Book of the Week: Sweeney Todd - The Real Story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd: The Real Story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, by Peter Haining

I first read this one several years ago, way before the questionable film adaptation, when the musical was more popular among theatre nerds than mainstream Glee fans. This would be one of the better books investigating a killer that I've had the fortune to read. What's more, it theorizes that Sweeney Todd was a real person, and pretty much convinced me when I read it.

Jack the Ripper has gotten pretty passe, and though H. H. Holmes is a fascinating individual, neither of them (from what I have gathered) served their victims for breakfast or lunch. I don't mean served to them, I mean literally served them up in meat pies.

This book was also an excellent source for a college essay I wrote a few years ago, thoroughly convincing my professor I was a disturbing individual who should best be avoided. It's a 'nonfiction' work that manages to be incredibly entertaining in the way you'd expect a suspense novel to be. By the end of it, I actually believed Sweeney Todd may have been a real person. But I was also 10 the first time I read it, so I'm not really sure you can judge from that opinion.

Book of the Week: Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup

First off, I'm really excited that it's finally October. That means I'm going to do my absolute best to have a post ready for you guys every day this month. That being said, I've also noticed that sometimes I tend to lean too much towards horror cinema, and not enough towards print (if you don't count the vintage comics.)

But there are a lot of really awesome Horror books out there, both fiction and non-fiction. So today, I'd like to tell you about one of the best nonfiction horror works I've read. "Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup", by Tom Weaver. Yes, it is a mouthful to say the whole title, but it's really worth reading if you have any interest in classic low-budget horror.

The interviews themselves are incredible, giving you an incite into several brilliantly cheesy films that unfortunately we wouldn't be able to have otherwise, because a lot of them tended to leave their out-takes and extra footage on the cutting room floor. I particularly loved the interview with a selection of people who had the good fortune of working with Roger Corman before he became officially famous.

The interviews are in-depth, and entertaining. Honestly, it's like reading real conversations. A lot of times, I have difficulty getting through biographies or nonfiction works, because there's a fine line between fact-telling and bland. This is a perfect companion with a B movie marathon, and a lot of the films mentioned in this book are actually on Netflix instant watch right now.

If you manage to find this book, don't pass it up. If you find it and decide to read it, don't pass up the Mel Welles interview. Some of you may remember him better as Mr. Mushnik...the one that's not in the musical...

Oh! And the great interview about The Creature From the Black Lagoon...I could go on for ages. Just read the book...