or horror fans, it's all about the body count. This, at least, is the claim of Diabolical Dominion, a fan-built horror site that goes so far as to track the number of on- and off-screen fatalities in films. At this site, visitors can weight the comparatively sedate Arachnophobia, with a mere seven victims, to pictures like John Carpenter's 1982 remake of The Thing, which contains a total of 20 deaths ... unless one also counts some unlucky sled dogs.
Horror fans on the Web often focus their activity on posting screen captures of bloody movie moments—usually, the gorier the image, the better. Though Diabolical Dominion certainly has its share of unappetizing visuals, the overall tone of the site is more restrained
and writerly, offering a news blog, film reviews and detailed breakdowns of scenes cut from popular horror films. Other site features include discussion forums, font and wallpaper downloads, a links page and feature articles.
The Dominion's body counts, naturally enough, are packed with spoilers, revealing in detail how every character in a given film meets his or her grisly end. Offered as dry—almost clinical—descriptions of the deaths in question, they make for odd reading, compressing the mayhem of a two-hour picture into a tiny litany of violence. This just-the-facts approach is unsettling and serves as a reminder that the real horror in this genre of film lies in all the little moments leading up to a death—the mounting tension, creepy music and eerie, suggestive
visuals. When a character loses their life (or even, occasionally, escapes the Reaper), that built-up stress is released: The death itself brings a peculiar sort of relief.
Diabolical Dominion has been offline in recent weeks, and the revived version of the site remains a little twitchy—its archives are not yet searchable, and the discussion forums are balky. With luck, these glitches will be resolved swiftly, leaving visitors free to browse the
archives, connect with each other and explore the cinema of death in all its brutal glory.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—January 23, 2005
ince his 1981 turn as the infamous Ash in the first of the Evil Dead movies, Bruce Campbell has been a staple of the SF media scene. Best known for his performances in cult films and TV shows, Campbell also has a substantial track record as a screenwriter, director and film producer; as if that weren't enough, he has also recently written two successful books. With so many related-but-separate irons in the fire, fans may want to check in with Campbell's official Web site now and then to keep on top of it all.
Bruce Campbell Online is a comparatively sedate and straightforward place, with none of the zany energy or strangeness exhibited in such Campbell projects as The Man With the Screaming Brain or Bubba Ho-Tep. Low-key and businesslike, the site is big on information, offering only flashes of silliness. Features include a short Campbell autobiography, a filmography, news about upcoming projects (including possible Evil Dead remakes), personal appearance listings, lots of photos and episode guides that give the rundown on all Campbell's major TV roles.
In his recent novel, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, and again in an upcoming self-produced film, They Call Me Bruce, Campbell has begun creating and taking on projects where he plays himself. In They Call Me Bruce, for example, Campbell is kidnapped while working a movie set. Then, in a Galaxy Quest-style twist, he is obliged to take on the role of one of his heroic film characters in order to save his hometown from demons.
Some of the more lighthearted features of this site include the "Babblings" section, where Campbell offers visitors advice on breaking into the film industry, posts rants, proposes a horror version of Celebrity Death Match and talks about being a celebrity. Visitors can also follow links to Campbell-related official sites like the Bubba Ho-Tep page, as well as fan sites. Warm, informative and subtly quirky, this Web page offers Campbell enthusiasts a chance to keep up with his fast-moving and multifaceted career.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—January 17, 2005
ith the new season of Doctor Who finally scheduled for release in the United States, fans may find themselves wanting a good source of news and gossip about the show and the people behind it. Enter Outpost Gallifrey, a comprehensive archive of data on the adventures of the new Doctor as well as the nine previous incarnations who have played this role through a record 26 seasons of television and an ill-fated TV movie.
Known as the most popular fan-created Doctor Who site on the Web, Outpost Gallifrey maintains its reputation through diligent tracking of any and every fact pertaining to the crusading Time Lord and his companions—novels, podcasts, music releases, conventions and all other fan activity. The site's detailed episode guide features full cast and crew credits, as well as fan reviews of each installment in the Doctor's long history.
In addition to its core archive of information on the show, Outpost Gallifrey has all the frills a visitor might hope to find: a "store" filled with e-commerce links for those wanting to buy DVDs or other Doctor Who merchandise, links to related Web pages, a number of FAQs and a virtually endless array of feature articles, interviews, anniversary tributes, photo galleries and reader polls.
Doctor Who is one of those SF shows whose grip on the imagination is so strong that—even in those dark periods when new episodes are not being produced—its franchise has been able to maintain a steady and loyal following among viewers. Now, with the reimagined
series bringing new fans to the fold, Outpost Gallifrey allows those who are discovering the series for the first time to catch up on the Doctor's travels, companions and exploits, even as it whets everyone's appetite for still more adventures.
—A.M. Dellamonica
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