Cult Midnight Movies explores 37 weird cult films. Each movie includes a few pages of a synopsis that is coupled with a bit of an essay exploring what makes the movie bizarre and strange. Out of the movies on this list, I had only seen about 3-4 of them, but it does include a good sampling of many I am aware of even if I've not seen them fully, including multiple David Lynch and Warhol movies, the beloved Rocky Horror Picture Show, and many similar films which are lesser known. It includes stills from the movie to split up the text of the synopsis. Most of the movies mentioned in here are older, and a lot of their "shock factor" just comes from featuring genuinely atrocious characters and plots including violence against animals and children, homophobia and transphobia, and just general nastiness, and doesn't really feature any nearer ones within this genre such as Donnie Darko, The Room, etc.

There is a long appendix at the back of films which fit the bill but weren't included in the 37 featured films of the book. I was hoping that perhaps this book would delve further into the history of Midnight Movies and what makes them unique from other cult genres, and perhaps delve into the culture of fan followings of each film (do they dress up as a specific character at screenings, do something unique like how The Room viewings often have a spoon throwing, quote specific lines to one another?) This read a little more like an article of "Top 37 Midnight Films" than what I was looking for.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

'Cult Midnight Movies: Discover the 37 Best Weird, Sleazy, Sexy, and Crazy Good Cinema Classics' by Danny Peary is an interesting overview of some cult classics, but the book could use some updating.

Every film includes a list of the stars, a synopsis, some stills from the film and Danny Peary's assessment of the film. The book has the classics like Easy Rider and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Eraserhead and Harold and Maude are included. There are films included that I wasn't familiar with like Greetings and Ms. 45.

I had a couple issues with the book. There are quite a few films the author doesn't actually seem to like. The inclusion of films that have fallen off the radar tells me this is an older book, and the lack of films from the late 1980s on would confirm this. There is an appendix that includes newer films like The Room.

I have seen a number of these. Some at midnight, some in art houses. Some of them hold up a bit better than others. It's an interesting collection if you are looking for something offbeat to watch.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.