Book Reviews

Book Review: SOLDIER: FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN Reclaims Paul W.S. Anderson’s Sci-Fi Actioner

Some movies are embraced by critics and audiences on release, while others gain respect over time. Gaining respect over time is what has happened with Paul W.S. Anderson’s, Soldier, a $60 million sci-fi action film that was ignored by audiences [...]

July 30, 2023

Book Review: Jared Feldschreiber Tries To Unite Bob Dylan, Woody Allen & Dustin Hoffman In RECKLESS ABANDON

Bob Dylan, Woody Allen and Dustin Hoffman – three titans of the cultural arts in the 20th (and 21st) Century and three men who are woven into the tapestry of Jared Feldschreiber’s debut novella, Reckless Abandon. As someone who admires [...]

January 4, 2023

Book Review: GUILLERMO DEL TORO – THE ICONIC FILMMAKER AND HIS WORK

Ian Nathan’s book, Guillermo Del Toro: The Iconic Filmmaker And His Work is a brilliant way to learn about the acclaimed director’s life and career. Nathan’s book might be unofficial and unauthorised, but this isn’t a cheap [...]

October 9, 2021

Book Review: FRIGHTFEST GUIDE TO GRINDHOUSE MOVIES

FrightFest and FAB Press have published the FrightFest Guide To Grindhouse Movies, the fifth in a series of books which dive into head-first into the world of genre cinema. Following on from the success of the FrightFest Guide To Exploitation [...]

October 7, 2021

Book Review: Abbie Bernstein’s MASTER OF HORROR: THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY OF MICK GARRIS Delves Into The Career Of A Genre Icon

The name Mick Garris may mean very little to the casual film goer but to those who immerse themselves in the horror genre, Garris is a true Master Of Horror. A screenwriter, director, producer, novelist and host of the podcast Post Mortem, Garris [...]

July 20, 2021

Book Review: Gabriel Campisi’s THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER’S GUIDE TO THE NEW HOLLYWOOD – SUCCESS IN THE ERA OF NETFLIX AND STREAMING VIDEO

The way in which we watch entertainment today is totally different than it was ten, or even five years ago. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max have made it easy for us to consume more film and television than ever before [...]

April 5, 2021

Book Review: JOHN GUILLERMIN: THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE MOVIES

Billed as a book on ‘one of the best Hollywood directors nobody knows’, John Guillermin: The Man, The Myth, The Movies is a fascinating look at the life and career of the director behind such films as The Towering Inferno, King Kong [...]

December 30, 2020

Book Review: ARE SNAKES NECESSARY? Is A Pulpy Thriller From Brian De Palma And Susan Lehman

The great Brian De Palma makes his literary debut (alongside co-writer Susan Lehman) with Are Snakes Necessary?, a deliciously pulpy novel filled with many of the famed director’s favourite tropes. Political intrigue, murder, voyeurism and [...]

September 8, 2020

Book Review: BOND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TERRY O’NEILL – THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION Is Glorious

The look of James Bond is one of the most enduring facets of the franchise’s long history. From Aston Martin’s to Omega watches (and everything in-between), the style of Bond and the fashion which runs through the films has always given [...]

April 25, 2020

Book Review: RAISING AN EYEBROW: MY LIFE WITH SIR ROGER MOORE

Roger Moore was a true screen legend who touched many people with his iconic turns in the classic television shows The Saint and The Persuaders. Of course, Moore will always be remembered for his 12-year, 7 movie run as Ian Fleming’s James [...]

February 29, 2020

Book Review: FRIGHTFEST GUIDE TO WEREWOLF MOVIES

If the truth be told, there has been a serious under-appreciation of the werewolf on screen over the years. While the horror sub-genre has delivered some undeniable classic films, it has never truly connected with mass audiences in the way that [...]

October 31, 2019

Book Review: ALFRED HITCHCOCK – THE COMPLETE FILMS

The mighty Alfred Hitchcock is one of the all-time great directors. The Master of Suspense had as much knowledge of what the audience wanted to see, as he had with understanding the art and mechanics of cinema. Paul Duncan’s Alfred Hitchcock: [...]

April 1, 2019

Book Review: Stephen King Returns To Castle Rock With ELEVATION

Everyone’s favourite horrormeister, Stephen King returns to the (not so) sleepy Maine town of Castle Rock with his new novella, Elevation. Clocking-in at a slight 144 pages, the tale might not be King at his best, but there’s plenty for his fans [...]

October 26, 2018

Book Review: FRIGHTFEST GUIDE TO GHOST MOVIES

The horror film genre is filled with a variety of different off-shoots, but probably the most important of these is the old-fashioned Ghost Story. It’s an aspect of horror which can be adapted and morphed into whatever type of narrative a [...]

October 1, 2018

Book Review: Mark Kermode’s HOW DOES IT FEEL? A LIFE OF MUSICAL MISADVENTURES Is All About The Double Bass

He’s best known for being the UK’s leading bequiffed film journalist, but Mark Kermode also has a passion for music which is equal to his wealth of film knowledge. Kermode’s new memoir How Does It Feel? A Life Of Musical Misadventures looks [...]

September 10, 2018

Book Review: Take To The Skies With FLIGHT OR FRIGHT

Flight Or Fright is a glorious collection of 17 airborne-themed short stories from a selection of authors who are gleefully intent on making sure that you never want to fly again. Edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent, Flight Or Fright includes [...]

July 10, 2018

Book Reviews: Take A Look Inside KIM NEWMAN’S VIDEO DUNGEON

Movies In Focus has been reading Kim Newman’s work for almost 30 years. His reviews in Empire Magazine have gone on to achieve a similar cult status to the films he critiques and his writing is filled with a humour and intelligence which puts most [...]

October 5, 2017

Book Review: Bill Hodges Is Back On The Hunt For The Mercedes Killer In Stephen King’s END OF WATCH

Following on from Mr Mercedes and Finders Keepers, Stephen King closes his Bill Hodges trilogy with End Of Watch. The book once again sees retired detective Hodges on the tail of Brady Hartsfield, the infamous Mercedes Killer from the first book in [...]

August 13, 2017

Book Review: HORROR CINEMA Is A Book You Must Own!

Horror Cinema from Taschen is a book that all cinefiles must own. This is often said, but it’s really true this time around. It’s imperative that this 640 page book has a place on your book-shelf. The volume is a wonderful overview of the [...]

July 15, 2017

Book Review: GWENDY’S BUTTON BOX By Stephen King And Richard Chizmar

Stephen King teams with Richard Chizmar to deliver Gwendy’s Button Box, a compelling novella set in King’s Maine town, Castle Rock. It’s a Twilight Zone-y tale, with a selection of twists and turns to keep the reader thoroughly [...]

June 20, 2017

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