Directed by John McCarty
Review by Mark Jason Murray


Released by Elite
Rating: NR
Running Time: 300 minutes
Color format: Color / B&W
Audio/Subtitles: English Stereo
Region Code 0, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: Fullframe
16:9 Enhanced: No
Special Features: None
Trailer Online: Yes

Author John McCarthy takes a nod from his own book, THE FEARMAKERS, to produce and narrate these 10 thirty minute mini-documentaries on various horror and sci-fi film directors. Packed in a wide case housing 3 DVDs with a cover reminiscent of old EC horror comics, this collection is a nice and fun look at the work of these directors. In a time when anyone who has directed a scary commercial is considered a “master of horror” this collection opts to look more to the past, paying tribute to true pioneers and masters of their craft. Jack Arnold, Tod Browning, William Castle, Roger Corman, Terence Fisher, Tobe Hooper, Roman Polanski, Jacques Tourneur, Ronald West and Robert Wise are each discussed and honored by such interviewees as John Carpenter, Joe Dante, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Stuart Gordon, Tony Timpone, Ted Newsom, Michael Weldon, Jim Wynorski and many others. Each episode does give a solid yet simple look at each director’s career (except Tobe Hooper’s episode which focuses almost exclusively on TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE) and prove worthy of viewing. The set’s packaging seems to promote a more in-depth look that what is really delivered by boasting “10 full length documentaries” although I tend to believe that 30 minutes is really only about a third of full length and the full program could have easily fit on two discs in a regular sized DVD case.

Although production values are low there is some entertainment value to the package as I did take in the entire thing in one viewing session. Information as to if this was produced for air on television or cable is unavailable and although each episode features a copyright date of 2006, most if not all of the interview footage appears to be rather old as some of the participants have passed in recent years.

I particularly enjoyed the segments on William Castle, whose films and showmanship always equals a good time and the Jack Arnold segment truly shows how ingenious and pioneering the director was. It was also nice to see his widow, Betty, discuss his career. Not to brag (although I am…) I was lucky enough to spend a weekend at Betty Arnold’s home while filming a movie there and had a wonderful time discussing her husband’s career and stories about other celebrities visiting their home (like sitting in the chair where Telly Savalas lost a bit of money playing poker or talking near the pool where Janis Joplin taught Arnold’s daughter to swim…). Terence Fisher’s segment proved fun just watching guys like Carpenter and Dante express excitement over such terrors as HORROR OF DRACULA and other Hammer Studio greats. The segment on Roman Polanski even has inspired me to check out a few of his films that I have yet to experience. So on that level these episodes have achieved what any documentary aspires to do.