Horror Film Aesthetics: Creating The Visual Language of Fear by Thomas M. Sipos

I love horror films of all kinds. I was born in '61 and I've been watching them since I was old enough to sit up on my own and watch TV. And I love reading about horror films. Horror Film Aesthetics gave me A LOT of insight into things most people don't normally pay attention to when watching a horror film, or any film for that matter. Camera angles, lighting, focus, camera movement all contribute to creating the atmosphere of a film, something which is especially important in a horror film. I will probably have to go back and re-read this book again just to take in everything Mr. Sipos explains. His book is fairly detailed in topics such as POV (point of view), lighting, focus...etc... If you're looking for a cursory discussion of horror films and special effects then this isn't your book. However, if you are interested in how the film achieves its look and final impact through the use of the techniques mentioned above then buy it and enjoy!

This would be a superb film school textbook. I'm not a big horror fan or film expert, I teach other university subjects. But soon after starting the book, I was seeing establishing shots, 180°-lines, focal planes, eyeline-matches, two shots, dolly zooms,...-- none of which I was aware of before-- not just in horror, but in all films and TV. This has made me a more active viewer and made viewing more fun. This book is a great way to get your film school 101 overall, especially for horror. Highly valuable for fans and filmmakers. For the latter, the text is packed with tips for low-budgeters.

Instruction goes smoothly because the book is written with absolute clarity in highly effective language. Almost every point made is immediately supported by concrete example, in many cases using choice frames from select films. With few exceptions, concepts are never invoked until defined and explained. For the exceptions, reference is made to where in the book the concept is more properly introduced. I give only 4/5 stars because there are no homework exercises. Should the text be adopted in cinema school, I recommend the author prep a booklet or an interactive website for self-quizzing. Test questions easily suggest themselves from the text ("Which of the four images is a medium close-up?", "Was this image shot with a telephoto lens or a fisheye lens? How can you tell?",...) If you want a concise, systematic, highly accessible treatment that demystifies technical film production so that you understand it, not just verbally, but genuinely, this book is for you. It's also engrossing reading; I was pulled back to the book again and again and finished in just a few days.

Horror Film Aesthetics also deserves high praise for tone and style. The language of many a film writer gives the feeling the author is an A-hole. Not so with Sipos. Though written in contemporary American idiom, the style is not flashy. There is no bending over backwards to try to be hip, no appeals to a supposed common spirit of the community of horror fans. Nor is the work in the slightest politically correct. Refreshingly, there's no celebrity worship and not a drop of sentimentality for old-time Hollywood. Where the author does inject himself into the text, it is appropriate, e.g., to play the role of viewer or artist. Where he inserts his opinion, it is backed-up with argument and identified as such. The only agenda seems to be clear explication and forthright confrontation of the matters at hand.

It's now a cliché for introductory courses to start out with a statement like, "One of our biggest problems in (economics)(music)(philosophy),... is to define what (economics)(music)(philosophy),... is. He-heh-heh!" Then the instructor slogs through a boring but requisite, history-laden discussion. Sipos's introduction to horror, in contrast, is intricate and fascinating. He carefully distinguishes between film genre and film style, compares horror to neighboring and overlapping genres, and sorts out its major subgenres. If you're like me, you'll be amused and delighted as you read over the fine points of "uberpsychos" and "naturalistic gore fests", among numerous other topics. And you'll know what films are what after you finish.

In addition to laying out technique, the book answers big questions along the way. No, film criticism is not entirely subjective (there do exist a priori aesthetic criteria that disinterested observers can agree upon). Yes, B-movies are often aesthetically better than A-movies (A-movies, for example, predictably fail to kill-off their A-list stars, except maybe at the end). Yes, some rapists and serial killers are horror fans and they are negatively influenced by film content (but they are a small minority and are ultimately responsible for their own actions). At a couple spots, incisive philosophical-theological insights are offered: horror speaks to our angst at not knowing what really happens after we die, some horror films infuse the viewer with the bone-chilling awe of a Biblical prophet confronting God or an angel. In sum effect, the book makes the case that horror is unquestionably a legitimate art form in its own right that particularly contributes to informing and inspiring humanity. If you're into film or horror at all, buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

Sipos provides a wealth of information in broad categories such as "lighting the image" or "editing the image." He compares and contrasts actual examples from horror movies exhaustively. However, there are so many examples that I found it overwhelming at first. I discovered that it was helpful to have my script already fleshed out, then go back and read his book with a highlighter in hand looking for relevant items. There's much to be learned from this well written book.

One of the greatest literature works for those looking to delve deeper in the understanding of film

It helps you to understand the complete history and nature of Horror. Every single aspect of good horror movie are taken and discussed in detail with examples. Like space, color, camera angles, character etc. It is also an reference to many classic horror movies that were under rated. It can be helpful to all script writers as the horror genre explores every important part of good screenwriting. Worth it!!!

This book is easy to read and written with a great sense of humour. More importantly I recommend it to any film maker, not just horror junkies. It beautifully explains the craft of film making, manipulating the senses and practical story telling devices.

I am a senior attending film school with some awards under my belt that I've won at several local competitions, I have read my fair share about the books that tackle a specific genre. This book does a good job of discussing horror in a topical sense however the author is very biased. He LOVES horror, and I enjoy it too, but don't expect this to be a good book for academic purposes there are several other sources where you can get the same information. If however you want a good read about the horror genre from someone who enjoys horror then go ahead and pick it up.

Sink your teeth, or carve yourself slab of deliciously good reading of Horror Film Aesthetics with Thomas M. Sipos. This is a must own for any filmmaker or fan of the horror genre. This mad genius surgically breaks down horror cinema to its "bare bones" analyzing framing, lighting, techniques and more to further understand what makes a horror film so horrifying. Informative and technically useful, Horror Film Aesthetics will help you make better horror films, understand the genre, and give you a better appreciation for the talented artists that have stricken you with fear!