Summary:
You don’t have to miss out just because you don’t like to be frightened! Stop trying to read nonsensical Wikipedia plot summaries (we know you’re doing it), and let an expert tell you everything you need to know about the most influential horror films of the past 60 years—without a single jump scare or a drop of gore.
With a rundown of the history and significance of horror cinema, explanations of common tropes, and detailed entries on 25 important movies ranging from Night of the Living Dead to The Blair Witch Project to Get Out, Horror for Weenies will turn even the scarediest of cats into a confident connoisseur.
Each entry includes:
- A detailed plot summary, with enough jokes that it won’t freak you out
- Smart, illuminating analysis of the film’s themes and cultural significance
- Descriptions of iconic scenes you definitely do not want to look at
- Talking points for impressing even the biggest scary-movie buffs
Never get left out of a conversation again!
Review:
Okay, I admit it: I’m a weenie. I cannot watch horror movies. My imagination is just too vivid. When I was twelve, I watched Poltergeist and didn’t get a good night’s sleep for weeks. (Man, I wish I was kidding about that.) Over the years, I’ve gradually been able to watch some suspense or mild horror stuff, but for the most part, I know better than to subject myself to the gore and nastiness of horror films. That being said, I do know some of the pop culture references to these movies, but not enough to really feel like I know what’s going on. After this book, I know much more!
As the summary says, each movie is given a plot breakdown, a discussion of what makes that movie stand out as significant in the arc of horror movies’ evolution, the tropes that come from the film or that it uses especially well, and iconic things to be aware of. The book leans into humor to leaven the freakiness of the subject matter (remember, we are weenies and need to break the tension every now and then). It still manages to be informative, though, and provide an excellent breakdown of the chosen films.
For me, I found this extra interesting from the point of view of story evolution. One of the things that the book focuses on is the changes in storytelling technique as time goes on. And something else that this feeds into, and is explored alongside the storytelling, is how those techniques are influenced by what is going on in the wider culture of America at the time of the movie’s debut. The author makes the excellent point that horror, especially on film, is a reflection of what scares us at the point in time that it comes out. So, for example, the film Get Out can be looked at in the context of rising racial tensions. I’m sure that not everyone will agree with every assessment, but I would urge you to keep an open mind and at least consider the points the author is making.
If nothing else, if you’re a horror fan this book will be a stroll down memory lane through some of your favorite films, and it might lead you to some older ones that you weren’t aware of. For us weenies, we get the pleasure of knowing what the rest of you are talking about without giving ourselves nightmares. And for those interested in film criticism, you’ll find a wealth of broad-reaching discussions of the horror film genre.
