From cinema's earliest days, being scared out of your wits has always been one of the best reasons for going to the movies. From B-movie bogeymen and outer space oddities to big-budget terrors, Monsters in the Movies by horror film maestro John Landis celebrates the greatest monsters ever to creep, fly, slither, stalk or rampage across the Silver Screen. Landis also surveys the historical origins of archetypal monsters, such as vampires, zombies and werewolves, and takes you behind the scenes to discover the secrets of the special-effects wizards who created such legendary frighteners as King Kong, Dracula, the Alien, and Freddy Krueger. Monsters in the Movies by John Landis is filled with the author's own fascinating and entertaining insights into the world of movie-making, and includes memorable contributions from leading directors, actors and monster-makers. The book is also stunningly illustrated with 1000 movie stills and posters drawn from the unrivaled archives of the Kobal Collection. Contents Introduction by John Landis... Explore a timeless world of fears and nightmares as John Landis investigates what makes a legendary movie monster • Monsters, chapter by chapter... Feast your eyes upon a petrifying parade of voracious Vampires, flesh-eating Zombies, slavering Werewolves, gigantic Apes and Supernatural Terrors • Spectacular double-page features... Thrill to the strangest, scariest, weirdest, and craziest movie monsters ever seen • The ingenious tricks of movie-making... Marvel as the special-effects wizards reveal how they create movie magic • A monster-movie timeline... Discover John Landis's personal selection of landmark horror films

"The great book of movie monsters exposes the private lives of more than 300 of your favorite creatures, each one depicted in all its glory. Discover the truth about their fears, their loves, their favorite foods, their superpowers, and the accomplishments that earned them a place in movie history. You'll also learn about the films they starred in, as well as the directors and special effects technicians who brought these monsters to life."--Cover.

“A fun, nostalgia-filled anthology of twenty-three original, lighthearted horror tales riffing on the movie monsters of both modern cinema and B-movie favorites.” —Publishers Weekly Lights! Camera! Monsters? Sometimes you go to the movies. And sometimes, the movies—and their monsters—come to you. At any moment, without notice, monsters once relegated to the screen become a reality. Aliens and demons, dragons and ghosts, werewolves, vampires, zombies, and seemingly ordinary people who are just plain evil. Join award-winning authors Jonathan Maberry, Fran Wilde, David Gerrold, Rick Wilber and others for twenty-three all-new tales of haunted theaters, video gods, formidable demons, alien pizza, and delirious actors. Each story takes you to the silver screen with monstrous results. Funny or grim, unsettling or cozy . . . You’ll laugh! You’ll sigh! You’ll scream! Grab popcorn—and good running shoes—and enjoy the show.

This book showcases stunningly realistic and wonderfully posed models and dioramas depicting various characters and scenes from science fiction and horror cinema. The models and dioramas are presented in chronological order starting with the silent films from 1910 to 1927, then the classic films from the 1930s and 1940s, including Universal Studios' Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wolf Man franchises. Next are the many radiation induced mutants and invaders from outer space of the 1950s, followed by offerings from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Hammer Films are included as well as the Mummy movies and Universal's Gillman series. A detailed explanation of the nitty-gritty of model and diorama building is presented and particular details unique to each piece are shown in close-ups and discussed. The figures are of unprecedented artistry.

Describes some famous movie monsters, how they were created, and the films in which they appeared.

The first monster to appear in a movie was Frankenstein. Since then, Godzilla, King Kong, and others have taken over the screen, destroying cities and terrorizing crowds. These monsters continue to show up in movies, TV shows, video games, and books. Movie monsters often seem terrifying—but most of them don't mean to cause harm. Some monsters are even friendly! Friendly or frightening, grab some popcorn and learn all about your favorite movie monsters . . . if you dare!

This updated volume is the perfect gift for any fan of horror movies and pop culture’s most iconic monsters. The year 2021 is a milestone anniversary year for horror’s most iconic films—Universal Studios’ Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolf Man. Those landmark movies—as well as Universal’s new releases—are celebrated through this beautiful and frighteningly informative volume, newly expanded to include what the present and future holds for these venerable characters. With a foreword by Jason Blum that places horror in the context of our modern culture, the monster movie is new again—and no fan can afford to be without this book. From the 1920s through the 1950s, Universal Studios was Hollywood’s number one studio for horror pictures worldwide. This official illustrated history is the comprehensive and definitive volume of cinema’s most enduring genre. Lavishly illustrated with production stills, posters, and rare behind-the-scenes shots, the book tells the complete history of these fascinating characters and the captivating films through which they achieved international recognition. Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror is a one-book library on horror films.

They've been scaring audiences for decades, and many of them keep coming back to frighten us some more. They're movie monsters. Readers get an in-depth look at some of the most terrifying characters ever filmed. From Hannibal Lecter to Godzilla, the most infamous monsters of the silver screen can be seen here. Dramatic images capture these monsters at their most gruesome, and fascinating facts explain their popularity with filmgoers of yesterday and today.

Monster in the Closet is a history of the horrors film that explores the genre's relationship to the social and cultural history of homosexuality in America. Drawing on a wide variety of films and primary source materials including censorship files, critical reviews, promotional materials, fanzines, men's magazines, and popular news weeklies, the book examines the historical figure of the movie monster in relation to various medical, psychological, religious and social models of homosexuality. While recent work within gay and lesbian studies has explored how the genetic tropes of the horror film intersect with popular culture's understanding of queerness, this is the first book to examine how the concept of the monster queer has evolved from era to era. From the gay and lesbian sensibilities encoded into the form and content of the classical Hollywood horror film, to recent films which play upon AIDS-related fears. Monster in the Closet examines how the horror film started and continues, to demonize (or quite literally "monsterize") queer sexuality, and what the pleasures and "costs" of such representations might be both for individual spectators and culture at large.

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