Praise for HORROR 101

Bringing a refreshingly egalitarian approach to the subject, Horror 101 collects musings on our favorite chillers not by the expected assortment of critics and filmmakers, but the audience – the fans themselves. Young and old, male and female, located all over the globe.  From Alien through The Wicker Man, each entry brings a breath of fresh air to the consideration of seminal movies many of us thought had been analyzed to death. As editor Aaron Christensen puts it, “Keep America strong! Watch more monster movies!”

-- Joe Dante, director, The Howling, Pirahna, Gremlins

When I first picked up Dr. AC’s Horror 101, I have to admit I was fretting the read, expecting a group of horror kids that think the world of horror and monster movies started with the birth of Freddy Krueger. What I got – from page one – was the exact opposite!!! These are not just fanboys that like their gore and monsters; rather they are passionate folks who give great insight to all things horror and the macabre. Horror 101 will impress true horror hounds and provide valuable info for newcomers to the genre. From The Birds to Hellraiser to The Fly and everything in-between, Horror 101 has a touch of everything for the li’l monster in all of us!

-- Tiffany Shepis, scream queen, Tromeo & Juliet, The Hazing, Nightmare Man

I LOVE this book!! Horror 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies is a must-have for ALL horror movie fans and film folk in general.  Aaron Christensen has assembled an eclectic group to write about a specific fright film that affected them and, believe me, these aren’t your daddy’s essays! Filled with quotes, overviews of the plots, facts about the films (inspiration, trivia, initial reactions, etc.) as well as the writers’ own opinions, these are not the typical dry, dense scholarly writings that most readers cannot begin to make sense of.  This is a FUN book, written by people who truly love the horror genre and want to share their favorite screen screams with everyone else.  With over 100 films covered, there is something for everyone here – from 1920’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to 1999’s The Sixth Sense with everything in between. Fascinating reading, this book should be on every horror fan’s required reading list.

-- Elaine Lamkin, bloody-disgusting.com

Horror 101 is a fine collection of criticism, something different.  It is not a book of polished prose and penetrating, detailed analysis. Instead, it is a book of enthusiasm.  It reminds us why we love horror movies and how we came to discover them—those moments when, usually as children, we were so beautifully terrified for the first time by something that we saw on a screen. That’s an experience that more jaded and experienced moviegoers need to rediscover from time to time, and this book does it admirably.  The writers bring real passion to their reviews.  I heartily disagree with several of them, and that, too, is exactly as it should be.  Equally laudable is the decision to include “big monster” movies. Though they’re generally dismissed by the critical establishment, they can make deep life-long impressions on younger viewers. It’s good to see the giant bugs, dinosaurs and beasties getting their due.
-- Michael W. Mayo, author, VideoHound’s Horror Show

Horror 101 is the primer every sci-fi and horror student needs for a compelling and intellectual glimpse into the classroom of genre movies. Instructor Aaron Christensen assigns you a challenging read. After digesting this, you will never again get an “F” -- unless it stands for “Film-lover.”

-- John Stanley, author, Creature Features and I Was a TV Horror Host

Where’s the new generation of horror fans coming from? Well, from these guys, and it seems we’re in good hands. They’re passionate and opinionated (and mostly right!), and they treat classic horror with the respect it deserves.

-- Bruce Lanier Wright, author, Yesterday's Tomorrows and Nightwalkers