by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden
In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s time for something a little different. Instead of a movie, it’s a book about the history of horror and what draws people to it — American Scary: A History of Horror, From Salem to Stephen King and Beyond by Jeremy Dauber and Algonquin Books.
Synopsis
“What has scared the living daylights out of Americans from the earliest days to today?” asks [author Jeremy] Dauber. “That’s the story I wanted to tell in this book: because when you tell the story of what people fear, you get a window – a surprisingly and sometimes frighteningly clear one – into who they are.” He uses this window to craft a gloriously unsettling critique of our society, a cutting image designed to haunt the reader beyond the last page.
The Good
Joseph: If Jermey Dauber’s American Scary: A History of Horror, From Salem to Stephen King and Beyond isn’t an exhaustive work on the subject of fear fare of all types in the United States and the historical events that affected those fictional stories, it must be one of the closest things to such a book. His transitions from one historical period to another, to different types of media (from early talking films to pulp magazines, for example, and from film noir to EC Comics’ legendary horror titles), and from one societal aspect to the next are scintillatingly smooth. You’ll want to have either your favorite method of making notes in books or a separate pad or journal and pen handy to write down all of the lesser-known literary and cinematic discoveries you will find, and want to seek out.
From certified classics to highly obscure and forgotten works in all manner of media, from today’s titans of terror to their predecessors as far back as those Native Americans who told chilling folklore tales around fires, to the advent of motion pictures, television, 3D movies, drive-in theaters, and addressing Fear of The Other, satanic panic, gay panic, and practically any other American phobia you might think of, American Scary covers all this and more.
Mike: An intriguing and thought-provoking investigation into the history of horror in the United States, American Scary: A History of Horror, From Salem to Stephen King and Beyond is a book written by Jeremy Dauber. A complete and incisive look at the genre is created by Dauber through the masterful weaving together of historical events, literary analysis, and cultural criticism. He examines the development of horror from its early roots in Puritan narratives to the present-day blockbuster, revealing how American horror has mirrored and impacted our cultural worries and concerns. He begins with the Puritan narratives and ends with more modern blockbusters.
One of the most remarkable parts of Dauber's book is the author's ability to make connections between terror and more general problems in society. It is his contention that horror films and literature frequently act as a mirror, reflecting the concerns and fears that are prevalent during that particular era. The advent of the slasher film in the 1970s, for instance, corresponded with a period of social turmoil and economic uncertainty in the country. In a similar vein, the growth of zombie movies in the 21st century might be interpreted as a reaction to people's anxieties regarding the spread of disease, the destruction of the environment, and the disintegration of society.
The enormous quantity of references and citations, which I personally felt to be tremendous proof that Dauber did some real study for this excellent work, might easily take one into some horrifying rabbit holes. If you are interested in reading this book, I highly recommend it.
The Bad
Joseph: Not necessarily “bad,” as I have no major complaints about American Scary, but for the sake of mentioning something in this section, the first sixty-some pages dealing with 17th and 18th century history were slow going for yours truly, but when the literary works of Hawthorne, Irving, and their contemporaries appeared, I started connecting more easily.
Mike: Despite the fact that it is intelligent, Dauber's analysis can at times feel like it is too broad. In spite of the fact that he successfully links horror to broader societal themes, he could have benefited from conducting more in-depth case studies of certain works or filmmakers. Furthermore, the book has the potential to investigate the numerous international effects that have been exerted on American horror, notably throughout the 20th and 21st century. but fails to do so.
However, it is important to point out that despite these few drawbacks, American Scary is a fantastic book to read for those who are inclined toward the horror genre. The way that Dauber writes is captivating, and the ideas that he offers are worth considering.
The Verdict
Joseph: Dauber’s American Scary is not a reference book to thumb through randomly. It’s an academic work that requires time and full attention, which it rewards with both historical facts and plenty of thought-provoking concepts. For readers seriously interested in the history of horror in the United States, I highly recommended it.
Mike: American Scary by Jeremy Dauber takes a deep dive into how horror has developed and changed throughout American culture. Dauber really nails the way horror ties into bigger societal issues, showing how the genre mirrors and reacts to the worries of its era. His take on how cinema, television, and popular culture shape horror is really interesting and makes you think.
While the book offers a lot of great information and detail, some readers might struggle with its academic style and the heavy historical analysis. Even with this small issue, American Scary is set to be a great addition to the study of horror and American culture. It provides an interesting and informative look at a genre that has fascinated audiences for more than a century.
American Scary: A History of Horror, From Salem to Stephen King and Beyond
Size: 6.25 x 1.13 x 9.25 inches
Page Count: 480 pages
Publisher: Algonquin Books
ISBN-13: 9781643753560
Publication date: October 1, 2024
Weight: 2.31 pounds
Edition: First Edition
Cover Price: $32.00 USD
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