Another year has passed and here I am, still alive - believe it or not. Sometimes I can’t believe it myself. Not that I'm living a destructive life, but my built-in pessimism doesn’t allow me to think too positive about stuff like that. It’s better to expect the worst than hope for the best, in that way I won’t get disappointed when it all fucks up in the end.
But it didn’t fuck up. That’s quite cool.
In my work I always imagine they will pull the rug from under my feet and reveal my true identity – a failure, a 100 % big fat juicy extreme failure. What I understand it’s a common worry in this crazy business. Most of us didn’t really plan to end up doing television, but got sucked in and got stuck – for better or worse. It reminds me of these lines from Eagles Hotel California:
“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”.
I’ve checked out many times, but always get drawn back in. No, I’m not complaining. Life has been quite good to be the last couple of years. I’ve learned to do it my way, to not get caught in destructive patterns. But I still have yet to learn to not think of the past. The past is a ghost I believe it and I fear the most. I hope to one day make it go away. Do any of you know a good exorcist?
When a new year begins the world of movie geekery starts all over. Someone always proclaims the death of genre cinema, the death of DVD and Blu-ray, and the death of that and that. They’re always wrong. Sure, the DVD sales have been dwindling for years, but Blu-rays have actually raised its sales with 15-20 percent this year, and download and stream is going very well. The genre film itself is fantastic; it’s just getting better and better…. If you’re open-minded and not use the blockbuster multiplexes as some kind of benchmark of what’s being produced.
But true is that I’ve been buying less movies – mostly because I own so damn many already (approx. 4000 titles by now!) – and instead I’m focusing on buying more specific titles and less just buying only because I’m curious. I can wait for months and months for a special release, buy it and then save it for later. This year my favorite releases have been Arrow’s Deranged and Lifeforce, Raro’s Nighmare City and Vinegar Syndrome’s The Massage Parlor Murders and Night Train to Terror. Oh, and the new UK Blu-ray of The Wicker Man. It looks fantastic. But there have been so many great releases, a dream-year for us fans of the macabre and fantastic.
Here's my personal highlights of the year:
* For the third year I’ve been visiting The Weekend of Horrors together with Joachim of Rubbermonsterfetishism and Jason of Cinezilla, which as usual was a blast. It’s three intensive days going through thousands of movies, meeting guests and just enjoying a place where we’re more normal than most others.
* August the 12th 2013 also meant the six year anniversary of me and G together. We met at a pizza joint in Orminge in 2007, fell in love and have never left each other since then. It still feels unreal. It’s like I finally met my soul mate, a humble person with very humanistic qualities, like me far from perfect, but aware of who he is. G will always be the highlight of the year.
* I’ve also changed my intake of unhealthy crap. Gone is almost all candy, soda, fast food. I’ve lost weight and I’ve gotten more energy, I feel healthier and because of this bought new clothes, in smaller sizes. Always a pleasure when that happens. I hope I can continue this road, so wish me luck!
* Me and Jason also started The Human Centipod, a podcast that's been recieved very well! We're eternally grateful to you all! It's so much fun sitting and talking about stuff we love. As you all can see on the right side you can listen directly the podcast here on the blog, but you can also get it through iTunes and Soundcloud. If you like it, please spread the word! :) And why not join our page on Facebook!
So what will happen the last weeks here at the blog? On Friday, the day after tomorrow begins my Antichristmas special. Tons and tons of genre films with a Christmas theme will be reviewed and after that, maybe close to New Year’s Eve will I publish a list of my personal favorite movies of 2013, a classic silly top ten! From the first of January I will get back to regular, normal reviews – and I already have a line-up of really cool movie reviews for you to – hopefully – enjoy!
I’m not a Christmas person of any kind and I won’t wish you a merry Christmas and all that, but I hope you will get some rest during the holiday, watch a lot of good and bad movies, hug your loved ones and focus your energy to save this poor world from racists, homophobes, woman-haters, bullies, war-mongers and other random idiots during next year.
And remember my five rules of judging movies; it will make you a calmer person:
1. Just because the masses think a movie sucks, it doesn't mean it sucks.
2. The only taste you can trust is your own.
3. The only bad movies are the boring ones.
4. Country, language, budget, genre, digital or film - this doesn't mean nothing! Storytelling is everything.
5. It’s just movies, nothing else. Chill down.
XOXOX,
Fred
"Not that I'm living a destructive life, but my built-in pessimism doesn’t allow me to think too positive about stuff like that."
Yeah, I have noticed this from time to time.
"The past is a ghost I believe it and I fear the most. I hope to one day make it go away. Do any of you know a good exorcist?"
No, I don´t.......but I have heard that nostalgia is better than Father Merrin.
"When a new year begins the world of movie geekery starts all over. Someone always proclaims the death of genre cinema, the death of DVD and Blu-ray, and the death of that and that. They’re always wrong. Sure, the DVD sales have been dwindling for years, but Blu-rays have actually raised its sales with 15-20 percent this year, and download and stream is going very well. The genre film itself is fantastic; it’s just getting better and better…. If you’re open-minded and not use the blockbuster multiplexes as some kind of benchmark of what’s being produced."
I agree with you.....I don´t think VOD are going to destroy DVD/Blu-ray completely......sales will go down but not disappear...just like vinyl, CD:s.
"For the third year I’ve been visiting The Weekend of Horrors together with Joachim of Rubbermonsterfetishism and Jason of Cinezilla, which as usual was a blast."
I´m very grateful for this post....and the podcast surrounding it, so much fun to listen to you guys.
"August the 12th 2013 also meant the six year anniversary of me and G together. We met at a pizza joint in Orminge in 2007, fell in love and have never left each other since then."
Awwwwwww.....hahahhahahh....can´t say anything else.
I´m glad you found someone.
"I’ve also changed my intake of unhealthy crap. Gone is almost all candy, soda, fast food. I’ve lost weight and I’ve gotten more energy,"
Don´t go too far now....ya dig?
Remember, what would Jurassic Park(1993)be without Wayne Knight?
Or Precious(2009)without Gabourey Sidibe?
And what about Hairspray(1988).....couldn´t have worked without Divine.
"Me and Jason also started The Human Centipod, a podcast that's been recieved very well!"
Needs more Joachim...hahhahahhahahah....yeah...I love those episodes you guys have done....a real gem to listen too.
"On Friday, the day after tomorrow begins my Antichristmas special. Tons and tons of genre films with a Christmas theme will be reviewed and after that, maybe close to New Year’s Eve will I publish a list of my personal favorite movies of 2013, a classic silly top ten!"
Ohhhhhh....that´s real christmas present.....something I will enjoy.
"I’m not a Christmas person of any kind and I won’t wish you a merry Christmas and all that, but I hope you will get some rest during the holiday, watch a lot of good and bad movies,"
Thanks Fred....I will, best wishes to you and your friends.
See ya in 2014!
Posted by: Megatron | December 18, 2013 at 22:00