The Horror of It All

By: Adam Rockoff

Narrated by: R. C. Bray

Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

Horror films have simultaneously captivated and terrified audiences for generations, racking up billions of dollars at the box office and infusing our nightmares with unrelenting zombies, chainsaw-wielding madmen, and myriad incarnations of ghosts, ghouls, and the devil himself. Despite evolving modes of storytelling and the fluctuating popularity of other genres, horror endures.

The Horror of It All is a memoir from the front lines of the industry that dissects (and occasionally defends) the hugely popular phenomenon of scary movies. Author Adam Rockoff traces the highs and lows of the horror genre through the lens of his own obsessive fandom, born in the aisles of his local video store and nurtured with a steady diet of cable trash.

From Siskel and Ebert's crusade against slasher films to horror's renaissance in the wake of Scream, Rockoff mines the rich history of the genre, braiding critical analysis with his own firsthand experiences. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

©2015 Adam Rockoff (P)2015 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Rockoff is a passionate defender of the creative rights of filmmakers." ( Kirkus)

Great book, if you were a teen in the 80's

I did really enjoy this book. As someone who was a tween during slasher golden age, I could really relate to the stories in this book. I have seen most of the films, or will now see them. I enjoyed reliving that part of my life and enjoyed listening to someone else talk about horror.

On the downside, he does sometimes go off subject. For instance, there is a whole chapter about the PMRC and the congress hearing regarding music censorship. And sometimes he can be a little pretentious.

Overall, if you love horror movies, especially ones made in the 80's, you will enjoy this book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

a great love letter to horror

i have had similar experiences in Chicago in my youth loving horror. this book was great. i had misgivings as it started but they swiftly disappeared.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A whole lot of fun for horror diehards!

Rockoff is well informed, amusing and interesting, even when he's wrong about Halloween or pumping up some goofy misbegotten piece of horror cinema from the early eighties. I like the way he looks at different horror films in unusual ways, and seeing where he starts his analysis to when his intended point reaches full circle is a great amount of fun. He is definitely one of us, a horror fan through and through, and his love and passion for his favorite horror movies comes through in every stage of the book, culminating in a brilliant final chapter that will leave you feeling happy to be a horror fan yourself.

RC Bray reads this brilliantly, with emphasis in all the right places. All in all, this is just a super book. I listened to it while walking my dog over a series of a couple weeks. :)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

this is a fun read

I loved this book. That said I don't know if would be a good listen for someone who doesn't know horror.

I didn't always agree with the author, but his points were made well and really we don't all have to agree about any creative endeavor.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

slasher must read

80's horror for the working man. Quick listen for me , finished it in 2 days.

An outstanding book

I read a lot these days and it is rare that I desperately dont want a book to end as I near its conclusion. I really, really didn't want this book to end. If you are at all interested in the horror genre, try out this outspoken, funny, informative book.

horror movie fans must read

I disagreed with what's good and bad, with the author I think this was a tremendous book. the insights that this book gets to the various Sunshine res and the horror genre overall is really good.

Great Listen for Horror Fans

I loved this book. The narration is up there with the best I've heard (R. C. Bray also narrated The Martian, the man has perfect comedic timing). What I loved about this book, and what may turn a small number of listeners off, is the fact that this book is a look at horror from a single point of view. It's not a text book, It's a memoir concerning a horror fan's experiences with the movies that he loves and how they shaped his life. Not only did I find the book fascinating and entertaining, it's one of the funniest I've heard.

I would avoid this one

I struggled with this one, I enjoy the history of the genre but this was full of pointless opinions and pompous ramblings. Avoid

0 of 5 people found this review helpful