MASTERS OF HORROR

CIGARETTE BURNS

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E.C. McMullen Jr.
RUMOR

RUMOR: People are dying to know the truth

PERPETUAL
BULLET

"'Some People' ... may be the standout story in the book."
- John Grant, Infinityplus

E.C. McMullen Jr.
WILLOW BLUE

"'Willow Blue' will burrow under your skin and stay there long after you've put the book down."
- Jeffrey Reddick, Creator of
FINAL DESTINATION

IN OTHER BOOKS
E.C. McMullen Jr.'s
short story
CEDO LOOKED LIKE PEOPLE
in the anthology
FEAR THE REAPER

"This Ray Bradbury-esque is one of the most memorable and one of the more original stories I've read in a long time."
- Steve Isaak,
Goodreads

HORROR 201:
The Silver Scream

Filmmaker's Guidebook
featuring
RAY BRADBURY,
JOHN CARPENTER,
WES CRAVEN,
TOM HOLLAND,
E.C. McMULLEN Jr.,
GEORGE A. ROMERO,
and many more.

Extensively quoted in

PHANTASM
EXHUMED
The Unauthorized Companion

And In
CINEMA
E.C. McMullen Jr.
Head Production Designer

MINE GAMES
(Starring:
JOSEPH CROSS,
BRIANA EVIGAN,
ALEX MERAZ,
ETHAN PECK)

Dept. head
Special Effects Make-Up
(SFX MUA)

A SIERRA NEVADA
GUNFIGHT
(MICHAEL MADSEN & JOHN SAVAGE).

Production Designer

UNIVERSAL DEAD
(DOUG JONES,
D.B. SWEENEY,
GARY GRAHAM)

Art Director

THE CRUSADER
(COLIN CUNNINGHAM,
GARY GRAHAM)

Review by
Ken King

Masters of Horror
PRO-LIFE
MOVIE REVIEW

JOHN CARPENTER

Masters of Horror: CIGARETTE BURNS

- 2005
USA Release: Dec. 16, 2005
IDT Entertainment, Industry Entertainment, Nice Guy Productions, Reunion Pictures
Rating: N/A

Season 1, Episode 8

This episode of the short-lived television show, MASTERS OF HORROR, created by Mick Garris (SLEEPWALKERS, THE SHINING [TV], Masters of Horror: VALERIE ON THE STAIRS [TV]), is BY FAR the best of the series and one of John Carpenter's best films as well. I have watched it many, many times and it never gets old. Not much in the way of originality in any genre these days, but this is a movie that is an exception to the rule.

Early on in this flick, Udo Kier's (MARK OF THE DEVIL, FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN, BLOOD FOR DRACULA, TRAUMA [1976], SPERMULA, SUSPIRIA [1977], JOHNNY MNEMONIC, BLADE, END OF DAYS, FEAR DOTCOM, SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE, MEGIDDO, GRINDHOUSE, FALL DOWN DEAD, NIGHT OF THE TEMPLAR, Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN, MOTHER OF TEARS, METROPIA, THE THEATER BIZARRE, THE LORDS OF SALEM, PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH, SKINWALKER) character of Bellinger, asks Kirby (Norman Reedus: MIMIC, 8MM, BLADE II, PANDORUM, ANTIKORPER, NIGHT OF THE TEMPLAR, THE WALKING DEAD) to find a film for him that is the rarest of rare. The movie LA FIN ABSOLUE DU MONDE - THE ABSOLUTE END OF THE WORLD - that much like the works of Sutter Kane (another character from a film by John Carpenter, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS [1995], but Kane is a writer.) drive any viewers who see the movie mad with murderous bloodlust.

Cigarette Burns
European poster

Bellinger gives Kirby an exorbitant amount, plus all expenses paid, to find the movie for him. Kirby needs the money. If he doesn't have it, his dead girlfriend, Annie's (Zara Taylor), father, Walter (Gary Hethertington: THE STEPFATHER [1987], A STRANGER WAITS, ALIEN ABDUCTION, THE BARBER), will think he has reneged on his loan that he gave Kirby for his theater, and will have the place demolished. Kirby doesn't want that, so he's off to Paris, France, and all points beyond.

TRIVIA

Music for this episode written ane performed by John Carpenter's son, Cody Carpenter (HALLOWEEN [2018]).

The closer Kirby gets to the film, the more he sees what is known in the industry as "Cigarette Burns" little circles that signify the changing of a movie to another reel in a projectionist's booth. This, in turn, is Kirby's "changing" with each grim situation he finds himself in.

This review will be a short one, I'm afraid. This is not because of the film's runtime, but because everything contained in this fine piece of celluloid, needs to be experienced on an individual basis. I am not easily spooked, but I would be lying if I didn't say this film made the hair on my body stand up. I miss that sensation and I am ecstatic that I am not so jaded that I can't feel that every so often.

Five Shriek Girls