These films can commonly be identified by their use of exploitation elements and their interest in humanity's lower common demoninators.
They occur throughout the world, but are particuarly common at midnight movie festivals and in video stores' cult sections, they are especially frequent at that beloved and dying institution, the drive-in.
Their packaging is commonly deceptive. They almost always appear on videocassette.
Among their kind are biker films, sci-fi series, quickie biopics, gimmick films, teen sex comedies, blaxploitation films, stalkers, slashers, snoozers, shrudderers, and anything starring Lynda Blair, david Carradine, Shannon Tweed or Drew Barrymore.
And they're all here in the Psychotronic Video Guide.
From Abby to Zontar, this book covers more than nine thousand amazing movies from the turn of the century right up to today's golden age of video, all described with Michael Weldon's dry wit. More than 450 rare and wonderful illustrations round out the book, making it a treasure trove of cinematic lore and essential for every fan of filmdom's finest offerings.
From Publishers Weekly
As Michael Weldon says in the foreword to his Psychotronic Video Guide: "Unlike other movie guides, nothing is omitted because it's in bad taste." Bad taste barely begins to cover the 3000 resolutely grade-B movies (some with grade-A aspirations and budgets) and the odd TV show included here. Weldon, who invented the word "psychotronic" and compiled The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, includes horror (there are 15 movie titles beginning with the word "zombie"), science fiction, Blaxploitation, porn, spaghetti westerns and "anything that Roger Corman had anything to do with" in his purview. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Weldon is the leading authority on films deemed to be "psychotronic," a designation he stretches to encompass horror flicks, spaghetti westerns, low-budget quickies, exploitation films of all stripes--in short, anything disdained by the critical establishment. He made his mark with The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film (1981), to which this is a genuine sequel rather than an update. There is surprisingly little overlap in coverage between the two books, which makes this one attractive whether or not you own the Encyclopedia. Some new entries-- Saturday Night Fever , Beverly Hills Cop are questionable, not being, one would think, psychotronic by any stretch. But most of these 3,000 movies are thoroughly deranged, from The Abductors , in which slavers kidnap three cheerleaders, to the Hong Kong martial arts fantasy Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain. An index would be nice, for although the book is enjoyable browsing, who wants to sift through hundreds of entries to locate, say, the Mamie Van Doren movies? But then, where else can you find any info on Face of the Screaming Werewolf? Gordon Flagg
Review
"All the movies you couldn't see, and are glad you couldn't or wish you had! Page after page of films you never knew your favorite actors made. A must!" --Karen Black
"An absolute must for those who lust after the slime and sleaze of B movies. Loose, lecherous, and totally offbeat." --Cinefatastique on T he Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film
"Finally, the long-awaited sequel to the greatest book of Psychtronic films. Amust for every true film lover." --Johnny Ramone
" The Psychotronic Encyclopedia is the most dogged, worn-out book in my library. Thank God Michael has come out with a new one." --Quentin Tarantino
About the Author
Michael J. Weldon is the editor and founder of Psychotronic Video magazine. He grew up in Cleveland and now lives in Narrowsburg, New York.
Description:
How to know a Psychotronic Movie:
These films can commonly be identified by their use of exploitation elements and their interest in humanity's lower common demoninators.
They occur throughout the world, but are particuarly common at midnight movie festivals and in video stores' cult sections, they are especially frequent at that beloved and dying institution, the drive-in.
Their packaging is commonly deceptive. They almost always appear on videocassette.
Among their kind are biker films, sci-fi series, quickie biopics, gimmick films, teen sex comedies, blaxploitation films, stalkers, slashers, snoozers, shrudderers, and anything starring Lynda Blair, david Carradine, Shannon Tweed or Drew Barrymore.
And they're all here in the Psychotronic Video Guide.
From Abby to Zontar, this book covers more than nine thousand amazing movies from the turn of the century right up to today's golden age of video, all described with Michael Weldon's dry wit. More than 450 rare and wonderful illustrations round out the book, making it a treasure trove of cinematic lore and essential for every fan of filmdom's finest offerings.
From Publishers Weekly
As Michael Weldon says in the foreword to his Psychotronic Video Guide: "Unlike other movie guides, nothing is omitted because it's in bad taste." Bad taste barely begins to cover the 3000 resolutely grade-B movies (some with grade-A aspirations and budgets) and the odd TV show included here. Weldon, who invented the word "psychotronic" and compiled The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, includes horror (there are 15 movie titles beginning with the word "zombie"), science fiction, Blaxploitation, porn, spaghetti westerns and "anything that Roger Corman had anything to do with" in his purview.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Weldon is the leading authority on films deemed to be "psychotronic," a designation he stretches to encompass horror flicks, spaghetti westerns, low-budget quickies, exploitation films of all stripes--in short, anything disdained by the critical establishment. He made his mark with The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film (1981), to which this is a genuine sequel rather than an update. There is surprisingly little overlap in coverage between the two books, which makes this one attractive whether or not you own the Encyclopedia. Some new entries-- Saturday Night Fever , Beverly Hills Cop are questionable, not being, one would think, psychotronic by any stretch. But most of these 3,000 movies are thoroughly deranged, from The Abductors , in which slavers kidnap three cheerleaders, to the Hong Kong martial arts fantasy Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain. An index would be nice, for although the book is enjoyable browsing, who wants to sift through hundreds of entries to locate, say, the Mamie Van Doren movies? But then, where else can you find any info on Face of the Screaming Werewolf? Gordon Flagg
Review
"All the movies you couldn't see, and are glad you couldn't or wish you had! Page after page of films you never knew your favorite actors made. A must!" --Karen Black
"An absolute must for those who lust after the slime and sleaze of B movies. Loose, lecherous, and totally offbeat." --Cinefatastique on T he Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film
"Finally, the long-awaited sequel to the greatest book of Psychtronic films. Amust for every true film lover." --Johnny Ramone
" The Psychotronic Encyclopedia is the most dogged, worn-out book in my library. Thank God Michael has come out with a new one." --Quentin Tarantino
About the Author
Michael J. Weldon is the editor and founder of Psychotronic Video magazine. He grew up in Cleveland and now lives in Narrowsburg, New York.