Customer Reviews

Rational Fears: American Horror in the 1950s

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This book does an excellent job of providing a framework for horror/sci fi "films" of the 1950s. The author postulates that these films are inicitive of Fordist society and integration vs. outsiders in the culture at the time. His use of films such as The Day the Earth Stood Still and Creature from the Black Lagoon is very interesting, although this book, both in paperback and hardcover, is a little expensive. Overall, it is worth the money.

Yet another in a seemingly endless procession by academics seeking to fit horror films into some sort of Film Theory niche. In this case they play the 'id' to the Fordist (i.e. Henry Ford) 'superego' of society. The book is almost redeemed by the chapters on the writings of Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont and Robert Bloch, three masters of horror/sci-fi whose works have been largely forgotten by the mainsteam culture. But is it enough to spend the money for this book? Depends on how much of a collector/scholar one happens to be. That and the size of the wallet.

For those who want to experience the joy of these sort of films, I would rather recommend the works of David J. Skal, Bill Warren, and Michael J. Weldon, all of whose works can be purchased on this site.