Description
Book Synopsis A popular phenomenon since antiquity, the image of the haunted house is one that has translated elegantly into the modern medium of film. The haunted house transcends genre, appearing in mysteries, gothic romances, comedies and horror films. This book is the first comprehensive historical and critical study of themes surrounding haunted houses in film. Covering more than 100 films, it spans from the Mystery House thrillers of the silent era to the high-tech, big budget productions of the 21st Century. Included are the works of such acclaimed directors as D.W. Griffith, Robert Wise, Mario Bava, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton and Guillermo Del Toro. The book also covers the real-life haunted house phenomenon and movies based on paranormal case files, including those featured in films like the Conjuring series.
Table of Contents
- Preface: A Haunted House Near You 1
- Introduction: Houses of Horror 5
- One. No Ghosts Allowed: Mystery House Films of the Silent and Early Sound Period (and Beyond) 19
- Two. Haunting Comedy: Dark Laughter in a Haunted House 36
- Three. Love Amongst the Ruins: Haunted Romance 65
- Four. The Classics 82
- Five. A Haunting We Will Go: 1940s–1980s 111
- Six. "Based on a True Story" 139
- Seven. Haunted Houses for a New Millennium 158
- Conclusion: The Haunted Screen 198
- Filmography 203
- Chapter Notes 211
- Bibliography 212
- Index 213
