Books by Geoff King

With its gothic tale of a troubled teen haunted by visions of a figure in a Halloween rabbit suit, Donnie Darko was among the first cult movie phenomena of the twenty-first century, making debut director Richard Kelly Hollywood hot property before he reached his thirtieth birthday. This study narrates the film's journey from box-office bemusement through word of mouth success to the recent director's cut of the film, and also discusses fans' reactions to the film's enigmatic conclusion, explaining how Donnie Darko gripped the imagination of Generation X teenagers across the world.

A critical study of the American indie film Lost in Translation.

This text focuses on the dynamic relationship between narrative and spectacle in Hollywood cinema. It shows how narrative - far from being eclipsed by special effects - remains integral to the cinematic "blockbuster", citing the continuing relevance of the mythic American frontier.

Focusses on key formal aspects of games, and the experiences and pleasures offered by the activities they require of the player. Issues examined in this book include the characteristics of gameplay and its relationship with narrative, genre, virtual landscapes, realism, spectacle and sensation.