Author(s): Jonathan Penner, Steven Jay Schneider
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Taschen
Release date: April 18, 2012
Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars
Horror is easily my favorite genre of film. When you thing of Taschen you this of high quality books and beautiful photos. Well, that is exactly what you get with this 2012 update of this fantastic look into the world of horror filmmaking. If you are a fan of horror films, this is a MUST purchase and it is available at a very reasonable price as well, only $14.99. This book is really an amazing visual journey.
The book itself is split into ten parts covering all different aspects of the genre. The categories covered are the following: Slashers & Serial Killers; Cannibals, Freaks & Hillbillys; Revenge of Nature & Environmental Horror; Science-Fiction Horror; The Living Dead; Ghosts & Haunted Houses; Possession, Demons & Evil Tricksters; Voodoo, Cults & Satanists; Vampires & Werewolves; and The Monstrous-Feminine. I mean is anything left out here!? Nope. They cover every single aspect of horror.
The films featured in this book have such range and do not focus on a specific time in the genre’s history. It ranges so well from 1920’s “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” to “Jaws” to “Gremlins” to “Creature from the Black Lagoon”. Of course there are also the classics like such as “Psycho”, “Alien”, “The Exorcist”, and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. I really enjoyed the rare behind the scenes look that this allows us to see a different side of our favorite films. For example, we get a look of H.R. Geiger holding an egg from “Alien” or Steven Spielberg sitting on Bruce the shark from “Jaws”.
Like I mentioned, Taschen is known for its high quality work. This book contains ridiculously high quality photos, some are even full page from our favorite horror movies. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere that the book develops ranging its photos from crisp black and white to glorious color. Horror fans will love the fact that this book is also no-holds barred. It is not afraid to show a ton of gore and nudity. This book will be prominently placed in my bookshelf and shown off to all my friends that also enjoy horror.
