There’s always something especially fun about watching a horror movie amid a cheering, chuckling and appreciative audience, and never was this more true than at the recent Italian Horror Weekend at the Glasgow Film Theatre.

Over two nights, three genre classics played to a sell-out crowd: Lucio Fulci’s fun, logic-defying video nasty The House by the Cemetery (reviewed here); Lamberto Bava’s nutty debut, Macabre (reviewed here); and Cut and Run, the violent (and undeniably silly) 1985 adventure thriller from Cannibal Holocaust director Ruggero Deodato.

Even better, the latter two movies were accompanied by Q&As with their directors (and the assistance of a translator). Ruggero Deodato related some of the baffling problems he had during the shoot – particularly those involving star Richard Bright. According to the twinkle-eyed Deodato, Bright would knock on his door late at night and declare: “You’re a very good director, but I have a problem with you. I’m in love with your girlfriend!” [co-star Valentina Forte]. Bright would also apparently turn up to the set drunk (while Karen Black looked on in disbelief), and then beg Deodato not to call his agent! Crazed stories like this, of course, only add to the cult appeal of an oddity like Cut and Run.

Deodato also briefly touched on the time he almost directed Spider-Man – before the collapse of Cannon, which, the director asserts, “finished my career in Hollywood!” It’s fascinating to think what the director of Cannibal Holocaust would have made of the web-slinger – though, of course, Sam Raimi helmed his own video nasty in the form of The Evil Dead.

Lamberto Bava seemed to equally enjoy appearing before an admiring crowd of horror fans. He revealed how his celebrated father, Mario, refused to read the script of Macabre or give much in the way of advice as he wanted Bava to carry out his own vision. However, Mario did get the chance to see Macabre shortly before he died – and his reaction was: “Now I can die in peace.”

Total Sci-Fi also joined the sprightly Bava and Deodato for a tour of Glasgow, where the duo had fun with phone boxes (pictured; Deodato left, Bava right), befriended a family of Italians and became fascinated by a single discarded slipper.

Bava lamented to us that Italian cinemagoers aren’t interested in horror movies anymore, meaning that the golden age of the Italian horror movie is dead, at least for now. But if this weekend is anything to go by, interest in the genre's heyday is stronger than it ever was in the UK. And if we can’t help but miss the rush of watching a banned video nasty, at least we can now appreciate the films on their own terms - and they're uncut to boot!

The House by the Cemetery and Macabre are out now on DVD through Arrow Films (region 2).

Words: Matt McAllister; Picture: Calum Waddell