Yes, it’s been one year. Well, almost. I figure that Horror Drive-In’s official birthday is February 10th. That’s the date I have logged for posting the first front page essay. But we planned the site for a few weeks and the time has come for me to pay up for another year’s hosting.
Honestly, I’ve had second thoughts about doing it. Time is my biggest problem. I wish that I had more to devote to reviewing and updating everything here. To be more involved in the message board too. But it’s been a very nice year. Especially after we fixed the nightmarish spam problem. I’ve never had to delete or even warn anyone. I know that some sites are a free-for-all, but the drive in is no place for fighting and nastiness. It’s a place of celebration and joy. That’s the spirit I’m attempting to preserve here.
Things have been fairly quiet at the forum…almost too quiet at times, but looking back over this last year, I feel really good about it. I don’t think there’s another board quite like it that focuses on horror and exploitation films and horror literature in exactly the way we do. I like it and I like everyone that participates.
Another year and horror appears to be bigger than ever. The big publishers are putting out a lot of scary books and they aren’t afraid to call it what it is. Horror. The small presses are thriving still, despite doom-laden prophecies from many. Myself included. I didn’t think the faltering economy could support the number of books and micro publishers that are out there. But it is. You are the one to thank for that. The people that buy books every month, even though you have more than you’ll ever be able to read in your lifetime. You continue to gamble on new writers, even having been burned a time or two. And hopefully we’re all doing our parts to keep independent publishers and bookstores in business.
Horror thrives at the movies too. Some exciting new films have been released in the last year. Controversial movies like Hostel and Saw 3. Popular ones like The Hills Have Eyes, which prove that remake doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad word.
Indie films have been coming by the score. Everyone that buys a digital camera from Wal-Mart and owns a computer can now make a film for almost nothing. That’s a mixed blessing. It seems like dozens of independent horror films are released each week and most of them are dubious prospects to me. As always, the discerning viewer has to sift and research to find the gold amid the mud.
Me, I miss the days of Super 8. I think a few still use it, but it’s the exception rather than the rule these days. To me it was a bit purer then. Every take had to count, or the filmmakers would lose precious film. I think the very method of the use of film made them it much more critical to make each shot count. And from what I’ve seen, it can show in the results.
It’s not that I dislike digital photography, nor do I blame those that use it. It’s not like most no-budget directors have a lot of choice. But that anyone with a bit of vision and dedication can shoot a feature is a double edged sword. Talented people get superior movies made, but the market is flooded with a lot of inferior product.
As for the online horror community, it’s still going strong. It’s like a rushing locomotive, stopping and picking up new passengers all the time. I’ve been involved in the horror fiction (and to a lesser extend, horror film) community for a long time now. All in all, I love the group. Sure we fight and we all (yes, me too) act like children sometimes. Discussions get heated. Differences of opinion get vociferously out of hand. But when the chips are down, we are the most loving, supportive, most decent and kind-hearted people I’ve ever met. I’m proud to be a part of it.
In the next year at Horror Drive-In, you can expect more of the same. Reviews and commentaries, opinions and fun at the forum. I hope to get back and do some more interviews, but they take a lot of time and time is what I am short of.
I want to thank everyone that posts or lurks at the boards. And everyone that has dropped me a note about the things I say. If I piss you off or if you agree and want to let me know, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Yes, I considered closing the doors here at Horror Drive-In. I couldn’t bring myself to do it though. There are enough dead outdoor theaters out there and I don’t want this shrine to The Great American Drive-In to join the graveyard.
The greatest dream of my life is to own a drive-in theater and I guess this is as close as I’ll ever come to that.
Oh and one more thing: I plan to make several trips to The Starlight Drive-In, in Durham, North Carolina in the next year. It’s a blast and I’d love to see some of you Mid-Eastern US horror lovers there. I’ll be making announcements and I hope that those of you that live nearby (or even farther away) consider making the show.
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