Customer Reviews

A Life in the Cinema

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This book is great! Mick Garris is an insightful and entertaining writer. I've read a few of his short stories before, but it's a million times better when you get a full dose of his prose. Stephan King's introduction is complimentary and fun (not to mention that he signed the book!) and Tobe Hooper is as irreverant as ever in his afterword. The Clive Barker cover art is stunning in it's simplicity and edginess. This is a full package of horror, from the fiction to it's collectability. Like I said, along with Garris signing the book, King, Barker and Hooper have also signed. This is a must for ALL collectors and for people who just love good writing.

It seems in the light of Mick Garris' recent and many collaborations with Stephen King in the cinematic realm, everyone has an opinion when it comes to the author of this book. It would seem that his films are a suited metaphor to the man himself, you either love or hate him and his work. I cannot get enough of his film and television. And now, on discovery of this book- his writing too. This is a collection of stories and a screenplay, based upon one of the stories (which Garris himself just filmed as his Masters of Horror episode). The stories are generally top notch. He has this wonderful habbit of never letting the stories climax too neatly; there is always an element that is unresoved and therefore you are left uneasy and frustrated. This is a very clever and direct approach; and it works wonderfully. The stories are as highly erotic as they are in horror content; but it is the razor sharp satirical stabs at hollywood that are undoubtably the most deserving of praise. The title story and its sequel are two of the most original and horrific stories I have ever read and both are horrific in two completley different ways. If possible, read the story Choclate first, then see the Masters of Horror episode to see how it was cleverly adapted, then read The Screenplay entitled Flesh and Blood, in this collection- and see what we would have got as well, had a feature developed. Razor sharp and biting, nobody is spared. It's Mulholland Drive meets It's Alive, meets Stephen King via Stuart Gordan, with a dash of Tiikashi Miike (mispelt I'm sure) and pure, cinematic heart as garnish. SEEK this collection out, hunt it down. It will be expensive, but it is worth it. My copy was signed only by Garris (yay!), so dont expect to get all of the contributor signatures unless you pay a small fortune- just so you know. And keep an eye out for Desperation, Micks new Showtime film- which looks like it is going to absolutley rock. And also in June sometime his first novel Development Hell is going to be released. Bring it on, not many people can stick their fingers under my skin, unlike the violent, depraved, erotic and knowledgable words of Mick Garris can. And for those who do not like his direction as a filmmaker, do not be detered; he writes far more viciously then he films, but his characters are just as beautifully realsied.