Horror Films of the 1970s [Hardcover]

John Kenneth Muir (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786412496 | ISBN-13: 978-0786412495 | Publication Date: August 20, 2002

The seventies were a decade of groundbreaking horror films: The Exorcist, Carrie, and Halloween were three. This detailed filmography covers these and 225 more. Section One provides an introduction and a brief history of the decade.

Beginning with 1970 and proceeding chronologically by year of its release in the United States, Section Two offers an entry for each film. Each entry includes several categories of information: Critical Reception (sampling both ’70s and later reviews), Cast and Credits, P.O.V., (quoting a person pertinent to that film’s production), Synopsis (summarizing the film’s story), Commentary (analyzing the film from Muir’s perspective), Legacy (noting the rank of especially worthy ’70s films in the horror pantheon of decades following).

Section Three contains a conclusion and these five appendices: horror film clichés of the 1970s, frequently appearing performers, memorable movie ads, recommended films that illustrate how 1970s horror films continue to impact the industry, and the 15 best genre films of the decade as chosen by Muir.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Independent filmmaker Muir (The Films of John Carpenter; Wes Craven: The Art of Horror) offers a top-notch overview of American horror movies of the 1970s, an era rife with social and political turmoil. Many of the films made at the time reflected changes in conventional morals and ideals while introducing a new brand of monsters and new versions of classics. Muir opens with an entertaining and informative "Brief History," which discusses actors Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, the influence of productions by Hammer Films (the most financially successful British film company), and some of the best, worst, and most controversial flicks of the period. Part 2, which makes up the bulk of the book, consists of some 228 chronological entries on standout movies, including Carrie and The Exorcist. Each entry covers cast and crew, critical reception (based on reviews from the 1970s and later), synopsis, direct quotes from cast when available, and commentary providing further information on the film's merits or bad points. Muir's commentaries are well worth reading, especially for those who have seen the particular film. He closes with five appendixes, including his pick of the ten best movies of the decade and memorable ad lines, such as "You have been warned" from The Omen. An impressive resource for all film collections, this work complements Mike Mayo's excellent VideoHound's Horror Show: 99 Hair-Raising, Hellish, and Humorous Movies, which covers the 1950s through the 1990s but with less analysis. Highly recommended.
Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Pembroke Pines, FL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The 1970s is one of the great decades for horror films. Classics such as Carrie, The Exorcist, Jaws, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre all debuted during this time. Works by directors Stephen Spielberg, John Carpenter, Brian de Palma, Wes Craven, and others helped shape horror cinema. Focusing mostly on American films, this resource examines 200 movies released from 1970 to 1979.

The book is organized into 10 year-by-year sections, with the films arranged alphabetically by title and given ratings of between one and four stars. Most of the entries begin with excerpts from reviews, information on cast and crew, a synopsis, commentary by the author, and in some cases comments about the film's legacy. The cast and crew information and plot summaries are important reference resources. The commentary, which can go on for several pages, puts each film in context and discusses style and filmmaking techniques. It also explores how topics such as racism, religion, and women's rights are represented in films like Blacula, The Exorcist, and The Stepford Wives, respectively.

Perhaps the best part of the work is the beginning essay, "The History of the Decade (in Brief . . .)," which explains why horror films were so unique during the 1970s and explores some of the common themes, such as post-Vietnam distrust of government, nature run amuck, and the failure of science. The work ends with five appendixes: "Horror Film Conventions of the 1970s," "The 1970s Horror Hall of Fame," "Memorable Movie Ad Lines," "Then and Now--Recommended Viewing," and "The Best Horror Movies of the 1970s."

Horror Films of the 1970s is an important reference tool for film collections in academic and public libraries and a must for fans. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 672 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (August 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786412496
• ISBN-13: 978-0786412495
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,744,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Kenneth Muir is the award-winning author of over 20 books in the fields of film & television, with an accent on horror & sci-fi. John has been described as one of the horror genre's "most widely read critics" by Rue Morgue Magazine, and as an "accomplished film journalist" by Comic Buyer's Guide. His director books include profiles of John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Christopher Guest, Tobe Hooper, Mira Nair, Sam Raimi, and Kevin Smith. John has twice won a Booklist Editor's Choice citation (for Horror Films of the 1970s and Terror Television). John is also the creator of the award-nominated web series, The House Between, and in 2009 John's blog, Reflections on Film/TV was named one of the "top 1000" film study blogs on the Net. In 2010, John appears in the documentary Nightmares in Red, White and Blue.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Reference Guide to 1970s Horror, January 29, 2003

By 

Tucker (Taunton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Horror Films of the 1970s (Hardcover)

John Kenneth Muir's "Horror Films of the 1970s" is a great reference guide for all horror movie fans. Covering 228 horror films from the 70s, the book is crammed with with detailed information within its 662 pages.

The book begins with a "History of the Decade" and then breaks down the horror films by year, ending with a brief conclusion and several appendices, which include "1970s Hall of Fame," "Recommended Viewing," and "Memorable Movie Ad Lines."

Muir tackles most of the films in the book (I say most because not all of the films reviewed follow this format....some are just given a brief mention and are not even rated.) by breaking it down into sections. First, he provides excerpts from critical reviews of the film. He then provides a cast and crew list. He then provides a POV section (where those people associated with making the film offer their thoughts on the film.) Next comes a synopsis of the film's storyline before moving on to the author's own commentary and review of the film. Finally, there is a Legacy section which details any important (good or bad) contribution that the film may have made to the genre as a whole. The author also provides a rating system (one to four stars) ranking the over-all quality of the film.

Muir's love of the genre is evident in the text, although his commentarys can sometimes be lengthy (he seems to have a gift for gab.) This reader found that Muir can sometimes "over analyze" a film, reading things into the script that I don't think were ever really there to begin with (not even by the makers of the film). The commentarys, however, have helped me to view a film differently, shedding light on aspects of the film that I may have otherwise overlooked. I am now much more aware of how camera techniques, lighting, editing and score (critical in all films but probably even more so to the horror genre) can contribute to the success or failure of a film. Muir even points out how some film's subtext points directly to the fears and concerns of the audience in the "disco era." (Again, something I may have overlooked.......especially 30 years later.) All these small points add up and can make watching one of these movies a much more enjoyable experience. This makes the book a remarkable success in my opinion.

On the whole, the book is a very enjoyable read and most horror lovers will probably find it quite satisfying. I am now in search of many of the films included in the book that I haven't yet seen. Some I have never even heard of until being introduced to them by Mr. Muir. Hopefully, a sequel (Horror Films of the 1980s)is somewhere on the horizon.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Scary How Fun This Book Is!, February 19, 2003

By 

William Latham (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Horror Films of the 1970s (Hardcover)

John Muir's filmbooks are really in their own genre -- they're not quite film analysis, they're not quite fan appreciation -- they're somewhere in the middle, and that's what gives them their special appeal. Ever watch a DVD with director's commentary? That's what it's like reading one of Muir's film books -- you're discussing films with someone who loves them, and it's infectious. The end result is it's not dry film criticism (do we really need another Freudian analysis of anything?) -- it's sharing the joy and wonder of great films and not so great films and some downright guilty pleasures with someone who really brings experience, humor, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the subject matter. As a major fan of horror films from the 1970s, this book jumps right to the top of my list of "must-haves". It's not a reference book -- it's a cover-to-cover read that's just formatted like a reference book. You'll find old favorites in here as well as get a little exposure to some films you haven't seen and probably should. It was the "best of times" for horror films (its only competing decade would be the 1930s, IMHO), and this book ranks with the "best of books" for a great decade for creepy movies. It does a great job of putting these films in their proper context (it was a fascinating decade, and its horror films really mirror that). This is a book that will make you smile, and throw you back a few decades into a time that was simpler and more confused...If you like horror films, you'll love this book. This should be a daily calendar! 365 Great Horror Films a Year!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, long-awaited reference book, July 30, 2004

By 

rndkr "rndkr" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horror Films of the 1970s (Hardcover)

As a died-in-the-wool horror fan, I really appreciate the thought and care put into this reference book. Muir makes a compelling case for this decade's importance in the genre (I think the 70's would win hands-down in a contest of the greatest number of significant or classic horror films in a decade. Look at the evidence: Halloween, Alien, Carrie, The Exorcist, Suspiria, Jaws, The Stepford Wives, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc., etc.). Further, Muir gives good analysis, and that is very appreciated, even when he occasionally gets carried away (he has a tendency to state a thesis--check out his analysis of some of Tobe Hooper's formalist techniques in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre--and then repeat himself over and over just to make sure that we, the readers, get it); there are also a number of small errors in details from certain films that annoyed me just because they are so careless: it is the TANZ Academy that Jessica Harper travels to in Suspiria, not the TAMM Academy, and it is the ALLARDYCE family that rents the evil house to Karen Black and Oliver Reed in Burnt Offerings, not The ALLODICES (I happen to be a big fan of both films so these mistakes particularly stuck out like bleeding limbs to me). But those are minor quibbles really; mostly I'm just grateful that Muir is not only a fan, but an intelligent writer and critic as well. I agree with another reviewer: let's next have a book on Horror Films of the 1980's, Mr. Muir.