Book Review: A Cut Below: A Celebration of B Horror Movies, 1950s-1980s

Author Scott Drebit’s new book from McFarland explores horror films from the mid to late 20th century. Although it covers a long period of time, and discusses many films, this book is a very thoroughgoing study that contains fascinating information and is beautifully illustrated.

Horror is a genre that often benefits from lower budgets, the creativity of the filmmakers overcoming any such limitations and offering films of aesthetic substance.  Drebit carefully presents several examples over four decades.  Separating each discussion under a sub-heading (Those Darn Kids, Chop Chop Till You Drop, Back Bacon Bloodbath, et al) the author then examines such diverse films as The Bad Seed (1956), Strait-Jacket (1964), and My Bloody Valentine (1981). 

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is how the author extends beyond the conventional horror movies and incorporates films of other genres that contain horror-centric ideas. The Charles Bronson action vehicle 10 To Midnight (1983) is included for its slasher element. The genre-challenging western sci-fi Westworld (1973) is also here. 

Drebit’s writing is sometimes amusing and always enlightening, offering a lot of information on each film with only a few pages allotted.  The writing is superb.

The illustrations are striking, many of them in color.

A Cut Below: A Celebration of B Horror Movies, 1950s-1980s is a book that belongs in libraries, research centers, and the collection of any horror buff. 

It can be ordered at this link: B HORROR