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Hollywood Horror: From Gothic To Cosmic
A narrative and pictorial history celebrates the gothic horror film genre, drawing on interviews with directors, writers, special-effects artists, and actors to cover such films as The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Blob, and Psycho. 10,000 first printing.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2003
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138 people want to read
About the author
Mark A. Vieira
22 books43 followersMark A. Vieira is a photographer and writer. He makes glamour portraits in the classic Hollywood mode, working in the historic Granada Buildings, where George Hurrell had his first Los Angeles studio. He writes books about the artists, genres, and photographic technique of Hollywood’s Golden Era.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 29, 2016
This book is a perfect example of why I enjoy reading so much. The style of writing was inviting and easily understandable, I learned things that I hadn’t known before, and it captured a sense of people and place that allowed me to feel that I was a part of the events. Most of all, I eagerly looked forward to each reading session and it was a bittersweet moment when I reached the end.
I cannot think of a book that has better captured the experience of the classic horror and science fiction era. Through interviews with the actors, producers, and technicians who participated in these films, I had the pleasure of being entertained by some delightful stories … some new, and some that have grown remarkably comfortable in the retelling. The photographs were exquisite, drawing my attention for closer study because the detail was so sharp.
The selection of representative films truly exemplified milestones in the industry. That did not mean that every one that was listed was a quality production. After all, THE GIANT CLAW and the films of Ed Wood are mentioned. However, they did make an impact and were representative of what the studios thought that the audience wanted to see. We also had our disagreements … I will never consider THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME or THE MAN WHO LAUGHED as being part of the horror genre … yet these were minor quibbles.
The book also shines in analyzing what it was like to live in these different generations when these films were being released. Having been a Monster Kid, I know that the writer was right on-target in how the film-viewing world felt to me in the 60’s (including the discovery of monster magazines). The period covered is from the emergence of horror in the silent film era to the release of TARGETS. The writer has this uncanny sense of telling “just enough” of what I wanted to know, even though some films only received a couple of paragraphs of commentary while others went on for multiple pages.
This is a tremendous primer for anyone who wonders what all of this fascination with horror and science fiction films is all about. It also provides insight as to why the new trend of modern horror films, ushered in by NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, is so different from anything that had gone before. (Although I enjoy many of the current horror and science fiction films, I do find myself returning again and again to the classics for my own Friday evening “Monster Movie Night” viewing at home.)
For the reader who has insatiably read everything that has been published regarding the history of horror and science fiction films, reading the book will be like visiting with a cherished friend, recounting treasured moments spent together. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with it.
In the Acknowledgments, the writer thanks the many people who helped him through his own horror experience, an accident that took months of physical rehabilitation and cost him his leg. Through it all, he had this drive to complete this project, and his dedication shows on every page.
I give this one my highest recommendation.
I cannot think of a book that has better captured the experience of the classic horror and science fiction era. Through interviews with the actors, producers, and technicians who participated in these films, I had the pleasure of being entertained by some delightful stories … some new, and some that have grown remarkably comfortable in the retelling. The photographs were exquisite, drawing my attention for closer study because the detail was so sharp.
The selection of representative films truly exemplified milestones in the industry. That did not mean that every one that was listed was a quality production. After all, THE GIANT CLAW and the films of Ed Wood are mentioned. However, they did make an impact and were representative of what the studios thought that the audience wanted to see. We also had our disagreements … I will never consider THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME or THE MAN WHO LAUGHED as being part of the horror genre … yet these were minor quibbles.
The book also shines in analyzing what it was like to live in these different generations when these films were being released. Having been a Monster Kid, I know that the writer was right on-target in how the film-viewing world felt to me in the 60’s (including the discovery of monster magazines). The period covered is from the emergence of horror in the silent film era to the release of TARGETS. The writer has this uncanny sense of telling “just enough” of what I wanted to know, even though some films only received a couple of paragraphs of commentary while others went on for multiple pages.
This is a tremendous primer for anyone who wonders what all of this fascination with horror and science fiction films is all about. It also provides insight as to why the new trend of modern horror films, ushered in by NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, is so different from anything that had gone before. (Although I enjoy many of the current horror and science fiction films, I do find myself returning again and again to the classics for my own Friday evening “Monster Movie Night” viewing at home.)
For the reader who has insatiably read everything that has been published regarding the history of horror and science fiction films, reading the book will be like visiting with a cherished friend, recounting treasured moments spent together. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with it.
In the Acknowledgments, the writer thanks the many people who helped him through his own horror experience, an accident that took months of physical rehabilitation and cost him his leg. Through it all, he had this drive to complete this project, and his dedication shows on every page.
I give this one my highest recommendation.
March 27, 2018
Amusing and informative. The author covers a variety of Hollywood horror tropes, and juggles them with both insight and humor. It is not comprehensive, but add to an understanding of Hollywood horror.
May 18, 2012
A really fantastic book. Full of amazing coffee table artwork but also just busting with knowledge. I learned so much from the book and it's a subject I am extremely well versed in anyway but this book did such a great job--starting with silents and giving a chapter to each type of horror film and the many reasons behind them, socially and culturally. This book would be worth it for the photos alone but the writing is also so well done. Highly recommend.
September 25, 2020
Most impressive in this book is Mr. Vieira's reproductions of these invaluable photographs. They absolutely leap off the page and some you feel like you can reach out and touch the subjects. A great book on the best movies ever made from a time that is, sadly, long, dead, and gone.
December 16, 2023
Absolutely amazing collection with many outstanding photos of classic horror movies. The Gothic, silent prototypes, Lon Chaney/Tod Browning, the horror film, Dracula and Bela Lugosi, Dracula's Daughter/Son of Frankenstein, Universal, the horror factory, the psychic, big budget chills, the psychology of fear, the atomic, poisoned waters, the cosmic, drive-in terror, last hurrahs. Here you'll find every kind of horror film possible. Brilliant pictures, in black and white. Very atmospheric and cool. This is the real deal. Highly recommended!
February 13, 2025
Fantastic stills and photographs
January 31, 2016
Very entertaining and informative, some of the stories I had read elsewhere but there was a lot in this book that was new to me. You can tell the author both has a deep understanding of the topic as well as a love for it.
The photographs in this book are great and really help bring the movies the author talks about more to life, it can be very hard to read about a visual medium when you have no visual frame of reference so I always appreciate as many photographs as possible.
I really appreciated the time line aspect of this book, showing the development and influences on the American horror genre and how they reflected our society at the time, which again is not really new but I really found the authors approach here to be particularly effective for me. It is easy to forget in these days how scary these movies really were in their day.
I found the section on science fiction, or 1Ccosmic 1D horror, a bit harder to read, it didn 19t seem to have the same depth and passion as the sections on the older horror, and I don 19t really understand the inclusion of 2001: A Space Odyssey in this book at all but I did like the book ending with The Night Of the Living Dead as an example of just how much horror had changed since it 19s inception while still allowing for respect and appreciation for what came before.
The photographs in this book are great and really help bring the movies the author talks about more to life, it can be very hard to read about a visual medium when you have no visual frame of reference so I always appreciate as many photographs as possible.
I really appreciated the time line aspect of this book, showing the development and influences on the American horror genre and how they reflected our society at the time, which again is not really new but I really found the authors approach here to be particularly effective for me. It is easy to forget in these days how scary these movies really were in their day.
I found the section on science fiction, or 1Ccosmic 1D horror, a bit harder to read, it didn 19t seem to have the same depth and passion as the sections on the older horror, and I don 19t really understand the inclusion of 2001: A Space Odyssey in this book at all but I did like the book ending with The Night Of the Living Dead as an example of just how much horror had changed since it 19s inception while still allowing for respect and appreciation for what came before.
August 21, 2020
Excellent, ton's of great pictures.
February 20, 2014
Have read several times.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews