A reader named Duanne asks:
“Why
did you start your series of horror movie decades with the seventies?’
Duane,
that’s a wonderful question, and the answer reveals how deciding on a
particular book project involves a lot of decision-making and data points.
As
I recall, I had originally suggested to McFarland that I begin with Horror
Films of the 1990s and then work backwards through the decades. This was in 1999, if memory serves.
But
the feeling from McFarland was -- probably rightly -- that not enough time had
yet passed to write an adequate and complete “history” of the nineties, and that if
I waited some time before starting that task, it would be easier.
I
think the publisher was correct.
and McFarland suggested instead a title further down on my proposals list: Horror Films of the 1970s.
This
choice was perfect because it left me with somewhere to go (from 1970 into the
present, essentially…) and I also felt that I was very fluent with films of the
disco decade, having just written Wes Craven: The Art of Horror (1997)
and The
Films of John Carpenter (released in 2000).
Additionally,
the 1970s is actually my favorite decade for horror films, since it gave us The
Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, Alien, Jaws, The Hills Have Eyes
and many other classics.
So it was both
a book I wanted very much to write and one I felt that I could adequately write. The only thing that prevented me from
suggesting Horror Films of the 1970s as my top priority originally was that I wasn’t certain I could
see all the films I wanted to include. DVD was
just in its infancy at that point, and many obscure titles had not yet been
released.
Today,
I hope that Horror Films of the 2000s is next.
And
after that, I would very much like to go back and write Horror Films of the 1960s
to “fill in” a missing decade while I wait for the decade of 2010 – 2020 to
finish.
We’ll see how those plans turn
out. Ideally, I would like to go as far
back as Horror Films of the 1950s.
Also,
my (no-longer) secret dream is a full update and re-do or second edition of Horror
Films of the 1970s, because so many more films are readily available
for review today. Thus, I wouldn’t need to rely on my memory or resort to capsule review based on that memory.
We’ll
see what happens!
Don’t forget to ask
me questions at Muirbusiness@yahoo.com
I look forward to the 2000's edition in which the Preface outlines the political and cultural themes of the last decade. The Bush years, 9/11, Obama, the near ubiquity of technology recording your every movement, cultural and political polarization which dwarfs the 1990's in my opinion. I look forward to your summation of the 00's as much as I do the reviews themselves.
ReplyDeleteHi Trent,
DeleteI'm looking forward to Horror Films of the 2000s as well. I enjoy writing reviews and history, so these books have proven a really wonderful platform for me.
Thank you, my friend.
best,
John
Thanks for your response. I'd love to see Horror Films of the 1950s and 1960s.
ReplyDeleteHi Duanne,
DeleteI'd like to do these books too. I'd like to be writing Horror Films of... until I die. :)
Thank you so much for posing the question. I enjoyed answering it.
best,
John
I love these huge books. I hope you eventually come out with a science fiction by the decades series.
ReplyDeleteHi George,
DeleteScience Fiction Films of may indeed be in the cards, and soon...
best,
John
Please tell me you'll be including Requiem for a Dream in your Horror Movies of the 2000s book. If that isn't a horror movie, I don't know what is!
ReplyDelete