Horror Poster Art

This spectacular collection of posters, which spans eight decades of horror films, encompasses all the classics of the genre—from early silents like Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to contemporary blockbusters like The Silence of the Lambs. Within a broadly chronological framework, the films are grouped by category: Japanese horror flicks, spoofs like An American Werewolf in London, serial killer movies, and more. Here, too, are the directors remembered wholly or partly for their contributions to the genre, including Roman Polanski and Brian de Palma. Horror, perhaps more than any other genre, offers the poster artist the opportunity to create an image that is both disturbing and memorable. The images in Horror Poster Art vividly demonstrate just how rich a tradition it is. Tony Nourmand is co-owner of the Reel Poster Gallery in London and a poster consultant to Christie’s; Graham Marsh is a designer and art director. Together, they have also produced the companion to this volume, Science Fiction Poster Art, as well as collections of 20th-century film posters by decade.