For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Craig Lefteroff’s review of “Fright Favorites: 31 Movies to Haunt Your Halloween and Beyond” by David J. Skal, first published on December 1, 2020, in Booklist.
Enjoy.
“Fright Favorites: 31 Movies to Haunt Your Halloween and Beyond”
By David J. Skal.
Sept. 2020. 224p. illus. Running Press.
Horror scholar Skal (“The Monster Show,” 1993) spotlights 31 seminal horror films here, delving into production history and thematic analysis for each one, and offering a recommendation for similar watches at the end of each entry. Genre novices will find a reliable selection of quality suggestions, more than half of them released before 1970. (It is a TCM—Turner Classic Movies—book, after all). The usual suspects are all here (like “Dracula,” “Frankenstein,” “Night of the Living Dead,” and “Halloween”) and horror vets probably won’t find any surprises but should enjoy the author’s commentary. Skal manages to craft novel insights even when considering well-studied works like “Rosemary’s Baby.” And everyone will appreciate the beautiful photos that embellish this volume, making the printed version of the book the better choice: these images won’t shimmer on a screen as they do on the page. The familiarity of the films chosen might convince seen-it-all aficionados to pass, but this visually arresting book should find plenty of other eager readers during Halloween season and beyond.— Craig Lefteroff
About Booklist
Since 1905, Booklist has published thousands of book and audiobook reviews each year, helping library and education workers decide what to buy and how to guide patrons and students of all ages in choosing what to read, view, or listen to.
We’re proud to share these reviews with you each week. If you’d like to read more—along with must-read lists, author interviews, and top reading recommendations for adults, youth, and audiobook lovers—you can enjoy a free subscription to Booklist Reader, Booklist’s magazine for library patrons, as a benefit of becoming a Supporter of the American Library Association. What could be better?
How you can support libraries
With library funding being gutted and censorship on the rise, supporting libraries is more critical than ever. If you’re looking for a way to help, we urge you to become a Supporter of the American Library Association by donating.
At the American Library Association, we are here to protect libraries — today and for generations to come. What does your donation do? It helps a neighbor gain skills to start a business. It helps a child discover themselves through books and programs. And it helps keep libraries strong, open, and free for everyone.
Become a Supporter
Subscribe to the I Love Libraries newsletter! You’ll get news from the library world, advocacy updates, author interviews, book lists, and more delivered to your inbox every month.
