Men, Women, and Chain Saws
Gender in the Modern Horror Film
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Examining the popularity of low-budget cinema, particularly slasher, occult, and rape-revenge films, the author argues that, while such films have been traditionally understood as offering only sadistic pleasure to their mostly male audiences, in actuality they align spectators not with the male tormentor but with the females being tormented--particularly the slasher movie's "final girls"--Who endure fear and degradation before rising to save themselves.--Adapted from publisher description.
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One of my very favorite pieces of gender-based film theory. I recommend this one to all horror-film loving females (and males) interested in deconstructing tropes common to the genre.
Hmm, good but there are a few things standing in the way of getting a better understanding 1) I haven't seen a lot of the movies she discusses, 2) I wasn't born in the 80's so I'm sure there was a more strict toxic masculine culture going on, but there was also the satanic panic going on...so I just don't get that culture around that time period. 3) It's a bit out of date now.
I would love it if the author revisited this now. Otherwise, it is an interesting read and def. put out some new ideas that I haven't thought about.
