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Criminological Understandings of Horror Films

Reel Fear

Krista S. Gehring (Anthology Editor) , Stacie Merken (Anthology Editor) , Emily Lenning (Anthology Editor) , Walter S. DeKeseredy (Anthology Editor) , Susana Avalos (Contributor) , Shelly Clevenger (Contributor) ,
View more contributors
Criminological Understandings of Horror Films cover

Criminological Understandings of Horror Films

Reel Fear

Krista S. Gehring (Anthology Editor) , Stacie Merken (Anthology Editor) , Emily Lenning (Anthology Editor) , Walter S. DeKeseredy (Anthology Editor) , Susana Avalos (Contributor) , Shelly Clevenger (Contributor) ,
View more contributors

Description

This book examines horror films through a critical criminological lens. Each chapter considers how the genre impacts audiences and their understanding of topics like place, crime, and identity.

Table of Contents

Part 1: The Spaces and Places That Haunt Us

Chapter One
A Radical Feminist Perspective on Horror in the Heartland
Walter S. DeKeseredy

Chapter Two
“An Outlet for American Rage”: A Critical Analysis of Crime in Urban Suburban Settings in The Purge Film Series
Lauren N. Moton and Stacie Merken

Chapter Three
The Villain in the Machine: Cybertechnology in Horror Films
Shelly Clevenger and Kathleen Ratajczak

Chapter Four
Escaping the Horror and Reality of Mass Incarceration
Rosemary L. Gido

Part 2: The Crimes That Horrify Us

Chapter Five
Representations of Mental Illness and Crime in Horror Films
Susan M. Henney and Krista S. Gehring

Chapter Six
I am Your Worst Nightmare: Serial Killer Portrayals in Horror Films
Stacie Merken, Hannah Good, and Allison Grabowski

Chapter Seven
In The Invisible Man, The Horrors of Intimate Partner Violence are Real
Danielle C. Slakoff and Sheena L. Gilbert

Chapter Eight
Sexual Violence in Horror Films: Routine Activities Theory and Rape Myth Acceptance
Alexa D. Sardina and Hannah Torres

Part 3: The Monsters Inside Us

Chapter Nine
Queer Fear: Anti-Queer Themes in Horror Movies
Vanessa R. Panfil

Chapter Ten
“It is Us Who are the Divine Ones. We are the Gods Who are Trapped in Cocoons”: A Critical Analysis of Get Out
Susana Avalos

Chapter Eleven
Trans Panic! At the Movies
Allyn Walker

Chapter Twelve:
‘Stay Where you Belong, Ugly Americans, or the World Will Eat You Alive’: Tourism and Fear of the “Other” in Horror Films
Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz and Emily Lenning

Product details

Published Sep 05 2024
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 262
ISBN 9781978791602
Imprint Lexington Books
Series Research in Horror Studies
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

KG
Anthology Editor

Krista S. Gehring

SM
Anthology Editor

Stacie Merken

EL
Anthology Editor

Emily Lenning

Emily Lenning is professor of criminal justice at…

WD
Anthology Editor

Walter S. DeKeseredy

Walter S. DeKeseredy is Anna Deane Carlson Endowed…

SA
Contributor

Susana Avalos

SC
Contributor

Shelly Clevenger

WD
Contributor

Walter S. DeKeseredy

Walter S. DeKeseredy is Anna Deane Carlson Endowed…

KG
Contributor

Krista S. Gehring

RG
Contributor

Rosemary Gido

SG
Contributor

Sheena L. Gilbert

HG
Contributor

Hannah Good

AG
Contributor

Allison Grabowski

XG
Contributor

Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz

SH
Contributor

Susan Henney

EL
Contributor

Emily Lenning

Emily Lenning is professor of criminal justice at…

SM
Contributor

Stacie Merken

LM
Contributor

Lauren Moton

VP
Contributor

Vanessa R. Panfil

KR
Contributor

Kathleen Ratajczak

AS
Contributor

Alexa D. Sardina

HT
Contributor

Hannah Torres

DS
Contributor

Danielle C. Slakoff

AW
Contributor

Allyn Walker

Reviews

  • "Criminological Understanding of Horror Films provides a criminological Cooks Tour of a popular genre. Horror films are important contributors to the social construction of crime, criminality, and violence and they consistently emphasize the negative psychological, physical, and spiritual effects of violence. When horror is combined with criminality the real-world realm of crime and justice is also painted. In this volume, the authors lead readers through the rural, urban, suburban, cyber-land, and prison places of crime and horror and the people who live in these criminological horror landscapes. How horror films construct crimes, offenders, and victims and discussions of race, sexuality, gender, and nationality are discussed in detail. The inclusion of specific horror movies results in a book that is both readable and contemporarily relevant. Strongly recommended, Criminological Understanding of Horror Films will help both horror fans and non-fans to see horror crimes in a less dark, more socially significant light."

    Ray Surette, University of Central Florida

  • The editors have fashioned a collection of powerful essays covering a diverse range of topics within the world of horror. It is an invigorating and penetrating analysis of the subtexts and cultural influences driving this ubiquitous film genre. Truly a wonderful criminological inquiry into the things that we fear and hate!

    Stephen L. Muzzatti, Toronto Metropolitan University

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