A revised and expanded edition of this popular book that traces the cultural history of the American horror film by focusing on individual films that helped to define or redefine the genre from Dracula (1931) to Get Out (2017).
This book examines thirteen films that redefined the notion of cinematic horror and influenced the films that followed: Dracula (1931), The Thing (1951), Psycho (1960), Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Exorcist (1973), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Halloween (1978), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Scream (1996), The Sixth Sense (1999), The Blair Witch Project (1999), Saw (2004), and Get Out (2017). Carefully situating each film in relation to the history of the genre and the cultural contexts in which it emerged, the book explains why certain horror films create a connection with a wide audience.
Since the publication of the first edition in 2005, the horror genre has become even more culturally prominent and commercially successful. The genre has also shown rapid development, and several prominent trends have emerged in the 21st century. This edition includes two additional chapters that focus on Saw (2004) and Get Out (2017), as James Wan's Saw helped to launch a highly successful franchise as well as the subgenre of “torture porn,” while Jordan Peele's Get Out inaugurated a broader cultural conversation about the power of horror narratives to interrogate systems of ideology and oppression.
This book examines thirteen films that redefined the notion of cinematic horror and influenced the films that followed: Dracula (1931), The Thing (1951), Psycho (1960), Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Exorcist (1973), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Halloween (1978), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Scream (1996), The Sixth Sense (1999), The Blair Witch Project (1999), Saw (2004), and Get Out (2017). Carefully situating each film in relation to the history of the genre and the cultural contexts in which it emerged, the book explains why certain horror films create a connection with a wide audience.
Since the publication of the first edition in 2005, the horror genre has become even more culturally prominent and commercially successful. The genre has also shown rapid development, and several prominent trends have emerged in the 21st century. This edition includes two additional chapters that focus on Saw (2004) and Get Out (2017), as James Wan's Saw helped to launch a highly successful franchise as well as the subgenre of “torture porn,” while Jordan Peele's Get Out inaugurated a broader cultural conversation about the power of horror narratives to interrogate systems of ideology and oppression.
Pay easily by card, Klarna, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Not happy? You always have a 14-day money-back guarantee. Read more in our terms. If you have any questions, email us at hello@memmo.org.
Memmo makes studying easier – wherever you are in the world. We bring your course books and smart study tools together in one place: summaries, quizzes, podcasts and flashcards. Plus Ted, your study buddy who answers anything you wonder. Over 50,000 students already study here – built to help you learn faster and stress less.