There is currently a wave of nostalgia for all things eighties: E.T., Atari video games, new wave music, etc.
Of course, the early eighties were a big time for horror films too, and for many it’s become a big part of 80’s nostalgia as well.
Having written a book about horror films that will be hitting stores in October (shameless plug: Reel Terror) and talking to many fans about my age throughout the years, we recall very clearly how horror films back in the day were the forbidden, which is what made them so irresistible to us.
The more somebody told you not to do something as a kid, the more you wanted it.
Horror films weren’t consistently up to par in the eighties, but the fondest memories for many of us is how much they pushed the envelope with gore, the commercials and coming attractions, how much we dared sneaking into the theater, and dared our friends to see the movies, because at a young age you didn’t think you could handle it. So it was great fun to see The Slasher Movie book at my locals Barnes and Noble, by J.A. Kerswell.
The Slasher Movie Book brought back a lot of memories ’cause it’s crammed with artwork, the posters were like the carnival freakshow banners that dared you to look at the depravity inside, and it also reminded me that slasher films weren’t just an eighties thing, they actually went back to the 70’s. European films were further ahead of the U.S. as far as gore and sex, although horror films were getting away with murder before there was even a ratings system.
In addition to Reel Terror and The Slasher Movie book, there’s The Mammoth Book of Slasher Movies book by Peter Normanton due this October, which also promises a lot of horror movie fun.
Of course, when you go to the bookstores there’s tons of horror books out already. You may ask yourself, does the world need yet another book on horror films? Personally, don’t think there are enough horror film books out there, so here’s to more of ’em in the future.
