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The Notebook Primer introduces readers to some of the most important figures, films, genres, and movements in film history.In 1878, Eadward Muybridge stood atop Nob Hill in San Francisco and took a panoramic picture of the city. It was the same year that he captured a horse in motion, but this was a different type of temporal photograph. He’d developed a new method that mimicked the experience of the human eye rotating 360 degrees, creating a seamless panorama of the city, a still moving picture. This is one place to start a primer on San Francisco on film, at the very beginning. Two decades before the Lumières premiered their first actualities, Muybridge was capturing a portrait of San Francisco in time. As I began researching this primer, Muybridge seemed like a key precedent for many 20th century Bay Area filmmakers. He was an innovator that developed a new technology parallel...

When reminiscing about ’70s exploitation cinema and its multitude of subgenres, it’s easy to skip over giallo. The gory Italian crime films, full of switchblade stabbings and gratuitous sex, are pure fun with an artful touch. With their stylized nature and refusal to shy away from violence, these movies are often thought of as the thriller equivalent of spaghetti westerns. Adapted from pulpy paperback books (the term “giallo” is a reference to the yellow color of their pages), their over-the-top titles are often just as fun as the films they describe.

Giallo may not dominate the zeitgeist these days, but somebody had to recognize their artistic significance. Lately, Quad Cinema has been stepping up to do just that. Last year, the New York theater brought six newly-restored giallo films to the big screen. The series was a success, so they’re back for more. Starting this Friday, six more giallo restorations will be screening,...

The term “giallo” initially referred to cheap yellow paperbacks (printed American mysteries from writers such as Agatha Christie), that were distributed in post-fascist Italy. Applied to cinema, the genre is comprised of equal parts early pulp thrillers, mystery novels, with a willingness to gleefully explore onscreen sex and violence in provocative, innovative ways. Giallos are strikingly different from American crime films: they value style and plot over characterization, and tend towards unapologetic displays of violence, sexual content, and taboo exploration. The genre is known for stylistic excess, characterized by unnatural yet intriguing lighting techniques, convoluted plots, red herrings, extended murder sequences, excessive bloodletting, stylish camerawork and unusual musical arrangements. Amidst the ‘creative kill’ set-pieces are thematic undercurrents along with a whodunit element, usually some sort of twist ending. Here is my list of the best giallo films – made strictly by Italian directors, so don’t expect Black Swan, Amer or...

Those of you who've read my Video Home Invasion column (to return after I settle some personal business), know that I love Severin Films.  They have a great roster of films, and they are expanding their business all the time.  They've gone from fantastic euro-sleaze (A Perversion Story, Black Emanuelle), to classic slashers (Bloody Moon), to video nasties (Cannibal Terror), to full on cult classics (Santa Sangre, Inglorious Bastards, The Stunt Man, Psychomania, etc, etc) all in the space of five fantastic years.  They've done all of this without forgetting their roots and releasing great classics from the 70's and 80's while still pushing forward with their own in house feature productions.What really gets me excited about Severin, though, isn't what they've done, but what...

For this, a very special Halloween edition of Video Home Invasion, we're going to take a look at Severin Films lovely collection of rare and unsettling cult horror films.  I love horror movies as much as the next guy, but many of these titles had me scratching my head.  The Sinful Dwarf, while not strictly horror, is certainly horrifying.  Crucible of Terror is a blip in horror history, but a landmark in the career of Mike Raven.  Then there are the lesser known works of Lucio Fulci, a personal favorite.  Many films that deserve to be viewed at least once, given perhaps more recognition and attention than they sometimes deserve by a company dedicated to bringing evil into your home.

Lucio Fulci is a master of horror who is, by far, best known for his sizable and reputable collection of zombie films.  However, he did make other films as well,...