The horror genre has intrigued audiences for over a century, focusing upon viewers’ fear of the unknown and creative–as well as spooky–disruptions in otherwise seemingly normal life.
Of course, there are numerous films that fall within this genre today. David J. Skal’s Fright Favorites: 31 Movies to Haunt Your Halloween and Beyond offers a fabulous survey of this genre with a selection of essays regarding horror films both classic and contemporary. This book is thoughtfully written and extremely well-researched. I learned so much about some of my favorite horror films and was particularly impressed with the entry on The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and the philosophy behind the portrayal of the phantom as well as his interactions with other characters. Moreover, the book has excellent photographs throughout.
I think that this is a terrific book for fans of horror but can also function exceptionally well as an introductory book to the genre. Ambitious readers can even treat this book as a daily viewing guide throughout October. There are many fine recommendations in this book that are sure to capture the interest of new and veteran fans of the genre.
Hometowns to Hollywood 