Shriekfreak Quarterly, Volume 1 number 1

In addition to reviewing books, short stories, and comics that are related to the horror genre I had hoped to also cover some of the magazines that are out there for fans to check out.  Much like how the Internet has allowed independent filmmakers to get their product out to the public the net has also allowed independent magazines to do the same.  Shreikfreak is one of those magazines that is trying to find it’s fan base. 

The magazine opens with the normal news and headlines that you would expect.  Though being a smaller magazine they cover some of the more independent movies like Alurum and Operation: Sunrise.  Both of these are movies that I now want to see because of the coverage in the magazine.  After the news the magazine moves into a few articles that I think are to be regular features for them.  First up is a column called “A Necessary Evil?”  It is written by a fellow named Dave Couillou and is an interesting look at how fans of Japanese horror should feel about the movies being remade for the US market.  I’m a big fan of these movies and found myself nodding along to many of the points that Couillou makes.  This is followed by another article called Monstrous Movies, written by John W. Allman.  This is another cool article that looks at the current state of horror and offers up a list of what he thinks are the best recent horror efforts.  Now I don’t agree with him (I liked both Wrestlemaniac and The Tripper damn it!) it is a well-written article.  Plus I love a good list that gets me thinking about my personal favorites.  Other highlights are Make-up Mayhem (basic make-up effects how to), Tattered Tunes (music reviews with a genre twist), and Blasphemous Books (book reviews, Duh). 

In addition to the news, articles, and reviews Shriekfreak also gives it’s audience some original entertainment.  There is a nifty short story about a predator that gets the tables turned on him in the Fearful Fiction section.  The story is called “Justice Comes with the Moon” and is worth checking out.  Also there is a nice feature called Gallery of the Grotesque that features the work of a young talented artist named Sami Hunter.  The magazine also finishes up with an original comic that is several pages long.

As you can see the magazine is chocked full of horror goodness and I haven’t even mentioned the interviews with J. Larose of Saw III, and authoress Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc.  There is also a great convention report from Motor City Nightmares and a listing of upcoming horror conventions to check out.  Finally is my favorite part of the magazine, Web of Terror.  I love the freedom and equal footing that the internet gives to us little guys.  The fact that Shreikfreak has a section dedicated to cool places for genre fans on the net is awesome and only makes me love what they are doing all the more.

I highly recommend that everyone give the magazine a shot.  These are the kind of guys that we as a community really need to support.  Check them out at http://www.shriekfreak.com/ for more information.

reviewed by John Shatzer

© Copyright 2009 John Shatzer