Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
Heather Fucinari
LIBR 210
Fall, 2008
Pathfinder Description and Bibliography
Topic: History and theory of the horror film.
Description
The history and theory of the horror film is a subject studied from film students to
sociologists. An important caveat in horror film theory is the study of the evolution of the films
juxtaposed with current events at the time. For example, dread of the atomic bomb gave rise to
films that dealt with mutant abominations such as the colossal ants in the film Them! (1954,
Warner Bros.). These films prayed on valid fears at the time and could serve as a release from
the true horror of world politics. Students of film production must study film theory and history
in order to understand the meaning of the genre and how filmmaking can mean much more than
the literal of what is on the screen. The horror film genre has been around for the majority of the
medium of film itself. A clear understanding of the timeline, as well as theory behind its
development, is popular with students and scholars of film.
The intended scope of the pathfinder is for undergraduate and graduate students in the
USC School of Cinematic Arts and other film schools in the area. Also, it is of use to outside
scholars and researchers in the subject of horror film theory. These patrons can range from
professors and authors to sociologists. The admissions process of USC dictates students already
have working knowledge of film and skills beyond the typical student. That in mind, the chosen
texts on theory should not be out of realm of the comprehension level of the students. The
professors, scholars and researchers portion of the intended audience will also be knowledgeable
enough to expect a certain level of depth in the text. The pathfinder is targeted towards the
1
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
scholarly study of film rather than the enthusiast who wants to know when the next Saw film hits
the theater.
USC is home to the Doheny Memorial library as well as other smaller, specialized
libraries. In an attempt to narrow the search for the patron I concentrated on the books contained
in the Cinematic Arts Library on the bottom floor of the USC Doheny Library. The patron is
instructed in the pathfinder to filter the HOMER catalog to Cinema/TV, which concentrates only
on the Cinematic Arts Library collection. When choosing the books I made sure all were
available to the patrons. Some titles came up as in the “CAGE”. This means they are annexed to
a part of the library not available to the public at all. The database subscriptions of the library can
also be a daunting task to sort through. I evaluated the databases that came up as the topic of film
and chose the most relevant. For instance, LexisNexis Academic was a database result returned
when researching film, but I found it too broad for the users and topic. I found the databases
included in the pathfinder as plenty for researchers to delve into.
The text chosen had to fit certain criteria. Authors must be academics in the field and not
simply a horror fan that published a “zine”. Text must not merely be a horror film review guide
such as Videohound’s Horror Show (1998, Visible Ink Press). While this is a great reference
book for the horror fan, it does not explore the theory or history of film. The encyclopedias and
dictionaries chosen must fit criteria beyond publications like the Videohound guide. The books
will explore in depth the climate of the time as well as explain each film in relation to its
predecessors. As far as books and articles, an attempt was made to choose the best of the best for
each period of time. Most horror film theory revolves around how actual social, technological
and political advances and worries make their way on the screen via mutants, unseen killers and
2
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
technology gone awry. Each book focuses on film theory in terms of political and cultural
climate in each period of history.
Primary sources should always be made available to the researcher; therefore two of the
most relevant available at USC were added to the pathfinder. Beyond the secondary resources,
researchers also need primary sources such as scripts, photo stills or other documentation papers
of the film. The caliber of students at USC coupled with the experience of scholars and
researchers dictates that they will know the difference between what a primary and secondary
source is.
3
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
Bibliography of Included Resources
Print Resources
Hendershot, C. (2001). I was a cold war monster : Horror films, eroticism, and the cold war
imagination. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press.
Hendershot explains via essays how Cold War anxiety was reflected in the horror films of the
1950’s and 1960’s. The book is divided into the significant movements in film and the social
climate. For example, Part III: Horror in the Home deals with conformity and domesticity in the
home and the emergence of the theme of horror films portraying humans as drones. Hendershot
provides wonderful commentary from a sociological point of view while discussing some of the
most important horror films of the 50’s and 60’s.
Humphries, R. (2006). The hollywood horror film, 1931-1941 : Madness in a social landscape.
Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Humphries, a Professor of Film Studies, brings a critical analysis of the core films of the time
period of the 1930’s such as The Mummy and King Kong in relation to class and economic woes
of the decade. The book also deals with the impact of the films on audiences from a sociologist
point of view. The book was published by Scarecrow Press, a noteworthy publisher in the topic,
and is a key text for this period of horror film.
Hutchings, P. (2008). Historical dictionary of horror cinema. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Hutchings, a film lecturer at Northumbria University, covers horror film from the beginning of
the 20th century to the present. He uses chronology, introductory essays, bibliographies and cross
referenced entries to form the text. The book is lauded as a “must-purchase for academic libraries
supporting a film-studies curriculum” by the professionally used review publication Booklist
(The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2008, para. 1).
4
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
Justice, K. L. (1989). Science fiction, fantasy, and horror reference : An annotated bibliography
of works about literature and film. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland.
Justice has vetted all 300 works and gives personal assessment of all. The text is searchable by
three indexes: by subject, by title and by author, editor or major contributor. Researchers are
advised to focus on the seventh of nine sections entitled “Television, Film and Radio”. From
here, there is a variety of other bibliographic sources for researchers to get started on. This is an
excellent source for a printed bibliography rather than blindly searching the library catalog.
Milne, T., Willemen, P., & Hardy, P. (1986). The encyclopedia of horror movies. London:
Octopus Books.
This is an exhaustive encyclopedia of horror film from 1896’s French short, Le Manoir du
Diable, up to 1985’s Return of the Living Dead. Films are divided by decade, expounding on the
theme of the time. The entries are more than synopsis of plot, which can be found in any film
guide, but an explanation of film at the time, predecessors and theory and history behind each
film. As a preface to the entries section, Milne and Hardy include “The Horror Film in
Perspective”. This essay details the history of horror film in relation to the social and scientific
climate of the time.
Muir, J. K. (2007). Horror films of the 1980s. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co.
Muir is a well-respected author of Horror films of the 1970’s which won
ALA’s Best Reference book. The Horror Films of the 1980’s is a reference book that goes
beyond giving a synopsis of the film. Muir parallels each film with current events of the 1980’s
and the cinema. The book is divided into three main sections, the first and second deal with an
introduction to horror film and “A History of the Dead Teenager Decade”. The third part of the
5
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
text is the films by year of release. Muir gives a critical commentary in every film entry of the
reference book clearly illustrating reality versus the screen.
Vieira, M. A. (2003). Hollywood horror : From gothic to cosmic. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Vieira is author to many film theory and photography books. Hollywood horror possesses some
of the most beautiful film stills of any reference book. The focus of this text is from 1923-1968
which focuses not only how world events shaped film, but also compares the works of film
auteur with others.
Electronic Resources
Databases
American Film Institute Catalog. (2008). Retrieved November 19, 2008, from
http://afi.chadwyck.com/home
The American Film Institute (AFI) is a well-respected repository of film history. The database
contains information on American film from 1893-1972. The database offers plot summary,
notes and other information on the American film.
FIAF International Index to Film Periodicals Plus. (2008). Retrieved November 19, 2008, from
http://fiaf.chadwyck.com/infoCentre/FIAFPlus_User_Guide_Oct_08.pdf
The International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) has its Journal of Film Preservation
available free online. However, the subscription database offers an index of periodicals, treasures
of film, documentation collections and FIAF member’s publications. This database offers full
text searches for convenience.
Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2008, from
http://www.usc.edu/libraries/erms/databases/index.php
6
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
The Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text database allows searching by a variety of
ways such as subject, review or all text. This is a good resource for researchers to find a review
of text they may be interested in. In addition, Additional subject searches are made available to
the user based on the initial search.
E-Journals
The Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies. (2007). Retrieved November 19, 2008, from
http://irishgothichorrorjournal.homestead.com/
There are many horror film websites on the internet that are made by fans with good intentions,
but not really intended for scholarly research. The Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies
contains articles by academics such as Mark Jancovich. The online journal is new, having started
in 2006 and on its fourth issue. Articles published deal in the theory of the history of horror film
and the theory behind it.
Articles
Conrich, Ian. (2004). Before sound: Universal, silent cinema, and the last of the horror
spectaculars. In Stephen Price (Eds.), Horror Films (40-57). New Jersey: Rutgers
University Press. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from Film & Television Literature
Index with Full Text via EBSCO.
Conrich’s article adds important information for the researcher where the book selections lack in
the pathfinder. The article discusses the period in the late 1920’s when sound took over in film
and the horror film began to take hold-namely those by Universal pictures. A horror film
researcher’s timeline is incomplete without information on the Universal Pictures such as The
Mummy (1932) and Dracula (1931). The article also gives the user of the pathfinder an idea of
7
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
the scholarly articles that can be found via the Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text
database, which is noted in the pathfinder.
Websites
Dirks, Tim. (2008). Horror films. Retrieved November 19, 2008, from
http://www.filmsite.org/horrorfilms.html
Tim Dirks runs the website filmsite.org that provides a wealth of trusted information to the film
researcher and student. Film critic, Roger Ebert, has been known to refer to the site at times.
Dirks’ timeline of the horror film provides the reader with informative facts on the history of the
first horror film to the remakes of today. The sections are divided by director or sub-genre (i.e.
Zombie Horror Films in the 30s/40s and Beyond to the Present). Two lists, “Greatest Early
Classic Horror Films” and “Other Greatest Horror Films”, give a good gauge to prominent films
of the decades.
Archives
Performing Arts Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2008, from
http://www.usc.edu/libraries/collections/performing_arts/
This archive, houses at USC, includes primary resource material from MGM, Universal Studios,
Twentieth Century-Fox, Hal Roach, Republic Pictures and Carolco Pictures. This collection is
searchable to researchers via the internet.
Warner Bros. Archives. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2008, from
http://www.usc.edu/libraries/collections/warner_bros/
This archive is the largest single studio collection in the world. No pathfinder would be complete
without a great source of primary resources. Researchers must make an appointment to view any
materials contained in the archives.
8
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
Publishers
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2008, from
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/
McFarland offers an extensive variety of horror film theory and reference books including the
Booklist recommended Gorehound’s Guide to Splatter Films of the 1980’s. The publisher is a
trusted source of award winning scholarly and reference materials. Some award winning titles in
the genre of horror films from the publisher includes Horror Films of the 1970’s (Booklist
Editors Choice. ALA Outstanding Reference Book) and The Christopher Lee Filmography.
The Scarecrow Press, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2008, from
http://www.scarecrowpress.com/
Scarecrow Press offers as extensive selection of reference publications in subject of horror film
theory. The books are used in a variety of academic settings. Authors in the genre of horror film
theory such as Mikel J. Koven, Barry Grant and Peter Hutchings are University academics and
respected in the arena of film theory.
Bibliography of Excluded Resources
Redundant
The books fit scholarly criteria and are written by respected authors, but either duplicated what I
already chosen or were simply rejected as not to make the pathfinder an exhaustive bibliography.
I chose the books that reflected the greatest variety of time periods and most closely matched the
topic of evolution of the genre juxtaposed with current events.
Berenstein, R. J. (1996). Attack of the leading ladies : Gender, sexuality, and spectatorship in
classic horror cinema. New York: Columbia University Press.
9
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
Colavito, J. (2008). Knowing fear : Science, knowledge and the development of the horror genre.
Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co.
Everson, W. K. (1974). Classics of the horror film (1st ed.). Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press.
Lucanio, P. (1987). Them or us : Archetypal interpretations of fifties alien invasion films.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
McRoy, J. (2005). Japanese horror cinema. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Prawer, S. S. (1989). Caligari's children : The film as tale of terror. New York, N.Y.: Da Capo
Press.
Pirie, D. (1973). A heritage of horror; the english gothic cinema, 1946-1972. London: Gordon
Fraser.
Rockoff, A. (2002). Going to pieces : The rise and fall of the slasher film, 1978-1986. Jefferson,
N.C.: McFarland & Co.
Waller, G. A. (1987). American horrors : Essays on the modern american horror film. Urbana:
University of Illinois Press.
Out of scope
These titles sounded promising when researching and did fit scholarly criteria, however, did not
match my ultimate scope. Some books were geared too much in psychology rather than film
theory while others focused on a topic out of my scope. An example is Uncanny Bodies which
dealt with innovation of sound in film rather than the history of the genre in the context of
culture.
Carroll, N. (1990). The philosophy of horror, or, paradoxes of the heart. New York: Routledge.
Jancovich, M. (2003). Defining cult movies : The cultural politics of oppositional taste.
Manchester ; New York: Manchester University Press.
10
Heather Fucinari
Horry Film History/Theory Pathfinder
Palumbo, D. (1986). Eros in the mind's eye : Sexuality and the fantastic in art and film. New
York: Greenwood Press.
Skal, D. J. (1998). Screams of reason : Mad science and modern culture (1st ed.). New York:
W.W. Norton.
Spadoni, R. (2007). Uncanny bodies : The coming of sound film and the origins of the horror
genre. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Could not find
These titles would have been contenders for the pathfinder, except I could not find them in the
library to evaluate them myself. I was especially interested in the Derry text.
Derry, C. (1977). Dark dreams : A psychological history of the modern horror film. South
Brunswick: A. S. Barnes.
Kendrick, W. M. (1991). The thrill of fear : 250 years of scary entertainment (1st ed.). New
York: Grove Weidenfeld.
Phillips, K. R. (2005). Projected fears : Horror films and american culture. Westport, Conn.:
Praeger Publishers.
11