Book excerpt: This fourth title in a unique series that combines reference and analytical qualities in chronicling the horror and science fiction genres, Horror and Science Fiction Films IV brings the earlier three volumes in the series up to date, concentrating on the period from 1984-1994, as well as updating entries from the previous volumes and adding newly-discovered titles from 1900-1983. Entries in the main list include credits, cast, synopsis, and annotation. The introduction lists 1995 releases in the genres and 1996 releases through the summer, cites the more memorable films in the genres for both the current period and 1900-1984, and serves as an index to key titles in the main list, including long-lost titles such as the -obscure silent Were Tiger and the 1931 The Phantom. Willis includes many films from around the world that are not found in any other English-language film reference work. One appendix provides thumbnail descriptions of problem and peripheral films; another updates entries in the first three books with alternate titles; and a third appendix serves as an index to the approximately 7,000 films listed in the first three volumes in the series as well as in the current volume, thus bringing the total number of films covered in this series to roughly 11,000 titles.