Nightmare fuel : the science of horror films

Nightmare fuel The science of horror films

Nina Nesseth

Book - 2022

"Nightmare Fuel by Nina Nesseth is a pop-science look at fear, how and why horror films get under our skin, and why we keep coming back for more. Do you like scary movies? Have you ever wondered why? Nina Nesseth knows what scares you. She also knows why. In Nightmare Fuel, Nesseth explores the strange and often unexpected science of fear through the lenses of psychology and physiology. How do horror films get under our skin? What about them keeps us up at night, even days later? And why do we keep coming back for more? Horror films promise an experience: fear. From monsters that hide in plain sight to tension-building scores, every aspect of a horror film is crafted to make your skin crawl. But how exactly do filmmakers pull this off?... The truth is, there's more to it than just loud noises and creepy images. With the affection of a true horror fan and the critical analysis of a scientist, Nesseth explains how audiences engage horror with both their brains and bodies, and teases apart the elements that make horror films tick. Nightmare Fuel covers everything from jump scares to creature features, serial killers to the undead, and the fears that stick around to those that fade over time. With in-depth discussions and spotlight features of some of horror's most popular films-from classics like The Exorcist to modern hits like Hereditary-and interviews with directors, film editors, composers, and horror academics, Nightmare Fuel is a deep dive into the science of fear, a celebration of the genre, and a survival guide for going to bed after the credits roll. "An invaluable resource, a history of the horror genre, a love letter to the scary movie-it belongs on any horror reader's bookshelf." -Lisa Kröger, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Monster, She Wrote"--

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Subjects
Horror films > Psychological aspects.
Horror films > History and criticism.
Motion picture audiences > Psychology.
Fear.
Informational works.
Genres
Informational works
Published
New York : Nightfire 2022.
Language
English
Main Author
Nina Nesseth (author)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
"A Tom Doherty Associates book."
Physical Description
294 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 283-294) and filmography.
ISBN
9781250765215
  • Introduction
  • 1. This Is Your Brain on Horror
  • 2. A Brief History of Horror
  • 3. How to Make a Monster
  • 4. Putting Fear in Your Ears
  • 5. Why Some Scares Stick with You
  • 6. Violence and Mayhem
  • 7. Blood, Gore, and Body Horror
  • 8. Horror's Long-Lasting Appeal
  • Afterword
  • Acknowledgments
  • Movies Watched
  • Further Reading
Review by Booklist Review

Nesseth, a science communicator whose focus is on understanding popular culture and its fans, tackles why people love horror movies. From a history of horror films to a discussion of the movie monster, from the role of soundtracks to violence, Nesseth surrounds her topic well; but this title shines when she actively applies scientific research to topics like why humans find horror so appealing, why some scares stick with the viewer, and even honest advice about how to forget a particularly jarring scare. Insets further enhance the chapters in which they appear: "Scare Spotlights," where Nesseth analyzes a specific film, and "In Conversation With . . .," interviews with current horror movie professionals. It is Nesseth's narrative voice--her ability to balance a conversational tone with accessible science--that makes this an educational, thought-provoking, and just plain fun read to be enjoyed by novices and experts alike. Readers who love horror, regardless of format, will eagerly seek out this title, but it is also a great suggestion for fans of Mary Roach or Grady Hendrix's Paperbacks from Hell (2017).

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Nesseth (The Science of Orphan Black), a senior scientist at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, digs into "the hows and whys of all of the bits and pieces that make horror work" in this thoughtful survey. To examine how "horror taps into its audiences' psychology and biology," Nesseth first breaks down the components of scary movies and links them to the human brain. The amygdala, for example, is responsible for putting a person on alert (and has been shown through brain scans to become activated when spooky music is played), while the insula processes disgust. Nesseth covers the workings of body horror ("The human body is an ideal site for horror: the body is personal, and even on a good day it's kinda gross"), and what makes a movie monster memorable ("While it definitely helps if the monster clearly looks like an obvious threat, this isn't a hard and fast rule"). Beyond the science, Nesseth is a skilled historian of the subject, too, describing how horror " up a mirror to the anxieties gripping society at the time when their film is being made." This is an enlightening--and fun--look at what goes on when one's blood runs cold. (July)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review

"Horror is a genre as broad as the range of human fears," writes Nesseth. Despite a frequent lack of critical acclaim, horror movies have a diverse and devoted audience. Nesseth has a background in human biology and a special interest in the relationship between science and pop culture. Nesseth (coauthor, The Science of "Orphan Black") makes her solo debut with this thought-provoking analysis of what scares us and why. From slashers to spiders, Nesseth leaves no trope unturned. Though there is a great deal of professional terminology, both scientific and film-related, Nesseth's explanations are comprehensible and conversational. Owing to the interpretive and analytical nature of the text, spoilers abound, though most of the plot points are largely common knowledge for fear fanatics. Narrator Raquel Beattie expertly brings an intensity and adrenaline that horror readers will appreciate, creating a compelling atmosphere reminiscent of fiction. Some of the content is understandably gory and graphic, but Beattie keeps the tone more captivating than crude. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an in-depth but accessible analysis of the psychological and biological basis for their favorite frights. Recommended for fans of horror fiction and films.--Lauren Hackert

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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