The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film
Michael Weldon
1983
This is the gospel, amen. Any of my readers who are cult movie fans hardly need an introduction to this volume of capsule movie reviews of horror, sci-fi, rock ’n’ roll and other cult weirdness. Originally published in 1983, it remained in print for a couple of decades, and at around the time I finally acquired it, Mr. Weldon had also began Psychotronic Video, which would arguably be the greatest cult film magazine ever published. (Previously, he had published a weekly xeroxed zine of the same name, which offered capsule reviews of similar films that played that week on television in the New York City area.) Although the name “psychotronic” was lifted from a line of dialogue in Robot Monster, it is a term now synonymous in grouping any kind of cult movie genres. I had gladly loaned out any of my film books to anyone who was interested in reading them, but Psychotronic had a “no lending” clause, simply because I was practically using it every day, I’d use it for reference while scanning the late night TV listings for obscure genre films. It still sits “on the shelf” as I write this. The jacket has become unglued at the spine, so I handle it delicately. This may not be much of a review of the book itself, because honestly, no words are really needed. It is a must own- period. Countless other cult movie fanatics referred to this book with the same regularity.