For Blogtober today, I thought I’d highlight three horror film non-fiction books that I’ve really enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something to read this October more rooted in ‘real life’ than fiction.
The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror by David J. Skal
Goodreads Summary:
Americans love horror. The evolution of our favorite horror icons mirrors the great social crises of our times. Author David Skal shows how Cold War paranoia, nuclear fears, and now AIDS led to films such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Fly, Dracula and other horror hits.
Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film by Carol J. Clover
Goodreads Summary:
Do the pleasures of horror movies really begin and end in sadism? So the public discussion of film assumes, and so film theory claims. Carol Clover argues, however, that these films work mainly to engage the viewer in the plight of the victim-hero, who suffers fright but rises to vanquish the forces of oppression. Do the pleasures of horror movies really begin and end in sadism? So the public discussion of film assumes, and so film theory claims. Carol Clover argues, however, that these films work mainly to engage the viewer in the plight of the victim-hero, who suffers fright but rises to vanquish the forces of oppression.
Behind the Horror: Real Stories Behind the Big Screen’s Greatest Screams by Lee Mellor
Goodreads Summary:
Uncover the twisted tales that inspired the big screen’s greatest screams.
Which case of demonic possession inspired The Exorcist? What horrifying front-page story generated the idea for A Nightmare on Elm Street? Which film was inspired by an 18th-century Japanese folktale?
Unearth the terrifying and true tales behind some of the scariest Horror movies to ever haunt our screens, including the Enfield poltergeist case that was retold in The Conjuring 2 and the creepy doll that inspired Chucky in Child’s Play.
Behind the Horror dissects these and other bizarre tales to reveal haunting real-life stories of abduction, disappearance, murder, and exorcism.
So there’s my recommendations if you’re looking for some film-based non-fiction to read this month, although as a warning all three increased my want to watch list. What would your recommendations be for horror-based non-fiction?
Unwrapping Words 
Thanks for the recommendations. I’d definitely second Skal’s book.
I’d also recommend — one that I just finished yesterday since ’tis the season and all — Matthias Clasen’s ‘Why Horror Seduces’ which attempts to explain why we like other from an evolutionary perspective. It’s a convincing argument, certainly more convincing than “because we are sadists (or masochists)”.
Two I can’t recommend yet but that I’m looking forward to reading this month are: Kim Newman’s ‘Nightmare Movies’ and W. Scott Poole’s ‘Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror’.
I may also now seek out ‘Men, Women and Chainsaws’, time permitting.
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Why Horror Seduces is definitely getting added to the wishlist, thanks! Kim Newman is great and Nightmare Movies is definitely a must read – I’ll have to look out for Wasteland too! Thanks so much!
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