Customer Reviews

Horror Movie Freak

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Movie Horror Freak by Don Sumner is a user friendly; fun read. The book is full of fantastic full color images that will bring back great memories of your favorite horror movies. I like how the movies are organized by genre making it easy to find a horror movie depending on my mood. This book also provides a great mix of classic, modern and foreign films giving any horror movie fan satisfaction.

The movie summaries are nice without spoiling twists or endings; which is important for movies you haven't seen yet. Each movie review includes a quote from the movie, which is fun to read. And don't worry no psychobabble or academia talk in this book just fun interesting facts on horror movies.

Can't beat the value the book it includes George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" original version DVD a classic must have film.

I'm glad I added Movie Horror Freak to my book collection.

As the title suggests, Don Sumner's HORROR MOVIE FREAK is fun and entertaining book for fans of horror films that runs the gamut from Universal's classic horror films of the 1930's right up to modern day Asian horror films and everything in between. What it is, is an engaging look at horror films in a variety of different sub-genres. What it isn't is comprehensive. HORROR MOVIE FREAK is geared towards horror fans, not horror aficionados, but that's ok. Sumner doesn't present the book as an authoritative look at horror films but rather overview of the genre and even something of a primer for newer fans.

Sumner is the editor at best-horror-movies.com and his team of experts includes several contributors to the website. The book segments the films into almost 20 different categories including Aberrations of Nature, Aliens and Outer Space, Beginner's Shelf, Classics, Evil from Hell, Ghost Stories, Homicidal Slashers, Monsters, Vampires, and Zombie Invasion. There are also sub-sections that deal with modern remakes, Scream Queens, and the groups ten picks for films to watch for Halloween.

These categories allow for Sumner and his team to more accurately define a film's subject matter rather than paint them too broadly and it also adds to the book's enjoyment in a campy way. Over 130 films are included in the book. The entries include the film's release date, director, writer, and cast credits. A plot summary of each is followed by a short analysis of the film and some personal anecdotes. Each entry includes one or more screen-shots and often includes a picture of the original theatrical poster.

One of the book's interesting categories is the Beginner's Shelf. While you might think it would feature films that re required viewing, it is geared more toward the new horror fan who might not be used to the levels of terror and gore that the more experienced horror fan is accustomed to seeing. As mentioned, Sumner doesn't attempt to make his book the last word on horror films and for that reason picking apart his inclusions or exclusions isn't important. Although you do have to wonder how the Scream Queen sub-section left out the venerable Linnea Quigley. You might wish to question why certain films are in one category and not another...such as EVIL DEAD showing up in the Zombie Invasion category rather than the Evil From Hell category.

While not all-encompassing, you have to admire the diversity in HORROR MOVIE FREAK. A book that manages to include GRIZZLY, NOSFERATU, THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, MOTEL HELL, and CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST under one cover is one heck of a potpourri of horror films. While it may be just an appetizer for a horror fanatic, it's fresh, amusing style will delight the casual fan.

In Horror Movie Freak (2010), author Don Sumner provides a nice overview of the horror genre, from Nosferatu (1929), to the monster films from Universal Studios, to Hammer horror, and all the way up to films released in 2010. The book is divided into categories based on historical classification, characteristics, or subject matter. Examples of categories include Vampires, Ghost Stories, Monsters, Asian Horror, Classics, Homicidal Slashers, and Zombie Invasion. Each category has a brief summary, and is then is typically followed by three to seven films in the subgenre. Some may quibble about the inclusion of a particular film in a category, but for the most part, Sumner seems on target. He also devotes a special section to Scream Queens Jamie Lee Curtis, Debbie Rochon, Dee Wallace, and Adrienne Barbeau.

It is when you examine the coverage of individual films, that the limitations of the book become evident, as most times Sumner offers a brief summary of the film, and something to put the film in some kind of historical context. While this is somewhat satisfying, there generally isn't anything that really grabs you and makes you want to see the film. If you are already familiar with a particular film, and are seeking some fascinating tidbit of information, or hoping for a cool obscure bit of trivia, you probably won't find it here.

No matter how historically significant or outstanding a particular movie may be, no film is given more than two pages of coverage in the book. Many times, much of the space is taken up by photos. The photos very often do add a lot, but unfortunately it is often at the expense of coverage of the film. Just one representative example, Hitchcock's 1960 classic Psycho receives a two page spread, but photos and the movie's poster occupy about 60% of the space. A little more in depth coverage, would have been nice.

Based on the films that I am familiar with, Sumner's descriptions are reasonably accurate, and his opinions do offer some insights, but in most cases there is much more that could have been said. Although a bit lacking in meat, the book does provide fairly good coverage of many of the subgenres of horror. For the novice, the book can be a good source for new films to explore. Among some of the more recent films featured are, Jeepers Creepers (2001), Audition (2002), Cabin Fever (2003), 28 Days Later (2003), Shaun of the Dead (2004), The Grudge (2004), Haute Tension (2005), Saw 2 (2005), Wolf Creek (2005), Feast (2006), Grindhouse (2006), Slither (2006), The Descent (2006), Black Sheep (2007), Dead Silence (2007), 30 Days Of Night (2007), 28 Weeks Later (2007), Let The Right One In (2008), Midnight Meat Train (2008), Quarantine (2008), The Ruins (2008), Splinter (2008), Drag me To Hell (2009), My Bloody Valentine 3-D (2009), Trick `r Treat (2009), [REC] (2009), and the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010).

With coverage of many of horror's classics and standards, as well as including some to the more significant recent entries in the genre, Horror Movie Freak is a solid source of basic information about some of the significant movies in the genre. You may disagree with some of the author's selections or opinions, as he doesn't always get everything right (who does?), but Don Sumner generally has pretty good taste regarding horror films. The book features some cool photos, but with perhaps a little too much emphasis on the visual, it unfortunately does often leave you wanting a bit more substance in the writing department.

I am not a Horror Movie type of gal, I have looked through this book and recognized alot of the movies that are inside it. Great design work. Love the details with the blood smears, hand prints and to actually get a DVD in the back to watch. If you like this type of stuff, this is the book for you.

Over 130 movies and over two hundred fifty photos of movie stills and posters lend to a fine horror film survey perfect for enthusiasts. It covers the entire genre of horror, explaining what makes such a movie great, covering classics as well as newer films, and dividing horror into categories from Asian horror and supernatural thriller to zombie movies. A bonus 'Night of the Living Dead' DVD rounds out this recommendation for film collections and horror movie fans.

Take it from George Romero ... From heart-clutching classics like Dracula and Psycho, and modern masters of mayhem including Drag Me to Hell, to lesser known gems such as Dog Soldiers, the more 130 movies included in this book are represented in an awesome collection of photos from movie stills and posters. Night of the Living Dead DVD Included!

This book has been the best method I've ever had to turn the conversations with my friends and family to horror movies when they come to visit. There are a ton of great and beautiful movie stills and posters along with summaries and write-ups of horror movies in every subgenre. I've been a horror fan for my whole life and many of the movies mentioned I've seen, many I haven't... and in both cases it's fun to read about them and talk about them. The sections on "why we love horror movies" and "rules for survival in a horror movie" have been the source of many lively and awesome conversations with my friends. This book never leaves my front room coffee table and I pick it up and look through it almost every day.

Plus the "10 days to Halloween" is a great list of movies to watch daily as my favorite holiday approaches - we're up to Friday the 13th 1 and 2 tonight (the originals) and even though I have watched those a thousand times it's been a great way to get us all in the mood... saw Night of the Living Dead, Children of the Corn and Pumpkinhead already and the tension is building!

This is not a "scholarly" treatment of horror movies and that's not what I was looking for when I bought this book. It is a celebration of the kind of movies I love organized in a way that makes it fun and great to go through over and over. Very good purchase!