There is no shortage of horror film readers on the book shelves now a day and some may say that there is little need for any more but Kamera Books has delved into the film genre reader for quite some time as this book “Horror Films” by Colin Odell & Michelle Le Blanc is but one of many. I read many of these readers before yet I continue to pick up each and every new one in order to get a glimpse at how their interpretation differs from all the others.
In this book, Odell & Le Blanc has crafted an easy “beginners” reader for the new horror fan by examining classic horror films from all over the world. One of the most unique aspects of this book is that it not only examines those key films from the American film industry (i.e. Jaws, Rosemary’s Baby, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, to name a few) but also touch upon films from Europe (i.e. The Wicker Man, The Cabinet of Caligari and Eyes Without a Face, to name a few), Mexico (i.e. Cronos, Santa Sangre), Asia (i.e. Gojira, Jigoku, Mr. Vampire) and Australia (i.e. The Last Wave, Undead, Wolf Creek).
The book is made very easy to understand as each chapter is separated by place of origin followed by several pages on the horror industry in that particular country. Then there are breakdowns of some of the key and most influential films from each country. The book is a very easy read and easy for readers to jump right in at any particular chapter. Odell & Le Blanc have a very “matter of fact” writing style that doesn’t give any fluff for each chapter and film entry which bolds well for readers just wanting a quick glance or overview on a particular country and/or film.
Overall, the book may not shed any new light on the genre for horror enthusiasts but it is a great way for the casual reader to get introduced to the genre. Kamera Books does an excellent job with presenting books about the film industry in all the major (and sometimes minor) genres. This book also contains a wealth of photos and even contains a DVD which includes three horror shorts so there is a lot to be had with this book.