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Suburban Grindhouse: From Staten Island to Times Square and all the Sleaze Between
Book review books may be a dime a dozen, but how many include the actual experience of witnessing the movie in a theater?
In Suburban Grindhouse, Nick Cato shares his time growing up in seedy NY and NJ theaters, and how many of these screenings helped to shape an opinion of certain films. Whether one of his beloved local theaters in Staten Island, NY, or at a double feature at the infamous 42nd Street in Times Square during its heyday, audiences were always lively and outspoken.
Most of the films discussed here were seen on their initial theatrical release. Some would be forgotten duds, while others went on to gain cult status. Some are now considered legendary. From 2010-2018, Nick Cato chronicled his favorite experiences at Cinema Knife Fight, a long running website that featured film reviews seven days a week. His column, Suburban Grindhouse Memories, was a favorite, and gained a loyal following. Suburban Grindhouse collects and updates this material, with plenty of bonus material including interviews with directors and stars.
In Suburban Grindhouse, Nick Cato shares his time growing up in seedy NY and NJ theaters, and how many of these screenings helped to shape an opinion of certain films. Whether one of his beloved local theaters in Staten Island, NY, or at a double feature at the infamous 42nd Street in Times Square during its heyday, audiences were always lively and outspoken.
Most of the films discussed here were seen on their initial theatrical release. Some would be forgotten duds, while others went on to gain cult status. Some are now considered legendary. From 2010-2018, Nick Cato chronicled his favorite experiences at Cinema Knife Fight, a long running website that featured film reviews seven days a week. His column, Suburban Grindhouse Memories, was a favorite, and gained a loyal following. Suburban Grindhouse collects and updates this material, with plenty of bonus material including interviews with directors and stars.
260 pages, Paperback
Published May 30, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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March 6, 2022just a tip if ur compiling a book from previously written reviews ctrl + f "now defunct"! the so bad it's good approach is eternally tedious i kinda wish people would just own up to having bad taste (i do!), it's so much better than trying to be someone ur not like it's ok to be a PROUD big fat garbage lover i promise! this is fine tho, you don't get into trash film without loving it tbh i just hate the jumping thru hoops & distancing ppl do to assure everyone they actually like good things. who cares!!!!
August 19, 2021
Just ok
I would have given this a higher rating since I've seen at least 90 percent of these trashy films (and disagree with the author, who loves of them) if it weren't for the amateurish writing. I realize he took these from his previously written articles, but the tenth time he mentions a theater is defunct was boring and by the twentieth, annoying. A list of the theaters (all of which are defunct) would have been a better idea. Constantly repeating that this or that actor had the talent of a parking meter-well, that was way overused. It is a funny book in parts, but could have been better written. Perhaps in the second edition...
I would have given this a higher rating since I've seen at least 90 percent of these trashy films (and disagree with the author, who loves of them) if it weren't for the amateurish writing. I realize he took these from his previously written articles, but the tenth time he mentions a theater is defunct was boring and by the twentieth, annoying. A list of the theaters (all of which are defunct) would have been a better idea. Constantly repeating that this or that actor had the talent of a parking meter-well, that was way overused. It is a funny book in parts, but could have been better written. Perhaps in the second edition...
October 9, 2023
It's a lot of fun until you realize about a quarter in that the reviews are all pretty much the same and lack any sort of uniqueness to them.
- You don't have to say (now defunct) before mentioning the movie theater. This happens in every review.
- Most "reviews" entail plot synopsis, maybe a paragraph dedicated to Nick Cato's experiences with his friends, a "I didn't like it, I liked it" comment, and mentioning of a cool scene or two.
- It's just a really repetitive book honestly.
- You don't have to say (now defunct) before mentioning the movie theater. This happens in every review.
- Most "reviews" entail plot synopsis, maybe a paragraph dedicated to Nick Cato's experiences with his friends, a "I didn't like it, I liked it" comment, and mentioning of a cool scene or two.
- It's just a really repetitive book honestly.
July 10, 2021
A fun read for us suburbanites with a taste for the sleazy and cheesy.
June 19, 2019
cato's essays are really enjoyable, and flesh out suburban grindhouse to be more than just another collection of movie reviews. the titles are diverse and weird, with a few hidden gems, even for my jaded old soul. the fact that these are taken pretty much verbatim from the original online column means that misspellings abound ('gaillo' instead of giallo, repeatedly, to name but one), and the layout's a little plain, but the inclusion of vintage newspaper listings for most of the films mentioned is pretty glorious.
it's fun, but a run or two through the ol' editorial board would have let cato's words retain their charm without being distracting. same goes with updates at the end as to the availability of some of these flicks. while many were once unavailable, quite a few have readily-available blu-ray reissues, and it would've been nice to clue folks in so they could check these titles out for themselves.
it's fun, but a run or two through the ol' editorial board would have let cato's words retain their charm without being distracting. same goes with updates at the end as to the availability of some of these flicks. while many were once unavailable, quite a few have readily-available blu-ray reissues, and it would've been nice to clue folks in so they could check these titles out for themselves.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews