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England's Screaming
What connects Duc de Richleau (The Devil Rides Out), Julian Karswell (Night Of The Demon), and Damien Thorn (The Omen)? Carol Ledoux (Repulsion) and Dr. Channard (Hellbound: Hellraiser II)? Jo Gilkes (Beasts) and Angel Blake (Blood On Satan's Claw)? How is Karswell linked to Hugo Fitch (Dead Of Night) and Emily Underwood (From Beyond The Grave)? What connects Dorothy Yates (Frightmare) to the deaths at Russell Square (Death Line)? How and why does Damien Thorn know Julia Cotton (Hellraiser)?
It s a common thread of Film Criticism to note the influences and precursors of one film to another, especially in relation to genre: by definition, genre films are connected by a frame. What then if the characters could see each other? What if they existed not only as fictional characters in our world, but in a single chronology of their own? What if they could talk to each other, know each other, love and hate each other?
Who would align with whom, and what might we discover about how influences breed? What might we then learn about the warp and weft of our beloved genre and the patterns that are woven through it?
Absorbing it all, Sean Hogan steps inside the world of UK Horror to examine it from within. To see how the characters, themes and stories interact, and what the bigger picture might reveal. Is there a story behind and between the stories we already know? What might it say about the history of UK Horror and the culture from which it was spawned?
It s a common thread of Film Criticism to note the influences and precursors of one film to another, especially in relation to genre: by definition, genre films are connected by a frame. What then if the characters could see each other? What if they existed not only as fictional characters in our world, but in a single chronology of their own? What if they could talk to each other, know each other, love and hate each other?
Who would align with whom, and what might we discover about how influences breed? What might we then learn about the warp and weft of our beloved genre and the patterns that are woven through it?
Absorbing it all, Sean Hogan steps inside the world of UK Horror to examine it from within. To see how the characters, themes and stories interact, and what the bigger picture might reveal. Is there a story behind and between the stories we already know? What might it say about the history of UK Horror and the culture from which it was spawned?
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 27, 2020
So, so, SOOOO close to a perfect five stars! The ending didn't quite tie things together the way that I hoped/expected, but I had such a great time reading this book and Googling all of the references that I really didn't mind. This is a book that every Horror movie fan needs to read, and this is the perfect time of year to read it. More, please, Sean Hogan!
May 11, 2020
England's Screaming is an outstanding work where the British Horror Movie world is one universe and characters interact regardless of movie release date.
Admittedly I did have to look up a few of the movies/characters involved, but that actually added to the whole experience.
You really need to read this book blind. The joy in characters turning up from possibly your favourite movie to interact with other classic horror creations is so convincingly written. At times the writing is a little choppy to get characters together but all in all its a brilliant execution of an idea that I'd love to see more of.
Sean Hogan has a possible blockbuster on his hands here and future volumes would be more than welcome. Some of these stories could even be expanded ìnto novels or original novels featuring this 'mash up' idea would be a joy.
All the stories have this old school vibe about them regardless of the movie release date. Hammer & Amicus fans are going to lap this up.
To finish, this is almost certainly going to feature in my best of year list. It's a brilliant brilliant book that's not afraid to stray into some controversial subject matter.
England's Screaming is a masterpiece.
Admittedly I did have to look up a few of the movies/characters involved, but that actually added to the whole experience.
You really need to read this book blind. The joy in characters turning up from possibly your favourite movie to interact with other classic horror creations is so convincingly written. At times the writing is a little choppy to get characters together but all in all its a brilliant execution of an idea that I'd love to see more of.
Sean Hogan has a possible blockbuster on his hands here and future volumes would be more than welcome. Some of these stories could even be expanded ìnto novels or original novels featuring this 'mash up' idea would be a joy.
All the stories have this old school vibe about them regardless of the movie release date. Hammer & Amicus fans are going to lap this up.
To finish, this is almost certainly going to feature in my best of year list. It's a brilliant brilliant book that's not afraid to stray into some controversial subject matter.
England's Screaming is a masterpiece.
May 19, 2020
This is a series of studies of the main characters of British horror films proposing the idea that they may be linked by influence and central figures like a tube map. Under the influence of a few main figures/films, Hogan creates a continuity to reveal a Britain trapped in the shadows of class, guilt and hidden dark secrets. Hogan broadens his scope to encompass old and recent works from television and film, finding links with his subjects through locations and events. While it does involve work on the reader to make some of the connections and they may not get all of the film references, horror film fans will find this a delightful pleasure. Also the author does quote his sources at the start of each story so you can track down the originals if you wish. It also has a grim sense of wit and irony in setting out some characters' ultimate fates. Anyone who enjoys the work of Kim Newman shoud definitely check this out.
August 22, 2020
This is the best book I've read in ages, Sean Hogan manages to create wholly believable connections between a very wide-ranging cast of characters from roughly the last 60 years of British horror. Highly recommended for horror fans
September 15, 2022
Julian Karswell and Damien Thorn are the towering names casting long shadows through this book, a selection of fictional mini-bios and essays using major UK horror movies and TV moments as major crossroads where characters and events intersect. Writer Sean Hogan does a fantastic job of staying in the right tone for each character, fleshing out tales from the smallest of details, and springing some beautifully-crafted surprises on the reader.
July 25, 2021
Took me a few stories to realise what the writer was doing, and what fun it turned out to be as I realised where stories crossed over! Really different and really fun!!
January 16, 2026
Excellent fictional horror history of England. Clever and original, and introduces some very deep cuts into English horror. I thought I knew horror movies, but this introduced me to several movies I hadn't even heard of.
June 14, 2021
A collection of fictional stories based on characters from British horror films comingle to create an interconnected web of stories about evil in the world. It was not what I expected, but I that is down to advertising, so I didn't include that in my rating. I thought it would be closer to the films and the relationships would be based more on the worlds of the film; this is more fictionalised and more creative.
As with most compilations of mini-stories, some are better done than others. Some are intriguing and interesting and the crossovers make you go "ah!" and some feel like a stretch, or belabored, and some are simply better written than others. Hence the four stars. On the whole, this is a very original and interesting idea and as I love British horror films I liked reading most of these stories. I'm not sure, as others have said, that the ending hangs together well, it doesn't make or break the book either.
In summary: I think any British horror fan will find stories to enjoy in it, if not the whole thing; although if you are more of a passing fan, it may not grab you in the same way.
As with most compilations of mini-stories, some are better done than others. Some are intriguing and interesting and the crossovers make you go "ah!" and some feel like a stretch, or belabored, and some are simply better written than others. Hence the four stars. On the whole, this is a very original and interesting idea and as I love British horror films I liked reading most of these stories. I'm not sure, as others have said, that the ending hangs together well, it doesn't make or break the book either.
In summary: I think any British horror fan will find stories to enjoy in it, if not the whole thing; although if you are more of a passing fan, it may not grab you in the same way.
September 21, 2024
this great little book of meta-fiction that basically tries to tie all of the characters from British horror cinema (that are not like hammer pre-modern Gothic horrors with the exception of hammer films 1970s set dracula films) into a single fictional timeline/real world history in the vein of like "Anno Dracula" or "league of extraordinary gentlemen" and its SO GOOD!
If nothing else like the "Anno Dracula" and "league of extraordinary gentlemen" series it introduced me to a couple of new movies/pieces of media that are deep cuts that I have never heard of but want to see now!
Honestly any book that opens with Christopher Lee's character from "the devil rides out" (1968) trying to stop the birth of Damien from "the omen" (1976) is a very cool book in my eyes!
If nothing else like the "Anno Dracula" and "league of extraordinary gentlemen" series it introduced me to a couple of new movies/pieces of media that are deep cuts that I have never heard of but want to see now!
Honestly any book that opens with Christopher Lee's character from "the devil rides out" (1968) trying to stop the birth of Damien from "the omen" (1976) is a very cool book in my eyes!
June 26, 2021
A thoroughly enjoyable romp through the history of British horror films, Sean Hogan's England's Screaming is a delight from start to finish. Weaving together strands of previously unrelated characters and plots into a longer narrative, Hogan draws clever parallels with existing works and connects influences and similarities.
Spotting some of the links can be tricky unless your knowledge of British horror is very good, so I'd recommend having Google at the ready. But that's half of the fun. It's a brilliant concept that, whilst not entirely original - as Hogan graciously acknowledges in the introduction - it still makes for a wonderful read. Recommended.
Spotting some of the links can be tricky unless your knowledge of British horror is very good, so I'd recommend having Google at the ready. But that's half of the fun. It's a brilliant concept that, whilst not entirely original - as Hogan graciously acknowledges in the introduction - it still makes for a wonderful read. Recommended.
October 9, 2020
Good fun
February 20, 2021
I will guarantee this; There is absolutely no way in hell you will predict how the Straw Dogs chapter ends!
October 3, 2021
What a treat for fans of classic British horror! I burned though it in just over two days!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews