Amazon.com: Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide: Glenn Kay, Stuart Gordon: Books

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For fans of the gory, grotesque, dark-humor-filled world of horror, zombie films may be the most beloved of subgenres. Kay (Disaster Movies, 2006) provides a chronological listing, with summary and review, for more than 250 films from 1932 to 2008. Summaries of each decade, interviews with filmmakers, and other features are interspersed, as is a generous complement of promotional photos. A list of the author’s 25 favorite zombie films, an appendix of “zombie-less” zombie films, and a short bibliography follow. Director and film indexes complete the book. One caveat: basic information like running time, country of origin, director, and stars are spread throughout each film’s description (and sometimes not included) instead of summarized at the top of each entry as in most filmographies. Kay’s readable style and the subjective nature of so-bad-it’s-good cinema make this fun book more appropriate for circulating collections than reference.

Review

"The definitive guide to zombie movies. . . . A must-read for all zombie scholars!" —Dan O’Bannon, director, The Return of the Living Dead

"[Kay] knows the genre inside and out." —Blog of the living dead

"Meaningful and well-researched . . . enjoyable and funny." —Hartford Courant

"[A] thorough, uproarious guide." —Mania.com

"This book is a must-own text written for zombie fans by a zombie fan. If there's such a thing as a zombie scholar, Kay is the dean of the college that annoints them." —Niagara Gazette

"An obsessively complete guide…(author) has certainly done his homework…highly recommended." —blogcritics.org

"The zombie movie bible." —popmatters.com

"Something that no self-respecting psychotronic fan should be without." —

Oklahoma Gazette

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Product Details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1556527705
ISBN-13: 978-1556527708
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #218,472 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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4.4 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive history and reference guide for zombie movies, October 13, 2008

By	Henry Berry "Henry Berry" (Southport, CT) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

With a light style, yet with obvious expertise, Kay takes the reader through the highs and lows and the wide middle ground of zombie movies. The highs are when effects invoke the intended emotion (e. g., fear, revulsion), preferably within a sensible narrative. The lows are when effects are inane, useless, and comical, as in a Keystone Cops' skit. This is done with a decade-by-decade review of zombie movies from their beginnings in the 1930s down to the 1990s. Each decade is characterized by a particular, though not exclusionary development. In the 1950s, the "radioactive zombie" reflecting fears relating to the atom bomb made its appearance. In the 1970s, coinciding with multiculturalism, movies with Hispanic and black zombies came onto the scene. The 1931 movies Dracula and Frankenstein are pointed to as the classic, originating zombie movies. But the 1932 White Zombie more directly tied in with the idea of the "zombi" found in the practice of voodoo in Haiti which is the model for the zombie character. The "zombi" was a person whose body was supposedly reanimated by a "bokor," a voodoo priest. This zombi was characterized by "slow mannerisms, low intelligence, and a lack of willpower or soul"; hence the traits of zombie characters in the movies.

The definition of a zombie film cannot be given with finality. Reflecting the current social concern with diseases, recent movies usually seen as zombie movies (e. g., Dawn of the Dead) "have broadened the definition beyond the walking dead to include still-living characters infected with an incurable disease that extinguishes their personalities and turns them into bloodthirsty killers." Throughout the decades, the varied types of zombie movies mirrored both traditional artistic themes and new social developments. A group of automaton-like zombies could stand for a mindless mob against a few freethinking, nonconformist individuals; or an individual zombie could represent the return of a loved one, bringing with it all the psychological conflict
entailed in this for one of a movie's characters. Zombie movies have also been used to critique profligate scientific experiment and environmental destruction.

The author was drawn to zombie movies for their "depth and diversity." Reviews of every zombie movie he could find are in appropriate chapters. Fay's reviews are an extension of his historical, sociological, critical, and humorous text for each decade. The book's not only an entertaining overview of zombie movies, but also a comprehensive, informative reference for selecting zombie movies for viewing.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most comprehensive guide on Zombie Cinema yet available., December 8, 2008

By	James Simpson "James Simpson" (USA) - See all my reviews

I have just purchased this book today at a local Used Bookseller for the reasonable price of 11.98 and have to say it was quite a buy!

Being the film fan I am,and having a special love for Horror,I purchased this book to read more about one of the funnest of it's sub genres.

Absolutely entertaining book that covers the history of this genre from it's inception in the 30s with White Zombie(1932) through today's splatter fests.
I could not believe how many classics were covered in this volume,and it was a pleasant surprise to find an intelligent author who offers valuable criticism,while understanding his audience.

Now,I did not agree with all that Mr.Kay says(He has a top 25 at the end of the book that includes John Carpenter's "Prince of Darkness!)
However his enthusiasm and knowledge of the genre makes up for my minor quibbles,and the interviews that he got for the book were fine and insighful,ranging from Director Stuart Gordon to make-up artist,Greg Nicotero.

It's also fun to read about his opinions on what constitutes a "zombie" film.
There is a chapter that excludes ghosts,ghouls and Frankenstein's Monster,and he makes a valid point that Friday the 13th's Jason is indeed,a super zombie!

This is a fun read,and an absolute must for the Zombie and Horror fan,particularly in this age of constant DVD releases of several vintage releases,this could be very handy.

A fine read.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK, December 4, 2008

By	Bob Moreault "KING CARL FROM CANADA" (vardun) - See all my reviews

Over 300 reviews ! + interviews (ex; Antonella Fulci - Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero) review for zombie movies from the old black and white (white zombie) up to 2008 (George A. Romero's Diary of the dead).Their is even a review for the Micheal Jackson Thriller video and an episode of The Simpsons (treehouse of horror 3) At the end of the book their is a list of the 25 highest-grossing zombie film of all time (night of the comet was number 21 - $14.4 million!!!) plus a list of his 25 all time favorite zombie movies. Great book from a great canadian writer (+ a foreword by Stuart Gordon) and a great cover !

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference
I first saw this book in a Rue Morgue magazine, it had gotten a good review so I decided to give it a read. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Victoria L. Chambers

5.0 out of 5 stars Above & Beyond
My fascination of zombie cinema has no stem. I just enjoy the apocalyptic setting with the band of survivors working to survive, and the bitter struggle with humanity that comes... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Joshua B. Anderson

5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched and concise
Glenn Kay's book touts itself as the ultimate guide to zombie films and it's not too far off with that claim. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Tim Janson

1.0 out of 5 stars Question
This is not exactly a review.......okay, it's not a review at all, technically, it's a question. In this book, it caught my eye when it said it reviewed movies up to 2008, and... Read more

Published 7 months ago by Annie Ford

4.0 out of 5 stars When Theirs No More Room In Hell
I really am enjoying this book, it's a great book to pick up if you like zombie movies, you get over 300 movie reviews, and movies I had never heard of and am now seeking out to... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Nick

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