Sadie Hartmann's Reviews > How to Survive a Horror Movie

3 out of 5 Skulls!
January/February Issue of SCREAM Mag
“I’ve built a career on the blood of innocents, and I guess the guilt’s finally caught up with me.”
-Wes Craven/Introduction to How to Survive a Horror Movie

I knew this book was going to be a fun read after briefly skimming the Table of Contents and seeing that the Foreward was titled, “An Apology by Wes Craven”. Another indication was that the entire book is filled with illustrations and who doesn’t love pictures?!
This book has several intended audiences and perhaps in reading this review, you’ll be able to identify yourself as one of them. If you are a horror film-buff, this is for you. The pages are stuffed with references to iconic movies and you will be able to relate to all the clever ways Seth Grahame-Smith celebrates classic, horror movie plot points and patterns.
If you shy away from horror movies (like me) but you love to read horror fiction and non-fiction, this book is also for you. The author does a good job of keeping things general enough that this doesn’t feel like too much of an inside joke-you won’t feel like you’re missing anything if you haven’t watched all the movies used as examples.
For instance the section titled, How to Survive a Haunted House has a “yes” or “no” checklist so that if you find yourself in a dubious house, you can answer ten simple questions like, “Do the faucets or showerheads bleed?” Or “Are there Civil-War era children playing in the attic?”
In the back of the book is an Appendix for people like me with a study guide list of movies horror movie newbies should watch in order to learn how to survive one. I’m considering studying up!
I also think people who enjoy humor and a coffee table-style quick read would appreciate having this book. It would be a great conversation starter at an awkward dinner party or something. It’s written in such a way that you could pick it up on the train commute home from work or just read a desirable section to a friend. It’s something every horror fan should have in their collection, let’s put it that way.
My only real complaint was that I felt like I had watched something like this on YouTube before? Or read something pretty similar. Nothing felt super original and the jokes were sometimes on the predictable or corny side--but that aside, I think this book is worthy of your time, money and space on your shelves. Quirk knows how to put out a sexy edition (see PAPERBACKS FROM HELL by Grady Hendrix) and Seth Grahame-Smith is clearly an expert in horror cinema. A winning combination.
3.5 stars out of 5