Samhain was an incredibly awesome horror movie magazine from Britain that was around from the mid to late ’80s into the mid 90s.  I’m not sure exactly when or why it ended it’s print run, but I know there were over 50 issues printed (I’ve heard there were over 70, but not absolutely sure on that).

It started out as more of a fanzine, but quickly (by issue 5) it became a full color glossy magazine with better articles than Fangoria or most any of the other glossy magazines that were out at the time.

The issue we’re focusing on today was one of the earlier, more fanzine-ish ones (actually the one right before they jumped to glossy and color), issue #4 from 1987.
Even these earlier issues were quite professional.  The layout was a little bland, but the articles were essential reading for horror and gore movie fans of the time.  This issue had 32 pages, and featured several long, in-depth reviews of current movies, books, and ‘zines as well as articles reviewing all the films of Wes Craven and Lucio Fulci’s zombie movies (worth the cover price alone).  It also had an article on Dracula at the movies, one on the BBC‘s summer horror television productions (including Quartermass), letters to the magazine, news, art, want ads, and an incredible interview with Clive Barker (I wish most magazines would do interviews this good with interesting people).

All in all a very satisfying issue of an excellent magazine.

Peruse some pages of it below…