The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film (Paperback)

by Michael J. Weldon (Author) "Warner sued AIP, claiming that this movie (from Louisville, Kentucky) copied The Exorcist too closely (it doesn't), and it was withdrawn..." (more)
Key Phrases: New World, Hong Kong, Roger Corman (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
As Michael Weldon says in the foreword to his Psychotronic Video Guide: "Unlike other movie guides, nothing is omitted because it's in bad taste." Bad taste barely begins to cover the 3000 resolutely grade-B movies (some with grade-A aspirations and budgets) and the odd TV show included here. Weldon, who invented the word "psychotronic" and compiled The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, includes horror (there are 15 movie titles beginning with the word "zombie"), science fiction, Blaxploitation, porn, spaghetti westerns and "anything that Roger Corman had anything to do with" in his purview.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Weldon is the leading authority on films deemed to be "psychotronic," a designation he stretches to encompass horror flicks, spaghetti westerns, low-budget quickies, exploitation films of all stripes--in short, anything disdained by the critical establishment. He made his mark with The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film (1981), to which this is a genuine sequel rather than an update. There is surprisingly little overlap in coverage between the two books, which makes this one attractive whether or not you own the Encyclopedia. Some new entries--Saturday Night Fever, Beverly Hills Copare questionable, not being, one would think, psychotronic by any stretch. But most of these 3,000 movies are thoroughly deranged, from The Abductors, in which slavers kidnap three cheerleaders, to the Hong Kong martial arts fantasy Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain. An index would be nice, for although the book is enjoyable browsing, who wants to sift through hundreds of entries to locate, say, the Mamie Van Doren movies? But then, where else can you find any info on Face of the Screaming Werewolf? Gordon Flagg

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Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312131496
• ISBN-13: 978-0312131494
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #448,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some misunderstandings in the other reviews, June 20, 2004

By	Ben Opie (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

I'll freely admit my admiration for Michael Weldon's work, this book, his previous, and his magazine. Even when I disagree with his assessment, he's always honest and straight-forward.

I read some other reviews complaining about the content, or lack thereof, in this book. I think there's a misundserstanding as to what this is. It is a continuation of Michael's previous book, the Psychotronic Encylcopedia. There may be references in the reviews to movies not listed here, but that's because those movies are listed in the Encyclopedia. The two books have very little common content.

I also read a complaint about inclusion of some mainstream pictures such as Basic Instinct. In defense, I would say that Michael's content covers exploitation films of all genres and budget levels, whether made for $26,000 or $26,000,000.

I also like Michael's editorial inserts in this volume, such as his favorite movies of each decade.

Both books are essential, though admittedly his first covers most of the classics. This volume, thankfully, is not only more up-to-date, but stretches back into the silent era as well.

I say...buy them both.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Press Play & Record, July 14, 2002

By	W. Davidson (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the companion title to the cult film bible (The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film) but with the focus that everything reviewed within is or was available on videotape. It updates the other publication and there's very little, if any, duplication of reviews. I like how they also include some more mainstream releases that have a Psychotronic bent (Silence of the Lambs etc...) which like it or not deserve a place here.

If your movie tastes gravitate to the offbeat, and you want to know whether that 3AM horror movie on TV will be worth setting a tape for, this book will steer you right. As with the companion publication, a must have in every B-Movie fan's library. I eagerly anticipate an updated publication.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christ, this one really screwed me up!, April 18, 2000

By	Ronald Reagan III (Victoria, Australia) - See all my reviews

I remember ordering this book somewhere round last year and ever since then, I've been transformed from an average movie nerd to a deranged, obsessive fanatic of obscure exploitation flicks. Carefully comiled with the wit and originality of Michael Weldon (head of Psychotronic magazine), it mainly deals with stuff you've never heard of. I guess thats why I love it so much, I've suddenly become obsessed with tracking down drive-in oddities. At the moment, I'm watching Common Law Wife; an old b/w exploitation movie that I ordered from Sinister Cinema. Just finished. This book also gives reviews for dozens of videos from the Something Weird web site; Teenage Gang Debs, A Taste of Blood and The Bloody Brood are just few of their movies I'm eager to see. OK, I guess I sound like a total, raving nutcase now; don't I? Heh heh heh ha ha ha! Oohoohoohoo, ahah! Join me, oh brother of stupidity.