Horror Movie Freak [Paperback]

Don Sumner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2010

You'll scream with delight while reading this fun and engaging book that discusses fright flicks all horror fans need to see to ascend to the level of a true Horror Freak — from classics (Dracula and Psycho) to modern movies (Drag Me to Hell) and lesser-known gems (Dog Soldiers).

Movies are divided into various categories including Asian horror, beginners, homicidal slashers, supernatural thrillers, and zombie invasion. Features more than 130 movies, 250+ photos of movie stills and posters, and a chapter on remakes and reimaginings. The book also includes the DVD of George A. Romero's original 1968 version of "Night of the Living Dead."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fun and completely enjoyable. You can almost hear the terrible music that filmmakers like me use when we make a horror flick. This is an excellent guide for Horror Freaks and aspiring horror movie makers. If you're already a Freak, Horror Movie Freak will turn you into one, so be careful...and stay scared." --GEORGE ROMERO, director of Night of the Living Dead

About the Author

Don Sumner's first experience with horror was sneaking up in the middle of the night to watch Terror Train on cable TV and he hasn't stopped since. He is the CEO of Horror Freaks Media LLC, has served as the expert on horror movie locales for USA Today, and is committed to countering the unenlightened views of movie critics who do not really "get" horror—the dreaded "horror intelligencia."

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications; Pap/DVD edition (August 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440208247
• ISBN-13: 978-1440208249
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Don Sumner's first experience with horror was sneaking up in the middle of the night to watch Terror Train on cable TV and he hasn't stopped since. He is the CEO of Horror Freaks Media LLC, Editor in Chief of Best-Horror-Movies.com, has served as the expert on horror movie locales for USA Today, and is committed to countering the unenlightened views of movie critics who do not really "get" horror--the dreaded "horror intelligentsia."


"Fun and completely enjoyable. You can almost hear the terrible music that filmmakers like me use when we make a horror flick. This is an excellent guide for Horror Freaks and aspiring horror movie makers. If you're not already a freak, 'Horror Movie Freak' will turn you into one, so be careful... and stay scared."

-George A. Romero


'Horror Movie Freak' is the first published book by Don Sumner. Years in the making, 'Horror Movie Freak' explores what it takes to be just that... a horror movie freak. Topics include Rules of Survival in a Horror Movie, What Makes a Horror Movie Great, Ten Movies To Watch Leading Up to Halloween and a Beginner's Shelf to name a few. In addition, horror films essential to becoming a horror movie freak are discussed - from classics like Frankenstein, Psycho and Rosemary's Baby, to the recent Saw series and remakes such as Dawn of the Dead and Friday the 13th.

Why 'Horror Movie Freak', you ask?

Sumner wanted to write the book for the same reason he started the website in 2006 - to give true horror fans what you really want. As a horror movie freak himself, Sumner was always disheartened by what he calls the 'horror intelligentsia' - mainstream reviewers and film academics that pick on horror. Rather than regurgitate their point of view on the genre, he wanted to create a content-driven website where horror enthusiasts could read about what other horror enthusiasts thought, and eventually interact with each other via blogs, forums and chat rooms. Thanks to the incredible site visitors this has been achieved that at Best-Horror-Movies.com!

Now it was time for a book.

And as luck would have it, a publisher contacted Sumner for this very purpose. He immediately went to the thriving online community at Best-Horror-Movies.com and asked what films they cared about most. From there he realized the importance of including every subgenre of horror; for example one chapter's dedicated to remakes and re-imagings. Other sub-genres include classics, Asian horror, zombies, homicidal slashers, vampires, monsters, ghost stories and more. In short, he wanted to give new horror fans a sort of road map, letting them know which films our BHM community considers an essential part of the journey in becoming a horror movie freak.

With this valuable input we believe we've compiled one of the best horror reference guides in history. With over 250 color illustrations, 'Horror Movie Freak' also includes a DVD of George A. Romero's 1968 original zombie movie masterpiece Night of the Living Dead with a special filmed introduction by author Don Sumner... it even fades to black and white!

We hope you will enjoy Horror Movie Freak!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Freak's Perspective, September 15, 2010

By 

Crypticpsych - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Horror Movie Freak (Paperback)

In my opinion, Don has written this book the most appropriate way possible: by not being too scholarly and by talking to the reader as one horror freak to another horror freak or horror freak-in-training. For the last few years, I've proudly written for his site and it was an honor to help create the master film list for this book. I've always believed the most important thing in reviewing horror is to not be afraid to admit that you love it or that you love certain films, and Don captures that idea beautifully, preaching the gospel and virtues of being an unabashed, unashamed Horror Freak. It is one thing to make a "simple" list of "The 100 best films". It is quite another, and far better in some ways, to make a list of movies that are important to a well-rounded, foundational knowledge of the genre....a primer, if you will. Everyone needs a place to start in the genre...or a way for seasoned vets to remember movies they haven't revisted in a long time. Horror Movie Freak fills that void.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and informative, September 8, 2010

By 

Lempdoodle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horror Movie Freak (Paperback)

Besides watching horror movies, I love reading about them and have bought my fair share of books over the years. Horror Movie Freak is one of the best. It's a book written by a major horror fan (Freak) for other Horror Freaks and the pure joy of the genre shines through. The book has zippy writing, a fun design and lots of super color photos of movie stills and posters. I was also happy to see some B movies get a mention, like "Silent Night, Deadly Night" and "Motel Hell," and there is also a section on all the different kind of remakes, as well as a shout out (scream out?) to some notable scream queens. And you sure can't beat an endorsement from George Romero himself, or the free DVD of his zombie masterpiece, "Night of the Living Dead," that's included, with a funny introduction by the author. This is a nifty little package perfect for other Horror Freaks and genre novices alike.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Horror fun for everyone!, September 7, 2010

By 

Brent Frankenhoff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horror Movie Freak (Paperback)

Don Sumner's comments on hundreds of horror films, plus the outstanding imagery and design make this a book that horror aficionados will embrace, horror fans will love, and those with even a passing interest in the genre will enjoy.

(I fall in that latter category, but found myself going through the book again and again.)

And don't forget about the bonus DVD. Sumner's introduction is a great lead-in to the crispest reissue of Night of the Living Dead I've ever seen.