Issues 6 & 7

Editor & Publisher Scott Gabbey
Official Website
My Space Page

Review by Molly Celaschi

The magazine has a thick cover that would lead you to believe it had glossy pages inside. The pages are more like a newspaper and although this disappointed me due to the lack of glossy photos, it does not take away from the great content that waits. I also received two free postcards and a sticker with my magazine. I read Issue 7 first which begins with a statement from Scott Gabbey that UV may get sued over the previously published content which means that I am in for a real treat.

This magazine is different in that it is missing information that is standard in other mags, yet gives more detailed information in the articles that it does cover. There are no DVD/ Theatrical Release Calendars or Upcoming Horror News. While that is slightly disappointing (because they may very well provide better coverage than the others would), they had incredible features written on topics or films that are rarely covered in the big ones like Fangoria or Rue Morgue. UV definitely doesn’t try to conform and it appears that they are covering topics that genuinely interest them.

“The Decadent Nihilism of In Hell Productions” by Lucio Holocausto gives coverage to underground films I never would have heard of otherwise. Kate Hutchinson provides comprehensive articles in her “Retrospective” Section featuring an overview on Nunsploitation (Issue 6) and Nazi Exploitation (Issue 7). “Inside Murder-Set-Pieces” provides an in depth interview with several of the cast and crew including production stills and a page of the original script. That article alone spans about 18 pages.

Some of the reviews at the back of the magazine seem uneven. There are several people reviewing and each one has their own style. I found it odd to go from reading detailed reviews to reading a short review with no indication of the plot of a film. Some critics provide less plot, background info, and entertainment value of a film, while other were more detailed. Art Ettinger gives detailed comparisons of VHS and DVD formats for each of his films. Heather Drain gave good review in “The Beast” and “Friviolous Lola”. And Chrissy Burkat gave such interesting commentary on the film “Hard” that I quickly added it to my rental queue.

Cost: $6.00 per issue. No subscriptions available yet. They also offer other merchandise such as the films they review. I would also like to add that their customer service is fantastic. Scott contacted me personally and endured an email conversation despite being busy with publishing Issue 8.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for current horror news and studio releases, you should stick to the standard fare. But for horror lovers that appreciate hardcore exploitation, underground films, and “ultra violent” cinema, check this out. Thoroughly enjoyable articles that get to the meat of things.

Rating: 8/10