New Horror Handbook, The (Book)
Reviewed by Elaine Lamkin
Written by A.S. Berman
234 pages
Published by Bearmanor Media
Compared to Axelle Carolyn’s It Lives Again! (review here), The New Horror Handbook by A.S. Berman has its own completely different strengths – its focus is much narrower than Carolyn’s book so the reader really learns a lot about whatever subject they are reading, and the subjects are quite a mélange.
The book covers, in-depth, Rue Morgue magazine (THE best horror magazine out there, in my opinion), the rise of writer/actor/director Eli Roth, the films À l’intérieur (Inside) and Wolf Creek, the Ginger Snaps series, the Saw franchise, writer Steve Niles, Horror’s Hallowed Grounds creator Sean Clark, and much more. But where Carolyn’s book covers many films year by year, Berman’s book’s focus is much narrower (although he does have sidebars with even more information about films, quotes from directors/actors/producers, etc.). And, being a paperback, the photos are in black and white.
However, The New Horror Handbook also belongs on every horror fan’s bookshelf. I know I learned a few things about several of these films that I had never known before – just the bit on the Ginger Snaps series was fascinating. And I loved reading about how Rue Morgue came into being (go Rod, Jovanka, Dave and Monica!!).
You can order this book from Amazon.com below, but make sure you take a look at Writers Workshop of Horror and On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association. Both are equally informative and fascinating.
After reading about all of these amazing films,you just might be inspired to write your own screenplay/short story/novel. And these books are the cream of the crop.
3 1/2 out of 5
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