Director Herschell Gordon Lewis Dead at 87 – The “Godfather of Gore”

“Herschell Gordon Lewis is the man who put red meat into the American cinematic diet. Ultimately Herschell made Quentin Tarantino possible.” – Joe Bob Briggs

Herschell Gordon Lewis’ masterpiece BLOOD FEAST (1963) was the stomach churning movie by “The Godfather of Gore” that opened the floodgates to the countless blood and slasher movie that followed since its release over fifty years ago. BLOOD FEAST was a midnight movie drive-In mainstay for years. No Punches were pulled and no organs left inside in BLOOD FEAST. This film was a true classick in every sense of the word. Remember this was the mid 60’s folks. Sure the effects were cheap & fake, but the bad intentions were there from the get go. Gotta love that Mr. Lewis. 2,000 MANIACS, THE WIZARD OF GORE, THE GORE-GORE GIRLS, and COLOR ME BLOOD RED – he cranked ’em out with no shame. That crazy Egyptian Fuad Ramese and his fowl deeds kept gorehounds, drives-ins, fans, & curiosity seekers amazingly shocked for five decades. I met Mr. Lewis a couple of times at the Cinema Wasteland conventions and found him a great, generous man and raconteur who refused to charge money for signing autographs. Herschell Gordon Lewis died today at age 87. Rest in pieces Mr. Lewis

With Herschell Gordon Lewis and Connie Mason, star of 2000 MANIACS And BLOOD FEAST