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emilyjaco25's review against another edition
4.0
“There was something terrible in that film, a desperation I recognized in myself, in my inability to communicate effectively, and the frustration that would lead to despair, anger, and hysteria.”
The span of this book and the deep knowledge Janisse has on genre films is probably one of the most impressive things I’ve seen. How she relates threads from these films to experiences in her own life is masterful. Both a memoir and and encyclopedia of knowledge on the horror genre. A must read for horror fans.
The span of this book and the deep knowledge Janisse has on genre films is probably one of the most impressive things I’ve seen. How she relates threads from these films to experiences in her own life is masterful. Both a memoir and and encyclopedia of knowledge on the horror genre. A must read for horror fans.
schrikes's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
tbh reading this years later after seeing so much hype, I don't know if I really enjoyed this that much. it felt a bit repetitive structurally, to the point where neither the biographical segments or the interwoven movie analysis made an impact on me. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge la janisse brings to the book, and it is a great reference if you're looking to dive deeper into the horror genre. def have a bunch of movies from it that I want to check out now.
marzipan714's review against another edition
thought it would be more of an analysis of female neurosis in horror films and it wasn't
backstagebadger's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
ghost_mutt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
heathbc's review
5.0
I have loved horror since I was a little kid and just always thought I was drawn to the adrenaline rush. In high school, my English teacher taught us that horror is a genre that reflects societal fears from the time it was written. In college, I learned that some horror and exploitation films (like giallo and pink films) look overtly misogynistic but ultimately critique societal oppression of women. Kier-La Janisse taught me how personal horror can be.
Mainly, I loved how Janisse made the connection between repression, violence, and horror cinema.
”Between these two opposing forces — the ideal self versus the actual self — is violence. Often this violence is perceived as nonsensical or arbitrary, when in fact, like any battle, it’s strategic. But the strategy is unconscious. There is a goal — some type of fulfillment we seek — and because on a surface level we may not be comfortable with that goal our brains use different tactics to navigate our emotional obstacles to reach that goal in one way or another. The inability to recognize this is what creates the perception of craziness.”
There were many movies Janisse wrote about that I don’t think I would be able to sit through, but I loved reading her synopses and analyses. You end up with quotes like the one below that’s in relation to a female character’s self-mutilation scene.
“Past experience has taught her to deny her womanhood, to despise it, because she feels ‘less than.’ Her repression isn’t just a fear of actualizing sexual desires, it’s a fear of rejection — so she rejects herself before anyone else can do it for her.”
I had to put down the book several times to digest the weight of this book. It’s definitely influenced my way of thinking about horror and my fascination with the genre as a female.
Mainly, I loved how Janisse made the connection between repression, violence, and horror cinema.
”Between these two opposing forces — the ideal self versus the actual self — is violence. Often this violence is perceived as nonsensical or arbitrary, when in fact, like any battle, it’s strategic. But the strategy is unconscious. There is a goal — some type of fulfillment we seek — and because on a surface level we may not be comfortable with that goal our brains use different tactics to navigate our emotional obstacles to reach that goal in one way or another. The inability to recognize this is what creates the perception of craziness.”
There were many movies Janisse wrote about that I don’t think I would be able to sit through, but I loved reading her synopses and analyses. You end up with quotes like the one below that’s in relation to a female character’s self-mutilation scene.
“Past experience has taught her to deny her womanhood, to despise it, because she feels ‘less than.’ Her repression isn’t just a fear of actualizing sexual desires, it’s a fear of rejection — so she rejects herself before anyone else can do it for her.”
I had to put down the book several times to digest the weight of this book. It’s definitely influenced my way of thinking about horror and my fascination with the genre as a female.
magenta_menace's review against another edition
4.75
mention julia kristeva and barbara creed and obviously i’m gonna go feral