Thriller films have been popular since the invention of the medium. Hammer Film Productions, originally formed in 1934, are known for their series of Gothic horror films such as The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Dracula (1958) and many others, but they also produced an equal number -- if not more -- of psychological thrillers, "women in peril" movies and film noir. Even during their Gothic period, Hammer produced its share of so-called "mini-Hitchcocks" inspired by the success of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). Their mystery and macabre suspense films continued well into the 1970s.
In The Hammer Thriller, author Bruce G Hallenbeck explores Hammer's non-Gothic thrillers in depth, from their earliest attempts at the genre such as Death in High Heels (1947) to their more recent suspense films such as The Resident (2011) and The Lodge (2019). Included are details about the making of the films, the personalities behind them and their impact on the culture.
Although Hammer's Gothic horror films have been covered -- dare we say it? -- to death, far less has been written about their thrillers, and Hallenbeck, who has researched these films at great length, attempts to correct that oversight with this book.
Copyright Bruce G. Hallenbeck 2024. 214 pages, 8 in color!
Collectors Note: Brand-new and uncirculated. Received directly from the publisher.