Customer Reviews

How to Survive a Horror Movie

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While there were attempts at making "self-aware" horror movies before, it could be said that "Scream" was the best attempt at doing so. It is fitting then that Wes Craven writes a short introduction to "How to Survive a Horror Movie," a tongue in cheek manual on doing just that. This is one of those rare books that you could pass by in a book store, start flipping through, and decide then and there you must own it. It starts very strong with chapters on deciding if you are currently in a horror movie, what kind of horror movie you're in, and the unique skills required in surviving the many different genres of horror movies.
There are several laugh-out-loud passages, that I won't spoil here, and the book is filled with decidedly creepy pictures evoking the mood of the old EC comic books. Where the book falters is in the later chapters as the witty, self-aware horror movie depictions give way to simple how-to lists that offer no humor (the worst of which is the snakes on a plane bit that just falls flat).
"How to Survive a Horror Movie" does end with perhaps the funniest tip of the whole book with a "sure fire" way to defeat the devil (do yourself a favor and don't read it until the very end). While not a five star homerun, due to the last third of the book that starts to drag, this is an entertaining and light read that will please any horror fan and even the simple movie buff.

I picked up this book to have something to read on a long car ride. I wound up reading passages out loud to my friends, and we all laughed hysterically. This is a quick, funny read that basically takes the conventions of campy horror movies and turns them into a sort of mock self-defense manual. With sections on everything from alien attacks to slashers to how to tell what sort of horror movie you're trapped in, this book covers almost everything you can think of. Grahame-Smith is obviously someone with a deep affection for horror films, but not so deep that he can't point out the absurdity of them. Recommended for fans of Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide.

If you are out to ensure that you live a long and safe life, there are essentials you must get in order to absolutely ensure that so many dangers stay away or how to avoid them. You'll need "The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead", "How to Survive a Robot Uprising [UNABRIDGED]", and "Field Guide to the Apocalypse: Movie Survival Skills for the End of the World" among others. Now you can realize your safety in terms of finding out that you are part of a horror movie with "How to Survive a Horror Movie". This covers everything from slashers, evil spirits, haunted houses, possessed cars, exorcism, zombies, aliens, demonic dolls, and even animal attacks.

Seth takes you through how to realize if you are in a horror movie and helps to guide you into your continuing existance of fleshy-ness. There are guidelines on where to avoid (cemetaries, cornfields, cabins), rules for babysitting, what to do with your child-infested cornfield, and the sure fire way to defeat Satan himself.

I began reading this text in public, but had to retreat to private due to people staring at me with odd looks as I laughed my way through the book. It fits well into the humor-based survival guides out on the market and you will easily identify loads of horror movies without the author actually mentioning them (copyright loophole). It loses a star for the whole snakes on a plane garbage and really the exorcism chapter pretty much just outlines the movie events. Otherwise, this is a great book and has a pretty good horror-movie-must-see list at the end, I would add "Wrong Turn" and maybe "Turistas" to the list.

What's a horror movie fan and HalloweenAddict to read the month of October when they're not lounging in a pile of leaves, carving a jack o'lantern or curled around a hot cider? Look no further than "How to Survive a Horror Movie."

The book has a Scream-like self awareness, but has its severed tongue firmly planted in cheek. With such chapter titles as "What To Do If You Did Something Last Summer," "How To Stay Awake for a Week," and "What to Do if Your Corn Has Children In It" the author dissects the devices of the genre with a machete.

Put simply: this book is fun. It's almost as if those ironic conversations with your horror-buff friends were recorded and transcribed. Throw in gruesome illustrations by Nathan Fox, quotes from legendary horror films and a foreword by horror maven Wes Craven himself and this little terror-tome is well-worth the 10 bucks.

I'm usually not into this kind of book but I am so glad that I picked it up. I lost count of how many times I caught myself laughing out loud while reading. The intro by Wes Craven is hilarious and the comic book-esque graphics are great. I would highly recommend this book as a stocking stuffer/gift for horror movie aficionados or anyone looking for a good time. Also would be highly useful for anyone who thinks they might one day be in a real-life horror movie...

I don't like anything. Despite my best efforts to the contrary, all of my interactions with consumer goods almost invariably end in disappointment. In fact, in all my time here on Amazon, I've only ever written two reviews: one for my Logitech Harmony Remote (which is, and will always be, glorious) and this one, for the most surprisingly funny book of the year.

In addition to not liking anything, I also don't typically buy anything on a whim. But while waiting in an abnormally long line at Barnes & Noble, I picked up "How to Survive a Horror Movie" for no other reason than I couldn't bring myself to look at "Lord of the Rings" bookmarks any longer.

In addition to not liking anything and not buying anything on a whim, I also almost never laugh out loud at things (books, movies) intended to make me laugh. But to my great surprise, this book is funny... I mean really, really funny. I found myself chuckling at the "How To Know You're In a Horror Movie" bit, and by the time I reached the cash register I actually let slip a single, solitary guffaw.

I spent a good hour that night reading passages aloud to my wife, who shared in the silly joy of the thing. I'm in publishing and my wife's in casting, and we like to think of ourselves as pretty up on the whole comedy scene. Thus, we kept asking ourselves: "Who the hell is this guy?" Grahame-Smith, unless he's using a pseudonym, seems to have come out of nowhere. Barring a catastrophic head wound or some such, I think he's here to stay.

Take it from the guy who only likes two things in the world: This book is worth having.

My fiancée and I were browsing the book store around Halloween and saw this one on the 'new releases' table. She said "Chapter 666: What To Do If Your Corn Has Children In It.... BWAAHAHAAAA!! We're buying this!" We have not regretted the decision. Not only is it ridiculously funny, but the graphic design of the book is outstanding.

I did find myself in a horror movie - as soon as I flipped open the first page of this little handbook. I read it all in one sitting, and loved it so much I read it again the next day. The book is a treasure for any horror movie buff, and the information is on point. With an introduction from the master of horror himself, Wes Craven, the book takes on a hilarious perspective on the evils of babysitting, horror movie sins, surviving a cemetary and so many other horror movie cliches. It is so entertaining, I'll find myself grabbing for it as soon as I pop a scary movie into the DVD player. I see a scene, open the book and find the information I am looking for. Yes, if you are a doubter, you will not survive. Yes, if you go to investigate a strange noise you have no buisness investigating, you will not survive. Always know your exit strategy, and always expect the unexpected. This book was unexpecting, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a hilarious, entertaining, and in depth guide to surviving anything and everything that goes bump in the night.

I stumbled upon this book and am very glad I purchased it. As a self-professed Horror Movie Geek, I found the book poked fun at all the cliches found in Horror Movies. He analyzes every possible horror movie situation, from Slashers to Vampires and everything in between, and before you know it you are done with the book, wishing it hadn't ended. Read it in one night, a very fun read. Highly recommended.

This book is a laugh out loud funny spoof of horror films, and you don't have to be an horror obsessive to enjoy it either. It's organized by horror sub-genres, so you flip to wherever you want, which is ideal for chuckles during bowel movements (I always keep my copy in the commode). The mixture of low brow, broad humor and sharper, more satirical bits gives it versatility. Far, far, FAR funnier than all the "Scary Movies" put together.