Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema

Rather than being mired in fiddly intrinsically pedantic minutiae, Rigby allows each period of european dark macabre cinema good breathing room, rattles off many finer details of specific titles but mercifully rarely drags us down into overtly academic digression. There is a caveat of sorts at the opening authors gambit, whereof he says certain titles or directors had to be omitted either for brevity of the already hefty tome, or because the horrific/gothic elements were not sufficiently potent for inclusion. Fair enough. Though I would have liked a touch upon more of Haxan for instance. Otherwise, this book is crammed to the rafters quite literally with solid material rather than another cash-in knock off from someone's attic of memories.However you cut it, this is very well written by someone with boundless enthusiasm rather than mere dry academic credit. Yet he has lined up a plethora of insight mixed with well researched pertinent details that are not always accessible to the more commercially viable film study book. Illustrated with sufficient gusto, and some colour plates give it another angle of approach that is not overwhelming the text. So overall, very readable often humourous text that, at least to me, does not fall into the snooty snobbery of some dismissive similar mockery I have chanced upon. This is written by and for the enthusiast with wit and intelligence. Heavy in all the right ways, one could browse or read solidly for days. Sits well with his other gothic studies and particularly Studies in Terror which is a milestone of quality.

Another excellent book by Rigby. This man really knows how review and inform about the horror film.

Excellent

A great read if you want a history lesson

Amazing well researched book . A must for fans of classic horror.buy it before it's gone.

Excellent movie

Another great informative volume from Jonathan Rigby highlighting horror classics while not neglecting lesser films, excellent layout design and visuals. Sadly doesn't cover all Europe and chronologically stops at 1983 but at over 400 pages, as the author states he has to stop somewhere. Look on the bright side, some day there may be a vol.2

As good as English Gothic. Very exhaustive.