RIP Ray Dennis Steckler 1939 - 2009

Can't let the news of Ray Dennis Steckler's death go unnoticed. The director of such no-budget classics as THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED UP ZOMBIES, RAT PFINK A BOO BOO and my personal favorite, BLOOD SHACK passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada on 1/7/09 at the age of 70. Ray reportedly died in his sleep. The eccentric filmmaker's touch was a unique one. Shunned by the mainstream, he found his niche by creating outlandish, little films -- usually starring members of his family -- that were beloved by a small cult of devotees, including yours truly. I emailed Ray last August while searching out films for DC. There are still plans to screen THE THRILL KILLERS this summer although I was discussing purchasing a print of BLOOD SHACK from the man himself. He may not get a part in the Oscar reel, but he found a way into the hearts of fantastic cinema fans everywhere. They don't make his kind anymore, one of the last of the exploitation filmmakers has gone on to the box office in the sky. He will be missed.