PRAISE

“Necessary Death is a handbook for dealing with our most primal and ultimate fear. Grosso and Fassel pull off the amazing feat of using horror films as a way of making peace with the reality of  impermanence. This is a special book.”  
—Michael Imperioli, actor, writer and musician (The Sopranos, The White Lotus, The Perfume Burned His Eyes, ZOPA)

“This is an absolutely unique look at not just horror movies, but mental health and wellness and how those seemingly disparate things connect. It’s a must read not just for horror movie fans, but  lovers of cinema in general and anyone who has ever felt alone and in need of some friendly advice. I highly recommend [it.]”  
—P.C. Cast, author of The House of Night series 

“Necessary Death doubles as a dual exploration of horror films and human psychology. Never thought you’d relate to the desperation of the mask-wearing Leatherface or get a life lesson from the troublesome shark from Jaws? Think again. It’s a delightful (and thoughtful) read!”  
—Daniel Dockery, author of Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All 

“If you’ve ever wondered how Leatherface’s collection of human skin masks relates to Jungian ego death, your own sense of self, and the genuine benefits of loving-kindness meditation, Necessary Death is 100 percent the book for you. Never before has a book about such abject horrors been filled with such warmth and care—reading it is like sitting down with a couple of old horror-obsessed friends who are equally happy to discuss brain-eating zombies and the kind of trauma-informed self-care practices one would need to employ after, well, surviving something like brain-eating zombies. Entertaining, erudite, and all-around lovely, Grosso and Fassel’s ode to the beauties of both horror film and humanity is full of hard-fought wisdom, cool trivia, and damned good advice.”  
—Jeremy Robert Johnson, author of The Loop 

“In Necessary Death, Fassel and Grosso pull off a bit of otherworldly magic in bringing a deeply familiar humanity and effortlessly readable touch to life’s toughest subjects. As you breeze  through passages on Candyman, Pennywise or Pinhead, before you know it, you’re packing away kernels of wonderful wisdom applicable to any challenge life throws at us. As someone who often finds themselves preferring to be alone, I didn’t realize how much I truly needed the chapter on Stephen King’s It and how it teaches us to reach out more—that being solitary can only get us so far. I found myself profoundly moved by the section in ways I wasn’t prepared for.”  
—Brandon Streussnig, film critic, Secret Handshake Cinema podcast

“If you thought horror was just about beasts, blood and violence, think again. Grosso and Fassel take us into the depths of the genre and show us how we can use it to help grow and shape our own lives. Could it be that these monsters actually make us more . . . human?”  
—Ben Scrivens, owner and founder of Fright Rags

“Necessary Death is an airy deep dive into the psychological shadow self of classic and modern horror films. A thoughtful tour and a twist in approaching our beloved genre monsters.”  
—Heather Drain, film critic and historian 

“Horror wakes our inner shadow-man, that old archetype from fairy tales that haunts the psyche and reminds us that we all have one foot in the grave, that we are most alive when we tend a kinship with death…As the old Irish proverb goes, may you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows you’re dead; horror films invite you to meet your monsters so you might stay one step ahead of them. To that end, if you’re still breathing, Necessary Death is an essential addition to your library. Read it, and someday your ghost will thank you.” 
—Danielle Dulsky, author of Bones & Honey: A Heathen Prayer Book, The Holy Wild: A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman, The Sacred Hags Oracle, and founder of The Hag School 

“For anyone doing the work and wants to do it in the dark, scared out of your wits, this book is for you. The teachings will surprise you, as will some things on the screen.”  
—Damien Echols, author of Life After Death, High Magick, and Ritual