Take a photo of a barcode or cover
findingmontauk1 's review for:
The best part of this book is the mentioning of titles that I may not have thought about in quite some time. And there were times where I enjoyed hearing the author's take on some of my favorite movies and killers. What I didn't like? Oh, Lord... so much.
First, the writing about heavy metal music (really? I could care less about that when reading a book about a moviegoer's writing on horror). I understand how there is heavy metal in some horror movies, but let's get back to the topic at hand, please.
He spends way too much time tearing down and deconstructing classic horror films and basically calling them all overrated trash (without saying those words) for titles such as The Exorcist, Psycho, Suspiria, etc. Alien is a boring movie? He even calls Wes Craven's Scream a fraud... like... okay... let's see what would have happened to the slasher genre had that series NOT been so famous and awesome. It would probably still be buried in the 80s. I am all about other people having different opinions, but how can you write a book on horror and hate on every single staple horror film and think you will come off as valid and reliable?
And why do I care about an entire chapter dedicated to Charlie Sheen and a snuff film? I dunno, this book was just a jumbled mess to me overall. The second half of the book goes right off a cliff quicker than Thelma and Louise. What started out as interesting, charming stories from Rockoff's experiences turns into just a roast fest of negativity and boredom. At the end of the day, I feel no better and no worse for finishing this book. I have left and feel zero impact. And that is just not how I want to feel when I finish a book.
It seems that excruciatingly difficult work in writing a screenplay/remaking a CLASSIC AND AWESOME horror movie (I Spit On Your Grave) gave him some license of entitlement? His real masterpiece was naming a book "The Horror Of It All" when that's exactly how I feel after finishing. Next. 1.5 stars out of 5 for me. I had hoped to really love this because, before finishing, I was also interested in Rockoff's first book Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, 1978-1986. But maybe he was less pompous and entitled 10+ years before writing this book.
First, the writing about heavy metal music (really? I could care less about that when reading a book about a moviegoer's writing on horror). I understand how there is heavy metal in some horror movies, but let's get back to the topic at hand, please.
He spends way too much time tearing down and deconstructing classic horror films and basically calling them all overrated trash (without saying those words) for titles such as The Exorcist, Psycho, Suspiria, etc. Alien is a boring movie? He even calls Wes Craven's Scream a fraud... like... okay... let's see what would have happened to the slasher genre had that series NOT been so famous and awesome. It would probably still be buried in the 80s. I am all about other people having different opinions, but how can you write a book on horror and hate on every single staple horror film and think you will come off as valid and reliable?
And why do I care about an entire chapter dedicated to Charlie Sheen and a snuff film? I dunno, this book was just a jumbled mess to me overall. The second half of the book goes right off a cliff quicker than Thelma and Louise. What started out as interesting, charming stories from Rockoff's experiences turns into just a roast fest of negativity and boredom. At the end of the day, I feel no better and no worse for finishing this book. I have left and feel zero impact. And that is just not how I want to feel when I finish a book.
It seems that excruciatingly difficult work in writing a screenplay/remaking a CLASSIC AND AWESOME horror movie (I Spit On Your Grave) gave him some license of entitlement? His real masterpiece was naming a book "The Horror Of It All" when that's exactly how I feel after finishing. Next. 1.5 stars out of 5 for me. I had hoped to really love this because, before finishing, I was also interested in Rockoff's first book Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, 1978-1986. But maybe he was less pompous and entitled 10+ years before writing this book.