Horror fans may be familiar with the name Jason Paul Collum. He has written, directed, produced, and/or acted in multiple films over the last thirty years, including Safe Inside, October Moon, November Son, and the documentaries Something to Scream About, Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres, and Screaming in High Heels: The Rise & Fall of the Scream Queen Era. He has also written the book Assault of the Killer Bs: Interviews With 20 Cult Film Actresses – and this month, a new Jason Paul Collum book has been published. It’s called They Made How Many?! (Mostly) American Horror Franchises of the 20th Century, and it’s a 654 page look at the many horror sequels that were made in the 1900s. Copies can be purchased at THIS LINK.
They Made How Many?! (Mostly) American Horror Franchises of the 20th Century has the following description: The Howling 8. Children of the Corn 9. Witchcraft 16. Amityville 41 (legally?). Horror sequels have existed for over 100 years, dating back to at least The Golem (1915) and its first sequel, The Golem and the Dancing Girl (1917). Originally a rarity and often looked down upon as lesser-than films, sequels within the genre exploded in popularity in the 1980s when video rental stores needed product to fill their empty shelves. A phenomenon around the world, sequels to any successful title guaranteed a profit for producers. These often direct-to-video installments were also quickly forgotten. This collection covers practically every American horror franchise from silent films of the early 1900s to the year 1999, with a few foreign exceptions that found equal fame in the U.S. Along for this nostalgic ride are the thoughts and recollections of many of the cast and crew members who brought them to theaters and TV screens for multiple generations to enjoy.
As someone who owes their horror fandom to the many sequels of the 1980s, this book sounds like a fun idea and a must-read to me.
Will you be picking up a copy of They Made How Many?! (Mostly) American Horror Franchises of the 20th Century? Let us know by leaving a comment below.