Of all the glorious things Big Gay Horror Fan has achieved in his life – escaping from the convent at 12 (with nothing but a copy of Blatty’s The Exorcist and a hot pink camisole, stolen from the leather sporting mother superior, to my name); having a drink named after him at Manny’s Electric Worm Farm – nothing could have prepared him for the glorious rapture of talking to horror legend, Linnea Quigley, on the phone! Promoting her upcoming appearance at The Massacre in Chicago on October 20th, 2012, (http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/424860900883911/?fref=ts), the Goddess Quigley humbly acknowledges the many creative blessings in her life and expresses her extreme honor over the recent, excellent documentary Screaming in High Heels (which profiles the amazing 80’s output of Quigley and fellow scream queen icons, Michelle Bauer and Brinke Stevens). Here, talk of classics (Night of the Demons, Savage Streets) and exciting new projects (Girls Gone Dead, Disciples) blends together to create a one of a kind conversation. So, dig that lipstick in – and enjoy!

BGHF: Well, Linnea, I’m going to try to ask you about some different stuff.

Linnea: Oh, Cool.

BGHF: I’m sure you must get asked the same things, time and time again.

Linnea: It’s okay. It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. At least, I’m asked questions.

BGHF: True. So, let’s just fling ourselves out there – right into the bizarre world of cult god Jess Franco. You’ve worked with him on a number of things (Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula, Blind Target).

Linnea: Oh, he was amazing. Passionate about filmmaking! Even though the films weren’t very good, he was totally passionate about it.

BGHF: Another frequent collaborator has been David DeCoteau (Nightmare Sisters, Creepozoids, and Sorority Babes). How would you describe him?

Linnea: Just a real professional. He can do a movie in his sleep. Bam, bam, bam. He can do it!

BGHF: I just watched 1313: Cougar Cult.

Linnea: Uh oh! Yeah…

BGHF: You are so good in it. Granted as the leader of the cult, you’re given the most to do. But what you did was a lot of fun.

Linnea: Oh, god. Thank you.

BGHF: You’re sassy – you took it and ran with it. You really are the movie, I think.

Linnea: Oh, my god. Thank you. I got food poisoning, so they had to do it without the guys.

BGHF: Really?

Linnea: If you notice, I’m not with any of the guys in the scene. I had gotten food poisoning and almost died. I was in the hospital for four days. I was out of the hospital, five days, and I came out and filmed my parts in one day.

BGHF: Wow!

Linnea: That was a crazy story. I was cleaning out my refrigerator and I ate this pineapple that was bad. For six days, I lay in bed, just deathly ill, and David kept calling me, everyday, saying you’ve got to get to the hospital. I was like – “I’ll try, I’ll try”, you know, and I finally just drove myself. They started pumping me with potassium and stuff and put in a bed in the hospital and I was like “Oh my God”!

BGHF: You went through that and yet you gave a really fun, committed performance.

Linnea: Oh, thanks! My legs were a little shaky from going through all that. But, thank you so much.

BGHF: Oh, you’re welcome and it’s fascinating to hear the other end of it, because it really isn’t visible.

Linnea Oh, Thank god! I was just trying to remember my lines and go through them and everything!

BGHF: Wow. So, you had no interaction with the young men whatsoever?

Linnea None, not at all. David, he’s brilliant at being able to do that.

BGHF: That’s amazing. A great behind the scenes story! Too bad you had to go through all of that to get it! But, there you!

Linnea: (laughs) Yeah!

BGHF: Let’s talk about Dan Golden (Burial of the Rats, Linnea’s Skin book).

Linnea: He is a perfectionist. To the max! He’s really good to work with, but he takes his time. If your nail polish doesn’t match your lipstick, it will by the time that you’re shooting with him.

BGHF: Awesome. So, he’s very detail oriented.

Linnea VERY detail oriented.

BGHF: You know, I’m gay, but that is the one thing I’m not good at. I just throw stuff on and go. I have no fashion or coordination sense.

Linnea: (Laughs) Oh, good.

BGHF: Yep, it skipped me.

Linnea: Yeah, all that! It’s like you don’t dress, like, in one of those sweater vests or something.

BGHF: No, no, no…Although, I did just do a short bit in a film where I wore a tan sweater vest. There was debate about whether it worked or not.

Linnea: So, you wore a sweater vest?!?

BGHF: I played a host in a fancy restaurant.

Linnea: So funny. You stuck to your guns! I love it when you see an actor with a sweater vest on – you just have to watch them, you know!

BGHF: Well, if this ever comes out, I’ll make sure I’ll send you the clip, so you can see my sweater vest acting!

Linnea: Okay! Yeah!

BGHF: So, Kevin S. Tenney. Can we talk a little about him?

Linnea: He’s a sweetheart. He’s really great to work with. A true director and a friend, too! He’s funny. And – I got to work with him twice! He usually says that he never works with the same actress. So, I was lucky enough to work with him twice. Witchtrap and Night of the Demons!

BGHF: I met him, once, and had him sign my VHS copy of Witchtrap. (laughs) He wasn’t too thrilled. He was kind of like – “Oh man, this one!”

Linnea: I know, I know. It’s kind of a lame one. But, he tried!

BGHF: That’s all you can do! But, you look great in it and your death scene is awesome. Night of the Demons, though, is such a legacy film for you. You’ve gone full circle with that and made a fun appearance in its recent re-imagining.

Linnea: Yes and I haven’t watched it, yet. I am going to, though.

BGHF: Was that nostalgic or fun for you to re-visit?

Linnea: It was weird to come into the full spectrum of being an ingénue to being the mom.

BGHF: It happens! That vicious bastard, time! But, once again, you look great and it’s a great little bit.

LQ: Oh, thank you!

BGHF: What was it like working with Jeff Burr on Pumpkinhead II? He’s one of my favorites from the stuff he did in the 80’s and 90’s.

LQ: Jeff’s a lot like Kevin. He’s funny on set, but very focused. He’s great to work with. I love him.

BGHF: And you had a great freak-out scene in that one. You are so committed. I think it is one of my favorite onscreen moments involving you. Is it hard for you to get to that level of intensity?

Linnea: Not anymore. But, it used to be. Oh god, I used to just really freak out about it. But, now it’s a lot easier. But, just like anything, if you take any time off, then you get rusty. But, if you keep doing it, you don’t. At first, having to react to nothing and having to scream and run was so embarrassing. I felt awkward. But, now, it’s just like walking.

BGHF: Awesome. It’s a part of your breath mechanism, now.

Linnea: Yeah, Yeah.

BGHF: Now, for some of the more recent stuff – say Spring Break Massacre, which is a great title, do you have any memories about that?

Linnea: (laughing) Well, the guy from Spring Break Massacre just did a thing on YouTube, where you could win my hat from the movie that’s out now, which is leaps and bounds better than Spring Break Massacre, which is called Girls Gone Dead.

BGHF: That’s cool.

Linnea: I got to play a crazy Australian girl in Girls Gone Dead. That is really a good film.

BGHF: Oh, great

Linnea: Spring Break Massacre was him starting out, him getting his feet wet. It was fun to work with Reggie Bannister and everything like that. But, I would definitely recommend watching Girls Gone Dead. And try to win the hat and DVD!

BGHF: Duly noted. That has to be saying something about you, though. There is this legion of directors and writers and creators who keep on coming back and using you in their projects. It’s an amazing tribute to you.

Linnea: It’s nice.

BGHF: You’ve just promoted Girls Gone Dead. Are there any other projects that you’ve done that you feel have been neglected or are worthy of a second look?

Linnea: I’m proud of Death Mask and the work I did in that with James Best.

BGHF Yes! I love you in that.

Linnea: I don’t know where that went. I really don’t. Savage Streets is making a comeback, now. In a big way! It’s been playing on a lot of big screens. I was proud of that one. And David is re-releasing Deadly Embrace, Murder Weapon and, oh god, I can’t think of the third one. Maybe it’s The Girl I Want. (Ed note: The third film is Nightmare Sisters.)

BGHF: I just saw the ad for that. The Linnea Quigley Grindhouse Triple Feature! That’s awesome! And you produced Murder Weapon, correct?

Linnea: Yes. I just did another one that’s not out yet. It’ll probably take 8 months: Disciples. I co-produced that. It’s got Angus Scrimm in it and Tony Todd, Bill Moseley and Barbara Magnolfi.

BGHF: Wow!

Linnea: A huge cast.

BGHF: Amazing. I love Barbara Magnolfi! So exotic and mysterious! I’m glad she’s working again.

Linnea: Yes! And – she’s great in this!

BGHF: Do you like producing, having that kind of control?

Linnea: Oh, yes! I really like it. Because you can really have a part in the decision making and you’re not just looked upon as an actor. You’re more involved when you co-produce. A lot of times on the smaller films, I feel like I wanna say something, but I don’t want to step on the director’s toes. But, if I’m co-producing, I can say something.

BGHF: It gives you a little backbone, position-wise. That way they can’t say you are being a diva.

Linnea: Exactly!

BGHF: Animal rights activism has, also, taken up a lot of your time.

Linnea: Yeah! In fact, right after this, I have to call my vet because my one dog has gone lame. And he’s crying all the time, so I have to get him to the vet. He’s about 200 lbs, too.

BGHF: Well, there’s your work-out for the day!

Linnea: (laughs) Yes, oh yes! So, I am still involved with that. I always do the causes. In LA, I rescued a lot more, hands on. And I did do that in Florida, but not as much, right now, because one of the rescue dogs isn’t as friendly to other dogs. As a pack they get a little bit aggressive, so I’ve had to watch it. But, I am still in there, doing whatever I can and talking about it.

BGHF: Great. Back on the performance front, you’ve done some comedy. Do you feel that is a forte of yours?

Linnea: I love comedy! In Girls Gone Dead, my part is comedy. I just love doing it. At first, it was really hard. It was harder than just regular acting. But, then you get a rhythm to it. And the way it’s written, also, has a lot to do with it! I just did The Trouble with Barry which is a comedy. It was Brinke, Michelle and I. I saw some of it, the little bit they sent me, and it really looks good.

BGHF: So, has there been resurgence for you three since the documentary?

Linnea: Yeah. It’s amazing. It’s played on Chiller and everything. Oh, my God. High Heels: the Rise and Fall of the Scream Queen Era. It took me forever to remember that name!

BGHF: It’s a bit of a handle!

Linnea: It’s a hard one. I would get High Heels. Scream Queen. Everything but what the true name was! But, it’s really a good documentary.

BGHF: It awesome! I really think it’s an amazing time.

Linnea: It’s very informative, too. It’s not dry. It’s got happy parts, sad parts.

BGHF: It’s well rounded and you three are so deserving of it!

Linnea: Oh, thanks! We were pretty honored to have that happen.

BGHF: Well, I think that humility is probably what keeps you three going. It’s not like you’re going out there and expecting it. You seem very humbled by it.

Linnea: Oh, god. It’s amazing!

BGHF: That’s what endears you to people. That it’s not a diva trip.

Linnea: No, no, no.

BGHF: Which is so cool.

Linnea: Michelle is so down to earth. On The Trouble with Barry, she brought her own chainsaw to the set. She’d just have it on the car seat next to her. She was so fun!

BGHF: I directed theater for a long time in Chicago. I worked with a woman who came to rehearsals in furs with perfect hair and make-up and nails. Yet, she’d grab a broom and start sweeping the floors, if they needed it. Some of the other actors would moan about the cold in the room and she’d chastise them for not realizing how lucky they were. It was such an interesting dichotomy.

Linnea: That’s really interesting. You think she would be complaining.

BGHF: I know. But she was a very sophisticated trooper. It was probably one of the most interesting experiences I had in professional theater.

Linnea: It’s weird, the different actresses, now. On a movie I just did, the DP was talking to me and he said how he noticed when these girls threw a diva fit that he could just see me looking like “oh, my god, not this!” Because, we knew were really just lucky that we were acting, back then. And now these girls think they are just it! They would call each other the ‘c’ name and walk off set and start crying. It was just dramatic and holds up production. It’s awful.

BGHF: And, as the documentary brilliantly points out, the heyday is over. So, I can’t imagine these girls are really making any or very much $.

Linnea: No. But, if they have a little picture somewhere or somebody mentions them. It’s like “Oh!” all over the place.

BGHF: Wow.

Linnea: You know if their picture is put up. It’s all talked about. “Oh, look at my picture, look at my pictures!” Especially, with the advent of Face book!

BGHF: Everyone’s a star on Facebook!

Linnea: Exactly. It’s funny.

BGHF: You’ve got to know you’re place in the scheme of things.

Linnea: Yeah, definitely.

BGHF: So, speaking of which, any crazy words of advice – Don’t mess with zombies in a graveyard when it’s raining?

Linnea: Yeah, don’t mess with zombies in a graveyard when it’s raining. And be kind to animals or I’ll come and get you with my chainsaw!

BGHF: Awesome. I think that’s a threat we can live by!

Linnea: Yeah. And it won’t be fun! It’ll be painful with that chainsaw.

BGHF: It won’t be cinematic blood.

Linnea: No, no!

BGHF: It‘ll be the real thing. Well, Linnea, I don’t want to keep you much longer. So, thanks so much!

Linnea: No problem. Keep that sweater vest cause it might go for a lot on EBay, soon!

BGHF: (laughs) Yeah, right! I definitely know my place! I know that’s not happening.

Linnea: You never know, you never know!

BGHF: Tell you what, I’ll bring the sweater vest on the 20th, here in Chicago, and have you sign it!

Linnea: Oh, great. Okay! I’d love to!

BGHF: Awesome! Thanks so much, again, Linnea!

Linnea: Okay, great! Talk to you soon! Bye!

Once again, if you’re in the Midwest, be sure to meet Linnea on October 20th, 2012 at The Massacre (see link, above.)

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, profiles a gorgeously deserving lady of scare, every other Monday, here.

And he is always greeting lovers of the bloody sweater vest at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Every nightmare Big Gay Horror Fan has involves the loud, college age couple, next door, rampaging through his apartment as he shrivels, naked in the corner, listening to them pontificate about his – um-m – inadequacies.

Therefore, I can truly relate to the dilemma the comatose Amber faces in Cory J. Udler’s manic and inventive IDS Rising. Here, in the third of Udler’s controversial Incest Death Squad series and, easily, the best offering from this demented genius yet, IDS mainstay Amber finds herself confronted by her previous victims and dead family members in a dream-like purgatory, while she hovers between life and death.

Udler utilizes inventive cinematography, cheesy orchestrated arrangements of such songs as “You Light Up My Life” and plenty of sophisticated perversion to delve into Amber’s back story as the angered ghosts of her past force her to confront herself. Firmly rooted in the independent exploitation scene, Udler, also, has amazing art house sensibilities that give even his more gruesome notions a poetic poignancy and depth. He does tend to throw everything at the screen. Hence, the third act revelation about Amber’s origins may or may not work in your favor, but his joyously demented artistry often leads to, both, legitimate admiration and jaw dropping respect.

Granted, your pleasure with IDS Rising may hinge on your familiarity with the series, but even the uninitiated can be find much to admire in the twisted focus of its primary cast members. In particular, Carmela Wiese has grown with much purpose in the role of Amber. Her sensitive, shell shocked portrayal will have you rooting for her despite the devilish acts she has been a party to. Greg Johnson’s continued commitment to his role as Amber’s older sibling, also, deserves many positive nods. The sequence in which his Jeb shaves his body hair in order to take over as the family matriarch (makes you really, really wanna see this, now, no?) is perversely beautiful and contains his (and Udler’s) best work, as of yet.

To check out the trailer for IDS Rising, visit:

More importantly, to learn more about (or to purchase) this film or any other of Udler’s massacre-pieces, take a dive into the filth at www.incestdeathsquad.com.

BGHF is, always welcoming more brothers and sisters in blood at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well!

Until the next time, Sweet love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!!

Be sure to keep up with Ted V. Mikel’s best friend, writer-director Cory J. Udler and his multiple projects at wwww.incestdeathsquad.com.

Info on Wisconsin horror and the Oshkosh Horror Film Festival can be found at http://oshkoshhorror.com/ohff/

Big Gay Horror Fan is always taking on new friends at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well!

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Big Gay Horror Fan is not known for his athletic prowess. Although, I did once witness the formation of a pectoral muscle on my right arm during a waffle eating contest.

Similarly, golden age sex goddess, Marilyn Monroe, was not known as a doyenne of fright. But, one of her first starring roles was that of an extremely demented babysitter in the 1952 psychological thriller Don’t Bother to Knock. Of extreme interest to terror titans everywhere, though, is the fact that this little potboiler (which some feel could have been a first class thriller under the more stylized gaze of Alfred Hitchcock) was directed by then Hollywood newbie Roy Ward Baker. Baker would go on to helm such nerve shaking masterpieces as The Vampire Lovers, Scars of Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde and Asylum for Amicus and Hammer in swinging 70’s England. Here, though, he was able to squeeze out a competent B-Movie despite the numerous insecurities of his leading lady.

According to Mike Evan’s Marilyn the ultimate book and Baker’s own memoir A Director’s Cut, even in her early years, Monroe was a mass of neuroses, causing delays in filming due to late set arrivals and panic stricken line readings. (Much as Laurence Olivier would bristle at Paula Strasberg’s involvement in Monroe’s performance on The Prince and the Showgirl set, Baker had interference problems with Monroe’s then coach, Natasha Lytess, and, with the studio’s help, would eventually ban her from the premises.) Still, as many others would attest to in her later years, Baker soon realized that Monroe could do no wrong in front of the camera and that, with patience and extreme support, she was able to accomplish a glowing, committed performance.

One of Baker’s most enjoyable 70’s horror romps, meanwhile, features busty Stephanie Beacham (Schizo, Dracula 1972 A.D., Horror Planet) as a young bride arriving at her new home in the ‘handy’ And Now the Screaming Starts. With severed appendages popping out of family portraits and a bloodied stump following unsuspecting victims down hallways and eventually strangling some innocent folks, And Now is vibrantly filmed and features distinguished performances from Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom and Ian Oglivy (The Witchfinder General). With a family curse looming over the proceedings, the film’s twist ending is a twisted delight and truly brings a new meaning to the notion of traumatic child birth.

Meanwhile, Judy Garland, another classic movie star with tremendous gay sensibilities, is another performer whom, not living to a fright hag age, is not known for any true spook offerings. (Although, she may be considered one of filmdom’s first final girls as her Dorothy fought down witches, flying monkeys and drugged poppy flowers in 1939’s The Wizard of the Oz.) But as a young actress, she did stretch her dramatic range as a terrified car hop waitress in a radio episode of Suspense. Suspense gave many a Hollywood golden oldie to a way to act against type and Garland’s full episode is available to listen to @:

Be sure to check back every other Monday for a look at the sweet ladies of terror.

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, is available 24/7 at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE – Big Gay Horror Fan!

Big Gay Horror Fan is always reading it wrong. Specializing in his own brand of reverse egoism, he always believes that those whispering in the corner are mocking his latest Friday the 13th shoeware or giggling about his lace tripping lack of social finesse.

Meanwhile, writer- director Zack Parker (along with co-scripter Brandon Owens) features a more challenging look at mixed perceptions in his tautly passionate feature Scalene. A point of view piece, split between three incredibly different individuals, this dramatic thriller examines what happens when a well-to-do college student is attacked by the handicapped young man under her care.

Featuring a massively complex performance (by Emmy award winning) Margo Martindale as the young man’s mother, Parker imaginatively shows different perspectives on the same scenario. Martindale’s Janice, therefore, comes off, alternatively, as a bawdy saint devoted to her frustrated child or emotionally blunt and abusive, depending on the point of view. Therefore, initial sympathy for the vengeful woman turns into questioning as concerned caregiver Paige (a compassionate Hannah Hall – best known to scare lovers from Rob Zombie’s Halloween) witnesses what could be extreme misbehavior from her employer. How she reacts to this forms the basis of the film’s emotionally charged action with confused patient Jakob (a sensational Adam Scarimbolo), whose garbled take on the situation appears as a bridge between acts, caught in the middle.

Stunning and intriguing, Scalene unfolds in a nonlinear fashion that leaves one curiously eager to discover the mysteries behind Paige’s account of the attack and Janice’s firm belief in his innocence.

Be sure to unravel the further beauties of Scalene, which was released by Breaking Glass Pictures (www.breakingglasspictures.com) on July 31st, at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/SCALENE/186016059605.

Meanwhile, Big Gay Horror Fan is always working backwards in time at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!!!

Strawdog’s stage adaptation of Tony Burgess’ (highly zombified) production of Pontypool runs from October 13th – November 4th, 2012 in Chicago. For more information, please check out www.strawdog.org.

Big Gay Horror Fan is always accepting ‘BRAINS!’ lovers at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

And be sure to check out the BRAND SPANKING (yum!) NEW BGHF Video Channel at http://www.youtube.com/biggayhorrorfan, too!

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE!!! Big Gay Horror Fan!

Indeed, as a quiet teen, all those sensitive final girls provided Big Gay Horror Fan with an emotional resonance that has made him a bound and gagged fright fan for eternity. But, let’s be honest. It was all those hot, barrel chested twenty something dudes frolicking through neon yards of slasher celluloid that kept him coming back for more!

But talk about your lousy law of averages! For every sweet feminine nipple on display in our torture opuses and forbidden treks into terror, the ratio of bare male flesh is abysmally miniscule. And despite my fascination with Playboy magazine models and busty scream actresses, this surely doesn’t seem fair. So, I have vowed to, bi-weekly, visit those treasured (and not so treasured) horror flicks and television shows that have given us a bit of the male bits for our eternally trembling visual pleasure. So, please bare with me, because here we go!

The fifth episode of the first season of HBO’s beloved Tales from the Crypt, Lover Come Hack to Me (1989), finds genre regular Stephen Shellen (The Stepfather, Damned River, American Gothic, Drop Dead Gorgeous) as a fortune hunter whom marries consistently odd character actress Amanda Plummer’s character for her money. Of course, the twist is that Plummer’s Peggy is actually a sex kitten with a murderous lust and deliciously dark secret.

To help sell that shock, though, the brilliantly generous producers give us a long scene where the supposedly shy Peggy squirms as Shellen’s (recently rain soaked) cad undresses in front of a crackling fire, in a seemingly abandoned mansion. The camera lingers for a long while on Shellen’s beefy bare buttocks, ultimately giving all fey fright fans (and the lusty ladies, for that matter) in the audience something to dream about!

Going the distance for his long adoring fans, Shellen (and a fairly obvious movement body double), also, gave B-Movie lovers a wet delight in 1984 T and A comedy Gimme Me an ‘F’. Here, our stud of the day performed a sensual, highly athletic shower dance:

Of course, Shellen’s acting talent matched his physical beauty and it was always a joy to discover him onscreen – whether it was in a smaller role in gloriously cheesy television mini-series Hollywood Wives or a major role in a comedy like Casual Sex?

Be sure to check back, every other Monday, for a ‘serious’ look at male nudity in terror flicks.

Meanwhile, Big Gay Horror Fan is eternally looking for bloody dude lovers at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE!!

Believe me – Big Gay Horror Fan knows the destructive wonders of sex. But, even after all these years of activity, it still surprises him how some gruesome goddess of irony has allowed such an awesomely pleasurable thing to be so rife with pain, disease and comical misadventure. (Well, sometimes, the last one isn’t so bad, I guess.)

Director-writer Ian Wolfley’s black comedy of a horror short, Bug Chaser, fully examines all those various inappropriate catastrophes with a sure wit and an enormous visual flair. Utilizing the term bug chaser (a person who strives to catch AIDS through sexual contact) in a much more literal and gruesome context, Wolfley has created a relatable, panic stricken bit of cinema with a supreme, splatter ridden pay off.

During what promises to be a hotly erotic session with a seeming stranger, handsome and vicariously active Nathan discovers a horrific mark resting within his buttocks. Broke and without insurance, he spends a frenzied day and night researching what he determines to be some kind of rapidly growing boil. When a former trick, a helpful male nurse, seems unwillingly to operate in Nathan’s apartment, Wolfley explores what dangerous depths we’ll take to cure ourselves.

Featuring an adventurous and brave performance by Brendan Shucart, feverishly stunning work by director of photography, Joshua Smith, and some outstandingly squeamish special effects work from Robin Roselli, Bug Chaser fully establishes Wolfley as a filmmaking voice to look out for. Anyone who gets to experience the sweaty mentality and gooey rapture of this piece of celluloid madness will definitely be looking out for any other projects that this smart auteur has to offer.

To continually ‘catch’ what Wolfley and crew have to offer, be sure to check out www.bugchasermovie.com. Meanwhile, Big Gay Horror Fan is always in the race for new friends at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Gay horror writer Damian Serbu has been setting the mystical terror world aflame with his stories of ghosts, vampires and fantastical wanderers. His Vampire’s Angel series and first novel, Secrets in the Attic, have been getting a lot of literary attention, of late, and still this talented creator took a moment to answer a few questions for this exclusive Big Gay Horror Fan interview. Read on, my caped wonders and monster lovers, read on!

BGHF: So, Damian, what drew you to the trembling world of horror – A hatchet faced gym teacher with Dracula fangs – An uncle who looked like HP Lovecraft – What?!?

DS: Ironically enough, nothing horrific like a haunting or evil ghoul chased me down the hall and trapped me. I was just drawn to the escapism. My warped mind works that way – that the more frightening and horrific, the more I fall into the darkness of it and enjoy myself. – I know its cliché, but looking back the idea of being in the closet and dealing with that as I grew up played a part, too. Horror was empowering to me because I identified with the monsters more than the victims or innocent people. Even before I got into “horror,” I grew up liking the Wicked Witch of the West. My sister and I used to play Flying Monkey. So while our peers ran around terrified of the monkey scenes in the “Wizard of Oz,” we thought the monkeys kicked ass. Same with Star Wars – loved Darth Vader. So why not like the vampires, murderers, and spirits once I started reading horror novels and watching horror movies? They had no fear – which obviously lurked in my mind as something desirable because I so feared myself. Then I came out and that fear disappeared, but thankfully the love of horror stayed with me!

BGHF: Wonderful story, my friend. Was writing always a goal of yours or did some strange dark occurrence (or light twist of fate) draw you to it, midstream?

DS: Writing was always a part of me, but I focused on nonfiction until about half way through graduate school. My academic training is all in the field of history – I earned a doctorate in history. But my love of the horror genre meant that even as I dealt with reality in my studies, speculative fiction swirled around in my head. Stories would pop up, and I’d think, that would make a great novel. So one day I just decided to get the stories onto paper. It was strange at first and took a while to transform my writing from the colder, objective world of history to the imagined world of horror.- In answer to your question, maybe it was some doppelganger in my head that planted the stories and forced me to write about them. They could no longer be contained. Writers and artists talk about the muse taking over, and that certainly happens to me. I’m writing along and the story takes hold – probably a ghost, now that I think about it. I’m probably plagiarizing everything I write; stealing the whole damn thing from an angry spirit who is using me to communicate to the outside world.

BGHF: Well, that would be pretty amazing if it were true. What was the initial impetus for Secrets in the Attic and how long was the creative process on that novel?

DS: Secrets in the Attic was inspired by a dream I had about three or four times while I was a teenager. In the dream, I was exploring my grandfather’s house and saw his ghost in the attic. He was friendly, and smiled at me. But suddenly I’m running through the house and calling for my family to get out of there. Then Gramps’ ghost chases after my family as we try to drive away. I always woke up as his spirit slammed into the front windshield of the car.- It’s a great example of what I said earlier – that these stories lurked inside and wanted out. Because I always thought that would make a great scene in a novel. So I wrote an entire story revolving around that nightmare! – That novel took longer than my novels do now, because it was one of the first that I wrote. I had to revise it a lot, to knock the academic in me out and learn to write fiction. The outline of the story came quickly then the laborious process of communicating it took place. From the first time I started writing about it until it was published was probably ten years.

BGHF: Wow! So, how did you go about inventing the world of your successful Vampire’s Angel series?

DS: Two things influenced that series. My academic training, so I set the first two novels in the past – The Vampire’s Angel during the French Revolution and The Vampire’s Quest during the 1820s in America. That gave me the settings, the events, the world around the vampires.
The vampires were inspired by the idea of a double closet – that of sexuality and that of hiding their nature. And I could empower the gay characters with their strength and complete lack of fear. Yet I could also humanize them with their emotions and longings. – It became the perfect blend of wanting to teach people about the past but also give into the dark world of vampirism. Though I must warn you that the third in the series, The Vampire’s Witch (scheduled for release next spring), is set in contemporary America. OH! And Jaret, the main character in Secrets in the Attic, will be in it, too.

BGHF: Cool! Is there a character (or characters) that you most like to write in the Vampire’s Angel series?

DS: That’s like asking if a parent has a favorite child. Even if you had one, you wouldn’t say it out loud!
Honestly, I really do like them all. I relate to Xavier’s longings and emotion. But I love Thomas’s brash behavior and total lack of fear; his inner resolve and will to get what he wants. The character that calls to me more than I ever imagined is Catherine, Xavier’s sister. She has a magnetism that draws me to her over and over and over.

BGHF: I agree! If you could cast a tremendously high budgeted version of the Vampire’s Angel books – who would you cast; who would direct – and why?

DS: LOL – this is such a common question that people ask. I never know what to say to it! I typically turn it back on them, and ask what they have in mind. My mother is a HUGE Adam Lambert fan and thinks that he would make a perfect Thomas. For director – how about Joss Whedon?! About the actors . . . Listen, I’ll just lay it on the line – I would think with my penis on this one and not give any thought to acting credentials or ability or how they would fit a character. So let’s just use Leonardo DeCaprio, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Hemsworth, Hayden Christensen, and three or four hot young gay actors, to support their being out in Hollywood.

BGHF: Perfect! Tell us a bit about your upcoming book Dark Sorcerer Threatening. That sounds like another series, no?

DS: Dark Sorcerer Threatening is set in a magical kingdom in the distant past. The king and his magicians use sorcery to conceal their land from the rest of Europe, because it’s a kingdom of men loving men. It contains a love story, so has a strong romance element, but someone is using dark magic to try to kill the king and possibly expose the country to the Catholic Church so it can be destroyed. Lots of wizards in this one! – I’m actually not sure if it’s a series. Right now, it stands alone and I’m not working on a sequel. But I didn’t know that the Vampire’s Angel series would be a series after I finished the first one, either. So we’ll see. It’s up to the ghost who’s making me write, anyway.

BGHF: And those spirits can be temperamental! Lastly, any words of advice (IE: Never piss off the sister of a master vamp) or other projects that you’d like to tell us about? And thanks! This been better than having a chat with the spooky ghost of my grandfather – any day of the week!

DS: You should chat with your grandfather, though, because there might be a movie or novel in it for you! – I’m currently writing a pirate novel – about a warlock who ends up on a pirate ship. And I have a top secret vampire project underway. I’m totally paranoid to say much about it too far in advance, though, because I know someone would steal it and make millions while everyone would then accuse me of being a copy cat.- Advice: don’t fear the monsters. Read about them, learn about them, and become like them. It may scare away your friends and family, but it’s a lot more interesting world that way.

BGHF: True, Damian! Thanks, again!

Be sure to float into the bloodily magical world of Damian Serbu at www.damianserbu.com – and Big Gay Horror Fan is always performing vampiric deeds at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well.

And until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan