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Book of Blood Trailer | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

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I Want to Bleed the Beast

Clive Barker Continues to Sell Out / Dustin Rowles

Trailers | July 8, 2009 | Comments (17)

After Stephen King’s major works, Clive Barker’s Books of Blood are probably the most famous horror fiction of the last 30 years, which is as it should be. I don’t read a lot of horror fiction anymore, but Books of Blood should provide the backbone to any teenager’s entry into their goth phase. Several of the short stories have already been made into films, including The Midnight Meat Train, Lord of Illusions, Candyman and my favorite, Rawhead Rex. Additionally, I’m still convinced that my personal favorite of the collection, “Dread” — about a vegetarian locked in with a steak and driven by hunger to eat it, but only after it had become maggot infested — was part of the inspiration behind the Saw series. They’re actually working on a movie based on that short story, as well as another of the Books of Blood, “Pig Blood Blues.” (An adaptation of the best Clive Barker novel, The Thief of Always has also been announced — Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) is attached to adapt and direct. I’m actually pretty stoked about that one).

The latest big screen adaptation, Book of Blood, which was the framing story around the entire collection, is about a fraudulent medium who goes into a haunted house with a psychic researcher. He makes up a few visions, but then discovers the ghosts are real, and they carve the Books of Blood into his skin. I’m not sure how well that’s going to parlay into a movie, and from the looks of the trailer, it’s going to do so tediously.

Damnit, Clive. Why do you have to let Hollywood continue to tarnish your work?


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Comments

Wow. I've read every Stephen King novel (as point of comparison), but I didn't know Clive Barker had ever been an author. I just assumed the "Clive Barker's ... " prepended to some movie titles meant he was a director/producer who had become a brand name. I'm not sure if that's more a measure of me being oddly ignorant or just how far Mr. Barker has sold out.

Posted by: Steven Lloyd Wilson at July 8, 2009 11:36 AM

Yeah, I never would have thought that Barker was capable of quality writing after he royally mucked up every video game and movie he touched.

Posted by: Braski at July 8, 2009 11:52 AM

"I have seen the future of horror, his name is Clive Barker." - Stephen King

Posted by: Matt at July 8, 2009 12:00 PM

wow...people who don't know barker as an author? crazy. Imagica anyone? I love that book (please don't make it into a movie. please don't make it into a movie.)

Posted by: JenVegas at July 8, 2009 12:02 PM

I agree with JenVegas. People didn't know Barker is an author? Weaveworld, The Great and Secret Show, Imajica, The Hellbound Heart...Shit, the man's earlier works show what an incredible imagination is capable of creating and in my opinion, the man can create a fictional world better than almost anyone. Although Mister B. Gone sort of sucked ass, but everyone's entitled to an off day or two.

Posted by: osmate77 at July 8, 2009 12:21 PM

Most people don't know Barker as an author because his long form stuff sucks, for the most part. Keep him contained to short stories, like in Books, and he flourishes.

Posted by: Captain Splendid at July 8, 2009 12:25 PM

The Books of Blood was truly groundbreaking stuff. If you have never read it, go read it now.

Posted by: Jerce at July 8, 2009 12:34 PM

have to disagree on the long form: i reread weaveworld about every 2 years. right now, i'm in the middle of sacrament and i like it so far.

Posted by: gp at July 8, 2009 2:41 PM

Let's get the story straight, people.

The film is one of twelve planned adaptations of the stories from Books of Blood that Barker himself is organizing. The first was Midnight Meat Train, and it was badass. They finished an adaptation of Dread some time ago and are having even more trouble getting any traction with that film; apparently, it's very true to the story and, quite obviously for those in the know, "unsellable" to a wide audience.

Books of Blood is based off of the story "Books of Blood" and is not a sign of Barker selling out. He never sold out. He never will sell out. This fucker is a shrewd businessman and does everything in his power to make sure his vision isn't destroyed. If he loses control, he will do everything he can to bury the project.

The end.

Posted by: Robert at July 8, 2009 4:47 PM

The first was Midnight Meat Train, and it was badass.

I would agree, except I sat through the film going this is awesome, then saw the end and went, "what the fuck how did they just ruin that?"

As for a King-Barker comparison.
King: The Green Mile, Apt Pupil, The Shining, Carrie, and The Shawshank Redemption (that may seem like a lot but he's had some 109 TV/Film adaptations). I'm also biased because if you've read the books, 90% will suck in comparison, i.e. Pet Sematary, Children of the Corn, Misery, Dreamcatcher, Christine, Desperation, I could continue.
Barker has Midnight Meat Train, Hellraiser, Candyman, Rawhead Rex, and Lord of Illusions.

Shit...while looking those up I saw they are remaking:
It
Pet Sematary
Hellraiser
and that they are doing:
Tales from a Buck 8
Cell
Bag of Bones
and, and, Dark Tower.

Why after looking all that up did it make me want to watch Carpenters In The Mouth of Madness?

Posted by: DeistBrawler at July 8, 2009 5:45 PM

I'd expect a Stephen King fan to be that stupid.

Posted by: Case at July 8, 2009 6:39 PM

I'd expect a Stephen King fan to be that stupid.

Posted by: Case at July 8, 2009 6:39 PM

Stupid in what sense? You would have to elaborate to provide a definitive argument. After all, how can I realize I am stupid if I don't even know the reasoning behind it?

So, please explain.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at July 8, 2009 7:16 PM

always getting into schoolyard scuffles, eh?

don't worry about it. that was just a fly-by idiot. if he really wanted to fight you, he'd come back and take his ass-handin like a man.

Posted by: gp at July 8, 2009 10:55 PM

Okay, I didn't get past the bit where you said that they were adapting "Dread" because that's a story that has stuck with me since I first read it like a thousand years ago (I'm feeling old today).

Ugh, do they have to. Also had no idea it inspired Saw, but then again I've only ever watched the first one the whole way through. Because it was good.

Posted by: Samantha at July 9, 2009 12:03 AM

Boy I loved Imajica, Weaveworld (but what a terrible movie THAT would be!) & Great & Secret Show - but he has really gone down the toilet. And Clive's Jericho (videogame) may have sucked-ass, but Undying was pretty great!

Posted by: seth at July 9, 2009 3:15 AM

Weaveworld is by far the best of his long-form fiction (that I've read, and I've read a lot of his stuff). It's one of those rare novels I've read 5 or 6 times, and I love it every time. The Great and Secret Show is also brilliant, in that it's a "horror" novel that doesn't hew to any major horror fiction conventions.

Actually, that's what I always liked best about Barker. He writes fiction that is unlike anything else I've ever read...dark, dreary, and unimaginably terrifying stuff. I'd put his imagination on par with that of Lovecraft, as far as creating new worlds and new ideas within the genre is concerned.

Posted by: JustBill at July 9, 2009 3:13 PM

I've never agreed with the comparisons between Barker and King. King churns out the same cookie cutter type horror over and over again. Barker's work is so much more imaginative; he doesn't think outside the box--there IS no box. Plus Barker is just simply twisted. Loves it!

This trailer looks decent. I have an old beat up paperback of the 1st BOB that I still read at least once a year. I always sleep with the lights on after reading it though.

Posted by: Lisa at July 10, 2009 4:38 AM





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