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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Can I just say, that cover is absolutely stunning! I just wish I felt as strongly about the contents of the book.
So, let me start off by saying that I don't read a ton of nonfiction essay collections. I'm not usually interested in that type of content, but I adore horror movies, and have recently wanted to dig into them even more; finding new insights, theories, behind the scenes stuff etc etc. And what better way to do that other than a queer focused one?
I think my expectations were off, though. I thought this book would feature queer people digging into the themes of horror movies, in a more analytical or even academic way. Because there are so many of them thay have this, just usually it had to be relegated to subtext, or there's even ones where the creators never meant them to be read in a queer way, but the fan bases picked up on something. One that immediately comes to mind is A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, there's even a documentary about it.
Now, just because this wasn't the type of book I wanted, that doesn't mean that it never did what I initially wanted, or that every essay was bad. I think the Jennifer's Body one is pretty high up there, mostly because it heavily utilized the source material, and added some newer context that everyone might not know about (I did a bit, mainly because I love that movie already haha).
I also know that these stories were very personal, and raw for the writers, some were actually a bit too much for me, especially bringing up the loss of a loved one. I don't want to bring anyone down, or feel like I'm being a massive bitch with my criticisms, so I'm not leaving a rating.
So, let me start off by saying that I don't read a ton of nonfiction essay collections. I'm not usually interested in that type of content, but I adore horror movies, and have recently wanted to dig into them even more; finding new insights, theories, behind the scenes stuff etc etc. And what better way to do that other than a queer focused one?
I think my expectations were off, though. I thought this book would feature queer people digging into the themes of horror movies, in a more analytical or even academic way. Because there are so many of them thay have this, just usually it had to be relegated to subtext, or there's even ones where the creators never meant them to be read in a queer way, but the fan bases picked up on something. One that immediately comes to mind is A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, there's even a documentary about it.
Now, just because this wasn't the type of book I wanted, that doesn't mean that it never did what I initially wanted, or that every essay was bad. I think the Jennifer's Body one is pretty high up there, mostly because it heavily utilized the source material, and added some newer context that everyone might not know about (I did a bit, mainly because I love that movie already haha).
I also know that these stories were very personal, and raw for the writers, some were actually a bit too much for me, especially bringing up the loss of a loved one. I don't want to bring anyone down, or feel like I'm being a massive bitch with my criticisms, so I'm not leaving a rating.
3.5 stars
I did end up finishing it, even though the Child's Play essay had me so upset I didn't even want to read the last two. I did mostly enjoy this collection, and genuinely would love a second one, but I'm knocking a full star off for how upsetting and exploitative Will Stockton's essay was. Anyone who talks about their child (foster child or otherwise) that way should not be caring for children. Full stop. I suggest skipping his essay entirely. Otherwise, I do really love hearing what other queer people have to say about horror and how they relate to it.
I did end up finishing it, even though the Child's Play essay had me so upset I didn't even want to read the last two. I did mostly enjoy this collection, and genuinely would love a second one, but I'm knocking a full star off for how upsetting and exploitative Will Stockton's essay was. Anyone who talks about their child (foster child or otherwise) that way should not be caring for children. Full stop. I suggest skipping his essay entirely. Otherwise, I do really love hearing what other queer people have to say about horror and how they relate to it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5 rounded up
I liked some of the essays and found them engaging, but others were lost on me. Which is true of almost all anthologies and collections. Some of the narrator choices were odd.
I liked some of the essays and found them engaging, but others were lost on me. Which is true of almost all anthologies and collections. Some of the narrator choices were odd.
dark
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
Being queer and having a love for horror films usually goes hand-in-hand. And just like being queer, that love can be complicated. Viewing horror films through a queer lens often allows us to reclaim what has often been openly sexist, homophobic and transphobic. We also find a kinship with the otherness of the "monsters", or the often dismissed final girls.
This is a diverse collection of essays on that topic by a group of LGBTQIA+ authors, each chapter covering a different horror film and the personal experience of the author. The audiobook version features several different authors that helped break the book up into more specific voices.
It's an interesting mix, I was more personally invested in the chapters written by gay men about the specific horror films I loved, but I also found it informative learning about the experiences of the rest of the queer alphabet and ended up watching several films I'd never even heard of.
Definitely worth checking out for a different perspective on horror.
This is a diverse collection of essays on that topic by a group of LGBTQIA+ authors, each chapter covering a different horror film and the personal experience of the author. The audiobook version features several different authors that helped break the book up into more specific voices.
It's an interesting mix, I was more personally invested in the chapters written by gay men about the specific horror films I loved, but I also found it informative learning about the experiences of the rest of the queer alphabet and ended up watching several films I'd never even heard of.
Definitely worth checking out for a different perspective on horror.
reflective
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
I had expected analysis of horror movies through a queer lens and instead got emotional and deeply personal essays. I'm not unhappy with that trade-off however.
Although the essays and the way they are written can be unequal, and although I had to skip a few in order to avoid spoilers, there were enough great ones to keep me hooked. Highlights include:
- S. Trimble's evolving relationship with The Exorcist,
- Joe Vallese's powerful account of Grace to the prism of surrogacy,
- Tosha R. Taylor's musings on bring "the Wolf Man's daughter",
- Sumiko Saulson's analysis of Candyman,
- Spencer Williams' interesting way of relating to the Blair Witch,
- Sarah Fonseca's harrowing presentation of ¿Eres tú, papa?
- as well as Jude Ellison S. Doyle's opening to his Dans ma peau essay (the rest of which is also very good).
Although the essays and the way they are written can be unequal, and although I had to skip a few in order to avoid spoilers, there were enough great ones to keep me hooked. Highlights include:
- S. Trimble's evolving relationship with The Exorcist,
- Joe Vallese's powerful account of Grace to the prism of surrogacy,
- Tosha R. Taylor's musings on bring "the Wolf Man's daughter",
- Sumiko Saulson's analysis of Candyman,
- Spencer Williams' interesting way of relating to the Blair Witch,
- Sarah Fonseca's harrowing presentation of ¿Eres tú, papa?
- as well as Jude Ellison S. Doyle's opening to his Dans ma peau essay (the rest of which is also very good).