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Phil Hardy
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Horror (Aurum film encyclopedia) Paperback – January 1, 1996

by Phil Hardy (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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This is the best single volume book on the horror film, the definitive reference work devoted to the subject. It contains entries on every movie even remotely connected to the genre, whether it is a 19-century silent, a grade "Z" schlocker, or an "art" film by the likes of Fritz Lang or Ingmar Bergman. Each entry contains a full list of credits and a descriptive review. Hardy writes about horror movies with such enthusiasm and intelligence that you feel you're getting the low down on the genre from a sincere and learned friend.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    496 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Aurum Press
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1996
  5. ISBN-10
    1854103849
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1854103840
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aurum Press (January 1, 1996)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1854103849
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1854103840
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.1 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the author

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Phil Hardy

Phil Hardy

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In 1986 I went to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan to research and write the documentary film, Food Trucks & Rock 'n' Roll about how the money raised by Band Aid was spent in Africa. I was the founding editor of Music and Copyright, a biweekly newsletter offering news and analysis on the international music industry published by the Financial Times. My books include Samuel Fuller (1970), The Encyclopedia of Horror Movies (1986) ,The Faber Companion to 20th Century Popular Music (1990) and The British Film Institute Companion to Crime (1997). My Western Encyclopedia won the BFI Book Award in 1984. Download!: How Digital Destroyed the Record Industry, was published at the end of 2012. I have just finished writing a book about music publishing and copyright administration since 2000. Currently I am writing a book about trhe history of the Universal Music Group

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Duspin
5.0 out of 5 stars The most accurate horror history encyclopedia
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2011
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This book is the most thorough any encyclopedia has ever dared to be, chronologically assorting horror movies starting way back with George Melies' short film; Le Manoir Du Diable (1896, Fr.). I just wished it had included everything including the either lost, forgotten, or never released horror films that are only in their original languages from the Philippines, Italy, Japan, and Mexico. I really want to know more about Japan's "Moken no himitsu" from 1924, I believe it is Japan's true first ever horror film (according to the internet movie database website). The amount of Mexican, Hong Kong, and Japanese horror films from 1960 and on with incomplete credits are tremendous.

This encyclopedia also helped me discover one title from my youth I thought I would never find, "Something Wicked This Way Comes." The book most heavily exhausts Christopher Lee's and Vincent Price's filmographies which delights me greatly. Everyone who cares about horror movies should look for and buy this encyclopedia. And I really wish it would get an updated release spanning horror films up to 2010. Let's get the ball rolling for this, I saw in previous reviews that other owners want the same thing. Trying to fit it all in one book would be too much, it would exceed 2000 pages. How about a Volume 2? Also the encyclopedia contains knowledge of many lost films that seem to have disappeared in recent years in other horror encyclopedias. The writer really did his research. Holding the book for me is holding horror movie history, and for the legion of younger horror fans that is growing rapidly these last few years, they should know about the silent horror film years and not just say "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is the greatest horror movie ever. George Melies "Le Manoir Du Diable" (1896), "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920), and Bela Lugosi's "Dracula" (1931) are arguably the best horror movies ever because they changed the landscape of the entire horror and monster genres. I can't stand encyclopedias that are all in alphabetical order. What if I wanted to know all horror movies made in the year 1955?
3 people found this helpful
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Herbert H.
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018
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A updated version of the horror encyclopedia.very well put together and accurate.
One person found this helpful
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Sport McNichol
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2019
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excellent book
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pg
2.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, but seriously flawed...
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2005
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In terms of exhaustiveness, this book is probably second to none. Not only does it survey almost every American horror movie ever made, it contains a good lot on international films, especially italian giallos. A new edition of this 1994 book would be most welcome.

However, the authors of this book make the serious mistake of revealing key plot details of most movies, thus ruining the viewing experience of the unwary viewer. This is not how reviews ought to be written. So please do not read the review from this book before viewing the movie, it will ruin it for you!!!
13 people found this helpful
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Baron Von Cool
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but only covers films up to mid-90s
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2012
The Encyclopedia of Horror Movies: The Complete Film Reference  was the horror movie fan's bible back in the 80s (with the old Jack Nicholson cover photo from The Shining). It had reviews and details for tons of famous, infamous, and totally obscure horror films from all over the world. Films you probably thought you'd never see in those ancient, pre-internet days. I learned a lot from it. It was like having your own personal IMDB at your fingertips! Cast and crew, run times of cut and uncut versions, production companies, plot summaries--it was all there. The review style was a bit on the dry, academic side, but (usually) quite thorough.

The book was revised and reprinted (with the classy Bride of Frankenstein cover shown above) in the mid-90s and you can see how the quality of horror films went down the toilet in the early 90s. Now, with the internet (and sites like IMDB), the need for this or any other film review book is becoming less and less. However, it makes a wonderful gift, coffee table book, or jumping off point for doing your own online research. I'm still happy to have a copy of this and  The Overlook Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction  on my bookshelf, even if I don't consult them nearly as much as I used to.

Overlook also issued comprehensive film encyclopedias for the gangster, noir, and western genres.
3 people found this helpful
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bonnie dean
3.0 out of 5 stars The author so does not like horror movies
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2018
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I am so disapointed. The book is new and well bound. Well printed. The author so does not like horror movies. Some of my favorite movies from the 40's are not even there. He does not get why we watch horror movies. As a child of the 40's and 50's I grew up watching these movies late at night on tv. I have most of the movies from the 40's and 50's. It does look nice with my movies.
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Alexander Clarkson
5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive horror film reference
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2002
The fact that this encyclopedia has not been updated since its last reprinting in 1995 borders on the offensive. That's because it is simply the best reference of the genre I've ever encountered. The book is filled with short to medium length reviews of horror films from every period in film history (up to 1992) and every nation which dabbles in the genre.
The fact that the encyclopedia is that complete is not necessarily its biggest asset. The reviews which compose the book do not simply provide summary, a quick line or two of evaluation, and a useless star rating a la Leonard Martin. Instead, each review examines its subject in relation to other similar works by subject, studio, director, actor, etc. It refuses to provide star ratings, favoring a more detailed explanation of a film's strengths and weaknesses. Also, and this pleases me the most, many films are examined through a critical lense, looking at how the film explores gender, culture, politics, economics, etc.
Combine these strengths with the inclusion of just about every horror film ever made and you have a book horror fans will leave by their bedside.
This encyclopedia treats the horror film genre as it should be treated, an important and vital field of art with a history and voice to be heard. Any causal or serious student of horror films must own this book. It will deepen and enlive their enjoyment of horror, from the absurd and esoteric, to the classic and mainstream.
25 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Rosita
5.0 out of 5 stars Usato tenuto molto bene
Reviewed in Italy on January 7, 2020
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Ottimo libro, esaustivo, per appassionati del genere e per chi desideri conoscere in modo approfondito le epoche del cinema horror (purtroppo, soltanto fino al 1985). La copia è usata ma tenuta molto bene.
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Martin Lane
5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Horror Movie Encyclopaedia You Will Ever Need!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2013
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The horror fan's bible. Just about the most comprehensive listings book for this much loved/maligned genre. Starts from about when cinema began right up to recent times and encompasses the globe. If it was made it's in this book. I guarentee you will find out about movies you never knew existed and will spend many hours trying to track them down.
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onehandclap
4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Reference
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2013
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Even if this is a bit dated now it is still an essential reference for Horror film fans. My edition from 1985 has a few errors but is full of useful details. Not for the modern film buff but hours of fun for the lovers of the classic and obscure.
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