Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films

by Troy Howarth, Mike Baronas (Contributor), A. Susan Svehla (Designer)

For many horror film fans, the name Lucio Fulci conjures images of gore and depravity. Derided by critics as a hack and an imitator and lionized by others as the “Godfather of Gore,” Fulci remains a polarizing and controversial figure. However, many fans are unaware of the scope and breadth of his filmography. From his early days writing material for popular comics like Totò and Franco and Ciccio to directing films in such genres as the musical and the Spaghetti Western, Lucio Fulci was a filmmaker of great diversity. When he attained international notoriety with the release of his gory epic ZOMBIE, Fulci already had years of experience in the film industry; that film’s success established him as one of Italy’s premier masters of the macabre and he would continue to shock and delight fans until shrinking budgets and failing health began to compromise some of his later work. When he died in 1996, he was on the cusp of a major comeback, but in the years following his death the cult surrounding his legacy has continued to grow. Unfortunately, most studies of Fulci and his work have elected to focus only on a small part of his career. SPLINTERED VISIONS changes all of that by providing an in-depth exploration of Fulci’s filmography, beginning with his work as a screenwriter and extending through all of his films as a director. The popular horror films and thrillers are given ample coverage, but the lesser-known works are finally put into their proper context. Author Howarth provides a detailed portrait of a complex man using newly conducted interviews with actors such as Richard Johnson and Franco Nero, which allows the reader a sense of who the director was and how he worked. The end result is the most comprehensive overview of Fulci, the man and Fulci, the filmmaker that has been published in English—making SPLINTERED VISIONS a cause for celebration among serious Fulci fans. The book is also lavishly illustrated with a number of rare stills, posters and advertising materials.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

366 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2015

Reviews

[Toxic Graveyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In that annals of horror cinema Lucio Fulci is a giant name when it comes to sleaze and gore. For many of us he is the first touchstone into the wild word of Eurohorror, led there by promises of uncompromising vision and boat loads of red stuff. From there the world of Eurohorror and more specifically Italian exploitation cinema, is cracked open wide. Fulci is the gate keeper, the carnival barker that gets you into the tent to see the world of exotic and extreme cinema. Unfortunately many film fans check out his pantheon films (Zombie, The Beyond, City of the Living Dead), but neglect his extensive catalog of films from all genres.

Splintered Visions sets out to inform the world of cult film fans of Fulci’s incredible filmography and does so with an encyclopedian gusto. The book covers Fulci’s entire career and I mean that. We get extensive information about how he began his career and there are several pages dedicated to his early work as a screenwriter (also including his later screenplays too) and then goes on to begin with his very first film until his very last work, skipping nothing. Fulci made comedies, gialli, westerns, crime, adventure films and more. He dabbled in nearly every corner of cinema. I knew he had done a lot of work but I honestly had no idea just how many films he made during his lifetime. Many of the films are still unavailable in the US and may never see release here so this is the only place where you’ll get a chance to learn more about them. Each entry (listed in the order he made them) has extensive notes on cast/crew as well as a synopsis and a very lengthy review of the film. Included are quotes from people who worked on the film and there are a bevy of interviews with actors/crew that were conducted specifically for this book. Posters, screen shots and lobby cards are also included in every single review as well. Splintered Visions is totally comprehensive on every level.

It’s clear the book was painstakingly researched to provide the maximum amount of information for every entry in it. The book is massive, in depth, well organized, and thorough. This is the book that Fulci fans have been wanting for years. I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re into Fulci’s films, you cannot go wrong with picking up this book. It will give you all the information you crave and more.