Regional Horror Films, 1958–1990

During the second half of the 20th century, landmark works of the horror film genre were as much the product of enterprising regional filmmakers as of the major studios. From backwoods Utah to the Louisiana bayous to the outer boroughs of New York, independent, regional films like Night of the Living Dead, Last House on the Left, I Spit on Your Grave, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The Evil Dead stood at the vanguard of horror cinema. This overview of regionally produced horror and science fiction films includes interviews with 13 directors and producers who operated far from mainstream Hollywood, along with a state-by-state listing of regionally produced genre films made between 1958 and 1990. Highlighting some of the most influential horror films of the past 50 years, this work celebrates not only regional filmmaking, but also a cultural regionalism that is in danger of vanishing.

Brian Albright is a freelance journalist who has contributed to Fangoria, FilmFax, Alternative Cinema, VideoScope and Shock Cinema. He lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Brian Albright
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 335
Bibliographic Info: 132 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7227-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0042-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi

Introduction: I Hear America Screaming      1

Part I: The Interviews

Harvesting the Dead: Ed Adlum      17

Something Fishy: Donald Barton      28

The Director Next Door: J.R. Bookwalter      39

Nutriaman: Martin Folse      55

All the President’s Monsters: Milton Moses Ginsberg      63

It Came from Florida: William Grefé      76

Better Watch Out: Lewis Jackson      96

Night Frights: Russ Marker      108

Survivors Will Be Persecuted: Robert W. Morgan      119

Left at the Altar: Tom Rahner      130

Bayou Bloodbath: Albert J. Salzer      135

Teen Terrors: Larry Stouffer      144

It Could Only Happen in Milpitas! Robert Burrill      158

Part II: The Films

State-by-State Listing of Regional Horror Films, 1958 to 1990      175

Select Bibliography      321

Index      323

“Recommended”—Choice; “a fascinating, flavorfully illustrated survey”—VideoScope; “recommend…essential…serves as both a history lesson and as a starting point for anyone looking to expand their cinematic knowledge of American movie making”—Horror Talk; “most unexpectedly GOOD book”—Little Shoppe of Horrors; “essential reading for any horror film fan”—Scream Magazine; “the interviews are comprehensive and provide a fascinating look behind the scenes on an independent production…a great addition to any horror fan’s library”—Mad Scientist; “this is a reference book that horror-film fans didn’t know they needed”—Bookgasm; “Albright has done his homework, and it shows”—cinemaretro.com; “valuable…useful reference tool”—Video Watchdog.