Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This splashy, high-concept book with glossy pages (designed to accompany a BBC-TV series) is not so much an encyclopedia, as a colour scrapbook of Clive Barker's horror obsessions. After an introduction in which Barker examines such questions as "What is horror?" and "Why does it fascinate us?", the book takes the form of 26 heavily illustrated historical essays about assorted topics in the genre--one for each letter of the alphabet (eg, "B is for Beelzebub"). The pictures include numerous paintings and drawings by Barker, stills from movies, movie posters, author/director bio inserts and photographs of all types. Topics covered include : serial killers, H.P. Lovecraft, Dennis Wheatley, John Carpenter, H.R. Giger, Grand Guignol, make-up, killer clowns, killer kids, body horror, Japanese monsters, Barbara Steele, Shirley Jackson, fairy tales and sculptor Franz Messerschmidt. A fun toy for horror buffs!
Synopsis
This is an exploration of the tradition of horror, from its earliest origins - as far back as the biblical victim Job - to the monsters, slashers, satanic children and serial killers who represent our anxieties today. Each letter of the alphabet is used as a starting point for an aspect, element or ingredient of horror. It may be a scene in a film, such as the shower scene in "Psycho", or a character such as Freddie in "Nightmare on Elm Street". Or it may be idea such as evil, violence or darkness, which is explored to reveal hidden meanings. Other themes examined include the psychological impact of horror, the role of women as heroines and victims, and the incarnation of the film monster.
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