Guest Author - Andy Boxall

The DVD format has been something of a Godsend for horror film fans and combined with the ease of Internet shopping, rare horror movies became available to those not able to view them previously. Sure, there was something cool about having those chunky VHS boxes on the shelf, especially of pre-certification UK titles, but the slim DVD cases certainly take up less room!

However, with all this freedom and easy purchasing options, it is simple to order inferior versions, censored prints of a rare movie, or to simply miss out on some little-known gems. Hand in hand with a select few informative websites, every cult movie fan should have a copy of DVD Delirium close at hand, ready to consult prior to typing in their credit card numbers.

Edited by Nathanial Thompson of Image Entertainment and published by the always-excellent FAB Press, DVD Delirium is a 640 page tome (handily the same dimensions as a DVD case to fit on your shelf), that is now entering its second run, this time with ‘Redux’ added to its title. The book contains reviews and version information on hundreds of rare and unusual DVDs. This updated edition’s reviews have taken into account recently released superior DVD packages, for example Grindhouse Releasing’s Cannibal Holocaust.

Each review has a critique of the movie and follows up with comprehensive coverage of the available DVD versions, comparing them on everything from sound, picture and framing to the amount and quality of the extra features. What makes this more than just a review book is the bright, informative, knowledgeable and often amusing way that Thompson and his team have written it, so much so that you can pick the book up, open it at any page and just read.

The one downside of this accessibility and excellent reviews is the damage that it will cause your wallet, as there will be plenty that you will want to buy! The book lists everything from widely available oddities such as Maniac, Zombie Flesh Eaters, I Spit On Your Grave and arthouse nasties like Audition, but its real gold comes in the form of digging out DVD editions of gems like Basket Case, The Gruesome Twosome and Street Trash. Horror is represented well but also expect plenty of Eurosleaze, fantasy, sci-fi and some forgotten mainstream stuff too. I read this book with a set of Post-It notes with me, so each page that contained a film I wanted to seek out was clearly marked!

Invaluable to the DVD collector and trashy movie fan alike, DVD Delirium deserves a place next to your player. My advice to you? Don’t purchase online without it!

DVD Delirium 2 and 3 are also available.