Horror

Stephen King is no stranger to the realm of literary criticism, but his most fantastic, far-reaching work has aroused little academic scrutiny. This study of King's epic "Dark Tower" series encompasses the career of one of the world's best-selling authors and frames him as more than a 'horror writer'. Four categories of analysis - genre, art, evil, and intertextuality - provide a focused look at the center of King's fictional universe.

The horror genre is known for its persistent popularity, but it also harbors a number of films too bold or bizarre to succeed with mainstream audiences. Despite their lack of box office success, these same movies garner groups of devotees and remain perennially popular among those who recognize and appreciate their unique, startling and often groundbreaking qualities. Beginning with Victor Sjostrom's "The Phantom Carriage" in 1921, this book tracks the evolution and influence of underground cult horror over the ensuing decades, closing with William Winckler's "Frankenstein vs.

One of the triggering events of the Civil War helped divide a nation but also launched a cannonade of persuasive essays and propaganda. Early press reaction to John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry ranged from indignant horror in the South to stunned disbelief in the North. Brown's few supporters came from diverse perspectives and wielded great power with their pens: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and Lydia Maria Child. This book explores the moment when literature and history collided and literature rewrote history.

A collection of lyrical verse, consoling prose, and personal meditations on American culture.

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Filmmaker Ed Wood was controversial and critically maligned, even labeled 'the worst director of all time', yet he achieved cult status and remains of great interest today. This book frames Wood's work, such as the cross-dressing themed "Glen or Glenda?" and the haphazard "Bride of the Monster", as reflections of the culture of their era. Wood invariably worked with infinitesimal budgets, shooting at breakneck speed, incorporating plot twists that defied all logic.

"Dracula" and "Frankenstein's Monster" are horror cinema icons, and the actors most deeply associated with the two roles also shared a creative friendship. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff starred in dozens of black-and-white horror films, and over the years managed to collaborate on and co-star in eight movies. Through dozens of interviews and archival research, this book examines the Golden Age of Hollywood, the era in which both stars worked, recreates the shooting of Lugosi and Karloff's mutual films, examines their odd and moving personal relationship and analyzes their ongoing legacies.

From their first pairing in "Hamlet" (1948) to their roles in "House of the Long Shadows" (1983), Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing have enjoyed the most successful collaboration in horror film history. Each of their 22 film collaborations is examined in detail, including plot synopses and critical commentary. A comprehensive filmography of their films together provides release date, running time, studio, production information and full cast and credits.

Universal Studio's popularized five of the most recognized movie monsters of all time are: "Frankenstein", "Dracula", the "Wolfman", the "Mummy", and the "Creature from the Black Lagoon". But only the first four were produced during the studio's golden age, portrayed by legendary horror actors, and revived many times over the ensuing decades. Why, then, does the Creature endure as a classic horror character? This book is the ultimate guide to the Creature (aka the Gill Man), covering his inception, his movies, and his legacy among the all-time great movie monsters.

Many stars of classic horror movies crossed over to radio during and after their careers. This book chronicles the radio appearances of several horror genre stars, including Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, and two dozen more, including 'Scream Queens' like Fay Wray. It contains script excerpts from radio shows as well as narrated albums and music singles. Each star's appearances are listed by show and air date, with descriptions of the subject matter.

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This is the first book-length study of the career and life of Ann Savage, whose performance in Detour earned her a place in "Time Magazine"'s list of the top 10 greatest movie villains. The biography covers her abused childhood and her career as a studio contract player, pin-up queen, B movie star, jetsetter and award-winning aviatrix. Included in this title is a full, annotated filmography with release date, credits, cast, synopsis and commentary for each of Savage's films.

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