100 Greatest Cult Films - (100 Greatest...) by Christopher J Olson (Hardcover)

About the Book

This volume features the most provocative, intriguing, entertaining, and controversial films produced over the last century, providing readers fodder for debate and a jumping-off point for future watching. This resource includes valuable information on the films, creators, and...

Book Synopsis

This volume features the most provocative, intriguing, entertaining, and controversial films produced over the last century, providing readers fodder for debate and a jumping-off point for future watching. This resource includes valuable information on the films, creators, and institutions that have shaped cult cinema.

Review Quotes

A nice volume for ready access to undergraduates and aficionados of popular movies and films.

Choosing the greatest cult films is a losing proposition because it is so hard to get consensus. Olson (Possessed Women, Haunted States, with Carrielynn D. Reinhard, 2016) used crowdsourcing and his own longtime critical viewing to identify the 100 best, limited to one per director. Each entry is about two pages in length; information includes a brief plot line, background information about the film's development and production, editorial commentary, and a see also list of similar films. Most entries include a black-and-white studio photo; several entries have a "spotlight" box about the film studio, writer, director, or actor. Five appendixes and almost forty pages of endnotes conclude the volume. The films selected skew toward horror/violence, covering Death Race, Evil Death II, Punisher: War Zone, and Trick'r Treat. The writing is clear. The commentary is personal, yet expert and justified. This collection should attract film fans and start heated discussions.


Whether you're a cult movie film fanatic or a casual fan of cult films, there's something here for everyone be it an unknown movie that sparks your interest or film history you never knew about. Recommended.

About the Author

Christopher J. Olson has written movie reviews and other film-related articles for a several websites including ClearanceBinReview.com, TheShiznit.co.uk, Creature-Corner.com, and CHUD.com. He is coauthor of Possessed Women, Haunted States: Cultural Tensions in Exorcism Cinema (2016).