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Zombiemania: 80 Movies To Die For by Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg anf Andrew Hershberger
Zombiemania: 80 Movies To Die For
reviewed by John Reppion co-creator of 'Raise The Dead.'
Authors: Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg and Andrew Hershberger
Publisher: Telos
Specifications: Paperback, 500 pages
Zombiemania: 80 Movies To Die For is an exhaustive
piece of work; 80 movies handpicked by Blumberg and Hershberger, each
one meticulously reviewed, dissected and cross-referenced. This isn’t
just a catalogue of seminal works however, there are some real stinkers
included, giving the book a real sense of balance and worth; because knowing
what not to bother with is just as important as knowing what you should
beg, borrow or steal to get hold of.
Blumberg and Hershberger have come up with an ingenious set of categories
by which each film can be classified and evaluated. These are genre specific
things like Outbreak Location, Necrology (physical
and behavioural characteristics of the zombies) and 6 Degrees
Of Necrophagia (references, homages and down right rip offs from
other films); important details which are sadly lacking from the Time
Out film guide and the like. The classification system is
a key element of the book, transforming it from a mere compendium into
a useful and worthy piece of reference material for both armchair enthusiasts
and academics alike.
Whilst I didn’t always agree 100% with the film analyses in Zombiemania,
this merely lead to a sense of frustration at not being able to actually
engage Blumberg and Hershberger in conversation and “join in”
with the whole debate. Possibly over a few beers. Their combined style
is casual, friendly and engaging whilst still packing in the important
facts and juicy trivia.
In addition to the 80 films covered in detail there is also an extensive
index of over 550 films complete with brief synopses and alternative titles.
And, as if that weren’t enough, there’s also a very eloquent
afterword from Mark
Donovan of Shaun Of The Dead fame.
As far as I’m concerned Zombiemania: 80 Movies To Die
For is a must have for everyone with an interest in zombies
and zombie cinema. Whether you’re an aspiring geek or an established
anorak, this book has more than earned its place next to World
War Z on your shelf.