Fangoria: Masters of the Dark

Rating:
Summary: Squint Into the Hearts of Darkness
Review: Well-written and insightful pieces from the pages of Fangoria magazine (and you thought it was just a collection of gory photographs!) shed new light on the works of Stephen King and Clive Barker, arguably the two most popular--and yet diverse--modern writers of horror. How well you enjoy this book depends largely on how much you appreciate the work of the authors. For my part, the pieces on Clive Barker's films "Lord Of Illusions" and especially "Nightbreed" are a little too fawning in tone for two such disposable works; ditto the piece on King's directorial debut (and hopefully finale) "Maximum Overdrive." But devoted fans and aspiring writers alike should find plenty of insight into both King and Barker's work methods and even some new perspectives on well-known and much-loved works. I would have appreciated a more critical analysis, but this book is at least a big step up from, say, a fan-club newsletter.

Rating:
Summary: A look back at King and Barker
Review: What is interesting about this book, is seeing how the subjects felt about certain projects while they were in the making. Using the benefit of hindsight, the reader has already seen the movie or read the book - and has formulated an opinion on the quality of the project. "Maximum Overdrive" was not one of King's better endeavors, so it's interesting to read about what went into that particular film. It made me a more forgiving viewer, as I could say "oh, so THAT'S what he was trying to do!" I also watched "Nightbreed" from a different perspective as well. Knowing some of the inside information, added depth to the viewing experience.

This is definately a book from a fan's perspective, particularly in the case of Barker; however, despite the lack of critical analysis, I found this book to be an enjoyable collection of interviews and experiences.