Taschen’s origins in comic selling and publishing have never been forgotten even with their eventual emergence in the book publishing world. The focus of their publications is all about the visual impact, drawing the reader in through sumptuous photographs and then allowing them to explore further with brief but informative notes. This latest offering from the publishing house is no exception. Packed into 192 pages is the history of horror cinema including 100’s of gruesome stills from a whole host of films, both mainstream classics and obscure cult hits.

Authors Jonathan Penner and Steven Jay Schneider have an impressive pedigree in the world of film and philosophy respectively. Penner’s screenwriting and production credits for various films mean he is perfectly placed to explore with a technical eye whilst Schneider provides psychological insight into one of the most complex movie genres.

Following an excellent potted history introduction, the book is split into ten sections each exploring a different sub-genre. If you can tear your eyes away from the riveting photos, the commentary for each chapter is truly fascinating. Each sub-genre is placed in historical context with events and trends of the day defining the evolvement t of the genre through the decades. The book pauses at the undeniable horror landmarks for deeper analysis starting with the gothic origins in early classics like Nosferatu through to the bloody Saw franchise of the noughties.

Whilst Horror Cinema does include many references to modern productions, its focus on the true classics of horror will go some way to educating those whose taste of the genre extends to the recent big bucks binge of slasher films. The photographic stills will no doubt tease and tempt until the reader has to give in and hurtle to the nearest Blockbusters for a marathon of classics. For those who already have the instilled passion for horror, the book will surely have a new lesson to teach or a cult flick that may have been overlooked, making it the ideal volume for every movie buff’s bookshelf.