's Play comic series by Innovation PublishingInnovation PublishingInnovation Publishing was an American comic book company based in Wheeling, West Virginia. It was co-founded by David Campiti in 1988 after writing a business proposal and raising US$400,000 to finance its launch...
features Chucky reading a copy of Fangoria in issue one; and a character named Russ Timpone, who claims to have no relation to Tony TimponeTony TimponeTony Timpone was the longtime editor of both Fangoria Magazine and its website, . He began working with the publication in 1985 and continued there until February 2010, when he was succeeded by Chris Alexander, a Toronto-based former writer for Rue Morgue...
("even though that'd be cool"), appears in the same tale.
- Additionally, the Child's Play comic series by Innovation Publishing
- In the introduction of the 2004 music video of "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)I'm Not Okay (I Promise)UK promotional CDUK CD1 and 7" vinylUK CD2UK and Australian CDUK re-release CD1 and iTunes singleUK re-release CD2- Charts :-Release history:-External links:* *...
" by the band My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
, Fangoria is listed as one of the main character's interests ("You like D'n'D, Audrey Hepburn, Fangoria, Harry Houdini, and croquet. You can't swim, you can't dance and you don't know karate. Face it, you're never gonna make it".
- Frank Rossitano (Judah FriedlanderJudah FriedlanderJudah Friedlander is an American actor and comedian, known for his trademark trucker hats, oversized glasses and unkempt appearance, which he retains in many of his screen roles.-Early life:...
) wears a black Fangoria t-shirt throughout the 30 Rock30 Rock30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
episode, "Cleveland".
- In the 2007 film Death ProofDeath ProofDeath Proof is a 2007 American action thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film centers on a psychopathic stunt man who stalks young women before murdering them in staged car accidents using his "death-proof" stunt car...
, an issue of Fangoria is displayed in a magazine rack at a convenience store.
- In the pilot episode of the 2008 TV series The MentalistThe MentalistThe Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
, Patrick Jane (Simon BakerSimon BakerSimon Baker is an Australian actor. Since 2008, he has starred in the CBS television series The Mentalist.-Early life:...
) tells a strange associate (Jack PlotnickJack PlotnickJack Stuart Plotnick is an American film and television actor.Born in Worthington, Ohio, Plotnick is based in Hollywood...
), "If you don’t get horny reading Fangoria, Then I’m Britney SpearsBritney SpearsBritney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
".