A Year of Fear: A Day-by-day Guide to 366 Horror Films [Paperback]

Bryan Senn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0786431962 | ISBN-13: 978-0786431960

This eclectic overview of horror cinema offers up a collection of horror films for practically any occasion and literally every day of the year. For example, the author recommends commemorating United Nations Day (October 24) with a screening of The Colossus of New York, whose startling climax takes place at the U.N. Building. Each day-by-day entry includes the movie title, production year, plot summary and critique, along with a brief explanation of how the film fits into the history of that particular day and interesting anecdotes on the film's production.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent." --Big Reel

"Provides lengthy reviews...the pieces are informed and amusing...great fun." --Film Review

"Commendable." --Video Watchdog

About the Author

Psychometrist Bryan Senn is the author of Drums of Terror: Voodoo in the Cinema, Golden Horrors (McFarland, 2006) and co-author of Fantastic Cinema Subject Guide (McFarland, 1992). His work has appeared in Filmfax, Cult Movies, Shivers, Midnight Marquee Press and Monsters from the Vault. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (July 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786431962
• ISBN-13: 978-0786431960
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,414,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Punny Look at Horror Cinema, April 24, 2008

By 

D. Taylor "Horrorboy" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Year of Fear: A Day-by-day Guide to 366 Horror Films (Paperback)

Ever wanted to know what horror flick to watch on, say, your birthday, wedding anniversary or the anniversary of the discovery of Titan, Saturn's moon? Then look to horror cinema expert Bryan Senn's informative, entertaining and punny A YEAR OF FEAR. Senn (and the occasional contributor) deliver up intelligent reviews of old black and white classics, more recent horror efforts and just about everything in-between, from 50s giant bug flicks to 80s ALIEN rip-offs and much-maligned slasher classics.

What I like most about the reviews are that they're relatively spoiler free and give you a flavor for the flick without providing a detailed synopsis. Thanks to his longtime involvement in horror cinema criticism and commentary, Senn has a wealth of information to draw upon and sprinkles the write-ups with informative and insightful quotes from stars and behind-the-scenes personnel that make the entries educational even if you thought you knew all you needed to know about THE DEADLY MANTIS or THE 30 FOOT BRIDE OF CANDY ROCK.

I don't always agree with Senn (he loves LAKE PLACID and hates FRIDAY THE 13TH) but even when we don't see eye-to-eye his reviews always provide an interesting approach and an argument he stands behind. Best of all, though, his reviews of things I have not seen or films that are gathering dust in my memory banks make me want to rush out and see them now.

And how can you not like a guy who can appreciate the great Klaus Kinski's turn in the underrated creature feature, um, CREATURE?

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Year of Fear - too much fun to wait, September 27, 2007

By 

Fred Adams "English Prof" (Lemont Furnace, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Year of Fear: A Day-by-day Guide to 366 Horror Films (Paperback)

Brian Senn's A Year of Fear provides 366 horror film reviews, one for each day of the year, rather like a tear-off desk calendar between covers. The book is such fun that I find myself reading review after review instead of waiting for the specified date attached to each. Senn liberally quotes other critics and interviews with stars and film makers, often juxtaposing the press book hype with critical slams or comical reminiscences by the film's cast and crew.

The calendar motif is punctuated by a mention for each date some historical event; some are trivial, some are notable. Examples: for The Day the Earth Caught Fire, July 10, Senn cites the record high temperature in the U.S. (134 degrees F in Death Valley, California); for The Wasp Woman, July 9, he cites the birth of star Susan Cabot; and for Tower of London, July 6, Senn cites the birth of Richard III in 1483.

Praise and blame are generously assigned as deserved in concise and entertaining reviews that look past the standard film book fare. It's a fun read, and I recommend it highly.

-Fred Adams

5.0 out of 5 stars Just great!!!, November 28, 2010

By 

Wayne M. Malin "Preppy" (Malden MA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Year of Fear: A Day-by-day Guide to 366 Horror Films (Paperback)

For a horror movie fan (like me) this book is loads of fun! Author Bryan Senn gives a quick but insightful synopsis for a horror film for each day of the year. I expected this to be obvious (like have "Silent Night Deadly Night for Christmas) but it isn't. For instance he picks "Hunchback of Notre Dame" for April 1--April Fools Day. For May 3 which is Day of the Holy Cross he picks "Taste the Blood of Dracula". Only picking "Halloween" for October 31 is obvious. Along with each day and movie he has a little box saying what this day means in various parts of the world. Also he doesn't just limit himself to recent movies--he does them from the 1920s all the way up to the 1990s. He covers good films, bad films and good/bad films:). I didn't always agree with him and thought he was WAY off on a few ("The Oblong Box" is GOOD???) but he made good arguments for his inclusion of them. Also the synopsis' provide some interesting facts I never knew and almost every movie has a still or poster for it. Senn also wrote another great horror book called "Golden Terrors" covering horror films from 1931-1939. He's an excellent author and I hope he writes more. I highly recommend this!