About James Simpson

I'm based in the north east of England, middle aged and have a passion for horror movies, wrestling, snooker and pizza (in any order).

I started writing about pro-wrestling back in 2012 for Alt Wrestling Magazine and a handful of websites I actually can't remember. When someone suggested I'd be good at writing about horror films I switched paths.

I started off on now defunct ZombieHamster.com, now defunct UKHorrorScene.com and a couple of other sites (now defunct; I see a trend) before writing for Scream Magazine. In my time writing for those establishments I interviewed the likes of Lloyd Kaufman, Emily Booth and Dick Maas, ran a double screening of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II with the blessing of Clive Barker and Barbie Wilde, Simon Bamford and Cliff Wallace in attendance, plus reviewed countless movies.

In 2014 I had amassed something of a following and gotten a lot of positive feedback for my writing so I created my own movie review and features website InfernalCinema.com (now defu..you get the picture). While it was more popular than I thought it would be I took a step back on trying to expand the site following some personal issues (that's diplomatic talk for 'went through a divorce ((my marriage was defunct?)), was depressed, took a long time to move on, didn't drive to Dundee in bare feet like Alan Partridge) and when I gave more attention to Infernal Cinema in 2017 I felt like something was lacking.

At the start of 2018 I figured it was to write a book. I hoped it would be more lasting and accessible than features and reviews for websites that all end up defunct. I wanted to write about niche horror but in a manner or subject that hadn't been done before. I somehow came to the topic of VIPCO; the now defunct (there's that word again) British distributor of Video Nasties and low grade horror fodder on VHS then DVD. That book ended up being Video Nasty Mayhem: The Inside Story of VIPCO and was published in November 2019 to reviews I have never read (apart from the Starburst one, that got my pre-order numbers way up within 24 hours). I also appeared in the documentary about VIPCO named The Untold Story (I seem to have a weird facial tick in it due to nerves, gone now, and talk about Zombie Nosh in a rude manner, oo-er).

2020 - 2022; COVID

Come 2023 I felt ready to write a second book as Video Nasty Mayhem was still selling copies (not a lot, but it was encouraging to see people were still buying it) and had found out some well known names had the book. I figured I'd start the book, do research and try to get some of those well known names to feature as interviews about whatever it was that I would write about. Anyway, I eventually wrote the whole thing, a few drafts in fact, before finally looking for a publisher. 

That takes us up to today as I write this in late July 2025 just days after I signed with Bear Manor Media to publish the book by the end of 2025. The book is about controversial, gory and banned or heavily edited movies that disturb even the most hardened of cult cinema fans. One publisher refused to continue talks with me after I told them about one particluar film that will be in the book. Their loss. But Bear Manor Media are aware of what they're getting themselves in to.

Please check back here for more news on my second book and email me or reach out by social media if you like.