In this episode, Scott Drebit, author of "A Cut Below: A Celebration of B Horror Movies, 1950s-1980s," shares with Mark Perzel his lifelong fascination with horror films. Scott recalls his early exposure to the genre, starting at age six with the film "Burnt Offerings," and how the rise of video stores in the 80s revolutionized his passion for horror. B movies—those often underappreciated, low-budget gems—captured Scott's heart and imagination with their sincerity and creativity, even when resources were limited. He shares the personal process of selecting the 63 films featured in his book, the joys of sharing obscure horror titles with a new generation, and the balance between educating and entertaining readers.
LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: BESTPART
Receive a 25% discount on Scott's book from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/a-cut-below/
BOOK & DESCRIPTION
A Cut Below: A Celebration of B Horror Movies, 1950s-1980s. McFarland, softcover (2023) mcfarlandbooks.com/product/a-cut-below/
Horror films have been around for more than 100 years, and they continue to make a large impact on popular culture as they reflect their contemporary zeitgeist. Between the mid–1950s and mid–1980s, drive-in theaters were at their peak of popularity, and each decade brought forward new challenges and themes.
This book explores 60 B horror films, divided into 12 fun and uniquely-themed categories. Chapters discuss how the Atomic Age, the Vietnam War, the women’s liberation movement and other current events and social issues affected these films. Films covered include Willard, The Fly, Santa Sangre and many more.
ABOUT SCOTT
Scott was born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada until the age of ten; his first horror movie was "Burnt Offerings" at six during its theatrical run in 1976. He was hooked instantly. When his family moved to the Caribbean concurrent with the videotape movie explosion at the dawn of the ‘80s, he would be able to catch up with horror’s past and stay on top of its present. This would continue for decades until he found a home for his old horror love with the folks at the Daily Dead website, where his column “Drive-In Dust Offs” looks at horror films from the ‘50s to the ‘80s in an informative and humorous manner. Very much like his first book, A CUT BELOW: A CELEBRATION OF B HORROR MOVIES, 1950s-1980s, released January 24th, 2024 from McFarland Publishing!
ABOUT MCFARLAND
McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have about 8000 unique works for sale and each year publish about 350 new titles. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (e.g., Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). www.McFarlandBooks.com
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