English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema

From the silent era to ³Hellraiser,² a compelling illustrated history of the British horror film, featuring 100 key movies and 150 illustrations, stills, and photos.

Though British horror films enjoyed a golden age from the mid-'50s to the mid-'70s, film critics were long reluctant to give Britain its due, according to film historian Jonathan Rigby. He buries any lingering doubts about his country's unique and considerable contributions to the genre in English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema, taking readers on a deliciously chilling ride from the silent era through 1975. Particularly riveting are the more than 150 film stills and other black-and-white photos that capture characters cowering in fear, being stalked by mummies and turning into werewolves; fortunately, these overshadow the small type, packed too tightly into its pages.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This useful overview of British horror films condenses 100 years of celluloid fright into 100 key works and over 170 black-and-white illustrations. Less scholarly than Peter Hutchings's Hammer and Beyond (Manchester Univ., 1993) and less focused on a particular period than Gary A. Smith's Uneasy Dreams (McFarland, 1999), this book will likely prove more popular with a wider readership. British film historian Rigby's prose is lively and assured. His evaluative comments are worthwhile, and his recounting of historical developments is both accessible and informative. Fans will appreciate his attention to detail, while casual readers will benefit from his skilled survey. Libraries that already own Andy Boot's similar Fragments of Fear (Creation Bks., 1995) might hesitate before purchasing, but otherwise, this title is recommended for any institution supporting a large film studies collection. Neal Baker, Earlham Coll., Richmond, IN
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.