Watching EVIL DEAD

 

WATCHING EVIL DEAD: UNEARTHING THE RADIANT ARTIST WITHIN by Josh Malerman (to be released 9/16/25 by Del Rey / 224 pages)

I’ve only read one novel by Malerman (INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE), and as a horror fiction fan for close to 50 years, it was one of the few horror novels that managed to scare me. I became an instant fan, and when I heard he had a non fiction book coming dedicated to Sam Raimi’s EVIL DEAD, I was all in.

When Malerman discovered his girlfriend had never seen EVIL DEAD, he went on a mission to share it with her. This book is an account of the night they watched the film with another couple, as Josh gives us a history of his life on the road as a musician who had always found time to write. After finally selling his debut novel BIRD BOX, Malerman faced the fears all artists face, and his chronicles of it here are at times funny, often deeply heartfelt, and ultimately, ridiculously inspiring. This also doubles as one man’s love letter to his fiancé, who (thankfully) ended up being an EVIL DEAD fan, too.

WATCHING EVIL DEAD is a quick, fun time. During the book, the author asks, a few times, “What were people thinking watching this when first released?” I’ll tell you: we were *enthralled.* I’m betting most readers of this book will be, too.

Issue 4 Out Today

 

The 4th issue of SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MAGAZINE is out now, full of contributions from your favorite new and classic film commentators, plus loads of surprises. Grab a copy here:  SG4

Also available at FORBIDDEN PLANET in NYC…

Don’t Miss this Haunting

 

 

THE OCTOBER FILM HAUNT by Michael Wehunt (to be released 9/30/25 by St. Martin’s Press / 336 pages)

The title of this book is the name of a trio who visit horror film sites and blog about them. One film, titled ‘Proof of Demons,’ gains a hardcore following, and after a real life tragedy, a sequel is being made by a cult of the film’s fans. But now, Jorie, a member of the Film Haunt who has left the horror scene, is being forced to star in the sequel by the original film’s fans/cult and director, who have oddly enabled a supernatural creature to help them.

I’ve been loving the trend of horror film-themed novels, and author Wehunt blends this with another recent trend, Internet influence, and has created a genuinely unsettling tale where the reader is often required to decipher what’s actually happening or what is part of an otherworldly slant.

This could’ve used a bit of tightening up, as a few areas drag for a bit, making the story slow down at times, which is difficult to say about an otherwise very well-written novel. But the payoff is certainly worth the reader’s time, and one chapter features a possession scene from the human point of view that hasn’t been done this effectively since Michael Laimo’s novel THE DEMONOLOGIST 20 years ago. 

A fine addition to the crop of horror film-themed horror novels, Wehunt’s debut was well worth the wait for those who have been following his short fiction (he has two published collections). I’m eager to see what’s next.

AT DARK, I BECOME LOATHSOME by Eric LaRocca (to be released 1/28/25 by Blackstone Publishing / 175 pages)

After losing his wife to cancer and having his young son kidnapped, Ashley becomes a sort of underground grief counselor, creating a ritual the daring pay good money to participate in. Said ritual involves being buried alive for 30 minutes in a “fake death” exercise where people’s lives are guaranteed to change.

But things take a wicked turn when Ashley’s purpose comes into question, and his own world is challenged by an unusual client.

LaRocca’s latest is as dark as it gets, and will surely not be for the faint of heart. But as disturbing as it is, I saw the twist coming early on and felt things may have been more effective had the third act gone in another direction.

AT DARK is well worth the reader’s time, and most readers of stronger horror won’t be disappointed despite the obvious twist. Can easily be enjoyed in one sitting.

 

 

THE UNWORTHY by Agustina Bazterrica (to be released 3/4/25 by Scribner / 192 pages)

After escaping from 4 men who nearly kill her, a woman finds her way to a convent and joins the ranks of the sisterhood. THE UNWORTHY tells this woman’s story through diary entries (some written in her own blood), and we are given glimpses of the convent’s hierarchy as we learn the outside world has come to an end due to environmental disaster and mankind literally turning from God and worshipping artificial intelligence.

Bazterrica’s second English-translated novel might not be for everyone, but those looking for a different type of end times story may enjoy it, and don’t let the cover art fool you: this story deals with nuns, but it’s not “Nunsploitation.” This is a dark, strange, and unusual literary horror novel that will leave you contemplating where we may be headed.

Suburban Grindhouse Magazine

 

People often ask me why I don't regularly publish a fanzine anymore (I did one titled STINK from 1981-1991, then random one-shot issues over the years since). There are many reasons why, but primarily it's just too costly to produce it the way it was done in the 80s, despite how cheap it looked. But seeing as there are many Amazon-produced zines out there now, I figured I'd give it a shot as it's pretty much free to produce an issue. And hence, the debut issue of SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MAGAZINE has arrived. It's basically a continuation of STINK fanzine, combined with my 2010-2018 online column SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MEMORIES (which were collected in a 2019 book published by Headpress. This magazine is not being published with that publisher).

In the debut digest-sized issue, I take a look at BLOOD FREAK (1972), an absolutely insane film that's perfect for annual Thanksgiving viewings, an overview of some great 70s euro-crime films, then THE TOUCHABLES are touched upon, plus loads of film, book, and zine reviews. Available now right here: SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MAGAZINE issue one

And by the time you're reading this, the second issue should be available, which features my extensive look at 70s occult films, a preview of my book dealing with the future of Midnight Movies, a rare NYC screening of Scandinavian drive in classic WITHOUT A STITCH, and a boatload of film, book, and zine reviews. Cover preview below:

Book Launch Party for ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER in Brooklyn!

 

On Thursday, September 5th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., meet my wife Shannon Barracato as we launch her new novel ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER at the legendary Duff's, Brooklyn NY's coolest heavy metal bar! There will be copies of the novel available, plus swag for everyone, not to mention Duff's kick ass juke box where you can play all the metal/punk you can handle. Read more about the bar here: DUFF'S Brooklyn

Check out some of the amazing reviews that have been coming in:

"ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a powerful book, so original, filled with both wonder and horror, hope and fear. It's a funny, moving, scathing commentary - shades of Maus and Jojo Rabbit, the bastard love child of Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh."
- Richard Thomas, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller Award finalist

"Funny, scary, and at moments painfully relevant to modern times, ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a dark, dystopia, punk-pop classic. A road trip from Hell that's a joy to travel."
- Brendan Deneen, bestselling author of ALIEN: UNCIVIL WAR and THE CHRYSALIS

"The most original post-apocalyptic novel I've read in years. Shannon Barracato delivers an all-too-believable dystopia with gallows humor and vivid imagination in this genre-defying tale of magic, mayhem, and brotherly love. True horrors abound, but the darkness has a beating heart."
- Douglas Wynne, author of RED EQUINOX

"In a climate where wholly unoriginal fiction is often celebrated as genius, Shannon Barracato's ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a deep breath of fresh dystopian air. I've honestly never read anything quite like it. Barracato is an exciting and unique voice, and her latest novel is a testament not only to her talent, but to a fully realized artistic vision. Deeply unsettling, darkly funny, smart and thought-provoking, ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER will leave you reeling and questioning all the so-called 'rules' in the best possible way."
- Greg F. Gifune, bestselling author of THE BLEEDING SEASON and SAVAGES

If you can't make the event, grab a copy right here: ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER

Cover Reveal for my new novella

 

Popular horror site DAILY DEAD recently revealed the cover art for my and Andre Duza's forthcoming novella AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED, which will be released on 1/14/25 by Death's Head Press, an imprint of the ever-growing DEAD SKY PUBLISHING / The artist is Ken Miller, whose impressive body of work can be seen on his website: Violent Visual 

About the novella:

"There are casual fans, and then there are genuine fanatics. Gary has been obsessed with the extreme side of cinema since he could remember, and has been on a quest to see every infamous film possible, the more shocking, the better.

He has even tried his hand at making his own films, but tonight he will be part of an urban legend, the thing people like him fantasize about: tonight Gary is going to see an actual snuff film.

But what he witnesses on a small screen at a secret location is only the beginning of a downward spiral where entertainment and fate collide... where Gary discovers there was a latent reason for his life long fascination with the dark side…"

Pre-orders can be placed here: AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED

DARK DREAMS: AN OBSESSIVE LOOK AT ROMANO SCAVOLINI'S NIGHTMARE

My second film book, DARK DREAMS: AN OBSESSIVE LOOK AT ROMANO SCAVOLINI'S NIGHTMARE, will be released soon from Headpress, who also published my debut film book SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE in 2019. This is a deep dive into NIGHTMARE (1981), one of the most notorious slasher films of all time, which was also known as NIGHTMARES IN A DAMAGED BRAIN, and several more discussed in the book.

Among the table of contents is my commentary on every second of the film, interviews with producer Bill Milling, and for the first time anywhere, star Kathleen Ferguson, guest contributions from fellow Nighmarians Andre Duza, Jerome Reuter, Gary McMahon, Philip Lopresti, and 42nd Street Pete, plus an interview with NIGHTMARE novelization author Michael Gingold.

Capping things off are plenty of rare photos, including many from super collector Marc Leppla.

Follow Headpress on all social media, and keep your eye on their website (Headpress.com) for announcements. Here are a couple of early reviews:

"A book on Nightmare? Now we're talking!  Nick Cato never disappoints, and his exploration of Romano Scavolini's much maligned masterpiece is about as exhaustive (and entertaining) as it gets.  Add this book to your library now!"

-John Szpunar, editor-in-chief, DEEP RED Magazine

“After over four decades, it seems like horror fans have scoured every single detail about their most beloved slasher films. As it turns out, there's still a wealth left to explore when it comes to Nightmare, one of the most reviled of the decade's unrated splatter shockers. It's a grungy, haunting, mean mongrel of a film that's never let go of author Nick Cato, and he uses that to deliver a compelling mixture of in-depth research, personal experience, and a meticulous eye for detail. There's no way you can read this book and avoid watching the film right away, whether it's your first time or your 20th.”

-Nathaniel Thompson, mondo-digital.com

Second Editions and New Novella w/Andre Duza announced

 

SECOND EDITIONS:

My 2015 novella, THE BLASPHEMOUS SISTERS OF SAINT APOLLONIA, has just been released in this 'purdy second edition. The story was originally published back in 2014 as part of a 6-chapbook "nunsploitation" series from Dynatox Ministries (which sold out almost immediately), and then it's first official edition was in the collection THE ATROCITY VENDOR in 2015 from Grindhouse Press. You can still get the e-book edition of THE ATROCITY VENDOR via Amazon, but the print version is long out of print. Hence, you can now own this story in this slick trade paperback second edition, featuring killer cover art by Witch Crusher (you can find him on Instagram). You can get a copy for your favorite Sunday school teacher right here: THE BLASPHEMOUS SISTERS OF SAINT APOLLONIA

My most well-known novella, THE LAST PORNO THEATER, has only been available as an e-book for a while now, but a second print edition has just been released, and the publishers of the first 2013 edition, Grindhouse Press, have graciously allowed me to use Matthew Revert's cover art once again.  Grab your copy right here: THE LAST PORNO THEATER second edition

My 2009 debut novel, DON OF THE DEAD, has been out of print in any format for close to 10 years. A second edition is now available, featuring fantastic new cover art by the great Matthew Revert. It has gangsters. It has ghouls. It has tons and tons of calamari. This bizarro-horror-comedy even has senior citizen Sicilian hitmen tickling people to death and zombified dogs guzzling anti-freeze. What more do you need?

THE APOCALYPSE OF PETER, my first bizarro novella from 2012, also long out of print, is back for a second edition. Original Publisher Damnation Books is long out of business, as is Calburn Press, who took over for about a year when Damnation went under. Author Eric S. Brown said about this story, "The author is either a genius, or utterly insane." You be the judge RIGHT HERE...

NEW NOVELLA ANNOUNCED:

AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED

by Nick Cato and Andre Duza

Dead Sky Publishing officially announced the book's release on June 24th. It will be available 1/14/25 and the cover design by artist Ken Miller will be revealed shortly.

AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED is our take on the snuff film legend, the horror fan's desire to see the darkest things imaginable captured on celluloid. Our protagonist Gary is thrown through the ringer and back, and we're hoping horror fans will not only identify with him, but come out the other end as thrilled with this concept as we are.

One grew up in the grindhouses of Times Square

One was raised in the grindhouses of Philly

Together they bring you a savage tale of cinematic insanity...

DEAD SKY PUBLISHING presents:

AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED

by Nick Cato and Andre Duza