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Wow, where does one start with these things ?, so much to say, so much to
tell!. Anyhow, it all started when my parents took me the wee lad of only
3 years of age to the drive-in , to witness Bob Clarke’s classic cult film
CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS. Of course , after that the
horror began !. Maybe not directly after, but the moment in time has stuck
with me to this very day. As I began to mature so did my tastes in cinema.
One film in particular which had a direct impact upon me would be Stanley
Kubrick’s classic tale of youth gone bad a la future A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
Everything about the film appealed to me, the score, the imagery and most
of all the message. There was more to film than just what trash Hollywood
was pumping out. Sure Kubrick’s tale was a big budgeted film, but it still
defied the regular Hollywood formula and still does to this day!. Though
my interests in film were mostly of the horror scene, I had my side dishes
of cult favorites as well. Then in the early 90's, my taste in cinema
would take a drastic turn with the viewing of Dario Argento’s artful
masterpiece, SUSPIRIA. Sure, I had seen many Italian based horror films
like Fulci’s ZOMBI, Franco’s JACK THE RIPPER and Pupi Avati’s ZEDER, but
nothing quite like SUSPIRIA. Like A CLOCKWORK ORANGE’S affect on me a
decade before, I was experiencing that same feeling. My eyes had witnessed
the second coming. Again, everything about SUSPIRIA had me wanting more.
The flawless score by Goblin, to this day their most extensive piece of
work. The images, including Argento’s use of and manipulation of them.
Further more, the actors involved. This was my first serious trip into
something that has now become my first love in cinema, European cinema and
most of all Italian horror, cult and crime.

The next step was unknown to me until the birth of the internet. Well a
few years later really … late 1998 … I had finally surfed the great
unknown, the www. Of course at first I had no real direction, I just
wanted to see what all the hype was all about. Then the direction came
when I did a general search for horror based material. Then came the
horror based fan sites with their message forums. They were great and I
still have numerous fond memories of many of them. Lots have long since
passed, but there are still many of them that still stand to this day.

I finally got my calling though , I wanted to create a fan based web
community of sorts that catered to films that we here in North America.
Either not known about, or have little known knowledge about. Well, with
how the world has grown with the spirit of the internet that would be
hard. Still my drive was there, I wanted to share the knowledge I had with
others who sought it out and were just discovering it as well. Though my
knowledge is surpassed by others that would be my next step, to assemble a
core group of fans with great knowledge of many of these films. To share
their thoughts and knowledge with others. Finally in late 2002 after the
death of my best friend, and fellow Euro-horror aficionado, I decided to
start the recruitment and get things going.

The birth of what is now called CINEMA NOCTURNA is pretty much that of the
way a new website goes. Only instead of recruiting the main core after the
fact, I had a team of what I considered the cream of the crop when it came
to the facts. People like Paul Cooke, with his wizardry of words and his
vast knowledge and love for many of the same films I enjoyed. Devin Kelly,
who’s love and passion for Euro-Cult and more only made the right sense to
recruit. Frankie Marino, who’s knowledge of Euro-crime inspired my own
adventures into many films I had no idea about, but now hold close to my
heart!. There’s nothing quite like those Merli flicks!. Sean Patrick
Dolan, who I had known something of from another genre site, in which he
had contributed to. He too writes with such passion, this was another must
have for Cinema Nocturna’s founding strength and still is to this day.
Finding Michael Bolvary was on a different level all together. Standing in
the main train station in Toronto, I was waiting for my train when he
approached me about the t-shirt I was wearing at the time. That t-shirt
was none other then Lucio Fulci’s CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD. He announced
that he was a huge fan of Fulci’s. We talked the whole train ride. Upon my
departure I had pointed him toward Cinema Nocturna and of course you know
the outcome of that!. As for all the little things that make up CN - for
instance our whacked out rating system, THE BITCH SLAP, I would like to
thank Frankie for that concept. The various section titles here as well,
like our European forum SPLATTER MAFIOSO, just some word mixing of mine.
Our Asian cinema section's title of Ballistic Blood Bullets comes courtesy
of none other than CN's wizard with words, Paul Cooke!.

Today, Cinema Nocturna is as big as it has ever been and continues to
grow! Adding writers such as my good friend Kit Gavin to the mix with his
vast and in many cases first hand knowledge of many European based genre
films. He has been a solid and vital part of our feel, one like the others
is irreplaceable. And of just recently the additions of Harvey
F.Chartrand, a fellow Canadian with loads of background and writing
talent. From the ashes of Horror-Wood, he brings a new dimension to the
Underbelly of Film. Also, Cathleen Grado, Cinema Nocturna’s first female
write, bring tons of great passion to us! Her film knowledge and love is
reflected in each of her pieces. She certainly is a welcomed addition to
Cinema Nocturna!

Of course, throughout Cinema Nocturna’s many changing faces, there has
been a constant presences behind the scenes. On that has and continues to
be a very vital part of our being here, that is Sean Reppe. Since the very
beginning, I had the idea, but Sean was the guiding source for me to start
the design. Yes, it was humble, but hey I like Cinema Nocturna was
beginning too. So, there is a big thanks to Sean and his knowledge and
skills in giving Cinema Nocturna a face! Less we forgot all the countless
independent film makers who we have grow with and all the companies who
look to us for reviews! Tony at X-Ploited Cinema for his long standing as
our main sponsor! We thank you all!

STEVE GENIER (FOUNDER/OWNER)
CINEMA NOCTURNA-THE UNDERBELLY OF FILM!
 
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