Talk us through it
So it's non-fiction what's plot got to do with it? In a nutshell Kidd has thrown together a decent reference of serial killer movies and the real life people who inspired them. Prepare to meet some folk that the movies just don't do full justice too.
ReviewAuthor Kidd, and hey he's an Aussie to boot, has tackled a pretty hard subject here. Not only does Kidd cover the history, and best examples, of the serial killer movie sub genre but he also liberally covers the actual serial killers that inspired the flicks being covered. Now that just has to have taken a hell of a lot of research, and a fair amount of barf bags considering some of the serial killers are way more depraved than the screen presentations they inspired. We're talking some pretty sick bastards here, so this book isn't recommended for your maiden Aunt Doris friends and neighbours.The book covers about every decent serial killer movie I can think of starting with M (1931) and concluding with Zodiac (2007). Therefore this is a definite must for any horror fan's book shelve, assuming that like myself you like some background with your gore and three veg. The book is broken up into chapters defined by each of the forty five movies covered. And if anyone wants a definitive list scream out and I'll provide one. Generally in each chapter Kidd supplies the movie poster, a review of the actual movie and why it should be of interest, a photo (where possible) of the actual killer, and a biography of the killer. I'm saying "generally" here as Kidd includes some movies that aren't based off any particular historic person, hence why this book is of interest to movie fans as well as fiends of the macabre. Kidd's writing style is pretty easy to read and he breaks his book into bite sized chunks, just right for devouring on public transport or while having a spare fifteen minutes in which to pick a book up in. Be warned though this book has a tendency to drag you in and you may find that fifteen minutes has suddenly become a couple of hours. I'm not entirely sure that I should say I had some fun times with this book but I did find it a fascinating read. In fact I went out and sourced a movie on the basis of Kidd's review, Hitchcock's Frenzy for an upcoming look at the impact of Hitchcock on the horror genre. Celluloid Serial Killers will definitely be getting a place of honour in my movie reference library. Recommended book available from The Five Mile Press ISBN 9781741784725 paperback.
ScaryMinds Rates this read as ... Decent enough reference for those of us wanting to know just that little bit more about our
favourite serial killer movies.
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