Zombies are the monsters of the 21st century, and America's major contribution to horror. What set off zombie fever? All roads lead to George Romero, who made zombies a metaphor for social ills.

Home is where the heart is, unless one lives in a house of hell. Whether they're filled with specters or psychos, every house of hell pokes at illusions of comfort and safety.

The history of monster movies is also the history of the evolution of special effects technology; whatever their size or shape and whatever they represent, for many horror fans monsters are the best part of the genre.