Juan Piquer Simon (1935 – 2011)

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write about the passing of Juan Piquer Simon. His classic over the top slasher masterpiece Pieces (masterPieces?) is a one of a kind sort of film. The straight faced cast delivers a film that makes the audience both cringe and laugh at Piquer’s antics.

Like so many great slasher classics, Pieces didn’t really come into its own until the early 2000s when it began playing second run theaters and also became a bit of an oddity among horror journalists and bloggers. If modern technology has done anything of (fun) note, it has allowed little quirky films like this to find a second audience via internet word of mouth and DVD… I actually discovered this movie myself in the late 90s when I rented it on a whim. It became a mainstay for me, and I often found myself watching it before I went to bed (I know, I’m crazy that way)… The goofy and absurd dialog always brought a smile to my face (“Bastards! Bastards! Baaaassssstttttaaaarrrrrddddssss!”) and I adored watching the veteran George’s take on a sleazy serial killer, enduring everything from kung fu college professors to oversexed co-eds. And there is no director on this planet that loved instant coffee as much as Juan (watch the last scene if you don’t know what I mean!)…

RIP Juan, your film has ensured you will never be forgotten…

You can read more at Dread Central.

Read our two reviews of Pieces here and here.

And read a hilarious review of Slugs at Horror Digest!

And a special thank you to Jason Stout for letting me know about Mr. Piquer’s passing.