Horror for Weenies

Are you too scared to watch iconic horror movies? Do you wish you knew why Rosemary’s Baby and Psycho are so famous? But not enough for you to actually sit through the movies? If so, Horror for Weenies is for you.

The book contains chapters about 25 legendary movies from Psycho to Hereditary. Each chapter contains a brief non-spoiler blurb, why you might like it, why it might not be for you (basically trigger warnings), and a detailed plot summary. The plot summaries are great fun with plenty of snarky asides about the characters, the settings, and even the plots themselves. A brief but cogent analysis of why the film is important and a briefer what to say about the movie at a party follows. Finally, the film’s iconic moments are listed along with why they resonated so well with audiences. There is also a section of book recommendations that include the source material and a couple of related later novels.

While I don’t characterize myself as a complete weenie, I have never made it past the first killing in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I also had nightmares for years after watching The Phantom of the Opera as a child. However, Horror for Weenies also made me realize that I missed a lot of nuances in the horror classics I did watch. Were my eyes closed during some pivotal scenes? Maybe so. But I also truly didn’t see some of these movies as microcosms for the times when they were released. In the sixties, sex outside marriage resulted in some very bad things, especially in showers. Non-consensual sex within marriage sometimes resulted in a baby with eyes just like his father. Even virginity was fair game resulting in torment both mental and physical.

This book is highly recommended for all film fans— not just the weenies. I had seen most of the movies, some several times, and still found some new and intriguing insights about each film. Leatherface and/or his family is based on a real serial killer? OMG, no wonder The Texas Chainsaw Massacre creeped me out so much! Plus the plot summaries are genuinely funny (that Guy!) even when what they are describing is horrific. Horror for Weenies is highly recommended and my favorite non fiction book this year so far. 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.