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Horror Cinema: The Best Scary Movies of All Time
Get ready to quake in fear with this revised and expanded edition of our history of horror cinema. This chilling volume packs 640 pages full with the finest slashers, ghosts, zombies, cannibals, and more, curating the very creepiest screen creations from the flickering spooks of the 1920s to the special-effect terrors of the 21st century. Across 10 illustrated chapters, the compendium gets under the skin of some of horror’s favorite figures and themes, whether the vampire, the haunted house, the female killer, or the werewolf. Each classic device is explored in aesthetic and historical terms, probing horror’s manipulation of archetypal human fears as much as socially and culturally specific anxieties. A subsequent Top 50 movies section brings readers up close and trembling with 50 horror showpieces, from black-and-white classics like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Godzilla to Rosemary’s Baby, The Wicker Man, The Shining, The Blair Witch Project, and much, much more. Throughout, the book’s featured images include movie posters, set designs, film stills, and on-set shots. About the series Bibliotheca Universalis ― Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe!
633 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 8, 2022
This is an absolute must own/read for any horror movie fan. I was completely hooked from the very first page, I couldn’t get enough of this book. Getting to see the behind the scenes facts and origins of some of my favourite horror movies was truly fascinating! I didn’t know any of the facts presented in this book, I’ve never delved into where the movies I love so much came from before. It was all new information for me and my mind absolutely was blown by what I was reading. I also discovered SO many new movies that I added to my never ending watch list and I can’t wait to dive deeper into the horror genre. If you think you know horror movies well this book will make you rethink that and discover a whole new realm of the genre. I really, truly couldn’t have enjoyed this book more and I can’t stress enough how much you should read this book if you’re into horror!
May 29, 2021
Solo seis días para leer este libro enorme. Más o menos, unas 100 páginas diarias. O más, puesto que un día (miércoles), no lo leí. Es poderoso, un compendio extremadamente interesante del cine de terror, desde sus inicios mudos, hasta el uso de las tecnologías más impresionantes. Cualquier fan de las películas de terror como yo va a poder disfrutar de este magnífico volumen, con fotografías y datos bastante interesantes de uno de los géneros más redituables 3 incomprendidos del cine en general.
January 9, 2021
No descubrirá gran cosa a aquellos interesados en el tema y tiene algún que otro fallo, pero aun así merece la pena leerlo. Destaco por encima de todo las imágenes de carteles, decorados y fotografías de rodajes y efectos especiales.
March 25, 2020
Extraordinaria recopilación del cine de terror.
Es una joya.
Es una joya.
September 29, 2025
Not particularly well written but I like the pictures :^) alas it is goodreads and not goodpictures
June 15, 2020
A good reference book for horror fans with some amazing photographs.
December 10, 2019
(English below)
El libro está dividido en varios capítulos, detallando los mayores exponentes de cada subgénero del terror, y haciendo un análisis general del tipo de películas que abarcan. Recorremos desde aquellas en blanco y negro hasta las más actuales, y desde las que tratan de fantasmas, hasta las de asesinos en serie y monstruos.
Luego hay una larga sección en la que se detallan las 100 mejores películas del género según Taschen, donde se presenta cada una de ellas con su respectivo cartel oficial, detalles técnicos de la película, y un pequeño texto que nos las presenta y analiza brevemente.
Pero la verdadera estrella del libro, son los fotogramas, los cuales son abundantes, y nos muestran muchísimas escenas icónicas del cine, como la de la ducha en Psicosis, una Carrie bañada en sangre, el hachazo que atraviesa la puerta en El resplandor y espanta a Wendy Torrance, y algún que otro detrás de cámara. Escenas de maquillaje, de montaje, dirección, se suceden en este tomo de lectura súper amena... bueno, amena si no te asusta de vez en cuando encontrar escenas bastante sangrientas.
La verdad que lo recomiendo mucho si te interesa el cine de este género, ya que es bastante completo y está lleno de notas con frases de diarios, autores, protagonistas, etc.
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The book is divided into several chapters, detailing the greatest exponents of each subgenre of terror, and making a general analysis of the type of films. We go from those in black and white to the newest, and from those that deal with ghosts to those of serial killers and monsters.
Then there is a long section in which the 100 best films of the genre according to Taschen are detailed, where each one is presented with its respective official poster, technical details of the film, and a small text that presents them and briefly analyzes them.
But the real star of the book, are the frames, which are abundant, and show us many iconic scenes of the cinema, such as the shower in Psychosis, a Carrie bathed in blood, the ax that crosses the door in The shinning and fright Wendy Torrance, and the occasional behind the scenes. Scenes of makeup, assembly, direction, follow each other in this super enjoyable reading volume ... well, pleasant if you are not scared from time to time to find quite bloody scenes.
The truth is that I highly recommend it if you are interested in the cinema of this genre, since it is quite complete and full of notes with phrases from newspapers, authors, protagonists, etc.
El libro está dividido en varios capítulos, detallando los mayores exponentes de cada subgénero del terror, y haciendo un análisis general del tipo de películas que abarcan. Recorremos desde aquellas en blanco y negro hasta las más actuales, y desde las que tratan de fantasmas, hasta las de asesinos en serie y monstruos.
Luego hay una larga sección en la que se detallan las 100 mejores películas del género según Taschen, donde se presenta cada una de ellas con su respectivo cartel oficial, detalles técnicos de la película, y un pequeño texto que nos las presenta y analiza brevemente.
Pero la verdadera estrella del libro, son los fotogramas, los cuales son abundantes, y nos muestran muchísimas escenas icónicas del cine, como la de la ducha en Psicosis, una Carrie bañada en sangre, el hachazo que atraviesa la puerta en El resplandor y espanta a Wendy Torrance, y algún que otro detrás de cámara. Escenas de maquillaje, de montaje, dirección, se suceden en este tomo de lectura súper amena... bueno, amena si no te asusta de vez en cuando encontrar escenas bastante sangrientas.
La verdad que lo recomiendo mucho si te interesa el cine de este género, ya que es bastante completo y está lleno de notas con frases de diarios, autores, protagonistas, etc.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The book is divided into several chapters, detailing the greatest exponents of each subgenre of terror, and making a general analysis of the type of films. We go from those in black and white to the newest, and from those that deal with ghosts to those of serial killers and monsters.
Then there is a long section in which the 100 best films of the genre according to Taschen are detailed, where each one is presented with its respective official poster, technical details of the film, and a small text that presents them and briefly analyzes them.
But the real star of the book, are the frames, which are abundant, and show us many iconic scenes of the cinema, such as the shower in Psychosis, a Carrie bathed in blood, the ax that crosses the door in The shinning and fright Wendy Torrance, and the occasional behind the scenes. Scenes of makeup, assembly, direction, follow each other in this super enjoyable reading volume ... well, pleasant if you are not scared from time to time to find quite bloody scenes.
The truth is that I highly recommend it if you are interested in the cinema of this genre, since it is quite complete and full of notes with phrases from newspapers, authors, protagonists, etc.
October 2, 2025
2,5 star. I mean it alright. Nice to read if you like horror and gives Nice advice for movies to watch.
I think its a bit blend. It needed more in depth research to make it more stand out. Sometimes less is more and thats very true here, the depth would make it better. My second complaint is: a lot of very very old movies. Its good to look at those to, but there were other movies after the 60’s….
I think its a bit blend. It needed more in depth research to make it more stand out. Sometimes less is more and thats very true here, the depth would make it better. My second complaint is: a lot of very very old movies. Its good to look at those to, but there were other movies after the 60’s….
December 6, 2022
okay this is the edition i read but not sure why there's text in italian. oh well.
kind of enjoyed it, kind of didn't. wouldn't recommend getting this outside of the library unless you're a really die-hard fan of the genre. oh, and note to the editors: the shark in jaws is not "phallic and vaginal", it's a shark. A SHARK.
kind of enjoyed it, kind of didn't. wouldn't recommend getting this outside of the library unless you're a really die-hard fan of the genre. oh, and note to the editors: the shark in jaws is not "phallic and vaginal", it's a shark. A SHARK.
July 13, 2024
Excelente aproximación al género del terror cinematográfico, repasando el contexto histórico de cada época y los principales hitos del género. Genial para tener una visión global del tema especialmente para quienes quieran adentrarse en él.
June 5, 2025
Boo! (Not as in bad, but as in ghostly noise)
October 6, 2019
I don't agree with their 50 best horror movies film list. They include The Thing from Another World (1951) but not The Thing (1982). They include the odious Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) but not Frankenstein (1931). Now THAT'S scary!
January 3, 2023
Quick, fun, and packed full of beautiful glossy photos. My only complaint is the dreadful formatting. Sentences are often interrupted by several pages of photos, and inlayed quotations break up the pages.
May 1, 2023
It was a well put together book of the digital world of horror through out the years🧛🩸🧟♂️ very informative, great pictures/movie posters, a lot of quotes and so much more! I highly recommend for anyone that is into horror! It will be a great read or addition to your collection!✨
November 4, 2023
Some interesting essays and cool pictures, but it's a few years old and reads even older. It's fun to leaf through, but I'd recommend many different books before this one if you are looking for a truly interesting and current deep dive in the horror genre.
February 29, 2024
Désolé mais le cinéma d'horreur c'est bien plus divers (et intéressant) que ça. Peut-être si le livre s'appelait le cinéma classique d'horreur on en serait pas là mais sérieusement les mecs.
September 25, 2024
Am absolute must for any movie and horror fan!!!
September 12, 2025
En sevdiğim kitaplardan biri oldu, müthiş kategorilendirmişler bayıldım, İngilizce olmasına karşın olarak hafif bir dili vardı zorlanmadım
October 12, 2025
"We're all afraid of the same things. That's why horror is such a powerful genre. All you have to do is ask yourself what frightens you and you'll know what frightens me." – John Carpenter
Part-art book, part-history book, Horror Cinema features a beautiful blend of color and black-and-white images throughout. Details the players, reactions and historical influences of the time as it spans films from the 1910s to early aughts.
The first half groups movies together based on established motifs, “Ghosts & Haunted Houses,” "Vampires & Werewolves,” “The Monstrous Feminine," etc. The respective essays are insightful, irreverent and punchy, like the best of the genre. Certainly my favorite part of the read.
The second half is TASCHEN’s list of Top 50 Horror Movies (1920–2001). The collection of films is strong, any fan of the genre is likely to quibble with omissions, and I’m no different. But ultimately it provides wonderful highlights of classics, independent and international movies. What brought this section down a peg was an overreliance on plot regurgitations. I would have preferred more behind-the-scenes production intrigue and details about how the talent came together. But learning about the historical perspectives, audience/critics response at the time of release and the filmmakers process and technique was all very interesting.
In short, a perfectly fun read, especially for Halloween-time.
Part-art book, part-history book, Horror Cinema features a beautiful blend of color and black-and-white images throughout. Details the players, reactions and historical influences of the time as it spans films from the 1910s to early aughts.
The first half groups movies together based on established motifs, “Ghosts & Haunted Houses,” "Vampires & Werewolves,” “The Monstrous Feminine," etc. The respective essays are insightful, irreverent and punchy, like the best of the genre. Certainly my favorite part of the read.
The second half is TASCHEN’s list of Top 50 Horror Movies (1920–2001). The collection of films is strong, any fan of the genre is likely to quibble with omissions, and I’m no different. But ultimately it provides wonderful highlights of classics, independent and international movies. What brought this section down a peg was an overreliance on plot regurgitations. I would have preferred more behind-the-scenes production intrigue and details about how the talent came together. But learning about the historical perspectives, audience/critics response at the time of release and the filmmakers process and technique was all very interesting.
In short, a perfectly fun read, especially for Halloween-time.
September 28, 2019
It’s meant to be a coffee table book, but I read it cover to cover. The first half went quick in talking about the different horror genres. I found it interesting, although the authors are a little sexist if you ask me (calling sissy spacek “homely” and saying men want to see women get murdered). I also would have preferred the pictures and text to line up better. The second half is their top 50 horror films. It took me longer to get through that part and I found it less interesting as some of it was repetitive from the first section.
October 2, 2019
A very cool book! It starts off with the general history of horror cinema, then goes into a short synopsis and small facts about several horror films throughout history. Glossy beautiful photos are strewn throughout the book, along with bold movie quotes and reviews. It’s super interactive and interesting. I’m excited to read more Taschen books!
April 29, 2025
Didn’t really learn anything new and I assume the book is translated because the syntax of some of the passages in the book don’t make a lot of sense. The quality suffers too with so many contributors who each have different voices, making some segments seem wildly out of place. Great art work included though, which more than makes up for what the written aspect is lacking.
September 15, 2025
Interesante recopilatorio de películas del 1920 hasta los 2000, aprox. el catálogo de imágenes también muy impresionante. En estos últimos 20 años han salido muy buenas películas, amerita una actualización.
December 16, 2023
Awesome coffee table book that’s great for any casual, horror fan. Information doesn’t dive too deep into movies or themes, rather a general thematic overview.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews