Customer Reviews

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, 1978 to 1986

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Loved this book! Lots of interesting factoids about many of the stand-out Slasher-thrillers from the 70s/80s, and plenty on the ones barely seen. Rockoff knows his stuff and shares it in what was for me a nostalgic, breezy read. As others have written, I would've preferred a longer, more extensive guide with a larger number of stills, (and color would've been nice), but all-in-all
a much needed addition to any Horror-geek's library. If you love drive-in classics like 'The Burning', 'Silent Night, Deadly Night', and 'Nightmare', pick this one up.

Rockoff clearly loves the genre and his behind-the-scenes tales on such slasher faves as "Nighmare" and "Maniac" are very interesting...I just wanted more...The book barely cracks 200 pages and leaves out a host of deserving slashers (Where's Madman?The Final Terror? Hide and Go Shriek? Rockoff mentions The Burning as having spawned the most future stars of any slasher, but the Final Terror had Joe Pantoliano, Darryl Hannah, the incomparable Adrian Zmed and Rachel Ward, not too shabby!) The book is a good appetizer, but it will leave you wanting more (especially for that price...ouch!)

After meeting Rockoff I picked up his book. I expected it would be filled with references that fans would appreciate. What I found was so much more, as Going to Pieces is one of the more thoroughly researched books about any film genre that I have read. Rockoff's interviews are fresh and he tracked down a lot of people whose contributions have largely gone unnoticed. What's more, Rockoff's style is unpretentious and often very, very funny. I loved this book and if you want to go beyond the films and filmmakers every other book or magazine cites, then this book if for you, too.

Just finished reading GOING TO PIECES and thought it was a good but not great book on slasher films. It's very well written with good detail (such as release dates, budgets, how much they made, behind-the-scenes trivia, etc.) but in most cases doesn't give any new information that hasn't already been printed elsewhere. Some films are mentioned only by title while others are given more description. The book also goes beyond 1986 and dedicates it's last chapter to the resurgence of the slasher film in the late 1990's. There are just over 100 black and white photos and a bibliography and brief description of other books related to horror and slasher films. The only drawback is that the author gives away the identity of the killer or killers when describing the films and the only major mistake I noticed was in chapter 4 when Rockoff references ALIEN he mentions how "an alien spawn bursts from the chest of crew member William Hurt." It was of course John Hurt who was in ALIEN.

Upon first appearance I have to admit, I felt somewhat cheated. The book was smaller than I'd pictured it would be for a hardbound, there wasn't a dust jacket, and it looked pretty lean considering the audacity of its title. I was hopeful upon ordering but disappointed in "presentation," otherwise I would have given this book a 5-Star Rating. The reason I give this book the other four stars is because this author knows exactly what he is talking about! The thought and attention to detail are absolutely amazing: an absolutely delightful and juicy read! I'm a longtime fan of slasher films, merely for their entertainment value, of course, :0}, and have contributed to this particular genre personally on more than one occasion. Hardcore fans of the 'slasher genre' should, and will, crave this book as though it were 'the law' of the subject! Trust me, trust me, trust me, having experienced this genre firsthand, both inside and out, you will not find a better reference for this unique list of sub genre horror films! This book is the first truthful, forthright, and unbiased look at a mini-genre that was despised publicly but loved inwardly. And, despite the supposedly 'lurid' premise of its subject matter, it never strays from being 'politically correct'. A+

This thoroughly entertaining book is a must for any fan of the horror/slasher genre. Author, Adam Rockoff, has compiled an impressive list of slasher films, both the well known and the little seen. Rockoff offers detailed information for the majority of the films he has listed in the book, including plot synopsis, behind the scenes anecdotes, quotes and stories from those involved in making the movies. The author is not afraid to offer his own opinions (both good and bad) of each film as well. The book is filled with lots of photographs as well, although curiously, none are color photos.There is even a list of films that go by multiple titles at the back of the book. This book has inspired me to search out many of the films reviewed within which I haven't yet seen. If I have a quibble (and it is a small one) it would be that in Mr. Rockoff's breakdown of each film's plot, he reveals (and quite logically so) the film's ending, possibly spoiling some of the tension for you if you haven't yet seen the film. Also of note: at 214 pages, some may feel that the book's [$$] pricetag is a bit steep. That aside, this is a great reference guide for anyone who appreciates a little blood and guts with their popcorn.

This is a solid overview of the golden age of slasher films, including extremely informative material regarding production, distribution, box office, and the critical and popular reception of each flick. There are numerous black-and-white stills, including such fan favorites as The Prowler, House on Sorority Row, Alone in the Dark, etc., and Rockoff (who offers his own personal comments about each film as well) has some interesting insights and theories of his own. He also interviewed various directors, producers, etc. of these gems and incorporates their memories/anecdotes into the text. Not quite as extensive as you would hope, but it's encouraging to see slasher films receive the critical discussion that they deserve.

This is a pretty good book, and probably the best one out there written specifically about the slasher genre. The author has certainly done his homework and there is plenty of great behind-the-scenes stuff. I wish he'd publish a new edition, though, because this came out nearly a decade ago, and so there's nothing in there about the big slasher remake craze, or the new indie slashers such as Victor Crowley and Leslie Vernon.

My biggest complaint about the book is that the author seems to assume that his readers have seen every movie his discusses, and so he divulges huge spoilers with ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. I don't even understand why, either. He seems to just want to recap the whole plot of a film for no other reason than just to recap it. It's not like he's talking about the meaning behind a particular ending (most of the time--to be fair, sometimes he does), or anything like that. Half the time he gives away the ending for no apparent reason, and I was often spoiled against my will for movies I haven't gotten to see yet! That wasn't cool at all.

Also, there's not a lot of discussion about the meaning behind these kinds of films; mostly it's a lot of behind-the-scenes stories, which is still nice, but overall, I would have appreciated something more from this book. It's definitely worth owning, but just watch out for spoilers! There are no warnings whatsoever.

Going to Pieces is quintessential reading for any Slasher fan. Rockoff provides a textbook collection of information covering the historical influences like the theater of the Grand Guignol leading up to the Slasher era, through its early development in films like PSYCHO or PEEPING TOM, to its perfection in HALLOWEEN, and then thoroughly examines each of the major entries from FRIDAY THE 13th to the lesser known JUST BEFORE DAWN before discussing the expected end to the exploitation of American audiences.

Rockoff has tirelessly researched every possible press kit, newspaper clipping, and interview in order to assemble this definitive work. Prior to its publication in 2002, very little information remained available to the Slasher fan when it came to many of the then out of print titles. Cast and crew members that had not past away had fallen into obscurity, and as Rockoff recalls, many of the directors that had passed took all of the film's stories and histories with them since no one had bothered to record them previously. Now in 2009, we have been given director's cuts of everything from THE NEW YORK RIPPER to MY BLOODY VALENTINE, along with a slew of behind-the-scenes special features. Even armed with all of the information that has surfaced since 2002, Going to Pieces still offers a great deal of insightful information and interviews that detail the productions of films like HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, GRADUATION DAY, HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE, and others that have still yet to receive more than bare-bones releases.

No stone is left unturned as Rockoff cites interviews with genre legends John Carpenter and Sean Cunningham with the same admiration and enthusiasm that he gives to less appreciated but equally talented directors like Fred Walton (WHEN A STRANGER CALLS) or Paul Lynch (PROM NIGHT). Many of these exclusive interviews produce little known facts about the films Slasher fans have grown to love, along with amusing anecdotes about the cast and production difficulties. Additional rare interviews from across the globe have also been cited from prolific filmmakers such as Dario Argento or Lucio Fulci, who made their marks with the closely-related Itialian Gialli.

While the majority of the information is provided in an objective and scholarly manner, Rockoff is sure to sneak in his opinions on the majority of the films (often in less-than-subtle remarks), and for the most part his opinions closely reflect those of the versed Slasher fan. In terms of complete coverage, the book manages to cover 90% of what would be considered the "classic" Slasher entries, but considering the enormous catalog of cheap copycats and cash-ins, I would estimate its total coverage at about 40% of the genre at large. It is an excellent effort that boldly tackles a genre of film that is commonly overlooked or frowned upon in most other Horror literature, making Going to Pieces a must-read for all fans. **Be sure to note, however, that this collection is better left to the Slasher fan that has seen the majority of these films in order to avoid major spoilers and for a greater appreciation of the references and directors mentioned in the text.** Going to Pieces has been adapted into a Documentary film as well in 2007, which offers the same excellent interviews with slightly fewer spoilers, so for those of you that haven't had the opportunity to watch films like THE PROWLER or THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW, I recommend watching the documentary first for glimpses into the films, following it with the films themselves, and then immediately transitioning into the book for the most complete background information.

-Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies

A thorough and loving ode to horror movies from Psycho to the early 2000's. I enjoyed re-visiting some of the flicks I grew up on. I never found them scary, but that didn't detract from my pleasure of them.

Matthew Goodwin