<<The>> making of horror movies key figures who established the genre

Horror films divide opinion. It wasn't until 1973 that a horror film ('The Exorcist') was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and many respected critics still regard them with amused condescension. The public's view is also sharply divided. Some cinema goers revel in the thought of being made very, very afraid, while some just don't like horror films because they don't want to be frightened.This guide, which is for both the fan and the more faint-hearted, steers an illuminating path through a genre that has, since the early days of cinema, split off into many sub-divisions - folk horror, slasher movies, Hammer, sci-fi horror, psychological thrillers, zombie movies, among others.Times change but movie-makers can always find a way to tap into what we fear and dread, whether it's blood-sucking vampires or radioactive mutations, evil children or the living dead.This book also gives concise biographies of the many actors and directors who saw their careers - for better or worse - defined by their association with horror movies, and who created a genre that is instantly recognisable in all its forms and continues to find new and ingenious ways of scaring us in the dark.Includes 32 black and white illustrations. About the Author Jennifer Selway is a UK film and TV critic, former editor of the Guardian/Observer's TV pages and contributor to the Time Out Film Guide. She is also a playwright and newspaper columnist. She is married and has three grown-up children who reside with her in Hampshire. Traces society’s changing preoccupations as reflected in horror films, including biographies of all your favorite, classic horror stars. Horror films divide opinion. It wasn’t until 1973 that a horror film (The Exorcist) was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and many respected critics still regard them with amused condescension. The public’s view is also sharply divided. Some cinema goers revel in the thought of being made very, very afraid, while some just don’t like horror films because they don’t want to be frightened. This guide, which is for both the fan and the more faint-hearted, steers an illuminating path through a genre that has, since the early days of cinema, split off into many sub-divisions - folk horror, slasher movies, Hammer, sci-fi horror, psychological thrillers, zombie movies, among others. Times change but movie-makers can always find a way to tap into what we fear and dread, whether it’s blood-sucking vampires or radioactive mutations, evil children or the living dead. This book also gives concise biographies of the many actors and directors who saw their careers – for better or worse – defined by their association with horror movies, and who created a genre that is instantly recognisable in all its forms and continues to find new and ingenious ways of scaring us in the dark. Traces societys changing preoccupations as reflected in horror films, including biographies of all your favorite, classic horror stars. Horror films divide opinion. It wasnt until 1973 that a horror film (The Exorcist) was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and many respected critics still regard them with amused condescension. The publics view is also sharply divided. Some cinema goers revel in the thought of being made very, very afraid, while some just dont like horror films because they dont want to be frightened. This guide, which is for both the fan and the more faint-hearted, steers an illuminating path through a genre that has, since the early days of cinema, split off into many sub-divisions - folk horror, slasher movies, Hammer, sci-fi horror, psychological thrillers, zombie movies, among others. Times change but movie-makers can always find a way to tap into what we fear and dread, whether its blood-sucking vampires or radioactive mutations, evil children or the living dead. This book also gives concise biographies of the many actors and directors who saw their careers for better or worse defined by their association with horror movies, and who created a genre that is instantly recognizable in all its forms and continues to find new and ingenious ways of scaring us in the dark. A fascinating journey through society's changing preoccupations as reflected in horror films—plus profiles of the genre's top actors and directors. It wasn't until 1973 that a horror film— The Exorcist —was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, and critics are still divided today, many regarding them with amused condescension. The public's view is also sharply divided. Some cinema-goers revel in the thought of being made very, very afraid, while others avoid horror films because they don't want to be frightened. This guide, which is for both the fan and the more fainthearted, steers an illuminating path through a genre that has, since the early days of cinema, split off into many subdivisions—folk horror, slasher movies, Hammer, sci-fi horror, psychological thrillers, zombie movies, among others. Times change but moviemakers can always find a way to tap into what we fear and dread, whether it's blood-sucking vampires or radioactive mutations, evil children, or the living dead. This book also gives concise biographies of the many actors and directors who saw their careers—for better or worse—defined by their association with horror movies, and who created a genre that is instantly recognizable in all its forms and continues to find new and ingenious ways of scaring us in the dark. "Horror films divide opinion. It wasn't until 1973 that a horror film (The Exorcist) was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and many respected critics still regard them with amused condescension. The public's view is also sharply divided. Some cinema goers revel in the thought of being made very, very afraid, while some just don't like horror films because they don't want to be frightened. This guide, which is for both the fan and the more faint-hearted, steers an illuminating path through a genre that has, since the early days of cinema, split off into many sub-divisions - folk horror, slasher movies, Hammer, sci-fi horror, psychological thrillers, zombie movies, among others. Times change but movie-makers can always find a way to tap into what we fear and dread, whether it's blood-sucking vampires or radioactive mutations, evil children or the living dead. This book also gives concise biographies of the many actors and directors who saw their careers - for better or worse - defined by their association with horror movies, and who created a genre that is instantly recognisable in all its forms and continues to find new and ingenious ways of scaring us in the dark."-- Provided by publisher