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Criminological Understandings of Horror Films

Reel Fear

Edited by Krista S. Gehring; Stacie Merken; Emily Lenning and Walter S. DeKeseredy - Contributions by Susana Avalos; Shelly Clevenger; Walter S. DeKeseredy; Krista S. Gehring; Rosemary Gido; Sheena L. Gilbert; Hannah Good; Allison Grabowski; Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz; Susan Henney; Emily Lenning; Stacie Merken; Lauren Moton; Vanessa R. Panfil; Kathleen Ratajczak; Alexa D. Sardina; Hannah Torres; Danielle C. Slakoff and Allyn Walker

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.

  • Details
  • Details
  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
Lexington Books
Pages: 262 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
978-1-66694-670-3 • Hardback • September 2024 • $115.00 • (£88.00)
978-1-66694-671-0 • eBook • September 2024 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
Series: Lexington Books Horror Studies
Subjects: Social Science / Popular Culture, Performing Arts / Film / Genres / Horror, Social Science / Media Studies

Krista S. Gehring is professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work at the University of Houston Downtown.

Stacie Merken is associate professor and chair of criminal justice at Indiana University South Bend as well as a Senior Mosaic Faculty Fellow

Emily Lenning is professor of criminal justice at Fayetteville State University.

Walter S. DeKeseredy is Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and professor of sociology at West Virginia University.

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

"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


Criminological Understandings of Horror Films

Reel Fear

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • 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.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 262 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
    978-1-66694-670-3 • Hardback • September 2024 • $115.00 • (£88.00)
    978-1-66694-671-0 • eBook • September 2024 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
    Series: Lexington Books Horror Studies
    Subjects: Social Science / Popular Culture, Performing Arts / Film / Genres / Horror, Social Science / Media Studies
Author
Author
  • Krista S. Gehring is professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work at the University of Houston Downtown.

    Stacie Merken is associate professor and chair of criminal justice at Indiana University South Bend as well as a Senior Mosaic Faculty Fellow

    Emily Lenning is professor of criminal justice at Fayetteville State University.

    Walter S. DeKeseredy is Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and professor of sociology at West Virginia University.

Table of Contents
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

Reviews
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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