You know how sometimes when you meet somebody, you immediately think to yourself "these are my people"?
That's how we felt when we stumbled across Horror Boobs, a New York-based blog that documents all things terrifying and topless from the VHS era to today.
Horror Boobs masterminds Matt Desiderio and Katrina Basilio love both boobs and blood with a passion, and our interview was a regular love fest as we discussed SKINtage scream queens, being traumatized by The Toxic Avenger, and the holy grail of horror VHS.
Skin Central: Why specifically HORROR boobs? Do you have something against other types of boobs? For September, we will be screening Invisible Maniac (1990), which at first we thought was actual footage of an invisible scientist killing high schoolers, but then we found out it was directed by Adam Rifkin-- I mean, Rif Coogan. The movie has so many boobs that it filled a whole month's worth of Horror Boobs posts. Rif went on to direct Detroit Rock City (1999), and if there's one thing we like as much as boobs here, it's KISS! See? We told you these were our people! New Yorkers can experience Horror Boobs on the big screen withBlack Devil Doll from HellTONIGHT at MIDNGIHT at theSpectacle Theaterin Williamsburg, and the rest of us can catch up with all the horror hootage onTwitter, Facebook, and of course atHorrorBoobs.com!
Horror Boobs: I think we are pretty open minded when it comes to where the boobs [on our site] came from, if that makes any sense. Our boobs come from everything from nunsploitation to blaxploitation, prison movies, lesbian vampire flicks, comic books, and pulp novels. Everyone loves horror and boobs-- it's a proven fact, and we're just giving the people what they want.
SC: Who are your top topless scream queens of the '80s?
HB: I love Bobbie Bresee, her bathing scene in Mausoleum (1983) captures what we're going for perfectly. She was in so many great flicks, and her name is ripe for a number of boob-related puns. I'm also a big fan of Melissa Moore, who was in Evil Spawn (1987) with Bobbie. Melissa is in countless entertaining genre pictures... NUDE!
SC: How about now?
HB: As far as this decade, hell if I know. I've seen a bunch of newer movies with great Horror Boobs like Disco Exorcist (2011), The Taint (2010), Black Devil Doll (2009), Hack Job (2011)... but individual girls don't stand out anymore. Where are the Brinkes, Linneas, and Michelles of today?
SC: What's the first nude scene you remember seeing?
HB: I may not remember the first, but I remember being totally disturbed by the juxtaposition of sex and violence in both The Toxic Avenger (1985) and Porky's (1982) at a really young age. I actually didn't make it through either one of them the first time I popped 'em in the VCR. I even somehow knew at the time that I wasn't ready for these types of movies yet.
SC: Tell us about the doc you're working on, Adjust Your Tracking.
HB: Working on Adjust Your Tracking has been one of the most fun experiences of my life. Traveling around the entire country in a tiny car with the VHShitfest dudes in less than three weeks, only stopping to talk to people about VHS! It's a dream come true to get out there and see what other people have to say about our favorite medium. It was also a bit of a soul searching mission for me to try to understand why I'm so obsessed with VHS. Honestly, getting to meet so many awesome people who were so giving just because we all still use a VCR was pretty mind-blowing.
SC: So what's your holy grail of horror VHS?
HB: In the last year I was able to get what are possibly my three most wanted tapes: Night Ripper (1986), Black Devil Doll From Hell (1984) and Kamillions (1990). So right now I feel like I should take a break from collecting, but who am I kidding? I want every Cinema Home Video, I'm really close to finishing every version of every movie Camp Video ever released, and it would be nice to have every Thriller Video big box hosted by Elvira...with slipcase. Duh!
SC: Any upcoming screenings or events you'd like to tell our readers about?
HB: We do monthly midnight movies at the Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn. For August, we're screening the notoriously hard-to-find Black Devil Doll From Hell, an 80s horror blaxploitation SOV/POS. Directed by Chester N. Turner, it's ridiculously bad, but its earnest attempt at storytelling is so enthralling that you can't stop watching.
