Feb Issue up. Review on John Carpenter's "Cigarette Burns"

hello everyone,

Sorry it took me a bit and that the Feb issue is late,but to make up for it. I'll be posting up a separate post with the March issue as well.

Here is the Feb issue enjoy!

"Cigarette Burns" Movie Review

  "La fin absolue du monde,"  “The absolute end of the world,” is a film within the film depicted in the eight installments in the Masters of Horror series, entitled "Cigarette Burns."  Directed by well-known film maker, John Carpenter (The Thing, They Live, Halloween, Vampires") it unveils the madness within man that he blindly can't see for himself. Carpenter paints a macabre portrait, revolving around all the characters involved, as they all eventually see the horror and torment within themselves that drives them to the brink of insanity.  The main characters, Kirby Sweetman (played by Norman Reedus) and the private film collector who hires him, Mr.Bellinger (Udo Kier) are both tormented by their dark past.  Kirby is tormented by the death of his wife and the guilt that is brought to him by his father in law.  While Bellinger's past isn't described too much in the film, it’s implied in the early and late stages of the film that he harbors dark demons within. The chilling climax brings to full circle what the film ends up bringing out in both characters.  The concept is brilliantly executed, and the idea of underground and banned films has always been a fascination to me since I got into the underground film genre. I think what I loved most about the film itself is man’s obsession with the unknown, wanting to know what lies ahead no matter how horrifying it may be.  Film makers and writers can make or break an audience by what they often show or write, and sometimes hearing about it isn't enough.  Only true revelations can be revealed by what the eyes see and the mind interrupts.  The journey and the search can bring clues that in the end will either cause the progression of the soul or the total destruction of it.  I don't want to give too much away, and I feel like writing a synopsis of each scene will ruin the experience.  I figured it'll be better for one to see it and enjoy the journey as much as I did. As the film itself states, "Some films are meant to be seen".