Italian Horror Cinema - by Stefano Baschiera & Russ Hunter (Paperback)

About the Book

This collection brings together for the first time a range of contributions aimed at a new understanding of the Italian horror cinema genre.

Book Synopsis

In its heyday from the late 1950s until the early 1980s Italian horror cinema was characterised by an excess of gore, violence and often incoherent plot-lines. Films about zombies, cannibals and psychopathic killers ensured there was no shortage of controversy, and the genre presents a seemingly unpromising nexus of films for sustained critical analysis. But Italian horror cinema with all its variations, subgenres and filoni remains one of the most recognisable and iconic genre productions in Europe, achieving cult status worldwide. One of the manifestations of a rich production landscape in Italian popular cinema after the Second World War, Italian horror was also characterised by its imitation of foreign models and the transnational dimension of its production agreements, as well as by its international locations and stars.
This collection brings together for the first time a range of contributions aimed at a new understanding of the genre, investigating the different phases in its history, the peculiarities of the production system, the work of its most representative directors (Mario Bava and Dario Argento) and the wider role it has played within popular culture.

From the Back Cover

In its heyday from the late 1950s until the early 1980s Italian horror cinema was often characterised by an excess of gore, violence and often incoherent plot-lines. Films about zombies, cannibals and psychopathic killers ensured there was no shortage of controversy, and the genre presents a seemingly unpromising nexus of films for sustained critical analysis. But Italian horror cinema with all its variations, subgenres and filoni remains one of the most recognisable and iconic genre productions in Europe, achieving cult status worldwide. One of the manifestations of a rich production landscape in Italian popular cinema after the Second World War, Italian horror was also characterised by its imitation of foreign models and the transnational dimension of its production agreements, as well as by its international locations and stars. This collection brings together for the first time a range of contributions aimed at a new understanding of the genre, investigating the different phases in its history, the peculiarities of the production system, the work of its most representative directors (Mario Bava and Dario Argento) and the wider role it has played within popular culture. Stefano Baschiera is Lecturer in Film Studies at Queen's University Belfast. Russ Hunter is Senior Lecturer in Film and Television at the University of Northumbria. Cover image: Zombie Flesh Eaters, Lucio Fulci, 1979 Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN Barcode

Review Quotes

'Ready-made reading for the genre's most fervent enthusiasts.'

--Rod Lott "flickattack.com"

'Some important rarely tackled topics finally get their much deserved academics treatment, such as the influences between Italian giallo and the American slasher, commonly taken for granted among fans and critics but rarely investigated in greater detail. Also helpful are essays on rural giallo, the neglected poor cousin of the more prominent urban type, and on animal cruelty in cannibal flicks, with its moral quandaries and aesthetic justifications.'

--Dejan Ognjanovic "Rue Morgue"

'This book is highly valuable for the scholars of Italian horror, and to horror scholars in general scholars seeking to expand their horizons. There are many original and well-structured arguments that certainly achieve the stated aim of being "part of an ongoing dialogue". Especially considering that ongoing dialogue is still rather limited, this book is an essential read.'

--Cale Hellyer "The Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts"

'Under the elegant stewardship of Stefano Baschiera and Russ Hunter, the analysis and discussion of the genre here demonstrates both info-heavy enthusiasm and intelligence from the various contributors...the study is bang up to date in its examination of recent developments in the field, such as the gruesome Necrostorm product. For anyone interested in the genre, it's essential reading.'--Barry Forshaw "Crime Time and DVD Choice"

About the Author

Stefano Baschiera is Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at Queen's University Belfast. His work on European cinema, material culture, and film industries has been published in a variety of edited collections and journals including Film International, Bianco e Nero, New Review of Film and Television Studies, and NECSUS: European Journal of Media Studies. With Russ Hunter is the co-editor of Italian Horror Cinema (2016).

Russ Hunter is a Senior Lecturer in Film & Television at the University of Northumbria. His research is focused upon Italian genre cinema, critical reception, and European horror cinema.