This is a sharp and funny exploration of the history of Black horror films, and how Black representation in these films has changed since the 1960s. "Unlike ‘The Black Guy,’ Black horror has managed to not only survive, but thrive.” Full of informative and entertaining lists and stats, this engaging book is broken into six chapters, which in turn are broken into sub-chapters with titles such as The Black Character Horror Movie Survival Guide, Just Voodoo It, and Scary Sistas: Black "Final Girls." This is a fantastic Black horror film resource and is entertaining unto itself, with quips and fun references that have me adding to my horror film tbw list. The book is definitely for horror fans, but it's also for anyone interested in exploring Black characters in cinema.

[Thanks to Gallery Books | Simon &Schuster/Saga Press and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

This was an eye-opening look at the roles and tropes of Black actors in cinema. The authors' comments were enjoyable, funny, and pointed - I was being taught, but also entertained. I also learned a lot about horror movies.

If you love horror--movies and books--as much as I do, this is a must-read! I learned so much about movies I have never seen, and had to rethink the way I view other movies I have seen. It was informative, funny, and the perfect read for anyone who can't get enough of horror movies, especially those who are filled with social commentary!

A very interesting topic, however the writing and formatting of the book didn't grip me in the way I expected it to. The topics and movies that were brought up were well researched but the writing style felt a bit disconnected at times. I would definitely recommend this for any movie buffs, especially horror movie fans.

It took me all damn year to read this book, through no fault of its own. I received an invitation from the publishers to read it through NetGalley, got about a third of the way through, and decided I couldn't take the kind of notes I wanted on my Kindle. By the time my ordered copy arrived, enough time had passed that it seemed best just to start over. Then cue the Great Summer Reading Slump of 2023! I refused to start over again, and it still took me until December to finish. May I reflect on this before I decide to accept nonfiction again, even if it is about horror. But then, as my favorite professor always liked to say, "Struggling is productive."

This is all no reflection on the book itself, which is an in-depth look at the history of Black horror cinema. I'm an avid horror fan, and I still learned a hell of a lot, including where to fill in the gaps in my viewing (although… I'm still probably going to skip Spider Baby (1967), sorry. Even my boyfriend, Lon Chaney Jr., can't make that sound appealing). Seriously, adding films to my watch list was some of the most fun of this book, and I've already started chipping away at those by continuing with The Purge series. I gave up after having lukewarm feelings about the first, but in a weird twist, the series actually gets so much better. I'm planning to watch Event Horizon (1997) and Spiral (2021) at some point too, among others.

The writers are incredibly knowledgeable about the topics, one a scholar in the field and the other having had a hand in a number of popular culture projects centered on horror film. I think this combination is what really sets this book apart from others of its kind and gives it a more unique voice. The two of them balance the in-depth theoretical and social commentary with witty, sardonic asides. Horror has a long history of going hand in hand with comedy (horror hosts like Svengoolie are case in point), and they go well together here. Despite the fears in the acknowledgements section that the book comes over "too complainy," I didn't get that impression in any sense. A critique by definition should be critical, and it is. It spares no feelings in calling out the hugely racist film industry which, despite major strides forward, still has a long way to go. However, it's also clear throughout that the writers really love the genre, and there are points of borderline gushing over films like Get Out (2017), which had a revolutionizing effect on social-political horror in general and Black horror specifically.

The chapters are neatly broken up by Top Lists on various topics, from Frequent Dier Awards and Terrible Hip-Hop Theme Songs From Horror Movies to 10 Horror Movies About Black-White Race Relations Not Named Get Out. These work better than the sometimes long lists of films inserted into paragraphs, and are often quite funny. The first half of the book is very strong on the history of Black horror film, even to the point of feeling a bit repetitive at times, which I think is a byproduct of the essay-ish/doctoral thesis quality of some of the chapters. (We can credit academia with a lot of things, but being concise is rarely one of them.) It expertly links Black horror trends with long-held racial stereotypes and charts the often dismal numbers of Black actors, actresses, writers, and directors in horror film, and the (again, often dismal) quality of that representation.

The second half dips into the intersection of Black women and Black LGBTQ+ representation, and it's not quite as comprehensive there. In part, this is because there just isn't as much rep out there to write about, but my sense is that this is more like an overview of these topics. A dedicated scholar could spend an entire book delving into each one of those and still have more to write. The final chapter pulls together a moving rumination on how Black horror, like most media, is ultimately a reflection of the world we live in. Any minor quibbles aside, this is extremely well-done and a must-read for anyone with an interest in the history of horror film.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

An interesting examination of the black character in American horror movies. It shows how racism and the currant view on black people are reflected in the movies and how the characters are treated. I found it very informative. My only issue was there were a lot of lists. Some lists were interesting and makes me want to check out some of the movies mentioned. It just felt a little to much listing. Overall a good educational read .

A fun and engaging look at the history of black horror movies. These reads very organically, and not as if you are reading a nonfiction book. It also breaks it down into digestible categories, so this is a book that is easier to jump in and out of.
There are parts where it does get a little repetitive. It also sometimes gives away major plot points of movies, so if you've never seen something they've mentioned and were planning on watching it you will now have major spoilers.

The Black Guy Dies First – a trope so widespread that even the most casual of horror fans is familiar with the fact that, given a diverse cast, the reaper will be coming for the minority characters first. And that’s the point of discussion that kicks off this fantastic examination of Black characters in cinema; because why is that exactly?

The authors are both founts of knowledge on the subject. Robin R. Means Coleman is an award-winning scholar in the field of media studies and cultural politics, while Mark H. Harris has been an entertainment journalist for over twenty years, as well as founding BlackHorrorMovies.com. Between the two of them, it’s clear to the reader that there is a thorough and working knowledge of not just horror, not just cinema, not just Blackness and its treatment in media – but a combination of all three that leaves no stone unturnable in the conversation.

I say conversation, because considering our two very knowledgeable authors, The Black Guy Dies First feels less of a textbook, and more of a conversation with a particularly passionate friend. The material is comprehensive, but presented in a very readable style – chapters broken up with lists featuring such categories as “Frequent Dier Awards” or “Terrible Hip-Hop Theme Songs from Horror Movies” (a personal favorite). The authors clearly map the development of horror cinema and it’s relationship with Blackness, while making clear their intention is not just to teach, but to entertain; and they have absolutely succeeded. This is not just a book I’ve enjoyed reading (although I have, thoroughly), and not just a valuable resource I’ll refer back to again and again. It’s a combination of the two, and all the more worthwhile for it.

Ahh, I finally finished this! Okay, so I guess I haven't been reading it THAT long, but in "months where I've had a baby at home" it feels like an eternity.

I actually really enjoyed this book, I've just had no time to read a physical or ebook since my daughter was born (I can probably count the number on one hand lol) so the fact that I finished this at all should demonstrate how much I enjoyed it. It is packed full of witty and sharp commentary on representation in the horror genre that had me laughing out loud throughout. The only reason why I'm docking it one star is that at times it was very encyclopedic and read more like a thesis on the topic than a book for the masses. The author's knowledge and presentation of black cinema is THOROUGH to say the least haha but even though I ended up skimming a lot of the extensive plot synopses sections, the main commentary parts were very well articulated.

Overall, I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys the horror genre (either in book or film!) and wants to be educated further in this area while having a good time :)

**Thank you, Simon and Schuster and Gallery Books for sending me this ebook in exchange for an honest review!**

There is so much good about this book. I love the subject, having grown up watching Creature Feature on Saturday afternoons with a brother who subscribed to Fangoria. But I've never read something that specifically addresses the history of Black representation in the horror genre. There is a healthy dose of humor in between the facts. And that's where I dropped a star.

It was sometimes a jarring switch in voice from presenter of historical narrative to goofy horror fan. Either was fine on its own, but there were no transitions and I'd be getting into whatever was going on and then - bam! - switcheroo. I enjoyed the humorous editorializing and the serious informational parts, just not together. It felt like a doctoral thesis stretched into a full-length book. The only way to do that is to pad it, and maybe that's what happened. Throw in some more commentary and make it funny!

Other than that complaint, I enjoyed the book a lot. I would read another book by the author, too.

My thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a horror fan, I really enjoyed this book. I found the style to be accessible and engaging, as well as being quite entertaining. I added a number of new movies to my watch list, in addition to learning more about some of my favorites.

I have two main critiques of the book. The first is that the authors can't help themselves from making a joke every few lines, which oddly leads to a sense of predictability of style and also makes it likely that this will feel dated fairly soon. However, I will say that many of the asides were actually funny. My other note is that the book does not seem to be designed to be read straight through, but instead offers standalone chapters in a way that makes it seem to be designed for academic use. This is somewhat at odds with the tone and overall pop research feel. This leads to a noticeable amount of repetition between chapters, which makes it feel like the book was not considered as a whole. Despite this, I had a great time reading this book and I feel like I have a stronger foundation in the history of Black horror.

4.5/5

This is one of those books that would be great to have on your shelf as a reference. Especially when wanting to watch a movie that is being referred to and then reread what was pointed out in the book about the particular actor, scene, director or script. I learned a lot but I think it would mean more if I was more familiar with the movies mentioned.

DNF at 52%

The information was good and it has some good movies I'm adding to my watchlist, but unfortunately it just couldn't keep my attention. The writing style didn't work well for me, and a lot of the chapters got pretty repetitive. I might try to read it again at a later date, but for now I'm stepping away.

If you enjoyed the Shudder documentary Horror Noire, I cannot recommend this fast enough. The Black Guy Dies First was not only an educational book looking at the portrayal of Black characters in horror, but also a book digging into what was behind that. How has this changed? This book left me with a list of movies to watch a mile long

A fascinating examination of depictions of Blackness in horror cinema! Its authors deftly balance nuanced and unwavering criticism with a humorous conversational style, providing a comprehensive overview to the genre with copious viewing recommendations. Of interest to cinephiles, horror fans, and those who like to ponder the deeper side of pop culture.

As someone newly getting into horror I was so excited to see this title come across me. Any movie goer is able to tell that Black people are often categorized the same way throughout film and they have been especially brutalized within the horror genre. You would think as we move forward, filmmakers would've taken a step back and looked at the way they were portraying their characters of color, but I digress.

This book was a wonderful look at the roles often given to Black people in horror and feels like a conversation with a friend. I don't typically pick up non-fiction but this was a great departure from my usual reads.

The Black Guy Dies First is an absolute must read for anyone that loves horror movies or is interested in film history. Even if you're not very versed in the subject the book does a good job of breaking it down

The Black Guy Dies First is an absolute must read for anyone that loves horror movies or is interested in film history. The book is broken down into different eras and tropes related to the Black history of horror films. While Jordan Peele has really brought Black horror into a mainstream spotlight in recent years, there is a huge film history behind him that led to this point. Having a richer understanding of that history can help you appreciate the films that are coming out today, while also making you want to go back and experience these earlier films as well. I've added so many movies mentioned in this book to my Letterboxd account, especially films I had never heard of before.

This book would be an excellent gift for any cinephiles in your life, and would serve as a great reference for film students as well.

An excellently structured and researched examination of how race plays into the genre of horror. This book should be a must-read for any fan of the genre. Totally eye-opening, and absolutely necessary.

Insightful, and much funnier than I was expecting given the credentials of the authors. This is not an academic text like "Men, Women and Chainsaws" but that's not to say it's not incredibly thorough, it's just much easier to read and written in a conversational manner. Even as a horror buff who has been intentional about consumption, there were some films I haven't seen and have added to my watch list. I'd recommend this for any fan willing to delve into non-fiction about their genre of choice.