The horror genre has had many great ambassadors. Acclaimed writers, actors and filmmakers who wear their horror badge with great pride. Folks such as Ray Bradbury, Forrest Ackerman of Famous Monsters of Filmland and Job Bob Briggs to name a few. These are talents who have not just worked in the genre but used their place at the podium to consistently champion it.
Any horror fan is of course well aware of Fangoria magazine. The beloved publication has graced newsstands with its often-gory covers and all your favourite monsters since 1979. For many fans of what our guest today refers to as “freaky films”, Fangoria is the last word on all that is great and gruesome. Though the magazine is still going strong (a testament to its status as horror magazine supreme when you consider the many well-regarded publications that have not survived the advent of news sites and social media), Fangoria has had its ups and downs.
In 2009, the magazine was transitioning from one of its great editors, Tony Timpone, to a new voice. This new editor would not only shake things up at Fangoria in what would prove to be one if its best runs in the history of magazine, it was also how many came to know one horror’s greatest ambassador’s.
Our guest today is Chris Alexander.
Chris is not only a great writer and an expert (a term he will likely hate to hear himself described as) in the genre, he is also a visionary filmmaker, a skilled musician and composer and one of the most robust speakers on all things freaky.
Chris sat down to discuss the beginnings of his writing career at Warner Brothers and Rue Morgue Magazine, visiting Nicholas Cage on his island (that’s not a turn of phrase), what it is to be a horror fan in our current film climate and getting to know the late legend George Romero.
We love talking with Chris. He speaks quickly and concisely and always says things that leave us thinking. He’s a lot like the movies we discuss in that way, you know it was a good one because it leaves you something to think about. He’s also incredibly funny and now works with one of our horror heroes Charles Band at Full Moon Features.
A couple notes on this interview, Chris was struggling with a nasty bout of covid when we recorded so he sounds a little horse. Also, we have removed a section where Chris talks about undervalued contemporary horror films because the interview was simply too damn long. This will be dropping as a bonus later this week so be sure to check it out. It’s filled with recommendations for some films that might have gone under your radar.
Okay here we go, let’s get into the freaky and fantastic with Chris Alexander!
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★