Books by Lee Gambin

Lee Gambin examines the extremely popular subgenre of the ecologically themed horror film, or, the natural horror film. Since Alfred Hitchcock gave us The Birds, the natural horror film (where animals or insects cause tremendous damage to the human population) is a much-loved subgenre, but one seldom referenced. This book offers insightful critiques on numerous films such as Them!, Squirm, Orca, The Pack, The Day of the Animals, Prophecy, Tentacles and many more. Over 100 titles are discussed and Gambin thoroughly scrutinizes the social and political impact of these films, dissects fundamental stock standards of this subgenre, as well as offers informative anecdotes relating to the production of these diverse movies. He critiques specific narrative devices and offers an analysis of performance, audience appreciation and filmmaking craft.

"B-B-B-B Bad… Bad to the bone…" Packed with interviews from director John Carpenter, screenwriter Bill Phillips, producer Richard Kobritz, stars Keith Gordon and Alexandra Paul, plus various members of the cast and crew including co-composer Alan Howarth and SFX artist Roy Arbogast, "Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of Christine" is a definitive look at the 1983 cinematic adaptation of Stephen King's terrifying novel about the eponymous demonic Plymouth Fury and the obsessive teenage boy who loves her. Author Lee Gambin examines Carpenter's film by exploring themes such as possession, gender politics, sexuality, the use of rock'n'roll, the complexities of varied relationships, class resentment, the landscape of suburbia, the alienation felt during teenage years and more, including a recurring coverage of cars in film (both supernatural and not). Loaded with photographs as well as production notes, this book is essential for all John Carpenter fans, Stephen King devotees, horror film enthusiasts and for anyone who can remember their first car. So buckle in and take a ride and remember "Rock'n'Roll is here to stay! It will never die!"

"B-B-B-B Bad… Bad to the bone…"Packed with interviews from director John Carpenter, screenwriter Bill Phillips, producer Richard Kobritz, stars Keith Gordon and Alexandra Paul, plus various members of the cast and crew including co-composer Alan Howarth and SFX artist Roy Arbogast, "Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of Christine" is a definitive look at the 1983 cinematic adaptation of Stephen King's terrifying novel about the eponymous demonic Plymouth Fury and the obsessive teenage boy who loves her. Author Lee Gambin examines Carpenter's film by exploring themes such as possession, gender politics, sexuality, the use of rock'n'roll, the complexities of varied relationships, class resentment, the landscape of suburbia, the alienation felt during teenage years and more, including a recurring coverage of cars in film (both supernatural and not). Loaded with photographs as well as production notes, this book is essential for all John Carpenter fans, Stephen King devotees, horror film enthusiasts and for anyone who can remember their first car. So buckle in and take a ride and remember "Rock'n'Roll is here to stay! It will never die!"

"It's not a monster . . . it's just a doggy . . . ." No American horror film did more to spike cat adoptions than Cujo (1983). Based on Stephen King's psychological thriller about a rabid dog, the terror story remains forever etched into the minds of filmgoers, as well as in the grip marks on many theater seats. Lee Gambin analyzes the film scene by scene, including exhaustive coverage of the production from its problematic early days with originally-assigned director Peter Medak to the final edit by ultimate director Lewis Teague. Drawn from interviews with Teague, screenwriter Barbara Turner, and cast and crew, including Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Danny Pintauro, Jan de Bont, Jennifer Jason Leigh, composer Charles Bernstein, and stunt man Gary Morgan.With its sophistication and deep subversive intelligence, Cujo is a biting critique on the breakdown of the American family, an electric take on the "woman in the storm" story trope, a personal and introspective ecologically themed horror film (a subgenre usually socially and politically motivated), and a perfectly realised example of the power of circumstance. It also thoroughly scrutinizes fear-both real and imagined-in a sharp and magnetic manner. Featuring: -the film's problematic early days with originally assigned director Peter Medak being fired. -Lewis Teague being brought in to take over as director along with cinematographer Jan de Bont. -detailed insight into screenwriter Barbara Turner's take on the source material. -over thirty candid interviews with cast and crew, such as stars Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kell, Danny Pintauro, director Lewis Teague, composer Charles Bernstein, and stunt man Gary Morgan. -remembrances from Danny Pintauro's parents. -highly deserving and loving insight about the late great animal trainer Karl Lewis Miller from his daughter, Teresa Ann Miller.Index. Illustrated with over 200 pictures (most never before seen). About the author: Film historian Lee Gambin has written for Fangoria, Shock Till You Drop, Delirium, and Scream Magazine, among others. His previous works include Massacred By Mother Nature: Exploring the Natural Horror Film, and We Can Be Who We Are: Movie Musicals of the 1970s. He is the director of Melbourne-based film collective, Cinemaniacs.

This is the HARDBACK version. The movie musical has been a much loved genre since motion pictures found a voice and learned to sing. Throughout the decades, audiences thrilled to the glamour of the musicals of Busby Berkley and were emotionally invested in stories about Austrian nuns and the King of Siam with the musicals from Rodgers and Hammerstein. With the advent of Rock 'n Roll, Heavy Metal, R&B, Motown, Punk Rock, and Disco entering the public consciousness, musicals started to sing a very different tune. Into the 1970s, the movie musical became a daring, dangerous, and divinely decedent cinema experience. Lee Gambin's We Can Be Who We Are: Movie Musicals from the 1970s explores this explosive energy and diversity. From the quirky sophistication of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever and the dark unnerving genius of Cabaret to the sweet sentimentality of Charlotte's Web, Gambin's book offers insightful film criticism while exhaustively covering the decade. Some of the films Gambin examines include Phantom of the Paradise, Grease, The Wiz, Rock'n'Roll High School, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, All That Jazz, Godspell, Hair, The Rose, Saturday Night Fever, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Pete's Dragon, Tommy, Kiss Meets The Phantom of the Park, and many, many more. The book also features incredible brand new interviews from dozens of extremely talented artists who made these movies possible: director John Carpenter discussing his biopic Elvis; Lesley Ann Warren giving fascinating insight into the made for TV production It's A Bird...It's A Plane...It's Superman; auteur filmmaker Norman Jewison delivering two very different musicals with Fiddler on the Roof and Jesus Christ Superstar. This book is loaded with numerous production stories and candid insights into how these films were made and received. Gambin's book also features loads of wonderful photos, many of which have never before been seen including wonderfully candid behind the scenes stills!