I was extremely heartbroken yesterday, when I read of the passing of the man rightfully credited with starting and creating the splatter film, the Godfather of Gore, himself, Herschell Gordon Lewis AKA H.G. Lewis). He was a true legend of the genre and one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of the horror film.
Color Me Blood- Red
H.G. Lewis was born on June 15, 1926 in Pittsburgh. Though his career started with softcore films (which he continued to make for a good chunk of his career), it's his splatter movies that he is most connected with. His first gore film was the legendary Blood Feast. While, horror movies before this either completely lacked graphic violence or only flirted lightly with it (Hammer Studios comes to mind in that department), Blood Feast was extremely graphic and bloody. That the FX were crude and fake didn't matter. Nothing had been seen up and until that point of time like it. As result it was an instant hit at the box office, and would go on to become a cult classic (as many of his other films would).
I knew about his movies for ages, being a well read horror fan and all. But, I wouldn't see any of his movies until I bought the The Blood Trilogy DVDbox-set from Image many years back. This was composed of the first three movies he made, the aforementioned Blood Feast, Two-Thousand Maniacs, and Color Me Blood Red. I loved the whole cheesy and it's so bad so good aspect of these films. Pretty girls, bad dialogue, bad acting, and graphic but terribly fake splatter. I can't recommend these movies enough to any lovers of horror and gore, especially those who like their movies to be fun and bloody.
Though of these three, I would say Two-Thousand Maniacs is my favorite. Even if it does not come anywhere close of giving you that many maniacs, it is a fun, wild, bloody, and funny tale of a bunch of crazy, killer hicks bent on having the South rise again.
Sadly, I haven't seen as much of his work I should, with the only other two I saw being Wizard of Gore and The Gore-Gore Girls when I bought the double feature, and excellent, I must add, Blu-ray of them. I plan to revisit the highly enjoyable, wild, and over-the-top Wizard soon. Last night I revisited The Gore-Gore Girls (1972)in his honor. It is my favorite of his, and his last movie for many, many, many years to come until he made Blood Feast 2 (2002).
The Gore-Gore Girls
One thing that stands true is despite the bloody content his movies were always tongue and cheek (and the tongue ripped out!). They never felt mean-spirited or took themselves too seriously as a result were many times hilarious, both intentionally and not.
The Wizard of Gore
I loved his role in the thoroughly awesome love letter to him Smash Cut starring The Last House on the Left's David Hess and former porn goddess Sasha Grey. I also absolutely ADORE the excellent documentary made about him and his movies, Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore. You all need to do yourselves a favor and seek it out. You will be glad that you did.
I saw him at a Fangoria Weekend of Horrors many years ago, but didn't get to meet him until, last year at Chiller. I feel so lucky that I did. He was such a sweet and funny man.
The gore and horror world has lost a legend, but he will live on in our bloody hearts and in his blood drenched movies. All hail the Godfather of Gore! All hail H.G. Lewis! And, may he RIP, as my condolences go to his family and loved ones.
It is with great sadness that I write this tribute to one of my favorite actors of all time: David Hess. I was devastated when I heard about it yesterday. It's a huge loss not just to the horror world, but the world in general. Hess was born in New York City on September 19, 1942. He actually wrote some music for the King, himself, Elvis Presley. By 1969, he would become the head of A&R for Mercury Records.
But, his biggest legacy came from his movie roles. He got bthe lead villain role of Krug in Wes Craven's classic and controversially brutal The Last House on the Left. He played the leader of a group of scumbags that rape, beat, humilate, and kill two pretty girls, only to have bloody revenge from the parents of one of the girls, happen to them. Hess was great in the role. An evil and despicable character that would go to be one of cinema's best villains. He also wrote and performed the songs for the movie. This is Waiting for the Rain from that great movie.
He had a similar role playing yet another vile rapist in Ruggero (Cannibal Holocaust) Deodato's mean-spirited and excellently acted House on the Edge of the Park. He had a great cast to play off of, and the movie is very intense and savage. The scene where he slices a pretty, fully nude virgin with a straight razor is pretty hard stuff to watch. As is always the case, Hess was just amazing as the sleazy and utterly menacing scumbag.
While, he had many more roles, the next one I saw of his was his was his return to working with horror master Wes Craven, Swamp Thing. A medicore adaption of the DC comics horror/ super-hero comic of the same name is kind of forgettable, but not that bad. It is helped by his acting, as a baddie of course, and the rest of the cast, including, the beautiful Adrienne Barbaeu.
The last movie I saw with him, was the last movie he shot fully, Smash Cut. It's quite a different role from his other horror roles, in that while he plays the villain, it's a light-heart fun romp. He had a great and fun cast to work with including the lovely Sasha Grey. I personally had such a good time watching this one.
I had the pleasure of meeting him back in 2001, I believe, when he did Chiller Theatre. He was so nice to me, as he was with all his fans. He signed my 8x10 with "Piss your pants", a quote from Last House.
On Saturday, he died of a heartache. He leaves behind three kids. Hess will always be remember by his fans as one of the greatest villains of the splatter age of horror. He will also always be remembered for how fan friendly he was. God bless you, David Hess and may you RIP.
This following video was made as a reel role for him originally, but now plays as a remembrance and loving tribute to him. One of my friends, a fellow fan of his, sent to me today. It features clips from the movies above and others, as well, and music of his.
My most recent review for the Gorezone.net is of b-movie horror flick Smash Cut. It's got a great cast including David Hess, Michael Berryman, HG Lewis (hey it is a tribute to him!), and porn goddess, and beloved by this blog hottie, Sasha Grey.
H.G. Lewis was born on June 15, 1926 in Pittsburgh. Though his career started with softcore films (which he continued to make for a good chunk of his career), it's his splatter movies that he is most connected with. His first gore film was the legendary Blood Feast. While, horror movies before this either completely lacked graphic violence or only flirted lightly with it (Hammer Studios comes to mind in that department), Blood Feast was extremely graphic and bloody. That the FX were crude and fake didn't matter. Nothing had been seen up and until that point of time like it. As result it was an instant hit at the box office, and would go on to become a cult classic (as many of his other films would).
Sadly, I haven't seen as much of his work I should, with the only other two I saw being Wizard of Gore and The Gore-Gore Girls when I bought the double feature, and excellent, I must add, Blu-ray of them. I plan to revisit the highly enjoyable, wild, and over-the-top Wizard soon. Last night I revisited The Gore-Gore Girls (1972)in his honor. It is my favorite of his, and his last movie for many, many, many years to come until he made Blood Feast 2 (2002).
I loved his role in the thoroughly awesome love letter to him Smash Cut starring The Last House on the Left's David Hess and former porn goddess Sasha Grey. I also absolutely ADORE the excellent documentary made about him and his movies, Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore. You all need to do yourselves a favor and seek it out. You will be glad that you did.
