The word's gone out on several horror sites that Paul Naschy passed away today.  Though many modern American horror fans may not know the name, fans of low budget Spanish horror will fondly remember writer/producer/director.  Naschy, whose real name was Jacinto Monina, was most famous for his schlocky takes on old Universal horror characters such as Dracula, the werewolf and the Hunchback, as well as more modern beasts such as zombies and demons that needed exorcising.  Revered by his European fans, Naschy has often been compared with Roger Corman, Fred Olen Ray and Lloyd Kaufman.

In his mid-70s, Naschy was still working on films of the same sort that drew his cult following.

I've only seen two of Naschy's films, and though they weren't my cup of tea, I can see why fans of schock films made with a Spanish flair would love him so.  His cult of fans will surely miss him.

 --Phil Fasso