DRIVE-IN ASYLUM #23

TITLE - DRIVE-IN ASYLUM #23

EDITOR, LAYOUT & WHATEVER - BILL VAN RYN 

GENRE - HORROR/CULT/GRINDHOUSE MOVIE REVIEWS 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - USA 

60 PAGES BLACK & WHITE/COLOURED - 5.5" BY 8.5"

PRICE - £5.14 GBP + SHIPPING FROM THE USA 

AVAILABLE FROM THE GROOVY DOOM ETSY STORE

“Drive-In Asylum” is an American zine from the Groovy Doom stable. It features movie reviews, interviews and articles about grind-house cinema in general. There are articles from various contributors.

Features include long interviews with actors Kristine DeBell & Pat Cardi, a look at various movies including “Stigma” (starring Tubbs from Miami Vice!), “Grave of the Vampire” and “Mansion of the Doomed” (!) and an excellent tribute to 50 years of the Dr. Phibes movies, with details of a possible further film in the franchise. It’s also interesting to read a different take on British horror film “Frightmare” from an American point of view. All film reviews are accompanied by the original movie posters and film stills where appropriate. I particularly enjoyed the article on USA grindhouse cinemas from back in the day: sleazy late night picture-houses for vagrants and drug addicts. A vivid and hilarious memoir of a glorious, yet often dangerous, movie-going experience. Movie posters and listings ads (including a double-bill of “Eraserhead” & “Night of the Living Dead” that I wish I’d seen) provide a grungy, old-school vibe to the zine, while the “Diazodiac” hor(r)oscope offers questionable horror-themed advice for serial-killers and zombies.

“Drive-In Asylum” is fun, professional (yet honest) and intelligent, written by real fans who know their stuff and have been watching these films for decades (and have the scars to prove it!) It is an accessible celebration of the grungy world of cheap exploitation movies, drive-ins, horror double-bills and seedy cinemas, and it’s freaking awesome.