Slasher Movies

by Mark Whitehead

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Slasher movies took horror to new heights of graphic violence while, in some cases, simultaneously plumbing new depths of camp self-referentiality. They have nonetheless had a lasting impact—from "respectable" studio pictures such as The Silence of the Lambs and Single White Female, to the new breed of teen movies such as the Scream franchise, which play knowingly with the conventions of the slasher. In this Pocket Essential guide you'll find an introductory essay, an in-depth discussion of all the major films, a consideration of the influences on the genre, and a checklist of the stars who got their big break being slashed.

Genres: Horror, Film, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Mark Whitehead is a Professor of Human Geography whose research interests span urban studies, sustainability, and the impacts of the psychological sciences on public policy.

Mark has authored and edited 10 books, has written for The Guardian and Western Mail newspapers, and has blogged for the Psychology Today magazine.

Mark is currently the Director of Recruitment and Admissions in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences. He is also on the Editorial Board of the journal Environmental Values.

Reviews

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't really like a book that gives "A Nightmare on Elm Street" 4/5 stars & "The Silence of the Lambs" 3/5 stars. Sadly, "A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors" is also rated 3/5 stars. I liked that "Tenabrae" got 5/5 stars. Anyway, I've seen all the ones worth watching that he mentions.

[Pete · Rating 2 out of 5]

Less an academic insight into a sub-genre, more a collection of sardonic Letterboxd movie reviews made my someone with a distaste for seemingly every movie except the original Halloween.

The audiobook is particularly bad, with frequent mispronunciations, and the reader stumbling over their lines.

[Simon Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself was okay, doesn't really provide information that isn't available in any number of other sources but a decent intro to the genre.

I had this as an audiobook and I have to say that the narration/production was pretty bad - I don't think I've even ever listened to an audiobook and notice the production values before but I did here. The narrator *constantly* mispronounces names and even stumbles over his words a few times which makes me think not that it wasn't edited well but that it wasn't edited *at all*.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting information when it's right and analysis. It's an entertaining read as well. However, it does have quite a few misquotes and faulty pieces of information.