Movies
[Book Review] ‘The Slasher Movie Book’
In the U.K, author J.A. Kerswell is the resident expert on slasher films. Not only has he run slasher site HysteriaLives.com for the past 10+ years, he’s also the author of 2010s’ Teenage Wasteland, which also chronicled the history of the slasher film. He brings his obvious love of bloody stabbery to The Slasher Movie Book, a meaty, colorful tome that effectively encapsulates the entire subgenre within its 200+ pages. Packed with international posters and lurid marketing imagery, The Slasher Movie Book serves as a totem for the anti-Kindle crowd. It’s an undeniable collector’s item for horror fans, even if I don’t necessarily agree with everything Kerswell postulates within its pages.
Much of The Slasher Movie Book is written from a defensive standpoint. As Kerswell states in his introduction, “The slasher is often unfairly seen as bottom-of-the-barrel whipping boy, often accused – by critics and genre fans alike – of pandering to the lowest common denominator.” And while it’s refreshing to read Kerswell defend some hidden horror treasures like Torso and Tourist Trap, he has a tendency to vigorously defend virtually every entry in the subgenre, something to keep in mind when seeking out the unknown films he recommends.
I don’t want to make it sound like I’m criticizing the beautiful opus that Kerswell has put together. The Slasher Movie Book is a pleasure to read. The author postulates that the Golden Age of the Slasher Film took place from 1978-1984, to which he devotes the middle third of the book. He moves outward from there, devoting individual chapters to Grand Guignol, Italian giallo, and even German krimi. Most films are summarized with a compulsory paragraph, and Kerswell breezes through each film era with clear, easy summations.
The Slasher Movie Book’s biggest selling point is the dozens of international images Kerswell has compiled, movie art and lobby cards from the U.S. and beyond. In fact, some may dismiss Kerswell’s effort as a book of vintage movie posters sprinkled with commentary, but it’s more than that. The Slasher Movie Book is the perfect slasher overview for a new fan just getting into the subgenre. Everything is covered here, if only very briefly.
4 out of 5 Skulls
On a side note, would you readers agree that 1978-1984 was the Golden Age of the Slasher Movie? I’m sure we can all name a few seminal slasher films that weren’t released during that time period…
The killer tomatoes are back in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, and the offiical poster for the brand new movie has been unleashed tonight.
Additionally, we’ve learned that the film’s theatrical release is set for this August, with a panel set for San Diego Comic-Con this month featuring the world premiere of the trailer.
While you wait, check out the official poster down below.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence will be released in select cities across the US beginning August 7th in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Diego, and others, and expanding to further locations throughout the month.
The fifth installment in the horror-comedy franchise pits the eternal power of nature against AI’s best and brightest.
In Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, a young biotech prodigy develops a revolutionary genetically engineered vegetable designed to solve humanity’s problems. But when the experiment spirals out of control, it unleashes a new generation of killer tomatoes, setting the stage for another outrageous chapter in the long-running cult franchise.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes co-creators Costa Dillon and J. Stephen Peace return to write and executive produce. David Ferino directs.
The film features an ensemble cast led by franchise icon John Astin (The Addams Family), reprising his role as Professor Gangreen, comedy legend David Koechner (Anchorman), Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), horror favorite Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), comedy veteran Dan Bakkedahl (Veep), Myrna Velasco (Star Wars Resistance), Vernée Watson (Shrinking, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), and Paul Bates (Coming to America).
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes launched in 1979, followed by 1988’s Return of the Killer Tomatoes, 1991’s Killer Tomatoes Strike Back, and 1992’s Killer Tomatoes Eat France.
The franchise also spawned an animated series in 1990.
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