It’s Alive!: Classic Horror and Sci-Fi Movie Posters from the Kirk Hammett Collection

There has been a recent resurgence in viewing movie posters as art, and it’s about time. Some posters go beyond showing you the stars and summarizing plots in order to provoke a visceral reaction from the viewer, sparking horror and wonder with brave choices and intriguing visuals.

It’s Alive! looks back on the history of horror and sci-fi posters, not only showing off dozens of gorgeous, weird, and evocative images from musician Kirk Hammett’s personal archive, but delving into the emotional touchstones of horror itself. With accompanying essays covering the science of fear, the appeal of horror movies, and a truncated history of movie advertising, the world of the movie poster not just highlighted, but treated as worthy of examination as an art form all its own.

Couple that with a history of movie posters as ephemera, promotion, and art, comparing artistic styles of the time as well as cultural impact (both intended and unintended), and you’ve got an art book for the ages. It’ll give you a new appreciation for posters past and present, and the skill it takes to create an effective one. Whether you’re a horror fan, a movie fan, or an art fan, you’ll find something worth your time inside this book.