Monsters don’t appear out of nowhere. Their origins are tied to stories, mythology, scientific achievements, and human fears. Using the example of 25 cult films, the book analyzes the literary sources, artistic techniques, and technical innovations that make them memorable. Horror masters such as H. P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelley, and Alfred Hitchcock continue to frighten us for centuries. In addition, you’ll discover fascinating facts that won’t leave you indifferent: the incident that inspired Gaston Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera”; why Dracula’s role exhausted Bela Lugosi; who became the prototype of Doctor Frankenstein; what problems the creators of the film “The Invisible Man” faced; and what tragedies happened during the filming of “The Exorcist.”