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The Rough Guide to Horror Movies |
Author: Alan Jones
Published: 2005-10-17 |
List price: $14.99
Our price: $10.19
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As of: November 19th, 2008 08:50:09 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Five Stars?
Doesn't anybody who has so far reviewed this book have a problem that the author gives away endings? I mean, being a horror aficionado, I had seen most of the movies represented in this book, but if I hadn't seen them, I would have been considerably upset at having the endings to such classics as "Psycho" ruined. Additionally, I find that the book is occasionally awkwardly written. It's quite accessible though, even for casual fans of horror and the list of movies and people/characters critical to the genre is comprehensive.
2.5/5
 Great Introduction to the Horror Genre
I have been a die-hard Horror Fan since I was a kid, so when I bought this book I was very surprised to see aspects of the genre not readily covered by most horror books. It speaks of the 19th century influences on the genre, and also doesn't dwell on only the slasher flicks of the 60's onward, and the author writes everything in a very easy manner, nothing too difficult to understand. All in all, a very fun read, and a great intro. to people interested to find out more about the genre.
 Nice reference guide for horror films
The various Rough Guides to movies that have come out over the past couple of years have been hit-or-miss affairs. While not perfect, the Rough Guide to Horror Movies is definitely more on the hit side.
As with the other Guides, this book is divided into several sections, including a brief history of horror movies, a listing of icons of the genre, a look at horror in other countries and various reference sources. The centerpiece, however, is The Canon, an alphabetical look at the top 50 horror movies.
As usual, this list is debatable, though some more than others. Certainly few horror fans can debate such choices as Frankenstein, Cat People, Dracula (both the Lugosi and Lee versions), the Exorcist, Nosferatu, Suspiria or Halloween. Other choices, on the other hand, would get more argument, at least from me: flicks such as The Plague of Zombies, Switchblade Romance (a.k.a. High Tension) or Witchfinder General (a.k.a. The Conqueror Worm). Not that these are bad movies (even Switchblade Romance - which suffers from a trite plot twist - is not awful), but there are, I think better choices out there. What about Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 28 Days Later, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (the Fredric March version), Children of the Damned, The Masque of the Red Death or Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (just kidding on this one)?
Everyone's tastes will vary, so I don't fault author Alan Jones on his choices, as he does not put forth a good argument for his choices. There are little flaws here and there - missed or incorrect plot points, for example - but generally, this is a worthwhile reference book. Even if not perfect, it gives a good overview of the genre and will give most fans a chance to read of movies they were unaware of.
Highly recommended
Reading this book is like shopping while hungry: everything will look good to you. You'll come away from this book with several dozen films you want to see, many of them foreign. Great trivia, like the line 'Don't step on it, it might be Lon Chaney.' (He was apparently known for his commitment to creature effects in the days before CGI).
One of the best introductions
This is really a remarkably good overview of horror cinema. It offers a variety of information (historical, filmographic, aesthetic, cultural) which is organized to encourage casual or random browsing but also very readable from cover to cover. The background chapter on horror literature is particularly informative. No special theory is offered; some otherwise excellent horror film books take an overly-specialized perspective, but you won't have that problem here. The genre is taken seriously, but the fun of it is always kept in view. Many very fine (and some rarely seen) photos grace the book throughout. I only noticed one "blooper": in the sidebar on Barbara Steele, Fellini is reported to have "cut her out" of his film "8-1/2." However, when I saw it recently, Babbara was beautifully present in one important scene. Otherwise, this is a very well-done volume and is heartily recommended.
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