The Circus of Dread Is Coming

My next project, Circus of Dread, has had a lengthy gestation period, and is finally approaching production.

Bill Oberst Jr. and Domiziano Arcangeli topline this dark, brutal, sensual, and action-packed story of two brothers sucked into the grotesque maelstrom of an underground circus.

Without a doubt, this is just the sort of Pulp that this blog is dedicated to --  and , I trust, something special for lovers of dark, weird, and 'fantastique' cinema. 

As a lifelong lover, devotee, and fan of this material, my mission is to make a movie that I would love to see myself, that I would embrace for its originality, passion, and raw truth.

That's my challenge, and its my responsibility to engage my audience, give them a cracking good time, and disturb the shit out of them with compelling characters in unpredictable situations.

This first piece of art is by the brilliant Santiago Caruso, whose work I've showcased several times on this blog. For me, it perfectly captures the spirit of this considerable creative undertaking, a true collaboration of like-minded individuals. They know who they are, and I'm grateful to them all.

The circus IS coming! Nothing can stop it.

Bazaldua and the Great Caruso

I have been reluctant to re-post the incredible work of Oscar Bazaldua (Nava) because it is already being posted regularly at !Historietas Perversas!

*** http://historietasperversas.blogspot.com/ ***

The Historietas blog is primarily devoted to Bazaldua's sensationally lurid, truly beautiful art. It's the kind of art that will be celebrated for its true greatness one day (probably just before the poor bugger dies).

Most of Bazaldua's illustrations are taken from Mexican adult comics (Ghetto Librettos).

Bazaldua's use of color, form, shape and texture is exemplary, and I find him to be one of the most inspiring artists I have ever seen (alongside Toshio Saeki, Rudolph Balarski, Suehiro Maruo, and Hideshi Hino).

Conceptually, his work is several cuts above almost anything else out there. Execution-wise, he has few peers.

Combining elements from Westerns, Porn, Horror, and Men's Adventure, he has produced a mountain of amazing, transgressive, and very "fine" art.


Working in a very different vein, artist Santiago Caruso is the equal of Bazaldua in terms of talent and craft.

Perhaps you will agree with me that the illustration above, La Otra Inseguridad, is a work of true greatness, and understatement.

Mr. Caruso has demonstrated a great sensitivity towards the works of Lovecraft, and it shows in this fine piece of work.

Sembraron Futuro (above) is an exquisite statement on the future, the past, and the seeds of our destiny.

I can only stare at these in a state of awe.


From the cover of More Adventures in Arkham Country, this 'View of Innsmouth' goes beyond capturing the essence of Lovecraft's love of specific architecture.

I can't look at 'House of Windows' and not feel sadness that Lovecraft didn't live to see these masterpieces of cosmic horror.

Mr. Caruso, who hails from Argentina, deserves to be called Great.

http://santiagocaruso.blogspot.com/

The Perfect Marriage of HP Lovecraft and Santiago Caruso

These somber, grotesque, and beautiful scans were originally sent to me by fellow blogger Shon Richards who writes the fascinating Erotiterrorist.

They are from an obscure 2008 volume he found in Old San Juan.

It is The Dunwich Horror, with illustrations by the brilliant Argentina(Buenos Aries)-based Santiago Caruso, whose blog can be found here: http://santiagocaruso.blogspot.com/

Fittingly, the young book was covered in a carpet of dust.


I have substituted some of Shon's scans with scans from Mr. Caruso's amazing blog.

Shon writes:

"I think what I like best about these images is there is an inherent sadness to Wilbur Whatley. In the story he comes across as a bitter, nasty agent of evil, but in the drawings he looks like a poor person who was born into something he wouldn't have chosen. I find Wilbur far more sympathetic than anyone else in the story. The guy should get a movie."

Indeed!


These are some of the most vivid, organic visions of Lovecraft's world I have ever seen.



Extraordinarily beautiful!

I look at these and feel that I am "home".

Thanks, Shon, and thank you, HPL and Santiago Caruso.