Customer Reviews

Dark Romance: Sexuality in the Horror Film

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Not being a horror movie afficionado, I still found this book immensely enjoyable. Intelligently written and conversational in tone, this is more a knowledgeable overview of the horror genre than a discussion of sexuality in horror films. As the book was originally published in 1986, the focus is not diluted with the recent resurgence of horror films. Mr. Hogan's insights are detailed and entertaining on such topics as Hammer films, Barbara Steele, the gore subgenre. Included are many b/w pictures, a filmography for each chapter, a bibliography , and an index. Highly recommended for anyone remotely interested in scary movies, film in general, or those just looking for a rollicking good read.

A great book, which I have enjoyed several times over the years... though having revisited it recently I was slightly less enthused as an adult perspective revealed a synopsis-collage with lite postulations, both obvious and far-fetched, which gloss over the themes indicated by the book's title. My adult prejudices aside, it is nonetheless a fascinating and inclusive (per it's impressive range) overview of the topic, with great bits of information on varying films both famous and obscure. A worthy edition to any horror film collector's library, though it will be most appreciated by younger readers and those looking for a solid first encounter with the horror film genre as a whole.