Lucio Fulci (1927-1996) is an Italian horror film director whose cult and popularity have increased since his death. He is most famous for the films Zombie Flesh Eaters and The Beyond – the latter of which was a huge influence on Quentin Tarantino who gave it a theatre release in the USA.

I would argue that Fulci is much more than a horror film hack as he is often perceived. His horror films were immensely successful within Italy but he was very bitter about Dario Argento and the big budgets he could procure, as well as the critical acclaim. Fulci thought that he would be remembered as a mere side note in film history but he must be looking down from the skies now having the last laugh as he sees how horror fans have given him so much esteem.

As I said, I would go further than praising Fulci as ‘The Godfather of Gore’ – a title he shares with Herschell Gordon Lewis. During the 1970s Fulci directed two key Giallos (violent Italian murder mystery films) which have only achieved recognition over the past couple of years.