Zombie Nightmare Director John Fasano RIP

[Frameous]

bloody-disgusting.com/news/3303810/r-p-john-fasano-director-black-roses-rock-n-roll-nightmares-passed-away-age-52/

www.fangoria.com/new/remembering-black-roses-director-john-fasano/

This is sad news. For people like me, who listen to commentaries of movies like Zombie Nightmare (and enjoy those movies unriffed as well), and read books on film screenwriting and development, a talent like John Fasano is more appreciated. To most of the movie going audience, he's responsible for cheap and schlocky horror films like the aforementioned Zombie Nightmare and Black Roses. Behind the scenes, he was known as a knowledgeable director and accomplished script doctor. What I have read of his gun for hire work, and his unaccredited co directing/writing work on Zombie Nightmare, he comes of as a really good dude totally committed to making movies. And when it comes to making sub-par productions because that's all you have available to you at the time, that kind of spirit is even more valuable.

For anyone interested in more about this man, the Zombie Nightmare commentary and special features on the DVD shed a lot of light on his talents, and some downright funny stories about making one of our beloved MST films.

[Weirdo Writer]

[Mod City]

That's too bad. I don't know nearly as much as others about the production of many MST3K movies but I'm always sad to hear when a director or actor passes. I love Zombie Nightmare, at least as an MST3K episode. And any director that plays Motorhead over the opening credits of his movie is OK in my book.

Rest well, sir.

[Who Let Servo Drive]

I remember sneaking down to the den at my then-father-in-law's house to watch Zombie Nightmare when it first aired on Thanksgiving Day of 1994. We were over there for the meal but I really wanted to watch MST -- especially on Thanksgiving of all days. Eventually to my chagrin the family noticed where I was. They came down and began commenting on the show, the FIL saying to his wife, "now listen, see those little puppets at the bottom of the screen? They're going to tell jokes about the movie." His wife didn't get it and kept asking where those voices were coming from until he got up and pointed at the screen.

John Fasano, thanks for being a part of that weird memory. Despite the interruption that was one of the more enjoyable MSTs. I especially love when the strange-talking medical examiner opens his mouth. It sounds like he's trying to do an impression of someone, but I'm not sure if i's Jack Nicholson, Humphrey Bogart, or a little of both.