What do you get when writer, actor, director, producer, etc., Christian Ackerman, asks some of his friends, "What's your favorite horror movie?" A collection of 48 essays from people involved in all parts of the horror film industry giving personal insights to what they've liked and inspired them.This collection covers a spectrum of movies from across the genre and people involved with horror films in different roles. The perspectives they give cover a range of reasons for the movie they chose. It might not have been the scariest movie they saw. Usually it was the one that was most impactful. It may have been that one giving them direction for their career choice. Whatever the reasoning, these essays give an inside look at the people who wrote about them.
This is more than just people telling what their favorite horror movie is and walking off stage left.
Some write about their favorite movie and their reasons why this is one is their pick, like writer/producer/editor Tony Timpone. He provides 50 points on why Psycho is his favorite movie.
Others share tidbits about the movie that inspired them and started them down the path of being in the horror film industry, like film and video game composer/music producer Ken Jacobsen. Jacobsen comes right out and says he is not sure if this is his favorite, but John Carpenter's The Thing is the one "that inspired me early on, shaping my attitude towards horror and sci-fi."
O admit their choice is the movie they keep going back to again, and again, and again like an addiction. Screenwriter/film critic/actor Michael Klug admits he's watched Day of the Dead well over 1,000 times and plans on watching it again.
Like some writers, I may be considered a late bloomer coming to horror because I didn't understand what represented horror. The elements of horror tie into so many other genres and as a genre has a number of sub-genres. Here are the movies that gave these writers the understanding on a personal level of what horror means. I've come to embrace my ownership of what horror means and I found like-minded spirits in these pages.
The unique voices of the authors comes through. These are not whitewashed to make for pleasant, easy reading. These are raw takes from people who look at life through a lens that includes the horrific possibilities that may, or may not, represent reality in a different context. I found relatable passages throughout the 223 pages. The personal level brought to the essays is one strong reason this collection is worth reading.
Every type of horror fan will find something relatable in these pages. It might be a shared favorite. It could be the shared general emotion. It might be touching on an older forgotten gem or finding a new film to add to the 'need to watch list.' It might even be the understanding of some of the sub genres of horror presented.
My Favorite Horror Film can be read in bits and pieces. Any way you decide to read this book (whether straight through, by film chosen, or by author) provides insights about the movies we, the horror fans, enjoy.
I give My Favorite Horror Film 5 out of 5.
I picked up a copy of My Favorite Horror Movie at the 2018 Filmquest Film Festival (link) for review purposes.
My Favorite Horror film is available through Amazon (link).
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| Christain Ackerman (editor and contributor) |
The Authors (and where to find out more about them)
Christian Ackerman (editor) (IMDb link)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre by Felissa Rose (Twitter @Felissa_Rose)
Halloween by Sean James Decker (Facebook @Sean.Decker)
Psycho by Tony Timpone (Twitter@TonyTimpone1)
Gojira by Miguel David Rodriguez (Twitter@HIFilmFest)
Predator by Hank Braxton (Twitter@BraxtanFilm)
Creepshow by Dave Parker (Twitter@DaveParker666)
Alien by Arielle Brachfeld (Twitter@ABrachfeld)
Aliens by Calder Greenwood (Instagram@CalderGreenwood)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacreby Clint Carney (Facebook @ClintCarney)
H.P. Lovecraft's Re-Animator by Graham Skipper (Twitter @GrahamSkipper)
Friday the 13thPart 2 by Nick Phillips (Instagram@NicholasCPhillips)
Day of the Dead by Michael Klug (Facebook@Michael.Klug.98)
Bram Stoker's Draculaby Tammy Sutton-Walker (Twitter @Tamity)
The Sighting by Frank Merle (FrankMerle.com)
An American Werewolf in London by Joshua Lou Friedman (Facebook@JoshuaLouFriedman)
Halloween by Michael Gingold (Facebook@MichaelGingold12)
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders by Staci Layne Wilson (Instagram@StaciLayne)
A Nightmare on Elm Street by Josh McKevitt (JoshMckevitt.com)
Drag Me to Hell by Jonathan Martin (BohemianIndustries.com)
The Exorcist by Sarah Nicklin (Instagram@SarahNicklin)
Deadly Friend by Blake Reigle (BlakeReigle.com)
Dawn of the Deadby Eric Spudic (EricSpudic.net)
Fright Night by B. Harrison Smith (Class85.com)
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein by Rolfe Kanefsky (RolfeKanefsky.com)
John Carpenter's The Thing by Ernie Trinidad (ErnieTrinidad.com)
Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers by Hunter Johnson (LAHorror.com)
The Return of the Living Dead by Jack Bennett (Twitter @ThatJackBennett)
Creature from the Black Lagoon by Todd Robey (RobeyArt.com)
An American Werewolf in London by Terry Wolfinger (Wolfinger.BigCartel.com)
Puppet Master by Julia Hapney (Facebook @EvilDreamer)
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman by C. Courtney Joyner (IMDb)
Day of the Dead by Chris Hampton (Instagram @CJH1313)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show by Spooky Dan Walker (Instagram@SpookyDanWalker)
Creepshow by Jared Rivet (Twitter@JaredRivet1)
The Evil Dead by Trista Robinson (Facebook@TristaRobinsonPage)
Halloween by Alex Napiwocki (SafetyMeetingProductions.com)
Dawn of the Deadby Chuck Foster (Twitter@MrPhreek)
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