2021: Bedlam in Print
The latest installment of my annual overview of the previous year’s Bedlam Files-friendly publications
THE DIRECTOR SHOULD’VE SHOT YOU
A book about movie novelizations–I can’t see how it could possibly NOT be a must-read
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
This, the premiere work of prose fiction by Quentin Tarantino, is in many respects just like his films
BLACK CHRISTMAS
It’s probably wrong to criticize this book overmuch, as novelizations are by nature an extremely hasty and disreputable form of literature. It’s true that occasionally a novelization will transcend its limitations, but this one doesn’t.
A Tale of Two Terminators
Here I’ll focus on the sole element relating to THE TERMINATOR that hasn’t already been picked over and/or argued about to death: the two novelizations it inspired
THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI
One of the best movie novelizations I’ve ever read, complimenting and enhancing its source film considerably while standing as a uniquely spirited and invigorating piece of work in its own right
FREAKED
My taste for ridiculous movie novelizations continues
GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH
A novelization that replicates the unfettered spirit of its Joe Dante directed source
THE LOST BOYS
Surprisingly, this novel isn’t all that bad–even if it contains the expected hasty prose and wobbly storytelling I’ve come to expect from movie novelizations–being quite slick and enjoyable overall.
HALLOWEEN (Novel by Curtis Richards)
One of the most revered and widely sought-after movie novelizations, Curtis Richards’ HALLOWEEN went through multiple printings (and covers) throughout 1979.