Book of the Dead: The Complete History of Zombie Cinema

Book of the Dead is the perfect combination of encyclopedic information about zombie cinema and insightful criticism. Russell does not paint with a broad stroke. Rather, he details the nuances, revolutions, and failures of the genre - from the origins in the US occupation of Haiti to Spanish anxiety over the Franco regime to present day versions of the zombie story. Even aficionados have something to learn from this book.

Other reviewers have pointed out how detailed this work is. I can only really say that I concur-this book has a fantastic level of detail for anyone who would like to explore all things zombie. The book is a chronology of zombie events. It serves as a history guide to undead cinema but goes even further back to the origins of voodoo, discussing the written works of Lafcadio Hearn and William Seabrook. We are treated to a comprehensive review of what I would have to guess is every movie ever done all the way up to the latest installment from Romero and every other movie that has come up in the past few years. An exhaustive filmography is another treat at the end of the book with a brief synopsis of each film. Excellent pictures and detailed analysis of every significant movie and pretty solid details on lesser movies make this tome absolutely essential for any fan. Jamie Russell has made a reference work that for me will give me a chance to look at some lesser known but high quality films such as 'The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue' and 'Shockwaves' which I was unfortunately unaware of and also serves as a reminder of how incredible the works of Fulci were. I think any fan will find something new and intriguing to pour over in this fantastic book.

This book is 100% PERFECT. Mummies aren't zombies, if you're a mummy you're not a zombie, sorry. Now, some info about this book you might find interesting: Contents: Introduction. Dead Men Walking Chapter One. Caribbean Terrors Tracking the Walking Dead The Origins of the Zombie The Zombie in the West Chapter Two. The Zombie Goes to Hollywood Horror Hits the Stage Cultural Anxieties: Haiti, the Depression and Race The Zombies Are Revolting Chapter Three. Down and Out on Poverty Row Horror Comedy on Black Island The Poverty Row Years Val Lewton: A Touch of Class Chapter Four. Atomic Interlude Sci-Fi Horrors Voodoo's Last Gasps The Mass Destruction of Men's Minds Chapter Five. Bringing It All Back Home Keeping It in the Family Stiff Upper Lips and the Walking Dead South of the Border Back on American Soil: Night of the Living Dead Chapter Six. Dawn of the Dead Romero's Children The Ghouls Can't Help It Destructive Tendencies Sex, Death and Amando de Ossorio's Templars By the Dawn's Early Light Chapter Seven. Splatter Horror The Italians Are Coming! The Apocalypse of Narrative: Fulci's Zombie Trilogy The Return to the Caribbean Splatter House of Horrors Chapter Eight. Twilight of the Dead Night of the Living Dead Redux Poverty Row for the MTV Generation (Or, Children Shouldn't Play with Camcorders) Of Death, Of Love: An Interlude The Resident Evil Effect Big-Budget Ghouls Rebirth of the Dead 7 decades of horror movie history with hundreds of stills - including an incredible 64 pages of blood-drenched full colour photos and rare international poster art.

Incredible research went into creating this book. It is filled with photos, articles, paintings, dates of releases, directors and more. It is current all the way till the last film listed "Land Of The Dead" (2005). If you are into zombies you MUST get this book.

Jamie Russell has done a remarkable job with his "Book of the Dead", a thoroughly engrossing history and critical overview of zombie cinema. His writing is sharp and his observations astute. It's as up-to-date as books on an ongoing subject can be (I would relish updated supplements, as needed), including recent zombie fare and even some titles that have yet to be released. In addition to the excellent text are many color and B & W photos and posters from all over the world. It's the best book of its type I've ever encountered. Buy it.