The Dark Side (magazine)


The Dark Side is a bi-monthly UK magazine covering the field of horror cinema. It generally offers a mix of reviews of new releases and interviews with directors and actors. Launched in 1990 it has been edited throughout its run by Allan Bryce. Originally owned by part of Robert Maxwell's publishing empire, it was later bought by Stray Cat, in which Bryce was a partner.
The original 1st 12 issues of the magazine were designed by Jeff Gurney - Designer and Art editor, who came up with the original layout and design concept, headers and title logo of the magazine which was hand drawn and is still used today.
Jeff Gurney stopped designing the magazine after the Maxwell company was dissolved after Maxwells death and it was sold and handed over to Allan Bryce of Stray Cat with help and instruction from Jeff Gurney of the design, to help keep the magazine going in its same format.
It also has its own DVD and book imprint. Releases include a reissue of John Martin's study of the "video nasty" phenomenon, The Seduction of the Gullible.
The magazine ceased publication in September 2009, but was re-launched under Ghoulish Publishing a year and a half later, going on sale on a bi-monthly basis from 21 April 2011, the first issue being dated May/June 2011. In November 2012, Ghoulish Publishing launched Dark Side Digital, a bi monthly online subscription magazine which alternated each month with the print edition found on shelves. The Dark Side is widely available in the UK and abroad, and as of issue 166 the print magazine is now available every six weeks and a digital edition of the same is available simultaneously from the magazine's website.

Writers

At the time it suspended publication, The Dark Side's regular contributors included John Martin, Calum Waddell, Alan Jones, Eileen Daly, Jason Slater, Jonathan Sothcott and Brad Stevens. Past writers include Stan Nicholls, Steve Green, John Brosnan, Barry Hurford and David Kerekes. Since its relaunch it has also taken on Simon Hooper, Denis Meikle and many more genre experts; Green, Martin and Waddell have also contributed to the new series.