The Art of Horror Movies: An Illustrated History

THE ART OF HORROR MOVIES

An Illustrated History

Edited by Stephen Jones
Foreword by John Landis
The ultimate guide to horror film art, tracing its history from
the Sinister Silents to the 2000s Maniacs!

In THE ART OF HORROR MOVIES: An Illustrated History (Applause Theatre & Cinema Books Hardcover; October 2017), multi-award winning horror and dark fantasy writer and editor Stephen Jones looks at the rich history of horror films, from their silent birth in the late nineteenth century to their full-blown explosion in the mid-century up to their present-day horrific, high-tech incarnations.

Through a series of informative chapters and fascinating sidebars profusely illustrated with over 600 rare images, including film posters, lobby cards, advertisements, promotional items, covers of tie-in books and magazines, and original artwork inspired by classic movies, this handsomely designed hardcover traces the development of the horror film from its inception, and celebrates the actors, filmmakers, and artists who were responsible for scaring the pants off successive generations of moviegoers!

“Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and Vincent Price—these gentlemen took pride in their efforts to create people (or monsters) who, though they were often grotesque and twisted, were fully realized characters,” says John Landis, director of the iconic American Werewolf in London. “Of course, sometimes they played magic, evil, or undead characters, but they always invested them with an emotional inner life.”

In THE ART OF HORROR MOVIES, you witness the pride artists have taken in developing and experimenting in this genre for over 100 years. With over 600 frightful film images, this volume brings together fascinating and incisive commentary from some of the genre’s most highly respected experts, including an illuminating foreword from John Landis. “Many horror film posters have become iconic and valuable collector’s items,” says Landis. “The posters for The Mummy (1932), King Kong, Creature from The Black Lagoon (1954), and (perhaps my favorite) Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) are all not only artistically pleasing, but act as moments remembered and treasured—souvenirs of the cinematic experience itself.”

With eye-popping images from all over the world, THE ART OF HORROR MOVIES is the definitive guide for anyone who loves horror films and movie fans of all ages.

ABOUT THE EDITOR
STEPHEN JONES has written and edited more than 140 books and is widely considered to be a world expert on the subjects of horror fiction and film. He is the winner of multiple awards for his work, including the prestigious World Fantasy Award and Bram Stoker Award, and is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association.