A mysterious serial killer is killing young boys on the countryside. He's mutilating them. When Silas or Silly as he is called kills his whole family A mysterious serial killer is killing young boys on the countryside. He's mutilating them. When Silas or Silly as he is called kills his whole family the killing spree is over. Was Silly Death Angel? 50 years later Johnny Wright, meanwhile a professor for literature, returns to the little village he grew up. He wants to solve the puzzle about the mysterious killer. He meets some characters of the past still alive. What about his wife Jean? Did she really fall for motorcycle man Manfred? One of the best hick horrors I've read for quite a while. You suspect different characters being the murderer and can't put the book down because of it's flair and sinister pace. Old school prose meets murder mystery and horror with biblical references. Really enjoyed this little long forgotten gem. Highly recommended!...more
Really enjoyed this one showing all the vampire film productions from 1900 to 1977: pre-Lugosi and Lugosi-era, the 40s with multiple horrors, the retuReally enjoyed this one showing all the vampire film productions from 1900 to 1977: pre-Lugosi and Lugosi-era, the 40s with multiple horrors, the return of Dracula in the 50s, return to tradition in the 60s, temporary decline in the 70s. You'll also find an excellent filmography inside and some outstanding movie stills. Those were the great vampire days. A very good book even though it's a big dated. Highly recommended!...more
Simply had to pick up this one because of the cover (even though it's Nosferatu). Inside you'll find a study on Stoker's fiction, pity and terror: theSimply had to pick up this one because of the cover (even though it's Nosferatu). Inside you'll find a study on Stoker's fiction, pity and terror: theology, morality and popular fiction, chivalry, atavism and masculinity, the taming of the new, hysteroid pathology and physological medicine. The book end with extensive notes and a bibliography. Rather academic, more a thesis than popular science the author states some very interesting points here. Recommended for every advanced Dracula reader!...more
This was a very interesting book on vampires, praised and recommended as "a very Baedeker" to vampirism. Indeed it is. You get the whole plate: a liteThis was a very interesting book on vampires, praised and recommended as "a very Baedeker" to vampirism. Indeed it is. You get the whole plate: a literary history, Byron to Count Dracula, a brilliant chronological overview, essays, story fragments and synopsis of famous vampire tales, the tempestuous loveliness of terror (e.g. Hoffmann's Aurelia), the vampire as creature of folklore, the genesis of Dracula. You'll find many excellent illustrations, covers and movie stills inside. A truly outstanding book on the topic. Maybe a bit overwritten but overall absolutely recommended for every vampire fan!...more
Another classic Battin and what a page turner it was. Has Glenda come back from the dead to have her revenge on her former husband and his new wife? WAnother classic Battin and what a page turner it was. Has Glenda come back from the dead to have her revenge on her former husband and his new wife? What about their baby boy Michael? What role does the mortuary play and is there any help from the clairvoyant Jennifer? The novel starts with a seance and then turns into a full fledged horror fest. Green mist, an eerie Glenda and relentless terror. Gosh, that is exactly the stuff I loved reading in the 1980s and still do. This author really summed up all the great horror tropes. Highly recommended....more
Who is seemingly arbitrary killing different people in a small town? Why does the killer leave notes with the word "creep" at the dead bodies? The numWho is seemingly arbitrary killing different people in a small town? Why does the killer leave notes with the word "creep" at the dead bodies? The number of stiffs is rising. They come from all walks of life. Can a young police officer named Kelsey find the perpetrator? Who is the mysterious murderer what is his motif and why has Anne suddenly vanished? Great pulp horror that keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat. You are in the role of the killer and play hide and seek. Highly recommended!...more
Paul's brother Danny is missing. A creepy guy confesses to having murdered 8 person near Dread's Hand a remote little mining village in Alaska. Was DaPaul's brother Danny is missing. A creepy guy confesses to having murdered 8 person near Dread's Hand a remote little mining village in Alaska. Was Danny among the murdered? He's still missing so Paul Gallo is trying to find out what might have happened to him. The village is quite uncanny. What about the white crosses and the dark gossip about evil at home in the woods? What about the possessed boy? The book had its stellar moments with passages reminding me on The Exorcist or an Adam Nevill novel (e.g. The Ritual). The characters were a bit too one dimensional though, it dragged at parts and you could have made much more out of that sinister material. Even the end was a bit too unspectacular for my liking. What remains is some quite scary moments. Recommended!...more
Wow, what an overview. After a short introduction and depiction of the history of the vampire the author is right on target. He introduces you to 258 Wow, what an overview. After a short introduction and depiction of the history of the vampire the author is right on target. He introduces you to 258 novels and stories you should have a look at or rather omit. Every book is presented in a short review and rating. You'll follow the vampire meeting the Atomic Age and even beyond (the book ends in 1992). This is one of the best sources if you're looking for inspiration what vampire novel, novella or story to read next. The author did a real good job here. Liked it from start to finish. Now it's on you to find out what book has the highest number of bats... highly recommended!...more
Dracula received no academic attention before 1956. In this 1988 non-fiction academic book the author takes a close look at slavic folklore, Dracula'sDracula received no academic attention before 1956. In this 1988 non-fiction academic book the author takes a close look at slavic folklore, Dracula's politics, sexual symbolism in the bedroom, the genesis of Dracula, women and vampires: Dracula as Victorian novel, the unseen face in the mirror, the Christian heretic, the vampire myth, the Victorian male sex imagination, gender and inversion, the narrative method, Dracula's voyage and for me as a highlight chapter the comparison of Tolkien's Sauron with Stoker's Dracula. At parts a bit academic the author comes up with a terrific analysis of the novel and its characters. Some aspects were new to me. Top job. Highly recommended!...more
The house in Ocean Avenue in Amityville probably is the most notorious haunted house in the world. When the DeFeo family was shot in Nov 1974 with 8 sThe house in Ocean Avenue in Amityville probably is the most notorious haunted house in the world. When the DeFeo family was shot in Nov 1974 with 8 shots this caused quite an upset. This book describes maneuver and investigation, the trial, the hearing, what moved Ronnie to commit those heinous crimes, the sentence. You'll get two excellent photo sections, an compelling tale and much background information. Okay, I didn't find too many new information but a book on this legendary house is always worth picking up. Is the house possessed by an evil force or was everything just an hoax? You can form your own theory after reading this well done summing up what happened so far. Really recommended!...more
I completely liked the idea of this anthology published in the 1980s. Short stories made into frightening movies. Inside you'll find 12 stories, some I completely liked the idea of this anthology published in the 1980s. Short stories made into frightening movies. Inside you'll find 12 stories, some of them absolute horror highlight. The fest kicks off with The Duel. Everybody knows the Spielberg movie, here is the tale. The we have While Zombies Walked by Thorp McClusky, classic pulp horror from Weird Tales with some of the nastiest zombies ever. Other highlights are The Fly (you certainly watched Cronenberg's movie with the same title), Lovecraft's Colour Out of Space and Philip K. Dick's We Can Remember it for Your Wholesale (Total Recall). Some superb stories mixed with some not so strong ones too but overall an absolute highlight. Really recommended!...more
Lucy and Vi escape a sanatorium. But what about the scissors? Where is Lucy gone after Vi hits the bottle? Why is the police involved and nobody belieLucy and Vi escape a sanatorium. But what about the scissors? Where is Lucy gone after Vi hits the bottle? Why is the police involved and nobody believing what Lucy says? Captivating story by Bloch with a good shot of Psycho moments inside and a killer twist at the end. Madness takes its toll and an asylum isn't a nice place. Oh no. Really recommended!...more
What is a golem and how was it told to stop killing the enemies? Who knows about the Golem today and why is it located in Prague? Interesting backgrouWhat is a golem and how was it told to stop killing the enemies? Who knows about the Golem today and why is it located in Prague? Interesting background story to an absolutely eerie horror motif. Sinister, atmospheric and frightening. Short story, lasting impact. Really recommended....more
This is a nice little old school horror tale about a dead uncle, automatic writing and something delivered in a box after the uncle's demise. What is This is a nice little old school horror tale about a dead uncle, automatic writing and something delivered in a box after the uncle's demise. What is it? Why is there some turmoil in the library. Atmospheric with a nice twist and fascinating characters. Really recommended!...more
I really liked the original story the movie The Fly is based on. Why confesses Andre's wife Helen being his murderess? Why is everybody looking for a I really liked the original story the movie The Fly is based on. Why confesses Andre's wife Helen being his murderess? Why is everybody looking for a fly with a white head? What about Helen's papers in the thick envelope? The story unwinds in a relatively slow way but when the horror sets in you can't put it down. Somehow the whole concept reminded me a bit on Kafka. Brilliant tale with a long lasting impact. A modern classic I definitely prefer to the film (s). Highly recommended!...more
I liked the illustrations between the chapters but otherwise this book seemed a bit dated: the Fouke Monster, the legend of Boggy Creek, Whitey, Momo I liked the illustrations between the chapters but otherwise this book seemed a bit dated: the Fouke Monster, the legend of Boggy Creek, Whitey, Momo makes the headlines, that thing in the swamp, The Lake Worth Monster, Lake Okanagan's Loch Ness, Ogopogo, other lake monsters... I would have liked to read about everything as a kid. Here photos were missing, news articles too. It was okay but nothing too spectacular. ...more
There will always be some more information on the legendary count you didn't know. This book is extremely well done. You'll find inside the hand writtThere will always be some more information on the legendary count you didn't know. This book is extremely well done. You'll find inside the hand written notes on the plot, Whitby, the Stoker family, the castle, the Lyceum Theater (incl. a picture of the Beefsteak Room), Irving, handwritten research notes, a superb illustration to Stoker's story The Invisible Giant, a whole chapter on the method of narration, time, plot, characters, the count and his castle, Whitby, a single chapter on the myth of Dracula, Stoker's non fiction sources, possible literary influences, his library, a suggestion on the novel we would have read. Must read for every Dracula fan or those who can't get enough of the count. Extremely well researched and compiled. Highly recommended!...more
This was an extremely interesting book on horror theory. You'll learn the classical and postmodern paradigms of the horror genre (postmodern is the moThis was an extremely interesting book on horror theory. You'll learn the classical and postmodern paradigms of the horror genre (postmodern is the monster triumphs and the outcome is uncertain), the pleasure of seeing/not seeing the spectacle of the wet death, carnography, body horror, women and violence in the slasher film, culture politics, race horror. At you end you'll find notes for each chapter, bibliography and an index. There are also some illustrations of popular movies included. An interesting view behind the scenes how horror works and can be analyzed. Really recommended!...more
The ultimate book on films inspired directly or indirectly by Lovecraft. Here you are at the movies of madness. Alien, The Beyond, Dagon, The Call of The ultimate book on films inspired directly or indirectly by Lovecraft. Here you are at the movies of madness. Alien, The Beyond, Dagon, The Call of the Cthulhu, The Fog, Lifeforce, The Thing... the list seems endless. You'll also see excellent movie stills, photos and illustrations. Later on we find Lovecraft on Television, some galleries, and many interviews with directors, actors, screenwriters. At the end you'll find the shortfilms, an index of films and the films by year. What a Lovecraft fest. This is the book to read on the topic. Highly recommended!...more
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